What’s so great about the electric car anyway?
August 26, 2009 by Tom GuayPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, News, Technology
Recently, Nissan and GM grabbed some headlines about their plans to develop true electric vehicles (EVs) — vehicles that run on 100% battery power.
Nissan’s big idea is to make its Nissan Leaf cheap enough to be a mass market product. GM’s planning to introduce its Chevy Volt in a year or so. The Volt’s expected to be priced outside the mass market, between $40,000 and $50,000. For this story, click here.
But these bold plans aren’t prompting some of their rivals to do the same.
Toyota, for example, plans to continue to push its highly successful hybrid electric Prius, instead of pushing the EV idea. Reason: According to a recent New York Times report, Toyota just doesn’t think the technology’s ready. The big problem with EVs: limited range.
Honda’s echoing much of the Toyota strategy. It too has developed EVs (click here), but is concentrating on its re-introduction of the Honda Insight hybrid. Honda’s big strategy is a $20,000 car, undercutting the pricier Prius.
Ford’s not even talking about near-term EV introductions. NYTimes also reports that Ford is waiting for an EV recharging network to develop before committing to EV production. Ford knows a thing or two about EV auto technology. It spent much of the 1990s developing an all-electric version of the Ford Ranger pickup. The NYTimes story is here.
Chrysler’s grand EV idea is a very pricey, two-seat hot rod, the “EV Roadster,” otherwise known as a Dodge Circuit. Presumably, this car would be introduced late next year or in 2011, depending on what Chrysler’s new owner, Fiat, thinks of the car. If the Roadster/Circuit is built, it’s touted as getting between 150 to 200 miles on a single battery charge.
Also targeting the high-end market is Telsa Motors, which is starting to sell its hot rod EV, the Telsa Roadster.
Tags: Chevy Volt, electric car, Honda Insight, hybrids, Nissan Leaf, Telsa, Toyota Prius
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September 3rd, 2009 at 11:56 am
It’s great to be green, but the real plus for these vehicles is the reduction of oil imports. If we can stop importing oil today. The net result would be billions of US Dollars staying here in the US. That is where the “green jobs” come from. Dollars for US.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
$50 K for a golf cart – WOW!
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I wonder how many folks bought a Prius when turned in their “clunker”.
September 4th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Golf cart or not, would’n it be nice to give the one fingered salute to all those oil rich countries that want to destroy us?
September 4th, 2009 at 8:55 am
What about all the copper that goes into the batteries?? I totally agree with the oil stuff…..but….?
September 4th, 2009 at 9:47 am
One of the biggest copper deposits in the world is in upper Mich. Although it is not being mined at this time.
September 7th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Here’s the deal, if all of us in the US drive an average of 40 mpg versus our average of 20, guess what? We don’t need another drop of oil from the mideast. That seems to be a clever miltary strategy, prudent economic reovery plan, and don’t even need to establish an empargo. Let alone reduce significants amounts of CO2. Not many times do you get to kill four birds with one stone. Let the best ad folks make it happen, and watch the manufactures that pay the best ad folks succeed. Time for a a big change, its always changing …
September 8th, 2009 at 8:40 am
The idea of an electric car is good. However where is thepower coming from. as long as there are just a few it is no problem plugging them in. However as the demand grows to the point it makes a difference on the oil imports, it will start sucking some serious electricity. The electric grid cannot handle that much strain when added to what is used now. Mr Pickens had to abandon the biggest part of his wind power plan because of the grid. Maybe a person with an electric car also has to install a solar panel at his house to charge the car? It’s a solution but a cost.
September 8th, 2009 at 8:56 am
On the flip side, another thing to consider is — how is the electricity being generated that will power the car ? Coal, nuclear? These environmental costs are not usually considered.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
See this is what I’m talking about. You don’t have to belive in “Global Warming/Climate Change”, I personally don’t, but it makes sense economically, and for national defense. We can all win, and weeken several countries that want to do us harm. I’m just waiting for the Chevy Volt to come out! I already drive a hybred.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Sorry but my last comments were put out before Susan and Mike’s hit. Mike you are right, The Pickens plan did say the grid is old and outdated, but just like everything else, the law of supply and demand will push in to fill the voids. More electric demand, more companies and individuals will find ways to deliver it. I still like the idea of wind power, but the market will fill the need.
Susan coal and nuclear may be the best way to generate power. The French generate nuclear power for all their needs (with all newer plants). China and many eastern European nations use mostly coal, and the list goes on and on. Why do we want to limit what we in the US use? Try to make it safer and cleaner for sure, but don’t put limitations on us. We “Americans” always find a way to do it better, faster and more cost effective, but keep all options on the table.
We are in a fight for our very survival as a nation. If we don’t stop the bleeding of red ink in Washington and with trade in the rest of the world, we will become a third world country in one or two generations. Please note Susan, most third world nations are bigger pollutors (per GDP) than the US.
September 9th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Why not drill for our own oil and turn the money tap off to a bunch of quasi friendly countries. The US certainly has the oil reserves to supply itself. Electric cars may be great, someday, but we need a reliable supply of oil now.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Drilling is a given. We should use ALL the domestic oil we can, and natural gas also, but private companies own much of the oil rights. I’m not for demanding (through government action) that these companies drill. We should also open up government lands for oil exploration, but I don’t think its going to happen anytime soon.
We should ALL PUSH to stop using foreign oil, but as individuals our hands are tied. The electric car is something we, as individuals, can do now. I personally think the oil companies (US and foreign) like the situtation we as consumers are in! We have few choices in transportation (espically in rural areas) use a car or don’t go. Putting oil on notice that we do have choices should help to keep prices lower, and the rogue nations oil feeds, from using US dollars to fund their radical agenda(s).
Keep in mind that oil is also used for many other things besides gasoline. We do not want to fix our transportation problem and find we now have a plastics problem. Depleating oil reserves in the US may not always be prudent or cost effective.
Oil is a great god given resource, and we should keep it in the US when ever possible, but don’t give anyone, any company, or any government the ability to push us (as citizens and consumers) into a corner.
Remember greed, power and tyranny walk hand in hand.