Tesla Electric Cars - Electric Powered Cars Sale

Electric vehicles have potential

2011-08-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

Electric vehicles have the potential to gain customer attention in India in the context of increasing fuel prices and their desire to go green, according to a new report.

The report 'Gaining traction: Will consumers ride the electric vehicle wave?' by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited's Global Manufacturing Industry Group is based on a survey conducted across 17 countries including India, China, Japan, Europe and USA covering 13,500 respondents.

The majority of potential consumers are likely to be educated and from urban locations, according to the report. India seems to have almost equal number of male and female potential buyers unlike some of the more developed markets where male buyers tend to be significant, it said.

Interestingly, the early adopters are likely to be from the affluent sections as compared to the middle income groups in the developed economies.

"Electric vehicles (EVs) are no longer just an idea in the minds of car buyers. They are willing to consider the EV as a practical commuting option.

While this is good news for manufacturers of EVs, it must also be recognised that there are a number of barriers that they have to cross before this interest to consider electric vehicles translates into sales for them," Kumar Kandaswami, Manufacturing Industry Leader, Deloitte in India, said.

A third of Indian customers expect to purchase Electric Vehicles around Rs 4 lakh and another third willing to go up to Rs 7 lakh. This would correspond to the prices they would pay for their conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars. Clearly, there is unwillingness to pay a premium for clean technology, as is found to be the case in most markets.

According to the report, the manufacturers have to overcome the challenge of charging time. About half of the customers would expect this to be two hours or less.

The realities that can influence the pace of adoption are the price of fuel and fuel efficiency of the ICE vehicles. A little over 70 per cent of the respondents said they would consider the EV if the fuel prices crossed Rs 85 per litre.

Conversely, 74 per cent of the respondents are less likely to consider buying an Electric Vehicle if the ICE cars were to deliver 32 km per litre of fuel.

"These are important parameters for the manufacturers to consider while looking at the market opportunity for Electric Vehicles. It is important to note the willingness to trade off one parameter against another would depend on the economics of owning an EV and the capabilities that are offered by the manufacturers evolve," Kandaswami said.

"On the basis of the cost, range and charging time realities of the Electric Vehicles available in the market, we estimate EVs to be less that 5 per cent of the total passenger vehicles sold in India by 2020. This, of course, can change dramatically if the OEMs are able to achieve technology and price breakthroughs," he said.

Toyota's Electric Vehicles With BHEL

2010-12-29T02:00:00.000-08:00

The entire auto industry in the Indian market is now choosing the optional mode of fuel from electricity. However, Toyota is wooing the government based electricity firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd for designing electric vehicle.

According to a report from the Ministry of Heavy Industries of India, Toyota is on the verge of negotiating with the officials of BHEL for availing subsidy for electric vehicles. The move comes in the wake of earlier moves by the firm on producing electric buses and electric locomotives. Hence there will be an official visit by the team of personnel from BHEL and the Ministry to the camps of Toyota Nagoya in Japan. Prior to Toyota, GM and Nissan-Renault have been on the electric vehicle concept globally. Toyota is on the scene with its Prius hybrid while M&M is running its Reva. However, the major players like Maruti, Hyundai, GM, Tata Motors are all set to step into this EV concept.

The ultimate aim for Toyota is to have a pioneering partner for delivering good vehicles under electric version. The proposal may end up either as a JV or as a sharing of technical set up. BHEL has earlier got a similar offer from Dutch based DHBC BV for availing such facility under Inter-Ministerial Governing Council on EVs. Almost important ministries will come under this purview.

The Indian auto market is gradually gliding towards alternative fuel in the wake of rising fuel costs. To promote such moves, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is offering an incentive of 20% subsidy for electric cars and two wheelers on factory price. The scheme is valid till 2011-12 and the fund allocated is Rs95 crore but on a precondition that there must be a minimum of 30% localized components.

Ford Plans to Start Electric-Car Tests in Germany

2010-01-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

Ford Motor Co. will start a two-year test program of electric Focus compact cars and Transit vans in Germany on Jan. 4 as the U.S. company prepares to introduce battery-powered models as early this year.

The 25 vehicles will be driven under normal traffic conditions in Cologne, where Ford’s European division is based, said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research at Germany’s University of Duisburg-Essen, which is overseeing the 15 million-euro ($22 million) study.

The drivers will include researchers and customers selected by Ford, Dudenhoeffer said today in a telephone interview. Data from the models will be monitored on computers that can simulate testing of more than 10,000 vehicles, he said.

Bernd Meier, a spokesman for Ford in Cologne, said the study is the automaker’s first in mainland Europe. The company is already trying out battery-powered vehicles in London, Meier said.

Ford, the first U.S. automaker to offer a hybrid model, said on Dec. 8 that it may spend $300 million to $500 million on factories in its home state of Michigan to build electric vehicles and batteries. The Dearborn-based company has a target of rolling out an electric-powered version of the Transit Connect commercial van next year, followed by an Ford electric Focus in 2011.

Local utility RheinEnergie AG will supply vehicle-charging stations for the test, which is being financed by the German government’s economic-stimulus package, Dudenhoeffer said.

Electric cars target capital

2009-11-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

London could be awash with electric cars by the middle of the next decade, as PSA Peugeot Citroen admitted it is targeting the capital in a big sales drive for its new iOn and C-Zero models — but only if the Government offers good enough subsidies for motorists to buy them.

The French motor giant said that it intends to put its first mainstream electric cars in London motor showrooms by this time next year.

The company's research and manufacturing chief, Guillaume Faury, told the Evening Standard that a three-year, €3 billion (£2.7 billion) ramp-up will see Peugeot Citroen aiming for 25,000 sales in Europe by 2015.

"We will be targeting big cities with congestion charges and emissions zones," said Faury. "London is naturally an important place for us."

The iOn and C-Zero hatchbacks which are being developed with Mitsubishi of Japan will have an 80-mile range on a single charge.

The most expensive part of the electric cars are their lithium-ion batteries costing around £10,000 each.

Peugeot Citroen is making it plain that its electric cars will not be commercially viable unless there are substantial government subsidies. In the UK, Government incentive schemes being talked about could provide up to £5000 to buy a new electric car.

"Incentive schemes will make or break this technology," said Faury. "We are saying on price that in a pay-per-month finance package the cost of an electric car will be no more expensive than running a conventional car on finance."
Source:[thisislondon.co.uk]

Honda Plans For Electric Car Launches In US & Japan

2009-11-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

According to the head of Honda Motor Co, the automobile major has plans for rolling out Honda electric cars in Europe, Japan as well as the United States. This is an indication of the change in strategy adopted by the Japan's No. 2 automobile manufacturer, while it gears up for the launch of next gen fuel-efficient automobiles.

Honda had earlier scrapped the idea of plug-in electric cars saying that such cars were fit for short-range use, when the costs of batteries are considered. Honda had been projecting hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as the best zero-emission alternative to current gen combustion engine automobiles.

But the automobile major, in a recent statement, had mentioned that the setting up of hydrogen fuelling stations is so slow that it can restrict the sale of automobiles using hydrogen as fuel. It also mentioned that it will have to launch ‘pure’ electric cars for meeting the stringent Californian regulations.

Chief Executive Takanobu Ito said that in addition to the US market, the automaker would consider electric cars for other markets including Europe and Japan.

He mentioned that Honda still believes in hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles would be the final word in car technology, with electric cars being just a medium for achieving the target.
Source:[india-server.com]

Electric cars have bright future in NZ

2009-11-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

Electric vehicles have a bright future in New Zealand and could save the country $8.2 billion over 50 years, according to a new report.

The report, undertaken by Hyder Consulting and jointly commissioned by Contact Energy and Meridian Energy, outlines a cost-benefit assessment of electric vehicles in New Zealand.

Most of the benefit - 91% - comes from decreased operating and maintenance costs to private vehicle owners.

Drivers would save on fuel costs, and there would be less reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Private drivers' benefits would be so high from electric vehicles that demand would most likely exceed available supply until 2030.

Carbon and air pollution savings would contribute $769 million, or 9%.

"With so much of our electricity produced from renewable sources, and so much of our current greenhouse gas emissions coming from transport, electric vehicles offer New Zealand a real opportunity to reduce emissions without compromising on quality of life," Meridian Energy chief executive Tim Lusk said.

Electric vehicles would have other benefits as well that were unable to be quantified such as enhanced energy security, improved stormwater quality, a reduction of noise pollution and balance payments, diminishing demand for offshore oil over time.

"This technology can make a contribution to decreasing our reliance on imported fossil fuels and improve our energy security and self sufficiency," said David Baldwin, contact managing director.

The report argues there will be a $9.4b saving on petrol and a $1.5b saving on diesel over the next 50 years.

However, energy expenses would rise by $1.9b. The report shows the amount of energy consumed if electric vehicles are adopted would increase from nil to 4.7 million MWh by 2059.

Purchase and maintenance would also cost $1.6m, though total private benefits would be $7.4b. Air pollution savings would be $395m.

Contact and Meridian commissioned the report to provide information for future decision making and policy development.

Chrysler Holds Off on Sale of Electric Cars in 2010

2009-11-10T05:42:00.000-08:00

Chrysler has broken up its team of engineers who were rushing to produce the automaker’s lineup of electric vehicles and get them into dealer showrooms. Chrysler Spokesman Nick Cappa said that an in-house team of electric car development engineers had been disbanded in favor of a more traditional organization, Reuters reports.

The announcement comes as Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne unveiled the automaker’s five-year plan last week.
Chrysler's electric vehicle concepts won't be hitting showrooms any time soon, as the automaker has put plans to sell them in 2010 on hold.

Remember that as late as August, Chrysler took $70 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a test fleet of 220 hybrid pickup trucks and minivans. Plans for those vehicles are now scrapped. Chrysler had used its electric car program as part of its case for a $12.5 billion federal aid package.

Chrysler is the only automaker of the six top-selling automakers in the U.S. market without a hybrid vehicle. Chrysler announced in September 2008 that it was developing three electric vehicles and would begin selling the first ones by 2010.

"Until the (battery) storage gets resolved, I think electric vehicles are going to struggle," Marchionne said.
Source:[autoloandaily.com]

Electric cars to be assembled in central New York

2009-10-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Bannon Automotive, LLC, will locate its plug-in electric vehicle manufacturing site in Central New York. The company will invest $26.6 million to open a manufacturing facility in Onondaga County, creating 250 new full-time jobs in three years. Empire State Development (ESD) has offered Bannon a $3 million capital grant to proceed with the project.

“New York’s research infrastructure and manufacturing base will help to drive the automobile industry into a cleaner future, as well as create much-needed jobs in the State,” Governor David Paterson said. “By locating in Central New York, Bannon Automotive is helping to establish our State as the global leader in the clean energy economy and is building on my initiative to accelerate innovation in electric vehicle technology through the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium. The market for both electric cars and new battery technologies is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, and that means jobs for New Yorkers.”

Bannon Automotive CEO Paul Wimer said: “We are proud that we will produce these electric cars for the North American market in the United States. Syracuse’s proximity to half the population of the United States allows us to easily reach key markets for new electric cars that extend well beyond the northeast. Central New York’s position as a national leader in green technology and the support we received from elected officials and economic development agencies were major factors in our decision.”

Bannon will use technology based on that developed by REVA Electric Car Company Private, Ltd., (RECC) to build REVA’s NXR model, which was recently introduced to the public at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. The NXR is a lithium-ion powered electric car, suitable for urban driving, with three doors and four seats. Depending on the model, the hatchback has a top speed of up to 100 mph and can travel up to 120 miles on a single charge. The car can be fully charged in eight hours from a standard outlet or in one-and-a-half hours from a quick-charge station.
Source:[Electric cars assembled in New York]

Electric Vehicles Revive Auto Industry

2009-10-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

Increasing demand for electric vehicles has everyone uttering about alternative fuel solutions. Auto manufacturers have ambitious plans in the coming year to deploy new electric cars that are powered by batteries.

During the past year, the auto industry has faced some dark times, but new Electric Vehicles are about to change all that. A new electric car industry is building and car manufacturers are planning to deploy a new fleet of fuel efficient alternatives. The electric car race is on, and it's been brought to you by the consumer.

Many things have changed during the past year. For example, gas prices soared to new highs in 2008, prompting many consumers to rethink about their transportation needs. This has prompted consumers to trade in their conventional gas vehicles for new hybrids.

In 2009, the economy slid into a recession and the government offered new incentives to help the auto industry while removing some of the old gas-guzzlers from the road. The program, Cash For Clunkers, was a huge success. The program ran out of funding during its first week. Moreover, congress extended the program by adding another $1 billion in funding. Two weeks later, the Cash For Clunkers ran out of funding again.

Sales for Toyota and Honda climbed during the length of the program. The 2010 Toyota Prius and the 2010 Honda Insight made huge gains. However, Ford seemed to benefit the most.

Ford offered the best deal because they still offered a $3,400 hybrid tax credit for the 2010 Ford Fusion. This means that a new car buyer who wanted to trade in their clunker could get up to $4,500 from the clunker rebate, plus get an additional $3,400 government tax incentive. As a matter of fact, several people traded in their Honda and Toyota cars to Ford in order to get in on the hybrid tax credit.

In late 2007, we used to receive emails about the news we wrote on hybrid cars. Most people wrote in and said that the hybrid and electric vehicle technology was laughable. Times changed when gas prices went up during the summer of 2008.

The tone of the emails sent in by consumers changed. People wrote in and started asking what the best hybrid car was. Others wrote in and asked what the driving range was on new electric vehicles. The entire auto industry changed in two years. Most people have done their research and have accepted the idea that hybrid cars and electric vehicles can save them money, reduce our dependency for foreign oil, and they can help our environment.

Amazingly enough, the auto manufacturers like this idea too. They are ramping up the competition and cashing in on this new market of fuel efficiency. Some people have asked why it took so long for the automakers to build electric cars. Most people believe that the technologies weren't available until earlier this year. While some of these explanations are true, but as long as conventional vehicles were selling, why put so much effort into building a car that runs on a very expensive battery?

The good news is, the cost of those lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries are getting cheaper due to higher demand. The more we buy vehicles that have these new batteries, the more the price will come down. There was a time when these batteries were $15,000 and the auto manufacturers just couldn't justify building a $25,000 vehicle and adding all that extra cost to the base price.

Some of these electric batteries today are between $1,500 to $3,500. It just makes better sense to drive electric automobiles and achieve the same commute without using a drop of gasoline. It's a smarter choice.
Source:[newsoxy.com]

Electric Car Plant May Open in Syracuse

2009-10-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

New York State appears to be close to securing one of the nation’s first assembly plants for electric cars.

Reva, an electric car company based in Bangalore, India, plans to work with Bannon Automotive, a new electric car company in Freeport, N.Y., to assemble a three-door plug-in hatchback, the NXR, at a still-to-be-determined site near Syracuse.

The plans were first reported by The Post-Standard, a Syracuse newspaper. Many details remained unclear on Tuesday; an official announcement is expected late in the week.

The NXR was introduced at the Frankfurt auto show in September, one of a new class of small electric cars from scrappy Indian and Chinese companies hoping to beat the big car companies to market. Other Reva electric car models are already on sale in Europe and Asia.

Jeffrey Leonard, a board member of Reva, said that from the beginning the board had understood that “if you’re going to really sell and distribute this car in a big way in the U.S., you should have a production facility here,” for reasons both logistical and political. Speaking on condition of anonymity, officials involved in the discussions said the plant would receive $11.6 million in funding and incentives from New York State, with the companies putting in $26.5 million. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said the project’s backers were also seeking $52 million in loans and loan guarantees from the federal government. He acknowledged that he had been involved in discussions about the plant for several months.

Some of the parts needed for the cars could be made by contract manufacturers, Mr. Leonard said, though he stressed that he was not familiar with the particulars of the New York deal. Final assembly would be carried out by as many as 250 workers in the Syracuse-area factory under a recently negotiated agreement between Bannon and Reva, officials said.

“We have a very good labor force,” Mr. Schumer said. “It’s experienced in manufacturing.”

Efforts to contact Bannon Automotive were unsuccessful. The Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York declined to comment.

Morgan Hook, a spokesman for Gov. David Paterson, said that the deal was “one in a long line of major announcements that the governor has helped make a reality in New York, in driving New York toward a clean energy economy.”

Discussions with Reva and Bannon Automotive began nearly a year ago, according to David Valesky, a state senator from the Syracuse area.

“This is a major victory for upstate New York and for our efforts to grow and attract the green jobs of the new economy,” Mr. Valesky said in an e-mailed statement.

Only a couple of electric car plants exist in the United States, but many are on the drawing board as companies bet that some drivers are ready to make the switch. Fisker Automotive, an American electric car start-up that is making cars in Finland, plans to build its next-generation model in the United States, but it has not said where.

A company called Tesla also expects to announce a site for an assembly plant in Southern California for its forthcoming Model S. It also plans a powertrain plant in Palo Alto, Calif. Tesla already does final assembly for its Roadster at a plant in Menlo Park, Calif.

Toyota’s FT-EV II gives glimpse at electric future

2009-10-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

With new battery technology and a fresh ground-up design the radical FT-EV II concept car from the Tokyo motor show is a vision of tomorrow’s electric car.

The 2009 Tokyo motor show has shed more light on Toyota’s electric future with the unveiling of the FT-EV II concept car that highlights the flexibility of electric vehicle design.

The FT-EV II is an evolution of the original FT-EV concept and gives a glimpse of how an electric-powered city car of the future could look.

Smaller than any Toyota on the market – it’s even smaller than the diminutive iQ hatch that’s on sale overseas – the FT-EV II can accommodate four people in a three-plus-one layout; like the iQ, the fourth seat can accommodate a child or luggage.

Sliding side doors allow easy access and make it easier to get in or out in tight car parks.

The electric motor can travel around 90km at up to 100km/h, making it most useful in the city.

Rather than a conventional steering wheel, Toyota has fitted the FT-EV II with joystick like controls more reminiscent of some aircraft.

Key to the FT-EV II’s space efficiency is careful placement of the battery and electric motor, freeing up space at the front of the car.

Toyota has also paid attention to improving vision with a large windscreen and airy cabin feel.

Even the LED tail lights form part of the rear vision, allowing the driver to see through them when reversing.

Toyota says the FT-EV II assumes that battery technology will advance significantly beyond the current lithium-ion batteries that are finding their way in to electric cars and hybrids and will be used in an electric car to be sold initially in the United States from 2012.

“We are looking ahead of the lithium-ion battery,” said Akihiro Yanaka, Toyota’s project manager for advanced vehicles.

“This vision [the FT-EV II] is a little bit further out in to the future. It assumes more developed forms of batteries, so that’s why it’s more compact and smaller (than other electric cars, including the original FT-EV)”

As part of the push for improved efficiency Yanaka said Toyota is working on improving the efficiency of all ancillary items, such as air-conditioning, with the view to reducing the load on the power source.

“We are trying to have a more effective way of creating comfort. You don’t have to heat up or cool down the entire compartment, but if the person’s body can be heated then that is sufficient.”

Utilities onboard for electric cars

2009-10-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

The nation's electric companies have pledged to pull together and modernize their infrastructure to support plug-in hybrid electric vehicle demand.

The effort will include prepping the power grid for increased electricity use and adding charging stations, said Anthony Earley, CEO of DTE Energy in Detroit.

The utilities also will push for new incentives, such as tax credits and subsidized parking, to encourage consumers to make the switch, said Earley, who also is chairman for the Edison Electric Institute, an industry group for publicly held electric companies.

His remarks came on the final day of "The Business of Plugging In" conference in Detroit, a three-day event that drew more than 600 attendees to the MotorCity Casino-Hotel this week.

While utilities have taken steps independently to prepare for plug-in vehicles, the pledge will allow them to tackle the transition with a unified front.

"It makes it universal," Earley said. "We need to have a national infrastructure so as you drive across country you know your vehicle is supported."

There are no immediate timelines or financial commitments, he said, because many of the logistics have yet to be worked out.

The initiative will focus on several key areas where utilities can improve the framework for plug-in electric vehicles. They include building out an infrastructure that can withstand increased electricity use, educating consumers on plug-in technology and adding electric vehicles to power company fleets.

"This will ease the shift to a more robust charging infrastructure needed to serve full battery electric vehicles long term," Earley added. Unlike plug-in hybrid electrics, full electric vehicles use no gas and emit no carbon tailpipe emissions.

For now, most utilities have the capacity to handle the first wave of plug-in hybrids entering the market. At first, electricity customers may even see electricity rates go down because the added demand will help even out the fixed cost to supply power across a customer base buying more power, Earley said.

But eventually -- with millions of plug-in electrics on the road -- power companies will have to upgrade their grids, not only to handle more demand but also to communicate with the vehicles directly. This could push up rates overtime.

"You then have to build new infrastructure," Earley said, which will require constructing more power plants.

Educating customers on the new technology will also be crucial for fueling sales since many Americans are still confused or reticent about plug-in electric vehicles, said Felix Kramer, founder of the California Cars Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to converting vehicles to electric.

"2010 is an unexplored frontier and our most critical year," Kramer said, speaking at a separate panel discussion. In 2010, some of the first plug-in electric hybrids -- such as General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt -- are expected to hit dealerships.

At the same time, he added, it will take years for the number of plug-in vehicles to hit a point where they make a real dent in carbon emissions, so converting gasoline-only vehicles to electric could also present an enormous business opportunity for entrepreneurs.

Honda May Launch Electric Car In Japan, Europe, US

2009-10-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

The carmaker is expected to display a concept electric car, the EV-N, at the Tokyo Motor Show

Tokyo-based Honda Motor, a manufacturer of cars, is considering the launch of electric cars in the US, Japan and Europe.

Reportedly the company said that the slow progress in setting up hydrogen fueling stations could limit the sale of its fuel-cell vehicles, and that it may need pure electric cars to meet tough regulations in California.

Takanobu Ito, president of Honda, said: “It’s conceivable a convenient commuter vehicle would be applicable for not just the US, but also for the Japanese and European markets.”

The carmaker is expected to display a concept electric car, the EV-N, at the Tokyo Motor Show. Toyota also plans to begin selling fuel-cell cars in 2015 for mid- to long-distance-driving vehicles, including trucks and buses.

Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, and General Motors are the carmakers planning battery-powered autos as environmental concerns spur demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Nissan is expected to start selling its Leaf electric car in 2010, and GM aims to start selling the Chevrolet Volt by November 2010. Toyota plans to begin electric car sales in the US in 2012.

Reva to roll out two new electric cars soon

2009-10-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

The maker of India's sole battery-run car, Reva Electric Car Co., is setting up a second plant in the country's tech hub to roll out two new models next year for domestic and export markets, a top company official has said.

"We are investing Rs 300 million (Rs 30 crore) in the second plant that will eventually have an installed capacity of 30,000 units per annum," Reva co-founder and deputy chairman Chetan Kumar Maini told IANS.

The 14-year-old firm has raised $20 million (Rs 960 million) from global investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Global Environment Fund for this.

The company displayed prototypes of the two models at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show Sep 15-27.

Electric MINI for just £330 per month

2009-09-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

MINI is bringing a limited number of its electric MINI E to the UK and is offering everyone the chance to partake in the research project, with the monthly lease costing £330.

Just 20 examples of the 201bhp electric MINI will be available for lease, for a period of six months from this December, with a further 20 in a second round of applications later in 2010.

Before you rush down to your MINI dealer with credit card in hand, you'll need to know that the applicants will have to meet certain criteria, including their geographical location and the use of a suitable car parking space.

As the project is being run in conjunction with the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, applicants must live in South East England, within a triangular geographical area joining Andover, Oxford and West London.

A suitable place to park the MINI is primarily required so that Southern Electric may install a high power charging that comes with every car. Using this, the MINI E's lithium ion battery pack can be charged in 4.5 hours from empty.

Although MINI had initially set the leasing price at £550 per month, the Technology Strategy Board - the Government-backed organisation that promotes technology innovation across the UK - awarded part of a £25m fund to the project, reducing the price to £330 per month. That price includes VAT, insurance and maintenance. Re-charging the car fully should cost between £1.50 and £4.00.

When MINI invited members of the public to apply to be part of a similar scheme in the USA, the project was significantly oversubscribed and we expect the same to happen in Britain. Go to www.electricmini.co.uk for full details and to apply - you have until the end of September.

Electric cars to be studied in Sullivan County

2009-07-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

It’s a dream that environmentalists have long harbored but that has, so far, remained beyond the reach of typical consumers: a zero emissions fully electric automobile that will be practical enough for everyday use.

It’s still a dream, but it’s moving a bit closer to reality in Sullivan County with a field trial that will be conducted on a fleet of electric cars with the help of Sullivan Renaissance and The Center for Discovery. The organizations have each received seven MINI E electric cars from the BMW Company and will road test the vehicles over the next year.

It’s part of a program that BMW has initiated in the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas to find out how the vehicles perform in real-world conditions.

According to the manufacturer, the MINI E can travel about 120 miles at 65 miles per hour on a single charge, depending on driving style and conditions. The company boasts that the car has the handling style of the popular Mini Cooper. It is powered by an electric motor with the equivalent of 201 horsepower.

The energy supply comes from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which can push the car from 0 to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 95 mph.

According to BMW, the car’s batteries are best recharged with a wall box that is installed in the garages of participants of the study. A full charge from the box takes about three hours.

According to an article in the magazine Wired, the cost of a charge that would take the car 100 miles is less than $5 if the electricty is sold at 18 cents per kilowatt hour. A car that gets 20 miles per gallon, by contrast, would use about $12.50 worth of gas to go that far at current prices.

The cars were unveiled at a press event at Bethel Woods on July 14. In a statement, Jim McDowell, vice president of MINI USA, said there are several hurdles to be overcome before the vehicle is ready for mass production, not the least of which is the lack of high-voltage charging stations where the vehicles could be quickly recharged. Because the cars have a practical range of about 120 miles, participants in the study are limited to trips of 60 miles or less away from the charging boxes.

Still, McDowell and others involved are excited about the development. “As we embark on our field study to determine the viability of electric vehicles, we think it is tremendously beneficial to have The Center for Discovery and the Gerry Foundation driving MINI Es. We are eager to hear feedback from them about the vehicles’ performance in a suburban setting,” he said.

Electric cars key to breaking oil addiction

2009-07-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

The Star asks why the government is providing a special subsidy for vehicles that can be plugged in. The answer is that electric vehicles, along with better public transit and urban planning, are the key to breaking our addiction to dirty oil.

Existing hybrids use electric motors to improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency. This is important, but all of the energy is still coming from gasoline. Plug-in hybrids, and eventually fully electric vehicles, shift the energy source from oil to electricity. In the coming decades, oil will become increasingly dirty as conventional sources are used up and we switch to synthetic crude from the tar sands. Electricity, on the other hand, will become cleaner as we bring wind, solar and geothermal power online, as well as low-impact hydro and biomass.

Electric cars can also ease the integration of renewable power into Ontario's grid because their battery packs can store power from intermittent renewables.

This is the kind of transformation of our energy system we will need if we are to prevent dangerous climate change. The government has a role in supporting the introduction of these new technologies in the marketplace.

Keith Stewart, Director, Climate Change, WWF-Canada, Toronto

I am writing to clarify the McGuinty government's plan to have one in 20 passenger vehicles be electric by 2020. Ontarians are already able to receive up to $2,000 in tax rebates when they purchase hybrid vehicles. To strengthen our economy, now is the time to target the next wave of green vehicles.

To help consumers make the switch and support the automotive industry, we will be offering rebates of $4,000 to $10,000 for plug-in hybrid and battery electric cars.

We are not choosing one company over another; we're implementing this plan to support electric cars, regardless of who makes them. This plan will help put Ontarians into cleaner, more efficient vehicles, expand the market for manufacturers and create jobs.

We want all automotive manufacturers to embrace this strategy to help Ontario become a centre of production for innovative, world-leading automotive technology.
Source:[thestar.com]

Area cities selected for electric car program

2009-07-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

Four San Gabriel Valley cities have hit the jackpot.

Through a lottery, the cities of Diamond Bar, Glendora, Azusa and West Covina were chosen to participate in BMW's pilot program for its first all-electric vehicle, the Mini E.

Each of the municipalities received two of the 200-horsepower Mini Cooper look-alikes at just $10 a month for each. Only 450 of the two-seaters were produced.

At the end of the one-year lease, participants will provide feedback to BMW. It is expected that an all-electric vehicle will be mass produced by 2012.

The study is being conducted in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey. Non-municipal lessees will have to dish out $850 a month for the all-electric vehicles, which can travel up to 150 miles on one battery charge and reach a top speed of 95 mph.

"We thought it would be a win-win situation for everyone," said Glendora City Manager Chris Jeffers, who said it would save the city approximately $500 to $800 on gasoline this year. "For us, it shows our green side as we're trying to be as green as possible. It also allows us to delay purchases for some new vehicles."

The lottery for the cars was coordinated through the Air Quality Management District and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.

According to AQMD Governing Board representative Michael Cacciotti, who represents the Los Angeles County Eastern Region, about 15 cities expressed interest in gaining the vehicles.

"Every exhaust from cars, trucks, whatever vehicle, it releases these terrible things, things that cause cancer, asthma, premature deaths," said Cacciotti, a South Pasadena city councilmember. "Everytime you drive, you're putting that stuff in the air. Alternatives are fun to drive and exciting, and we're going to be saving billions in healthcare costs a year."

He added that the industry is moving much too slowly toward this new technology, which holds many benefits such as low maintence costs, and less reliance on foreign oil.

"Long term, there's a revolution going on around the world and we need to act fast," he said, adding that the United States is falling behind China and Europe.

Cacciotti met with BMW officials a couple months ago and received two Mini E's for the city of South Pasadena. At the same time, he was guaranteed six more. As more became available, additional cities were chosen from the lottery.

West Covina has added the two shiny new cars to its fleet. The Mini E's are being used exclusively by the city's building and code inspectors on a daily basis.

Glendora, on the other hand, is reserving the cars for its two water conservation officers, who go door-to-door and pass out pamphlets encouraging a 10 percent reduction in water use.

Although the city of Diamond Bar hasn't yet put the Mini E's into full use, they will eventually be used for local business-related trips for all city staff and will be on display during city events.

The dark silver car with pale yellow door and dashboard paneling runs on a 573-pound lithium-ion battery that occupies the entire backseat and most of the trunk area.

The city of Diamond Bar currently uses solar-powered charging stations through the AQMD. A full charge takes approximately 26 hours.

But all lessees for the pilot program receive free installation for a high-voltage wall box that reduces charge time to about three hours. Diamond Bar expects to have the new charger installed by this summer.

New Incentives for Electric Cars in Canada

2009-07-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Looking to put some spark in the green car market, Ontario announced that it would be offering consumers subsidies of 4,000 to 10,000 Canadian dollars ($3,600 to $8,900) against the purchase of plug-in hybrid or battery electric cars, starting next July.

In a statement, Premier Dalton McGuinty said the plan “helps get more people behind the wheel of a green vehicle to create jobs, reduce smog and equip Ontario for the 21st century.”

A Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid electric car is coming on line later this year, but the Ontario government owns 3.9 percent of General Motors, so the subsidy is certainly meant to help boost sales of the new Chevrolet Volt, which goes on sale in 2010.

According to The Globe and Mail, “a rebate of $10,000 would reduce the expected price of the Volt to about $30,000 from $40,000, closer to what Americans and Canadians are willing to pay for a mainstream, everyday car.”

Ontario’s electric-vehicle strategy also calls for the development of a charging infrastructure and fleet purchases by provincial government agencies. Electric cars will also be given green license plates and will be eligible to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes at any time, even if there’s only one person in the car.

By 2020, Premier McGuinty said he wants to see electric cars account for one in 20 new vehicle purchases by the end of the next decade. With about 300,000 passenger vehicles sold in Ontario in 2008, according to data from Statistics Canada, Mr. McGuinty’s goal translates into a sales target of about 18,000 electric cars by the end of the next decade.

In other Canadian electric car news, Vancouver’s council last week unanimously passed a bylaw that will require developers of new condos and multi-unit residential complexes to ensure that a fifth of on-site parking spaces have 240-volt electric-vehicle charging stations. The council also supported a pilot project for public charging sites.

Vancouver is the first North American city to directly link development rules to an electric-vehicle infrastructure, local media reported.

While the charge stations will cost $900 to $1,300 each, some builders are concerned that the municipality may be betting on the wrong technology.

“We are always supportive of going green and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we want to make sure that this is the right green-car technology,” Jeff Fisher, the deputy executive director of the Urban Development Institute, told The Vancouver Sun. “There are a number out there. We have had hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and concepts like the ‘hydrogen highway’ for some time. We feel it might be premature to mandate this.”
Source:[nytimes.com]

Nissan to produce electric cars in Britain

2009-07-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Nissan will on Monday make an announcement on electric car production in Britain - the second of its kind by a global automaker in less than a week.

Toyota yesterday confirmed plans to build a hybrid petrol-electric version of its Auris hatchback in Burnaston, Derbyshire, from the middle of next year.

Nissan would not comment on its plans ahead of Monday's announcement. However, industry sources said it concerned electric cars, which the Japanese carmaker and its partner Renault plan to launch in the US and Japan from next year and globally from 2012.

In April the European Investment Bank approved up to €400m ($565m, £345m) for Nissan - to be split between its operations in Britain and Spain - for the "accelerated introduction in the market of low-carbon-emission vehicles".

Nissan is Britain's largest carmaker by production volume. Its plant in Sunderland in north-east England has 4,200 employees and is the region's largest single-site employer.

Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, is due to address Nissan's employees on plans to create a "low-carbon economic area" in the north-east, including a research and development centre and technology park for automotive suppliers.

The government's policies on the car industry were criticised this week by MPs as Jaguar Land Rover, Britain's biggest luxury car producer, announced more job cuts.

The House of Commons business and enterprise committee yesterday slammed the government for failing to have disbursed "one single penny" from its £2.3bn automotive assistance programme announced in January.

Jaguar Land Rover remains locked in long-running talks with the government on state guarantees for a £340m loan the company says it needs to develop lower-emission cars. The company said this week that it was cutting 300 more jobs as it discontinues production of its X-Type model in Halewood, -Merseyside.

Speaking at Toyota's plant yesterday, Lord Mandelson said that the government's low-carbon strategy, launched this week, would "set out to make Britain the best place in the world to develop low-carbon vehicles". Ministers also want General Motors to produce its battery-powered Volt in the UK.

Toyota said the hybrid Auris would safeguard 400 jobs at Burnaston and Deeside, North Wales, where engines for the cars will be produced.

Toyota is one of several large manufacturers based in or near Derby that have fuelled above-average growth in incomes and the local economy. However, the cluster has been weakened by the recession and by the government's decision to award a large order of trains to a consortium led by Hitachi of Japan rather than to a Derby factory owned by Bombardier of Canada.
Source:[ft.com]

Electric cars could dominate U.S. roads in 2030

2009-07-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Electric car sales could jump to 86 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales in 2030 if consumers don't have to buy batteries themselves, according to a University of California, Berkeley study to be released on Monday.

A company called Better Place and emerging rivals plan to offer pay-per-mile plans, similar to cell phone minutes. A family would buy a car but Better Place would own the battery, offer charging stations, and swap out batteries as needed to extend the driving range.

The cost of building charging systems will be more than $320 billion over the next couple of decades, although health-related savings due to less vehicle pollution could be $210 billion, according to the study by economist Thomas Becker.

The main benefit to drivers would be cars with price tags and operating costs similar to or less than gasoline models.

Renault-Nissan is making cars for the Better Place project. Better Place has said its system would be cheaper than using gasoline. The Berkeley analysis predicted the per-mile cost of making and charging batteries, including the cost of building a charging system, would be similar to or sharply less than a gasoline car, depending largely on whether prices of petrol rise.

Tesla slashes production costs, eyes July profit

2009-06-27T01:42:00.000-07:00

Electric car start-up Tesla Motors Inc has slashed production costs for its flagship Roadster sports car by 43 percent to about $80,000 per vehicle as of June, its chief executive said on Monday.

Tesla, one of the biggest players in the burgeoning electric car sector, could be profitable as soon as next month, helped by demand for its premium-priced Roadster Sport, CEO Elon Musk said in a blogpost on the company's web site.

"Combined with a steady production volume of 20 to 30 per week in the third quarter this year and a good take-up rate of the higher priced Roadster Sport, we expect to cross over into profitability next month," Musk wrote.

Tesla had said earlier this year that it expected to be profitable by the middle of 2009.

In his blog post, Musk said the Roadster's production costs had dropped to $80,000 from about $140,000 in 2007, the year before it began delivering the Roadster. The vehicle sells for more than $100,000.

Most of Musk's lengthy blog post, however, was devoted to shooting down the merits of a lawsuit filed by former Tesla CEO Martin Eberhard, who was removed from the company's top spot in 2007 and later forced out as Tesla faced cost overruns and production delays.

In his May complaint, Eberhard said Musk had sought to take credit for the idea behind Tesla and had defamed him in media interviews after orchestrating Eberhard's ouster.

In his blog post, Musk said Eberhard was only fired after the company learned that the cost of the Roadster would be about $140,000, more than twice what Eberhard had promised. Musk also said Eberhard had tried to hide the true production cost from the board of directors.

"It would have been forgivable if Eberhard had simply been in over his head and didn't know how bad it was," Musk wrote. "However, here we had a situation where he was in possession of materially negative information, yet failed to inform the board and implied to the management team that they would lose their jobs if the information was discovered by the board."

Musk, who made billions founding eBay Inc's PayPal online payment service before starting Tesla, also said the company would soon be responding to the lawsuit in court.

Tesla unveiled in March its newest product, the $49,900 Model S four-door family sedan, which it said was the first highway-ready electric vehicle within the price range of most car buyers.

Last month, German luxury car maker Daimler AG paid about $50 million for a 10 percent stake in Tesla, expanding its presence in the growing market for low- and no-emissions cars.

California, with its strict emissions regulations, is a hotspot for the evolving electric vehicle market. Tesla is vying with a coterie of start-ups, including Coda Automotive, that are developing automobiles for a wider American consumer market.

Electric cars trialled in cities

2009-06-27T01:20:00.000-07:00

Electric cars are to be trialled in two cities in the West Midlands.

Over the next 12 months 110 electric cars and plug-in petrol-electric hybrids will be tested in Birmingham and Coventry.

The two cities will get a share of a £25m government grant so electrical points can be installed for drivers to charge up their vehicles.

Electric and other low carbon vehicles are being tested in eight separate projects across the UK.

People in the West Midlands are also being invited to take part in research trials of 100 smart electric cars.

A Transport Strategy Board spokesman said the trials were the biggest step to date of a co-ordinated and holistic approach to getting electric cars onto the roads.

Are Batteries in Electric Cars Safe?

2009-06-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Automakers are pressing ahead with plans for hybrids and electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries, but at what risk?

Next month will mark another important milestone on the road to cleaner, greener motoring: Mitsubishi Motor will begin mass-producing an electric vehicle, becoming the first major carmaker in the world to do so. By late July, the Tokyo-based automaker will deliver its $48,000 electric i-MiEV minicar to businesses and local governments. The car, which runs 160 kilometers on a charge, will be available to Japanese consumers in the coming months. They will pay just $33,000 thanks to a Japanese government subsidy, but likely won't drive their cars off dealers' lots until April 2010. "With the electric vehicle, we will challenge global players," Mitsubishi Motors President Osamu Masuko told reporters at the i-MiEV's official launch in Tokyo on June 4.

Other automakers have similar ideas. Subaru, a unit of Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries, plans to sell 170 of its $48,000 plug-in Stella electric cars this year. Nissan Motor will release its first model in 2010 and plans to start production in the U.S. by 2012. China's BYD Auto, which has been selling a plug-in gas-electric hybrid car to businesses since December, aims this year to release an electric vehicle that can go 300km to 400km when charged. The release of General Motors' long-awaited Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is slated for late 2010. To help automakers fund their green car programs, the U.S. Energy Dept. on June 23 divvied up $8 billion in loans to Nissan, Ford Motor (F), and electric-car startup Tesla Motors.

Yet even as carmakers race to showcase these green vehicles, some experts are raising concerns about their safety. The worst-case scenario: thermal runaway, which can happen when a short circuit inside a battery sparks a chain reaction, causing overheating or a fire. In mobile phones, laptops, and other portable gadgets, thermal runaway can occur in 1 of every 5 million to 10 million cells, says Brian Barnett, a battery expert at technology firm Tiax in Cambridge, Mass. The incidence can be higher for the products of less experienced battery makers, he says. A laptop battery usually has six cells, but electric cars will likely rely on 75 or 80 cells, meaning they would be more susceptible to problems. Another difference: Cars move at high speeds and carry passengers. "It's not going to happen all that frequently, but the consequences could be catastrophic," says Barnett.

There's a big difference in power, too. And defects might not crop up right away. Laptops were on the market for years before the first reports surfaced about overheating products that burst into flames. Sony's (SNE) recall of millions of computer batteries took place just three years ago.

Nissan's Stress Tests

Carmakers insist that safety is a top priority. Nissan got an early start on battery research, collaborating with Sony to develop the first lithium-ion batteries for cars in the early 1990s. (Recently, Nissan has been working with Japanese tech conglomerate NEC) The carmaker is planning to make an initial 50,000 electric vehicles in 2010, and will quickly increase production to begin worldwide sales by 2012.

To test for safety, Nissan relies on a series of stress tests. In one, the battery is put to use in extreme heat and cold. In another, the battery is charged and depleted nonstop for weeks. To simulate crashes, engineers crush the battery cells with enormous force or pierce the cells in different spots with nails. The data will help Nissan make "extremely reliable" batteries, says Hideaki Horie, who heads Nissan's next-generation battery group.

To increase safety, manufacturers are reinforcing the frame around the batteries. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV's batteries (made by Kyoto-based GS Yuasa) are protected by both the car's rigid steel skeleton and a second anti-impact cage. On-board computers will help monitor the battery's condition.

Current gas-electric hybrids such as the Toyota Prius run on nickel metal-hydride batteries. Many carmakers and tech firms are betting that an array of new lithium-ion batteries will be better suited for electric vehicles because they store about twice the energy per charge compared to nickel-metal batteries of equal weight. Companies are also hoping that costs can be lowered.

Some industry executives concede that lithium-ion batteries might need more time before they're ready. Questions about the reliability of the batteries prompted Toyota (TM) to stick with nickel metal-hydride batteries in its third-generation Prius, which dealers in Japan began selling this month. Toyota is planning to lease a small number of plug-in Prius hybrids powered by li-ion batteries this year and is developing a fully electric car for 2012.

The Mass-Production Question

Developing a li-ion battery that's technically sound isn't the problem. Plenty of manufacturers already have the expertise to do that, says Koei Saga, a managing officer at Toyota in charge of hybrids. Safety becomes an issue when carmakers shift to high-volume production. "If we mass-produce, we have to be able to ensure 100% safety for every single product," Saga told reporters during a tour at a factory owned by Toyota's battery supplier, Panasonic EV Energy, earlier this month. To avoid defects, manufacturers must be meticulous in designing and building their plants—and that can cost a lot, Saga said. Perhaps tellingly, Toyota will only lease—not sell—its li-ion-powered plug-in Prius, and says it will limit initial production to 500 units.

Even if the battery works properly, other parts might fail. The vehicle's control system, which monitors energy storage and discharge, could go haywire. And unlike the two-year life span of batteries for mobile phones, car batteries need to last 10 years or longer. "In batteries for laptops or cameras, everyone just assumes that after using any portable gadget for a while the battery will wear down and may only recharge to two-thirds of its original capacity," says Nissan's Horie. "You can't design a car battery that way."

It's debatable whether carmakers can do enough real-world testing to ensure safety. It will take time for even the top manufacturers to gain confidence about mass-producing batteries. Some worry that the rush to build plug-ins and electric cars may come back to haunt automakers. Tiax's Barnett says there's no industry consensus about what causes batteries to overheat or catch fire, and that analyzing the debris after an accident might not help, either. Trying to replicate or test for a condition that's isolated to a few cells of a new type of battery, says Barnett, "represents a tremendous challenge for the battery industry."

That Nissan and NEC plan to mass-market globally li-ion EV battery packs by 2012 puts some experts at ease. "If there is any concern about its safety, they would absolutely not be able to say that," says Hideaki Miyata, a professor at the University of Tokyo's School of Engineering Department of Systems Innovation.
Source:[businessweek.com]

Electric Cars for the Middle Class

2009-06-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

It appears that companies are realizing that zero emission electric vehicles should not just be for the “rich”. In May, Nissan announced that it would begin electric cars in the U.S. to be available in 2010. This week, they announced they would mass produce a zero-emissions electric car by 2012 that would be affordable. However, during a Nissan shareholder’s call Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn refused to speculate on the sticker price.

According to an Associated Press article, Ghosn said, “If it’s not affordable, it’s not gonna work. We are not going to come with a very high price. We are gonna come with a reasonable price,” he said. “We are here to mass market them.”

What I want to know is what the company will consider affordable now that America’s economic turmoil continues to spiral downward.

Nissan plans to produce an electric vehicle for Japan this August and then set its sites on America. Ghosn did confirm that Nissan plans to have the zero emission vehicles manufactured in America. This is great news for all the skilled auto workers who are out of work.

Now while all electric vehicles are seeming to gain traction in the U.S. it appears that hybrid vehicles are beginning to gain some traction overseas. The Indian company Tata Motors is capitalizing on success with the petrol-efficient Nano to build electric and hybrid cars with their first electric car to be sold in the Netherlands.

In addition, Hyundai and Kia, both Korean car makers, are also planning to compete against Toyota and Honda by entering the hybrid and electric market. Mitsubishi recently announced it will begin mass producing the I-MiEV and is expected to hit the market next month.

With oil prices trending upward, and worldwide government incentives on the rise for alternative vehicles, especially utilizing electric and hybrid technologies, it looks like the race is on to see who can mass produce and sell the most electric and hybrid vehicles the fastest.

Nissan to Build Massive Electric Car Factory in US

2009-06-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

Nissan has announced plans to launch the large-scale production of electric cars and batteries in the United States, with a massive 50 billion Yen ($516 million) facility in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The site will be capable of knocking-out an impressive 50,000 to 100,000 EVs by 2012, with investment possibly DOUBLING to 100 billion Yen (more than $1 Billion).

The Japanese outfit, fast becoming a forerunner in the race to the mass roll-out of EVs worldwide, aims to tap into low-interest loans for the production of greener vehicles as part of the US government's package to support the auto industry.

The first model produced at the new plant is expected to be a small passenger car.

Nissan also plans to build a high-capacity lithium ion battery production facility at the Smyrna site in partnership with fellow Japanese company NEC Corp.
Source:[reuters.com]

Nissan's new electric car to create 1,300 jobs in Smyrna, Tennessee

2009-06-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Nissan Motor Co. plans to create 1,300 jobs in Smyrna, Tenn., when it begins manufacturing its new zero-emission car, officials said Tuesday.

The Japanese automaker, whose North American headquarters are in Franklin, Tenn., says it will roll out the first electric car in Japan on Aug. 2 and begin selling the vehicles next year. Plans to mass produce the car will begin in 2012.

The plant’s output will be around 100,000 cars per year but will rise to 150,000 when at full production.

The all-electric car will be able to drive 100 miles solely off of a battery.

Chief executive Carlos Ghosn said the company is moving toward a zero-emission platform. He did not explain specifics, but says the price of the vehicle will be “very reasonable.”

“If it’s not affordable, it’s not going to work,” Ghosn said.

Nissan accepted a $1.6 billion loan from the U.S. Energy Department to make the batteries and retool its factory in Smyrna. The loan initiative began to help automakers meet the 35 miles-per-gallon fuel-efficiency benchmark by 2020.

Ghosn said the market for hybrid cars remains small. The vehicles accounted for 2.3 percent of the American auto market in 2008 and 1 percent globally.

The Energy Department announced Tuesday $8 billion in loans to Ford, Nissan and Tesla to spur development of more fuel efficient vehicles.

Ford Motor Co. will get $5.9 billion to transform factories across the country to make more fuel efficient vehicles. Tesla Motors Inc., of San Carlos, Calif., got $465 million to manufacture electric vehicles.

"By supporting key technologies and sound business plans, we can jumpstart the production of fuel efficient vehicles in America,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu, said in a statement. “These investments will come back to our country many times over – by creating new jobs, reducing our dependence on oil and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Advanced Vehicle Technology Program is part of the $789 billion economic stimulus package the federal government passed in January.

Feds lend Tesla $465 million to build electric car

2009-06-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

The Obama Administration will lend Tesla Motors $465 million to build an electric sedan and the battery packs needed to propel it. It's one of three loans totaling almost $8 billion that the Department of Energy awarded Tuesday to spur the development of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy is also lending $5.9 billion to Ford to retool factories in five states. Nissan will receive $1.6 billion to refurbish a factory in Tennessee to produce electric cars.

The loans are the first awarded under the $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program to help automakers offset the cost of retooling to build eco-friendlier cars that are at least 25 percent more fuel-efficient than 2005 models.

"We have a historic opportunity to help ensure that the next generation of fuel-efficient cars and trucks are made in America," the president said in a statement. "These loans -- and the additional support we will provide through the Section 136 programs -- will create good jobs and help the auto industry to meet and even exceed the tough fuel-economy standards we've set while helping retain our competitive edge in the world market."

The Obama Administration announced last month that it is raising fuel-efficiency standards from the current average of 27.5 miles per gallon to 35 miles per gallon by 2016. Chu said the loans will help automakers achieve that goal.

"The American innovation machine, when it revs up, is the greatest in the world," he said during a press conference at Ford's headquarters in Detroit, according to the Detroit News. "Today, we're putting that engine into gear."

Tesla said its share of the pie will help get the Model S sedan (pictured) on the road by the end of 2011.

"We are honored to receive one of the first loan awards in this program," company CEO Elon Musk said. "I'm confident we'll put the money to very productive use. We look forward to producing the Model S."

Tesla has long been counting on the loan to help it build the sedan it unveiled in March and had been in discussions with the agency for about nine months. It had sought $350 million to retool a factory to build the car and $100 million to manufacture battery packs and drivetrain components. Those packs and components will be used in vehicles built by Tesla and other automakers most notably Daimler, which recently bought nearly 10 percent of Tesla to jump-start development of the Smart EV.

Musk said the money will be disbursed on a monthly basis. Repayment will commence within one year of the start of Model S production and the loan must be repaid by 2022.

"There are incentives for early repayment," he said, without elaborating, "and I suspect we will have repaid the loan well before 2022."

There's still no word on where the factories will be located, but Musk said they most likely will be in California. An announcement could come as early as next month, he said. As for the Model S, Musk said it could share components with Mercedes sedans now that Daimler has a stake in Tesla.

"There's a possibility the car will use a Mercedes-derived suspension and other components such as safety systems, crash structures, interior fit and finish," he said. "There are a number of areas where Daimler can be quite helpful."

Musk said Daimler's investment in Tesla coupled with the federal loan and revenue from the Roadster leaves the company "in pretty good shape" financially. Tesla has gotten the cost of goods for the Roadster the materials and labor cost to build the car down to about $80,000 and the company expects to be profitable in July, he said. The company has delivered more than 500 Roadsters and received more than 1,200 refundable deposits at $5,000 apiece for the Model S.

Ford was the big winner, walking away with a promise of $5.9 billion in loans through 2011. The automaker says it will use the money to retool 11 factories in five states to build more-efficient gasoline engines and electric cars. It also will use the money to convert two truck factories to automobile production. Ford has said it will have an EV by 2011, and it plans to spend $14 billion on advanced technology during the next seven years. It expects to begin drawing on the government loan within 35 days.

"This is the kind of partnership that will help American manufacturing not just survive, but thrive," company president Alan Mulally said after Chu announced the loans at Ford's headquarters in Detroit, according to the Detroit Free Press. "Ford intends to be the fuel-economy leader."

Nissan is charging ahead with plans to put an electric car in showrooms next year. Although the first cars will be built in Japan, Nissan says it will use the $1.6 billion loan to retool a factory in Smyrna, Tennessee, to take over production by 2012. Construction on the factory is slated to begin by the end of the year. Nissan says the factory will employ 1,300 people and build 50,000 to 100,000 cars at full production.

"This loan is an investment in America," Dominique Thormann, a senior vice president at Nissan North America, said in a statement. "It will help us put high-quality, affordable zero-emissions vehicles on our roads. This project will expand our Smyrna plant, and that's great economic news."

Chu said the Obama Administration hopes to disburse the loans quickly.

More than 100 companies ranging from General Motors to Aptera Motors are seeking funding through the program. The government is expected to announce recipients for the remainder of the $25 billion program next year. The DOE did not disclose the terms of the loans.

Free electric cars?

2009-06-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

Residents who buy electric cars may be able to get their money refunded to them in the form of tax credits.

According to Roger Gaddis, who co-owns Ada Electric Cars along with wife Leigh and friends Jerry and Linda Rising, some may be able to get the entire purchase price returned to them.

“If you are a state and federal taxpayer, the purchase of some models could become absolutely free, after both credits apply,” Gaddis said. “Everyone who pays taxes should own one!”

The Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) was previously offering a 50 percent tax credit for qualifying vehicles to those who pay state tax.

“Now that’s not a deduction,” Gaddis said. “That’s a tax credit, which means you get back dollar for dollar for taxpayers. They can get back half of their money as a tax credit.”

In response to an inquiry by Gaddis in 2008, the OTC informed him the vehicles he sells qualify for the 50 percent credit because they are street legal and are primarily designed for use on streets and highways and are not golf carts or go carts.

“Because of the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) and the Stimulus Bills that have passed this year, we just got the final interpretation from the engineers and the tax attorneys from the manufacturer we work with, the federal government has in play now, a tax credit that ranges anywhere from $4,100 per unit up to $5,300 per unit.”

Gaddis said one of their favorite vehicles sells for $8,000.

“The state credit is 50 percent — that’s 4,000 bucks,” Gaddis said. “The federal credit on that particular car is $4,400, which makes the car free. Is that about the coolest thing you’ve ever heard?”

Gaddis cautions there may be some who will not qualify such as those who don’t pay taxes and alternative minimum taxpayers (AMT).

“If a person is an alternative minimum taxpayer, if you basically have so many deductions and credits that you’re paying less tax than you deserve to anyway then the credits get watered down a little bit,” Gaddis said.

Like gasoline vehicles, the electric cars can be tagged and insured. They are street legal wherever the speed limit is 35 miles -per-hour or less.

“The vehicles can travel up to 30 miles per charge, and use no gasoline,” Gaddis said.

The vehicles run on batteries and have an on-board charger which plugs into any 110 volt outlet. Gaddis was very surprised to find these credits.

“We fell into this sliver where the federal government is wanting to support the idea of energy efficiency, things going green, less dependency on oil and fuels and they’re trying to subsidize helping people to convert over to wind energy, solar energy and in this case , electric cars,” Gaddis said. “Our vehicles are up the scale far enough that they qualify for the credits, but they’re down the scale far enough that they’re inexpensive enough where the credits will actually fully cover.

Ada Electric Cars recently moved from north Broadway to 901 Arlington. More information about the electric cars is available at www.adaelectriccars.com

Superconductors power electric cars

2009-06-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

Japanese giant Sumitomo Electric has developed a prototype car which uses a superconducting motor.

That's according to nikkei.net, which has details of a prototype car fitted into a Toyota sedan.

The wire said that the superconducting motor has a liquid nitrogen cooling device and can chug along for 100 kilometers at a top speed of 85KPH just on one charge.

Superconducting wires can, in theory, carry 200 times more electric current than copper wires.

The motor includes six sets of superconducting coils made of bismuth and other metals including strontium and copper. The project has been 10 years in the making and is attracting interest from a number of major manufacturers, said nikkei.net.

A number of other electric machinery manufacturers are developing motors for car manufacturers, nikkei.net said, here.

http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/e/ac/tnks/Nni20090626D24HH416.htm

Tesla Motors to begin Model S electric car production in 2011

2009-06-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

The United States Department of Energy announced Tuesday the recipients of the first phase of its Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program totaling $8 billion. This program is intended to foster development of advanced, fuel efficient vehicles and has been allotted a total of $25 billion to be apportioned among various manufacturers with achievable and promising business models. The recipients of this phase include Ford Motor Company with $5.9 billion, Nissan North America at $1.6 billion and California based startup company Tesla Motors, with $465 million.

Tesla plans to apply $365 million of the loan proceeds to construct a plant for mass production of its Model S sports sedan, which it unveiled earlier this year. It expects to complete the factory by 2011, and to be manufacturing as many as 20,000 cars annually by 2013. While the sticker price is quite steep at $49,900 after the $7,500 tax credit, Tesla says that taking maintenance, fuel and sales tax savings into account (there are no sales taxes on electric vehicles), the overall cost is roughly comparable to that of a conventional, gas guzzling vehicle with a $35,000 sticker price. Still beyond what most Americans can afford, but that's always the case when new technologically advanced products first appear in the marketplace. Remember when flat panel televisions cost $20,000 just a few years ago?

Furthermore, the Model S is no ugly duckling or slouch on the road, as many believe all-electrics are. This sleekly styled, richly appointed automobile can zoom from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds, has a top speed of 120 mph, seats five adults and two children with rear-facing pull down seats, and holds more luggage than a conventional sedan because of the placement of its battery pack and the relatively small size of the motor, with no need for bulky transmissions or exhaust systems. And of course, there is no annoying engine noise.

With the other $100 million of the loan package Tesla will build a second plant, this for the manufacture of battery packs and electric drive trains for other car manufacturers. When completed, both factories will provide a total of 1650 new green jobs.

German luxury carmaker Daimler AG announced in May that it planned to acquire a 10% interest in Tesla Motors so as to take advantage of its technology for use in its Smart Car and Mercedes Benz lines. This should provide additional credibility and confidence in Tesla Motors.

The Tesla Motors website is updated continuously and contains a wealth of information, photos, and videos on its two electric cars, the Model S and the sports Roadster, including test drive reviews. I highly recommend it. This company could be what America needs to get back on top of the automobile business. Detroit is simply too stodgy and set in its ways to compete with Japanese, German and other foreign companies, I'm afraid.

An Electric Car With Chinese Roots

2009-06-25T02:06:00.000-07:00

Add one more to the growing list of small private electric-car companies: Coda Automotive, a new brand started by Miles EV, a company that’s been selling low-speed electric vehicles from China for about four years.

The Coda sedan was unveiled last week in Santa Monica, Calif. It is based on the Saibao, a gas-powered car built by the Hafei Automobile Group, a state-owned company in China. The chassis was originally developed by Mitsubishi (which licenses it to Hafei). According to Coda, Hafei sells 200,000 cars a year and has delivered more than a million units since it was established in 2006.

Coda addressed Chinese quality questions by giving the Saibao a big makeover. The electric version had a front and rear redesign by Porsche, a partner, as well as considerable re-engineering to accommodate the battery drive and meet United States safety standards. “We think we have the right combination of existing automotive know-how and a mass-manufacturing partner,” said Kevin Czinger, Coda’s chief executive. Other suppliers include Delphi and EnergyCS.

Mr. Czinger said the core of the Coda is an lithium-ion battery system developed in a joint venture with the Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Company, a supplier to Apple, Motorola and Samsung. Mr. Czinger said that the Coda’s 700-pound, 33.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack is purpose-built for auto applications, with 728 cells (compared with more than 6,000 in the Tesla Roadster) in modules of seven. The battery joint venture will be 40 percent owned by Coda and 60 percent by Lishen.

Coda said the new sedan would have a cruising range of 90 to 120 miles and a recharging time of less than six hours from 220-volt service. Zero to 60 will take less than 11 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 80 miles an hour. The purchase price will be $45,000, and buyers could receive a $7,500 federal tax credit and state incentives.

On Monday, Coda said it was applying for an undisclosed amount of Department of Energy stimulus funds to build a battery plant in Enfield, Conn., as part of a joint venture with Connecticut-based Yardney Technical Products, which makes aerospace batteries. According to William Yalen, a program manager, Yardney has conducted research on automotive applications, but has not built auto batteries. He said the Enfield factory was scheduled to be operating next year.

Coda may be a small company, but it has big ambitions. The sedan will be introduced next year in a dealer-free, California-only marketing strategy that will depend on the Internet to get the word out. Test rides will be available. The company said it will have the capacity to build 2,700 cars in 2010 (starting in June) and 20,000 a year starting in 2011. That, of course, would be quite an ambitious number for an electric start-up.

Norwich could pioneer electric cars

2009-06-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

NORWICH could be among the first cities in the country to pioneer the wider use of electric cars, with officials planning to register an interest in a national scheme.

The government announced a £250m vision to get more drivers into electric cars, with £20m put aside to foster a core of cities and regions interested in developing an infra-structure to charge electric vehicles.

Council bosses are finding out more about the scheme and now, in a separate move, an initial feasibility study is to be carried out in the city to find out how viable it is and how much of an impact it will make on emissions.

Marcus Armes, from the CRed carbon reduction campaign, which is based at the University of East Anglia, said: “The concept of Norwich as a pioneering city for low-carbon electric vehicles is a really exciting one, and CRed is keen to see this opportunity grasped by the local councils and business community.

“However, we need to ensure that the city and its environs are appropriate for a possible government-funded pilot programme of electric vehicles, and that the scheme will lead to carbon savings. With these points in mind, we are undertaking a brief scoping study to be carried out by a local student of the feasibility of Norwich becoming a pilot city for electric vehicle use.”

The student is sponsored by the Nuffield Foundation, which provides a bursary for talented youngsters to carry out a research project with practising scientists.

Currently, electric car owners can get free parking permits in Norwich and can recharge their vehicles at both Chapelfield Shopping Centre and The Mall, Norwich.

Mitsubishi Plans Five More Electric Cars

2009-06-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Mitsubishi’s chief executive, Shin Kurihara, introduced a left-hand-drive version of the i-MiEV electric car at the New York auto show in April.

Mitsubishi announced earlier this month that its i-MiEV electric car would cost $45,660, and Wheels readers raised their eyebrows at the high price for the tiny car. Even with a $14,000 credit from the Japanese government, the car would be expensive for what it is — a small city car with a battery range of 75 to 100 miles.

“These companies better get real about their prices, unless they are including a lifetime supply of batteries,” wrote Dick.

“That sum is about equal to the retail value of all three of my existing cars when they were brand new,” wrote Steve O.

It looks as if Mitsubishi is well aware of the i-MiEV’s sticker shock. The Nikkei reports (via Bloomberg News) that the Japanese company is working on a cheaper electric car with a target price of $31,000 (or $17,000 after Japanese credits), which it plans to bring to market by 2012.

According to Green Car Congress, which also cites the Nikkei, Mitsubishi has plans for an additional five electric cars by the end of the 2013 fiscal year. These include a left-hand-drive i-MiEV by the 2010 fiscal year for the European market (and later the American market); an electric commercial vehicle in the 2010 fiscal year; a larger electric car; a sportier version of the i-MiEV; and a plug-in hybrid S.U.V. by the 2013 fiscal year.

Mitsubishi is the only major automaker producing electric cars in any volume, if you consider volume 1,400 i-MiEVs — four-seaters — by next spring. In a statement released this month, Mitsubishi said its goal was to have 20 percent of its production volume be E.V.’s by 2020.

Chinese firm to make electric cars

2009-06-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation is tying up with a Dutch-based company to develop and manufacture electric cars.

Detroit Electric Holdings, a start-up company that owns the electric drive technology to be used in the cars, plans to license it to Dongfeng for testing and use in its electric vehicles, CEO Albert Lam said.

The two companies are also discussing forming a joint venture to manufacture, assemble, produce and supply the Detroit Electric's electric drive technology to the Dongfeng Group and other vehicle manufacturers.

Financial details of the tie-up were not announced. Nor was there any word on when they hoped to produce the vehicles.

Mr Lam said the deal would be similar in scope to Detroit Electric's agreement with Malaysian carmaker Proton for producing electric vehicles for export.

If it succeeds, Detroit Electric would be among the first to mass-produce an electric car driven purely by a noiseless battery-powered motor, unlike current hybrid engines that combine petrol engines and electric motors.

"The more I learn, the more I believe the electric car is the future," said Mr Lam.

Detroit Electric said its electric drive systems will enable extended-range models to travel up to 200 miles on a single charge.
Source:[Google News]

Electric Cars Will Flourish In 2010

2009-06-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

New electric cars in 2010 will offer better fuel economy and green technologies.

The new electric cars coming to market are meeting new government standards for carbon emissions and fuel economy. Some of the new electric cars already offer up to 50 MPG, but that's nothing in comparison to what will happen in 2011. Automakers are making serious advancements under the hood that will make hybrid cars in 2010 appear too conventional.

For example, the Toyota Prius can offer consumers a 50 MPG rating in combined fuel economy. The automobile offers better mileage with enhanced performance in comparison to current hybrids. The vehicle outputs ultra-low emissions and the ride is very comforting.

The electric motor is called a permanent magnet synchronous motor which can out put 80 horsepower with a 153 lb-ft torque. The Hybrid system net outputs 134 horsepower. The hybrid battery pack is nickel-metal hydride.

The vehicle also requires no belts under the hood for better fuel economy and less potential maintenance. This is one of the reasons why this is an eco-friendly car. The driver can also receive feedback, from the multi-information display panel, which can provide help to acquire economical driving habits.

New cars that run electric can save money and on future maintenance and repairs.

Electric cars can also money on potential maintenance costs involved with belt replacements. Most automobiles seem to offer 3 tiers of savings. First, you save money on gas, then you save money on future maintenance costs and repairs, and you get a tax credit for purchasing a new electric automobile.

The more you look into the electric battery alternative fuel solution, the more the savings keep adding up. Why buy a traditional gas guzzling vehicle when gas prices are rising again?

During the past 12 months or so, it seemed unlikely that an automaker could provide a 50 MPG rating on any automobile. It suddenly happened, and then we witnessed the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid achieve more than 1,400 miles of travel on a single tank. This marks the equivalent of 80 miles per gallon.
Electric cars are built using green technology and other breakthroughs for better fuel economy.

The automakers truly deserve credit for their breakthroughs in green technology and better fuel economy. While Chevrolet is betting everything on its Chevy Volt, other car manufacturers appear to be a step ahead. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Ford are delivering what consumers what today, but it seems like General Motors Corp is in a do-or-die situation.

GM claims that the Chevrolet Volt can drive up to 100 MPG on a single tank of gas. It's not known what percentage of that is electric power, or the size of the tank. Even so, using fuel to power vehicles will be something of the past as the hybrid market matures.

Everything Old is New Again--Even Electric Cars

2009-06-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

As the automobile companies continue to wrestle with ways to stay in business and build more relevant, energy-efficient cars, new designs for electric cars as well as an electric hybrid are on the drawing table. Ironically, electric cars are not new; they were first used 100 years ago, the preferred vehicle for both women and doctors.

By the early 20th century, cars with an electric motor were a logical outgrowth of the recently designed electric motors for locomotives and omnibuses. The Anderson Carriage Company in Detroit got into the car business by making automobile bodies, and in 1907 they decided to put together the whole car including an electric motor, calling their new model the Detroit Electric. This car went on to become the most popular and long-lived electric vehicle to be sold in the United States.

Just as electric cars today, these electric cars were powered by a rechargeable battery. Drivers reportedly could drive 80 miles (130 km) between battery recharging sessions. The top speed was about 20 miles per hour (32 km/h), and this was adequate for city driving. The biggest issue with electric cars was price. The Detroit Electric sold for a base price of $2650, and as of 1911, a longer-lasting Edison nickel-iron battery was available for an additional $600. (In 1912, a Ford Model T touring car cost a mere $690.)

The higher-priced car offered advantages, however. Some electric cars featured closed cabs for the riders, which must have made them much more comfortable, but the real advantages were convenience and reliability. During the first decade of the twentieth century, the only way to start a gasoline-fueled engine was via a hand crank. Cranking a car was hard work and could be dangerous. The crank sometimes sprang back unexpectedly (broken wrists occurred), and if the driver planned to start his own car, he had to crank it and then leap into it before the engine stalled.

Those who could afford them drove electric cars. Doctors (remember reading about doctors who made house calls?) needed cars that were easy to start and reliable, and the wives of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. all owned Detroit Electrics. A recent article by Christopher Gray in The New York Times (6/14/09) about mansions and their private garages in Manhattan at the turn of the century notes that Andrew Carnegie, who built his mansion at 91st and Fifth Avenue in 1902 (now the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum) had a three-story Georgian-style "automobile house" next door with space for five electric cars, with three charging panels.

So why didn't electric cars catch on? According to Harold Evans in his book, They Made America, the success of the gas-powered automobile came about because Henry Ford, who created the first mass-produced automobile that could be priced so that it could be sold to more people, had received a push from none other than inventor Thomas Edison. In 1896 Ford was introduced to Edison as a fellow who had made a gasoline-powered car. Edison was said to have told Ford to keep at what he was working on--that electric cars were doomed because they had to remain near power stations. Edison noted that a gas car that carried its own power plant (a gasoline engine) offered more promise.

Detroit Electric cars continued to be built until 1939 but sales took two big plunges... one in the 1920s, as gas-powered cars caught on, and another in 1929 when the stock market crashed. As for electric starters that eventually replaced hand-cranking, these weren't added to most cars until the 1920s, though the first car to have an electric starter was built in 1912; it was a Cadillac.

Source:[huffingtonpost.com]

Chevy Volt Gives New Meaning To Electric Cars

2009-06-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

Chevy Volt will be available in 2010 to compete in the growing number of new electric cars.

The Chevy Volt is expected to enter the market next year to offer consumers a new electric vehicle. General Motors Corp has been quiet on the forefront about this electric car, but it is no surprise since the automaker is currently in bankruptcy protection. Much of its inventory and flagship cars are being sold to other car manufacturers.

Chevy Volt is labeled as a plug-in electric car which has gone through several prototypes. While General Motors does not call this a Hybrid Vehicle, they insist that it's a new extended range automobile. Earlier specifications state that the plug-in car can achieve up to 50 miles on a single battery charge, but recent statements indicate that the vehicle could go farther, perhaps up to 100 miles between recharges.

General Motors Corp has been very secretive when it comes to its Volt. After all, it's supposed to be its grand prize to conquer the electric car market. While the specifications are a bit sketchy, we do know a few features that are currently in the latest pre-production model.

The GM Volt includes a battery pack known as the E-Flex platform. This is the single element that everything in the car is built around. More recently, General Motors added a rear seat power outlet which highlights its importance.

Chevy Volt features double control screens that display various information about the automobile including a battery charge level and fuel economy gauge. GM designers gave this car a high-tech look and feel with a seven-inch LCD screen behind its steering wheel. It comes with another seven-inch display that uses touch screen commands to control the internal climate, entertainment and power status.

In addition, the vehicle has a third screen if you opt for the GM external Nav unit that will provide a power outlet in the dashboard storage bin. No word on whether or not you'll need a stylus to push on one screen to control the action on the other, although we think it's using full touch-screen technology.

The GM Chevy Volt also has graphical door inserts, which provide extended light throughout the cabin. The automobile will offer a variety of colors and graphics at time of purchase. The packages come standard, so there are no mix and match options available.

General Motors is hoping to rise from its financial problem's next year as a new automaker. The Chevy Volt could be the first electric car to provide consumers a fuel efficient alternative while helping the automaker compete in the growing hybrid market. It's only a matter of time when we actually see the finished product at GM dealerships nationwide.

Source:[newsoxy.com]

Delivering on the promise of the electric car

2009-06-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

Are we pigeon holing ourselves by only concentrating on the technical and marketing aspects of electric cars when other important efforts around it must also happen?

The gist is that never mind the overly optimistic pure electric vehicle, EV proponents and all those who only rally behind hybrids, HEV and plug-in hybrids, PHEV or the even more complex hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, FEV. It will only make sense once a concerted effort behind cleaner and renewable energy solutions are implemented, with the infrastructure to run the whole show intelligently.

Snapshot Of The Current Situation. It is a little alarming to see the economy back to its old myopic ways of concentrating only on certain aspects and neglecting the other building parts that need to be in place for a truly sustainable economy. EVs make little sense without a strong foundation of alternative renewable energy and the means of orchestrating it.

The Careful Balance. While it might be sexier to talk about cars, horesepower and in the case of EVs, more importantly torque, the real work is happening behind the scenes. Step one is to plan and build advanced EVs that are affordable, especially when it comes to battery mass production. This gets most of the news headlines these days, as well as most of the funds. However, transportation emissions accounts to about 25% of global pollution. Offsetting the tail pipe emissions helps, but is not the only step we need to take.

Striking The Intelligent Balance. The obvious second step, and not always the easiest for politicians and businesses to make, is to find a system that offsets pollution associated with private transportation. In other words, for every EV, HEV, PHEV, FCV sold, there should be a clean alternative energy resource implemented to help offset any pollution involved with the building and driving of any vehicles. At this point, we cannot do this in a financially reasonable way but it will not hurt to act now. Add to this the third step in building a coordinated system that balances clean energy sources and distribution and only then, will we be closer to a more sustainable future.

The Problem Is The Same. Stuck between a rock and hard place, our priorities are to maintain an economic profitable structure in the midst of a meltdown. Somehow, this might be the perfect moment to lower our over all carbon foot print with every EV sold by making sure, most, if not all of its energy comes from a clean source. Since we have to redesign a different way of doing business, this should become a priority.

These are questions worth keeping in mind when talking about the best technologies to replaces the ones used today, as well as how to implement them. One thing is for sure, if EVs are to offer all of their promises for tomorrow, it will not only be through manufacturing but also building a coherent clean energy solution with a working distribution system.

Source:[examiner.com]

Chinese-Built Electric Car Headed for US

2009-06-14T23:26:00.000-07:00

Southern California automaker Coda Automotive announced plans to bring a new electric car to the US from China in 2010. The all-electric sedan is based on an existing gas-powered four-door car, known as the Hafei Saibao 3, built in Harbin, China. Re-engineered with a lithium ion battery, the Coda sedan promises a driving range of 100 miles.

The MSRP for the Coda sedan is $45,000, considered a steep price for a Chinese-built vehicle even with the expected $7,500 federal tax credit. That’s three times the cost of the gas-powered Hafei Saibao 3 on which the Coda sedan is based. If successfully launched, the sedan would become the first Chinese-built vehicle to be certified by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and sold in the US. Passing the certification process, and Coda's direct sales plan—which could be challenged in court because of service requirements that go along with sales agreements in most states—are remaining obstacles.

The development of this vehicle is a joint venture between Coda Automotive—a spin-off from Miles Automotive—and Lishen, a Chinese batterymaker. It will be powered by a 37 kilowatt battery cell, which fully recharges in six hours when plugged into a 220-volt outlet, or about twice that time with a 110-volt outlet. Other components will come from Mitsubishi, and Pininfarina provides the styling.

Coda quotes a top speed over 80 miles per hour, and zero to 60 times in the mid-eight second range, making it capable for highway driving. Miles Automotive currently offers neighborhood electric vehicles.

The Coda Sedan will make its US arrival just months before the official launch of the Chevy Volt. Coda claims that it will be the first all-electric commuter vehicle to reach the United States market. "The Coda sedan is an all-electric vehicle for everyone. It's a practical revolution for real drivers who need reliable transportation," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, Coda Automotive, in a press release. Coda Automotive is planning to sell 2,700 units in 2010.

Japan To Get First Electric Cars

2009-06-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

Car-maker Subaru has announced it will launch its battery electric Stella mini car in Japan in July, becoming the first major automaker to bring an electric vehicle to market this decade.

The Stella EV, equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack and a 47kW motor, has a range of about 56 miles and a top speed of 62mph. Subaru says its vehicle takes 15 minutes to charge at a quick-charging station or five hours at a 200 volt AC outlet.

Between July 2009 and March 2010, the end of its financial year, Subaru expects to sell 170 units. The price will be JPY 4.73 million ($49,000) and the automaker says buyers will get a $14,300 rebate from the Japanese government.

Soon after Subaru’s announcement, Mitsubishi released details of its i-Miev electric car, which it will begin selling in Japan in late July. Initially, however, the Mitsubishi vehicle will be available only to corporations and government groups. Sales to private buyers will begin in April 2010. Mitsubishi intends to produce 1,400 i-Mievs for corporate and government lessees, selling them at JPY 4.38 million ($45,300). Japanese buyers will qualify for the same $14,300 subsidy for electric vehicles mentioned above.

The i-Miev is also equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack and a 47kW electric motor, but claims a range of 100 miles. Recharging the batteries from a quick charger takes 30 minutes, while recharging from a 200-volt outlet takes seven hours. Regenerative brakes help recharge the battery pack during driving.

Electric car for $17,540 seen as acceptable

2009-06-08T00:13:00.000-07:00

Most Japanese would be willing to buy electric cars if they were priced around 1.5 million yen (C$17,540), a Reuters survey shows.

Electric cars are currently available only as a high-priced niche product on the market, but several major automakers are preparing to offer them over the next few years to take advantage of an increasingly ecologically minded consumer base.

Of the 882 respondents in the Reuters survey, 40 per cent said they would buy a pure, zero-emission electric car priced around 1.5 million to two million yen.

Another quarter were willing to pay up to 1.5 million yen (C$17,540).

A further 19 per cent said they would be prepared to spend two million to 2.5 million yen.

About 10 per cent said they were not interested at any price.

"It takes time to charge the batteries," said a respondent in his 30s. "I don't think there is sufficient infrastructure to charge electric cars."

The poll was conducted from May 7 to 10 as part of a survey of retail investor sentiment on the stock market.

Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which will likely be the first to market with a small electric car for corporate customers this year, is aiming to begin selling them to individuals from next year for no more than three million yen after state-backed incentives.

That is still a great deal more than the gasoline-engine version of the same car, due to the steep price of the lithium-ion batteries that power the vehicle.

The alliance of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault is aiming to start selling electric vehicles next year, pricing them in the same range as a similarly sized conventional car, but without the battery, which will likely be leased.

Automakers are working with utility and other companies to set up fast-charge stations for electric cars.

Tesla to open seven showrooms

2009-06-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

Tesla Motors, the San Carlos-based electric car maker, said Friday it will open seven sales and service centers in upcoming weeks across the United States and Europe.

Stores in New York, Seattle and Chicago will open in late June, followed by Miami.

Tesla’s first European store will open in London later this month, followed by Munich and Monaco.

The new additions will complement Tesla’s flagship stores in Northern and Southern California, which opened a year ago.

Tesla said it is scouting locations in Washington, D.C., and Toronto.

Tesla is the only producer of highway-capable electric cars in North America or Europe.

“We are rethinking almost every aspect of the automobile – from the powertrain to the customer experience, both online and in our stores,” said Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a statement.

Tesla’s Roadster sells for $109,000.

The company expects to introduce its second car, the Model S sedan, in late 2011. It is expected to sell for less than half the Roadster’s price.

Mitsubishi Launches $47,000 Electric Car

2009-06-07T21:59:00.000-07:00

In a strategic move to gain an upper hand over its competitors in the emission-free vehicle market, Japan's Mitsubishi Motors has launched i-MiEV, a compact, four-door electric car.

The lithium-ion battery powered i-MiEV can travel 160 kilometers on a single charge. Mitsubishi is all set to start selling the new car to corporate and government customers in Japan during late July, before competitors like Toyota and Nissan launch their rival models.

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV will cost around $47,560. Even though the car is twice as expensive as popular hybrid cars from Toyota and Honda, the company is upbeat about its new car to survive intense global competition.

Osamu Masuko, President, Mitsubishi, said: “With the electric vehicle, we will challenge global players”.

Mitsubishi aims to sell 15,000 units of i-MiEV worldwide, mostly in Britain and other European countries for the year through March 2012.

Man Builds His Own Electric Car

2009-06-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

Patrick Roth Converts Ford Escort Into Electric Car

An Indianapolis man created his own alternative to being gouged at the pump.

Patrick Roth recently converted his Ford Escort into an 100 percent electric car, local television station WRTV reported.

"I have taken out all of the components to the internal combustion engine and replaced it with a big electric motor and a bunch of batteries," Roth said.

Roth said he got the idea while driving his Lexus hybrid. Since his Lexus ran partially off the battery, Roth thought he could get a car to run solely on electric power.

"I found myself constantly trying to trick the car to run on the electric motor as much as possible, which got me thinking," Roth said. "Why not just have a second car that's purely electric?"

There are electric cars on the market, but they often come with a high price-tag. After a lot of research, Roth tackled the conversion himself.

"It works great, actually. I've tested it on the highway," he said.

Roth said he checked with both his insurance company and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and found that his converted Escort is legal.

Instead of hitting a gas pump every week or two, he just pulls the car into the garage at night and plugs in.

"In the equivalent, it works out to what it would cost me if I were paying 75 cents a gallon at the pump," Roth said.

Roth spent about 10 weeks building the car, a project he contends just about anyone can do.

"If I can do it with no mechanical ability and no engineering degree, no electrician's degree, then certainly anyone else can do it with basic skills," he said.

Roth bought the car specifically to convert. The cost of the vehicle and the conversion was about $13,000.

China cracks the Electric Car

2009-06-07T21:23:00.000-07:00

A Chinese firm says its four-seater battery car can cover 250 miles - a claim that appears to be almost feasible

In the week that General Motors filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, ending a century of global dominance, the centre of gravity of the world’s car industry shifted perceptibly towards China. Here, some of the biggest strides in motor engineering are being made, including one shown to The Sunday Times on an industrial estate in Hangzhou, 90 miles southwest of Shanghai. This is where engineers for New Power have beaten western rivals to achieve what they claim is the first production-ready, all-electric car to offer a range comparable to petrol-powered vehicles.

For years, engineers in Europe, America and Japan have struggled to achieve the perfect balance: a battery that is small and light enough to fit in a family car, yet capable of storing enough energy to keep it going for a practical range between top-ups. The Reva G-Wiz, Britain’s bestselling electric vehicle, has a range of no more than 48 miles between charges; the Smart ED, on trial in the UK, beats it by only 14 miles; and although the electric Mini claims a range of 150 miles, it is only a two-seater (the huge battery taking up the back seat), and BMW has no plans to put it into production.

New Power, by contrast, claims to have developed an electric four-seater with a range of 250 miles and plans to bring it to the UK “within the next couple of years”. Known as the Zhong Tai (the name translates roughly as “peace and safety for the people”), it has lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged in 6-8 hours from a conventional socket, or in two hours from a high-power recharging point. With a top speed of 75mph and an estimated price tag of between £16,300 and £20,500 in Britain, the Zhong Tai could be both practical and affordable enough to make drivers part with their internal combustion engines for good.

The Sunday Times was the first western publication to put New Power’s claims to the test. On first impressions the Zhong Tai looked anything but remarkable. The car’s basic bodywork and chassis are based on a 2006 Daihatsu Terios, a compact 4x4, the licence for which was bought and adapted for Chinese production, originally as a petrol car. The electric version looks identical to a conventional Terios from the outside, with the recharging point where the petrol cap should be and only the absence of an exhaust pipe giving the game away.

The interior feels a little dated but that reflects how much standards of comfort have advanced in the past three years. The dashboard display flashed up speed, distance travelled and the percentage charge left in the batteries — 75% when we first stepped into the car.

At New Power’s spartan headquarters, Mao Zhong, the company’s general manager, outlined how his car could “solve the emissions problems” plaguing both China — where the number of cars is predicted to hit 150m by 2020 — and the rest of the world. On paper, it seems astonishing that such a small operation, with a staff of just 30, should have produced China’s first production-ready all-electric car. But the Zhong Tai has been in development for six years, backed by Zotye, a mainstream car maker, of which New Power is a “green” subsidiary.

Chinese industry has put huge efforts into battery development, a fact that was reinforced last month when Volkswagen said it would be collaborating with BYD, a Chinese manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, to develop its first hybrid vehicles.

Still, New Power’s claims of a 250-mile range were remarkable so we were intrigued to find out how the vehicle would perform. Tipping the scales at 1.2 tons, the Zhong Tai sounds like a cumbersome beast. Its battery alone weighs about 660lb. It is housed under the car, although in the model I tried, a further auxiliary battery took up a good proportion of the boot space.

The claimed acceleration rate is 0-60mph in 12sec and the car is, indeed, quite spritely. When I pressed hard on the accelerator, the car leapt from 18mph-54mph in just 5sec, but then alarms started screeching and the engine had to be restarted. There was another worry. Accidentally touching the battery in the boot resulted in a mighty electric shock, although the company insisted this was a minor fault and rectified it within minutes.

And what of that all-important 250-mile range? Unfortunately, we couldn’t cover that distance in the time available for the test but by keeping an eye on the charge monitor it was possible to get an idea as to the veracity of New Power’s claims. At the start of the test the car had a three-quarters charge; 120 miles of reasonably hard driving later, it was showing a 42% charge. Assuming the power meter was accurate and proportional, the company’s claim is not unfeasible.

On an open road, at an average speed of 60mph, the car’s range drops to about 170 miles, according to New Power. Reduce average speed to 48mph and the company claims an average range of 218 miles. In “city driving with stops and starts”, the company reckons it can reach its maximum range of about 250 miles.

The Chinese government has announced plans to set up a 10 billion yuan (£890m) fund to promote alternative energy and is offering generous grants towards the production of electric vehicles, stating that all car companies should be producing one green vehicle by 2011.

The Zhong Tai is set to go into production next year, eventually building towards annual production of 20,000 vehicles. Wu Aibing, public relations director for New Power, claims the company is “in conversations about co-operation for overseas distribution” in the UK and US.

The company has been in touch with Electric Village, a London-based marketing company specialising in electric vehicles, about promoting the car in Britain. “The new vehicle is game-changing in the rapidly emerging electric car sector,” says Stewart McKee, the chief executive of Electric Village. “Hence we are looking at a distribution and sales strategy for the UK market.”

Even if New Power’s reliability and range claims hold up under further testing, there are still question marks about the car’s potential success, particularly in foreign markets.

Chinese exports, such as the Jiang-ling Landwind, a large petrol-powered SUV, have failed European safety tests. Aside from safety, the Zhong Tai’s retro looks may not appeal to image-conscious westerners.

However, with most mainstream European car manufacturers putting off electric car production until 2011 or later, and current options offering a range of no more than about 50 miles, this car could lead the way to a practical all-electric automotive future.

Electric car in town

2009-06-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Draped in a khada, the tiny electric car silently glides past the memorial chorten, turning heads and eliciting smiles.

“I’d prefer to drive this car,” said Sonam Tshering, as he lets a gigantic Prado roar past, “but, with it’s initial high cost and limited range, it has to be used in the city.”

Although the car is more expensive than a Maruti Alto at Nu 345,000, its operating cost is tiny in comparison: 80 chettrums for every kilometre. In the Maruti Alto, it’s about Nu 6/km.

Sonam, an engineer with the department of energy, which has purchased two of these tiny electric cars, says, “One worry was how they’ll perform in our demanding terrain.” He said three days of tests had proven it was “feasible”.

The department of energy will be using these cars for official purposes within the capital. “It reduces dependency on petroleum fuels, and secures our energy demands in the long run,” said Sonam, on why the department of energy had purchased these cars.

As Sonam returns the electric car to the department, another DOE official is waiting to take it out for a spin. As he eagerly turns the key, the only indication the car had started is an indicator blinking.

Mitsubishi Launches Electric Car

2009-06-07T21:08:00.000-07:00

Looking to gain an early lead in the emission-free vehicle market, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Friday launched a compact, four-door electric car that it will market in Japan to corporate customers starting in late July.

The lithium-ion battery-powered i-MiEV, which can travel 100 miles on a single charge, is the first step into the eco-friendly car market by the small Tokyo-based auto maker better known for its brawny SUVs like the Pajero.

By bringing its electric car to market this year, Mitsubishi is hoping to gain a lead over Nissan Motor Co., Japan's third-largest auto maker by sales units, which plans to sell its own electric vehicle starting in 2010.

But sales volume will be small. Mitsubishi expects to sell 1,400 vehicles in Japan in the fiscal year ending March 2010, raising sales to 5,000 vehicles next fiscal year when it starts individual sales in Japan.

Mitsubishi is testing the car in the U.S. but hasn't announced when it might go on sale there. World-wide, Mitsubishi plans to ship the i-MiEV in limited quantities to the U.K., New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore starting this year. It has also agreed to supply i-MiEVs to French auto maker PSA Peugeot-Citroën SA in late 2010 or early 2011.

By 2020, Mitsubishi says it expects electric vehicles will make up 20% of its overall production volume.

For now, Mitsubishi's ambitions are constrained by its production capacity and by the high cost of the vehicles. Mitsubishi plans to produce about 2,000 electric cars in the fiscal year ending March 2010, ramping up to 30,000 vehicles by 2013, as its lithium-ion battery production operations are expanded at Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture run by Mitsubishi Motors, sister company Mitsubishi Corp. and GS Yuasa Corp.

Nissan is putting the finishing touches on its own lithium-ion battery plant outside Tokyo and plans to roll out 50,000 electric cars in the first year of production.

With a 4.59 million yen ($46,500) price tag, the i-MiEV may also struggle to find buyers during the worst recession to hit Japan since World War II. Mitsubishi is counting on generous government incentives to stimulate the market for the vehicles. The national government is currently offering subsidies of up to 1.39 million yen on "clean energy" vehicles like the i-MiEV. Some local governments are also offering additional subsidies that could bring the price of the i-MiEV down to as low as 2.2 million yen.

In addition to Nissan's electric car, the i-MiEV will likely compete with gas-electric hybrids like Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius and Honda Motor Co.'s Insight, which each sell in Japan for about two million yen. Nissan hasn't announced the price for its electric car.

Still, many auto makers and analysts remain skeptical of the potential for large-scale sales of electric cars because of their limited range and the need to build more recharging stations to support them.

Mitsubishi is selling its electric car to corporate customers in Japan first to allow more time for local governments and businesses to set up recharging stations around the country.

China to lead the way in electric cars, says Bain

2009-05-31T02:36:00.000-07:00

China is set to become the world's largest producer of environment-friendly cars within 10 years, largely due to the central government's backing and the domestic car makers' ambitions to push electric vehicles, according to business consulting firm Bain & Company.

The country is set to dominate the battery-powered car segment as the government has aggressively pushed for technology development, which in turn will breed more early adopters, said Marc Lamure, partner, Bain.

The State Council issued a plan in March aimed at turning China into a global leader in new energy cars, including electric ones, by 2011 with an annual production capacity of 500,000 units.

"Electric vehicles are a big opportunity for domestic carmakers to compete with foreign brands, which still lead in the gasoline-powered vehicle segment. The government push will propel Chinese players into the big league," said Serge J Hoffmann, partner, Bain.

Lamure feels that it would be easier for Chinese low-cost vehicle makers to switch over to electric vehicles than their international counterparts.

According to Bain's recent survey of 500 car owners across China's large cities during the fourth quarter last year, budget-conscious "cost shoppers" are the major segment (60 percent).

This compares with the mature car markets in Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, where affluent customers constitute the majority (around 55 percent on average).

The study showed Chinese shoppers had stronger requirements on price, recharging time, and socket availability, but had less demands on car developers and appearance.

"At the end of day, it will be a price game, in which volumes matter. If an electric vehicle's price is within 100,000 yuan, its sales will reach 200,000 units over time, according to our survey," Hoffmann said.

Bain estimated that global electric vehicle sales could cross the 1.5 million mark soon, depending on the supply capacity and technology development.

A number of Chinese carmakers have scheduled to introduce electric vehicle models in the next 18 months. Prominent among them are market leader BYD's E6 scheduled for launch next year with a price tag of 250,000 yuan. Chery's S18 is also likely to debut with a tag of 70,000 yuan.

The survey, however, indicated issues like battery technology and support infrastructure, still need to be strengthened before electric vehicles take off.

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Beats Electric Cars

2009-05-31T02:25:00.000-07:00

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid has so far been the fastest selling electric car in Japan since its release date. Prius is closing in on the 2010 Honda Insight as the top-selling hybrid vehicle.

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Meets Higher Demand

The 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid is probably one of the biggest success stories for electric cars. Prius is selling so fast that it could rival the 2010 Honda Insight as the most selling hybrid automobile. So far, there have been 110,000 cars sold since its release date in Japan.

Prius is a third-generation vehicle which has prompted higher demand for Toyota. Major dealerships are flooded with orders, and while it's a different market than in North America, it does give some indication on how well the hybrid could do in the United States. Prior to going on sale, Toyota received 80,000 pre-orders.

Toyota has set its monthly goal at 10,000 new Prius hybrids. If the automaker succeeds the goal, it will become the top-selling car in the country. The Prius is currently battling the 2010 Honda Insight is holding the top spot.

One of the reasons for the sudden increase of sales is partly because the Japanese government is offering new hybrid tax credits. The government also approved a new incentive on Friday, which gives the consumer a cash back rebate for trading in cars 13 years or older. This is one way to get consumers to switch from convention gasoline vehicles to new green cars.

It is now up to the IRS if it wants to extend a hybrid vehicle tax credit for the Prius. There has been some talk of issuing similar government incentives when the Toyota hybrid is released in the United States. The Obama Administration is raising the minimal MPG rating on new cars to 35.

Hybrid cars can save money for consumers, but it depends on the driver. Certain techniques such as coasting to stops before braking will increase mileage on the automobile. Toyota also offers an eight-year warrant which covers all hybrid components for the vehicle.

Toyota is also increasing production for its Prius Hybrid to meet higher demand. The May sales reports will be an interesting study.

Tesla Motors recalls 345 Roadster sports cars

2009-05-31T02:20:00.000-07:00

Electric-car maker Tesla blames a possible suspension problem on bolts that were improperly installed on the rear chassis 'of a small percentage' of Roadsters by British automaker Lotus.

Electric-car maker Tesla Motors said Thursday that it was recalling all 345 of its Roadster sports cars produced before April 22 so they could be inspected for a possible suspension problem.

Tesla blamed the problem on bolts that were improperly installed on the rear chassis "of a small percentage" of Roadsters by British automaker Lotus. The Roadsters, which sell for $109,000, are assembled in Britain by Lotus and then shipped to California, where Tesla installs the cars' batteries and electric powertrain.

Tesla said no accidents had been reported as a result of the defect, which it said was unrelated to the powertrain.

Lotus is recalling 27 of its 2009 Elise and Exige sports cars with the same suspension problem, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "If the problem is not addressed promptly, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash," the agency said in its recall notice.

Lotus could not be reached for comment late Thursday

Tesla, based in San Carlos, Calif., has delivered almost 500 of the two-seat Roadsters. The firm said it found the problem after an owner reported "uncharacteristic handling."

The company said it would send technicians to customers' homes to make the needed repairs free of charge or pick up the cars and take them into a service center to do the work.

"We plan to do everything we can to address this matter swiftly and keep customers satisfied," said Greg Zanghi, Tesla's director of service and parts operations. The company declined to disclose how much the recall would cost.

Ford's Electric Car Built on the SUV Line

2009-05-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

It’s a sign of the times. Ford’s new Focus-based electric vehicle (EV), will be built in a Wayne, Michigan factory that once built nothing but SUVs—and supplied half of Ford’s worldwide profits.

The Ford Focus itself was designed in Europe and will debut in 2011. It’s a world car, destined to sell two million units around the globe. The EV version, with lithium-ion batteries, is being developed in partnership with Magna International and will appear that same year.

Ford is investing $550 million in what was once known as the Michigan Truck Plant. For nostalgia buffs, the 140-acre, 2.8-million-square foot site opened in 1957, when it made station wagon bodies. It later produced the Ford Bronco, Ford F-Series, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

Ford is also retooling Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Ohio ($350 million spent) to produce a very green product line, specifically the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engines to be offered in the Ford Flex, Ford Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT crossover. The plant also has a history, producing more than 35 million engines, including the famous 351 Cleveland, the 302 and 5.0 liter V-8s.

Dan Kapp, Ford’s director for powertrain research and advanced engineering, says the 3.5-liter EcoBoost “does what the 5.4-liter V-8 does today.” He said EcoBoost will reach the 1.3 million-unit level by 2013, when it will be available on 95 percent of Ford nameplates.

The battery Focus is just one part of a multi-pronged electric strategy that includes a Transit Connect commercial vehicle next year, and a “next generation” hybrid and plug-in hybrid in 2012.

According to Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, “We’re changing from a company focused mainly on trucks and SUVs to a company with a balanced product lineup that includes even more high-quality, fuel-efficient small cars, hybrids and all-electric vehicles. As customers move to more fuel-efficient vehicles, we’ll be there with more of the products they really want.”

Ford, Chrysler, Nissan to deliver on electric cars

2009-05-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

The electric car has been around since shortly after the invention of the automobile, but the limitations of battery capacity has constrained its success. When the electric starter made gasoline engines more user-friendly, electric-powered cars became the nearly-exclusive purview of golf carts.

After fitful development in recent years, however, it appears as though the electric car will finally emerge in 2010 as a bona-fide product. That means it will be sold by mainstream manufacturers, through their regular dealers to normal people for a reasonable price. Ford, Chrysler and Nissan say they will deliver such cars soon.

These electric cars will rely exclusively on plug-in juice from the power company, and will not have on-board gasoline engines to help out when the batteries go dead. Driving range will still be limited, but the range will finally be long enough to be practical.

"The demand is absolutely out there for battery-electric vehicles," said Mark Perry, Nissan's director of product planning.

He quickly rebutted two areas of skepticism relating to battery-electric vehicles.

The first is that such cars will create a toxic battery waste nightmare at the end of the cars' lives. The materials used in the batteries are valuable and will be recovered for reuse when the car is retired, he explained.

Another concern is that battery-electric cars only move the source of pollution from the tailpipe to the smokestack. But even with today's coal-heavy mix of electric power generation, electric cars produce only 40 percent the amount of CO2 gas-powered cars produce, and this percentage can improve over time as utilities shift away from coal, Mr. Perry said.

Nissan's electric car will be a compact, similar in size to the new Cube, which is currently serving as the company's demonstration vehicle for its electric drivetrain. The car will have space for five occupants and will have a driving range of 100 miles on a charge, a distance that is sufficient for the daily driving needs of 98 percent of Americans, according to the company. It will also offer premium amenities, so customers won't be suffering in a glorified kit car, and will provide advanced safety features to protect occupants in the event of a crash.

Nissan will begin offering the new, as yet unnamed model, in 10 to 15 markets nationwide in 2010, gradually expanding to full availability in 2012, as more public charging stations are built to permit recharging while away from home.

Parking garages at work and at shopping centers are a prime target for charging stations. Initially, drivers will have two options for charging their car: a regular wall-type 110-volt outlet that will take 14 hours to charge the lithium-ion batteries completely, or a 220-volt Level 2 charger that will do the job in about four hours. The expectation is that customers will have an L2 charger installed in their home for quick everyday charges, which might even be coordinated with their utility company to get a better rate by charging in the middle of the night, and use the L1 capability to top off the battery when they are parked elsewhere.

Meanwhile, carmakers are working with power utilities and others to define the standard for a planned L3 charger, which would recharge Nissan's electric car to 80 percent of capacity - good for 80 miles of driving - in 26 minutes.

This would make it practical for gas stations to have charging stations that drivers could use if they needed to drive somewhere beyond the range of a full charge. Although 26 minutes is still a good while to wait, it turns out that the average customer's dine-in visit to a fast food restaurant lasts about 20 minutes. So, it's possible that even McDonald's could emerge as a player in the emerging industry infrastructure of recharging electric cars.