Thursday, October 14, 2010
New Location...
I have migrated my posts over to my company's server. Please click on the link and check me out over there. Lots of cool stuff going on.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Alert the Media...EV's Can Reduce Oil Consumption
Wow, who knew...the usage of EV's can REDUCE need for oil. The article attached takes the debate on the need for both EVs and the reduction of heavy carbon fossil fuels to curb global climate change. That's likely true if you follow that logic but the headline is up there with "Study says teens like cell phones" which I saw about a year ago.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Welcome Back GE...
Well it's been awhile but GE is back in the EV game. Despite the fact that Edison was one of founders of the EV business the company took a hiatus for about 9 decades.
However they are now back in the game with the Watt Station EVSE, a partnership with Better Place on software and potential moves into batteries.
The EV movement needs the likes of a GE to help make it real. Thanks for joining the party.
However they are now back in the game with the Watt Station EVSE, a partnership with Better Place on software and potential moves into batteries.
The EV movement needs the likes of a GE to help make it real. Thanks for joining the party.
This is not going to be popular...
Part of China's grand plan to own the EV space is to force foreign companies to divulge their secrets if you want access to the Chinese market. The manufacturers would be put into a joint venture with a local vendor but the local vendor would have 51% of the company.
While this is not a confirmed plan there is confirmation that the Chinese government is leaning this way. If so, interesting to see if manufacturers will ignore or delay introduction into China (as Toyota has with the Prius). No word on if the WTO will file a complaint against China if they go this route. Rest assure if they do a significant airing of grievances will take place.
While this is not a confirmed plan there is confirmation that the Chinese government is leaning this way. If so, interesting to see if manufacturers will ignore or delay introduction into China (as Toyota has with the Prius). No word on if the WTO will file a complaint against China if they go this route. Rest assure if they do a significant airing of grievances will take place.
Coda's Car Will Cost...
Drumroll please...the Coda car will cost you $44,900 (before the $12,500 you can get from the Feds and the state of CA). Factor that in and you are at $32,400 or a tad less than the Nissan Leaf.
Coda is hoping to have around 10K cars on the road in 2011 with the majority of the product coming from China with final assembly in California. No word yet on who is selling Coda and what plans they have beyond CA.
Coda is hoping to have around 10K cars on the road in 2011 with the majority of the product coming from China with final assembly in California. No word yet on who is selling Coda and what plans they have beyond CA.
China Throws Down the Gauntlet in EV's
Tom Friedman takes a shine to China's push to lead EV's. Will the US cede foreign oil to foreign batteries? Will we make bold future bets that made the country great? Let's hope so.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
That's a lot of cars
Yikes, China might have up to 200M cars on the road by 2020. That's a lot of folks moving around at a very, very slow speed. Might want to push E-Bikes a bit more there team.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Auto execs question need for widespread public charging infrastructure
Interesting take on public charging and the fact that folks think it will not be needed. Could well prove to be true as most will charge at home and at work but entirely possible that by having a signficant charging infrastructure will help to eas range anxiety. Folks who win here are those who will have chargers but will likely not be forking over a lot of their own money - retailers, Starbucks, etc. Either way we once again just do not know how it will shake out. Too early for sweeping generalizations.
Euro Bike: Day 1
Arrived in Friedrichshafen, Germany for Euro Bike yesterday after 20 hours of travel time (air, train and boat). Although hard to reach it is a beautiful town and is clearly the host of the most important bike show in the world.
Yesterday was a bit of a fog but today I feel fresh and enjoyed taking on the sites. E-Bikes are a hot thing over here at the moment. Many of the big guns are introducing larger lines for the European market with eyes on the US in the next 12 to 18 months. Interestingly enough what I have not seen is a lot of design elements put into the E-Bikes. Most look like current pedal bikes with a motor and battery attached save for a few exceptions. While understandable I really believe a design element is important (think the Prius and how its design accelerated hybrid purchases). Nonetheless it is encouraging and I am bullish on the category both here and in the US.
One observation is this show attracts folks who like to have a good time. There are demos going on outside where people are jumping different terrain and the beer tents were already dealing with long lines at 10AM.
Couple of big meetings tomorrow and an industry dinner tomorrow evening. I will share what I can. Stay tuned...
Yesterday was a bit of a fog but today I feel fresh and enjoyed taking on the sites. E-Bikes are a hot thing over here at the moment. Many of the big guns are introducing larger lines for the European market with eyes on the US in the next 12 to 18 months. Interestingly enough what I have not seen is a lot of design elements put into the E-Bikes. Most look like current pedal bikes with a motor and battery attached save for a few exceptions. While understandable I really believe a design element is important (think the Prius and how its design accelerated hybrid purchases). Nonetheless it is encouraging and I am bullish on the category both here and in the US.
One observation is this show attracts folks who like to have a good time. There are demos going on outside where people are jumping different terrain and the beer tents were already dealing with long lines at 10AM.
Couple of big meetings tomorrow and an industry dinner tomorrow evening. I will share what I can. Stay tuned...
Monday, August 23, 2010
China to Invest Billions in Electric and Hybrid Cars
Recent post by the NYT on China's commit to EV's. Appearing they want to take the mantle from the US to be the EV capital of the world.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Megacities will drive huge demand for electric cars by 2020
Good news everyone...as we continue to slam ourselves closer together (the death of the far flung suburbs continues) EVs will become more and more necessary. In order to stem pollution the EV will become the choice way to get around.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
U.S. Most Likely to Lead Electric-Car Revolution
Interesting note on our current lead in the BCS standings for EVs. As stated several times in this blog it's not a given EVs become the be all end all (remember that ethanol was our savior years ago) and eventually market forces must take over as the govt. cannot be expected to drive adoption through subsidies.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Killer App for E.V.’s: 30-Minute Recharges
Just realized I haven't posted in a bit. Where did the time go? Anyway, the NYT comes up with an interesting piece on charging and the importance of fast charging. While I agree fast charging is a cool and important solution there is still much to work out. For now, first and foremost, is a network of charging that folks need to overcome range anxiety (level 2 is a good start). Who's going to be up to create the next iteration of the filling station?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Rush Blitzes EVs
Former Kansas City Royals employee Rush Limbaugh is none too pleased on the EV movement. He feels EVs are nothing more than a status for the uber-liberal and are yet another example of govt boondoggle.
While I understand he's vitriol I do think he's a tad myopic. There are those in the camp from the Right that EV proliferation is a matter of national security as it will decrease our need from oil from places that really, really do not like us. I think that position is centered and true.
While I understand he's vitriol I do think he's a tad myopic. There are those in the camp from the Right that EV proliferation is a matter of national security as it will decrease our need from oil from places that really, really do not like us. I think that position is centered and true.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Electric Bikes Where MTN Bikes Were in 80s
Biker mavens the Stanforth brothers tell BikeBiz they are moving into the electric space. Love the quote below:
It's interesting to note that the Stanforth's believe the electric bike market is very much in the same position mountain biking was in the mid-eighties – in its infancy and with potential to achieve huge growth in a matter of years. So could the Stanforth's be onto a winner yet again?
E-Bikes have been slow out of the gate here in the US but there are those who feel the tide is coming (including me). I hope the Stanforth's are turn out to be Oracles.
It's interesting to note that the Stanforth's believe the electric bike market is very much in the same position mountain biking was in the mid-eighties – in its infancy and with potential to achieve huge growth in a matter of years. So could the Stanforth's be onto a winner yet again?
E-Bikes have been slow out of the gate here in the US but there are those who feel the tide is coming (including me). I hope the Stanforth's are turn out to be Oracles.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Tesla Electric Cars: Revved Up, but Far to Go
Yes, I know. I am late with this one as it's about a week old but I wanted to comment on it and simply slipped out of my fleeting short term memory. Anyway, thought the gray lady nailed this one with a peerless look at Tesla. They do not shy away from the facts and are not seduced by the aura that seems to come from the company.
Bottom line is Elon Musk got the car out, took the company public and love him or hate him, has made folks talk a lot about the EV space. He's is almost Steve Jobs like in his ability to capture the public's attention and very few choreograph public events the way he does.
Time will tell on the future of the company but they have left a mark. If this turns into a revolution or not remains to be seen.
Bottom line is Elon Musk got the car out, took the company public and love him or hate him, has made folks talk a lot about the EV space. He's is almost Steve Jobs like in his ability to capture the public's attention and very few choreograph public events the way he does.
Time will tell on the future of the company but they have left a mark. If this turns into a revolution or not remains to be seen.
Sacre Bleu! Paris Bike Rental Program Spurning EV Ideas
Paris' bike rental program has been so successful they are planning on setting up an EV version this fall. Now you can vroom around the Louvre in an EV. Should be interesting to see if they can pull this off.
Sparks Are Flying
A rare moment in politics is when both sides agree on an issue. It's pretty rare but we have one in the adoption of EV. One side wants to do it to save the planet and the other to reduce need for foreign oil. Yes the means are different but the end is the same and that is what matters.
The Senate got together last week and put up nearly $4B for EV adoption including a plan to get 400K cars on the road in the next three years. Not all folks are happy about this (see Wash Post article previously in this Blog). Interestingly enough some folks in the auto industry are worried that they will now be responsible for upstream emissions (what comes out of the power plant) since their cars will be getting fed from the grid instead of the pump. That's a fair fear on their part as they are already getting hammered on MPG standards as it is. No reason to believe it won't come up in the future. Hopefully when EVs become more of a standard then an exception the Senate will not be struck by selective memory.
The Senate got together last week and put up nearly $4B for EV adoption including a plan to get 400K cars on the road in the next three years. Not all folks are happy about this (see Wash Post article previously in this Blog). Interestingly enough some folks in the auto industry are worried that they will now be responsible for upstream emissions (what comes out of the power plant) since their cars will be getting fed from the grid instead of the pump. That's a fair fear on their part as they are already getting hammered on MPG standards as it is. No reason to believe it won't come up in the future. Hopefully when EVs become more of a standard then an exception the Senate will not be struck by selective memory.
The Great Charging Plug Standard Debate
I wouldn't yet call it a war but we could get there. No we're not fighting over a rock in the Mediterranean but instead it is a common standard for public charging. We have two in the running but logic tells us one is the way to go (see either your BetaMax or HD-DVD player as an example). Not sure how this will get to an accord but the infrastructure builders and chargepoint homes (retailers, grocery stores, etc) are going to want a simple solution before real estate is ceded. Here's hope they get there soon.
Low Voltage - Wash Post Weighs In On EV
The Wash Post (general lover of all things government subsidized) let's it be known they are concerned with the current cost of EVs. Specifically the feeling is that the govt. A)Subsidized the cost of the GM plant to the tune of $150M B)Battery suppliers are outstripping demand C)Those who will buy an EV will likely be making over $200K.
The questions are valid but anytime a new technology comes to market the well heeled are the first to adopt. I'm pretty sure that when the car first came to market (pre-Model T) it was not the rank and file ponying up.
Still the challenges are ahead for the technology. A mix of patience and a steel reserve will be needed. Costs have to come down and a road map to move off of subsidization will need to happen. But for now it's early and the main victory is the cars are coming to market in the first place.
The questions are valid but anytime a new technology comes to market the well heeled are the first to adopt. I'm pretty sure that when the car first came to market (pre-Model T) it was not the rank and file ponying up.
Still the challenges are ahead for the technology. A mix of patience and a steel reserve will be needed. Costs have to come down and a road map to move off of subsidization will need to happen. But for now it's early and the main victory is the cars are coming to market in the first place.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Plug-In Recap
Back at home with the 5 week old and the 5 year old (as well as my bride). I would have to say my first Plug-In Conference was a success. Here's what I learned...
Charging - The battle to create the next evolution of the gas station is underway. It will show up at grocery stores, drug stores and big box retailers (because you need to kill some time while you juice up). Expect big things to happen along the west coast and in key markets in the midwest and southeast. A myriad of announcements will be in the offing and the first chargers will hit aforementioned locations late this year/early next year.
EV - Talk of the town was the pricing of the Volt and the Leaf matching the battery warranty of Chevrolet. At this point the ponies are in the starting gate and we are all ready for the bell to ring.
Future - Lots of interesting takes on why EV will happen (either because you want to save the planet or because our national security depends on it). Question is how much and how long will govt. subsidization last and will alternative distribution pop up for these products. Current car dealers can be none too thrilled as EVs do not support their current business model (making money on routine service repairs). Alternative distribution is going to be needed but who will step up.
The panel ended up going great and was a lot of fun. Special thanks to the organizers for pulling it all together.
Charging - The battle to create the next evolution of the gas station is underway. It will show up at grocery stores, drug stores and big box retailers (because you need to kill some time while you juice up). Expect big things to happen along the west coast and in key markets in the midwest and southeast. A myriad of announcements will be in the offing and the first chargers will hit aforementioned locations late this year/early next year.
EV - Talk of the town was the pricing of the Volt and the Leaf matching the battery warranty of Chevrolet. At this point the ponies are in the starting gate and we are all ready for the bell to ring.
Future - Lots of interesting takes on why EV will happen (either because you want to save the planet or because our national security depends on it). Question is how much and how long will govt. subsidization last and will alternative distribution pop up for these products. Current car dealers can be none too thrilled as EVs do not support their current business model (making money on routine service repairs). Alternative distribution is going to be needed but who will step up.
The panel ended up going great and was a lot of fun. Special thanks to the organizers for pulling it all together.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Plug-In 2010 - Panel
Just wrapped up a panel on Innovative Business Models with a representative from Better Place and the CEO of Mission Motors. Really interesting companies and smart folks on top of that. Interesting questions from the audience regarding charging infrastructure and the role retail can play in the bustling EV space. Fairly friendly crew and I enjoyed the participation.
About to do my first interview on the topic with wwww.triplepundit.com. I'll post the link once it publishes.
About to do my first interview on the topic with wwww.triplepundit.com. I'll post the link once it publishes.
UK Govt Takes Hatchet to EV Incentives
Tally Ho! The new coalition government in the UK has whacked subsidies for EVs (from over 200M pounds to 43M). Understandable they would take a bit more of tough look at it due to budget constraints but will this move stunt EV uptake in the UK? I don't see how it won't.
Greenpeace has already weighed in on this change and is non-too pleased. Expect Rainbow Warrior to sail up the Thames and try to storm parliament.
Greenpeace has already weighed in on this change and is non-too pleased. Expect Rainbow Warrior to sail up the Thames and try to storm parliament.
Plug-In 2010 - Day 2
As expected it has been an event full of announcements. The big one was of course the Volt price point of 41K (before subsidy). Some were excited and some were down about it. As always the market will tell.
This is the conference of charging with dozens of companies with fancy stations to show off and try to sell. A clear push to get the infrastructure in the ground (specifically from a public standpoint) is underway. Question that is popping up is will we see consolidation in the industry and who will be the leader of it.
This is the conference of charging with dozens of companies with fancy stations to show off and try to sell. A clear push to get the infrastructure in the ground (specifically from a public standpoint) is underway. Question that is popping up is will we see consolidation in the industry and who will be the leader of it.
First Drive: Think City EV's New Lithium-Ion Batteries Give Much-Needed Range, Power
Good news, Norwegian style...Think's new battery is getting a range of around 100 miles. This is the number that appears to be magical with customers with "range anxiety." Good for Think. The industry can use scrappy start ups.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Chevy Volt’s Sticker: $41,000
First news from the show...Volt lights up the day with a 41K sticker (after rebates it will land around 32K). Are you going to buy one?
Live from Plug-In 2010
Crouched over a laptop in our booth at Plug-In 2010 while our revenue generating employees are en route. Should be an interesting day with everyone's favorite Austro-American Governor speaking later today. Lots of charging activity and a spiffy new Volt right by our spot. Looking forward to the day.
Stay tuned for details as I get them.
Stay tuned for details as I get them.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Bill Would Make Half of All Cars Electric By 2030
Plug-In heads are holding their breath that this bill will get passed now that it is out of committee. Still a long way to go but certainly an interesting and controversial idea. We will see where it goes.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Portland set jumpstart electric-car future with new policies
In a race to see who can get the most green merit badges, Portland (and Mayor Sam Adams) have pulled ahead of San Francisco (and Mayor Gavin Newsom) by enacting incentives for EVs to populate the greater metro area. It's well known the two are dueling for title of "greenest city/mayor in America.
In addition to the obligatory "good" parking spots the city promises to make it easy for charging stations to be enacted. One of the more bizarre promises is the city claiming to make it easier for garage-less EV owners to have an easier time charging at home. How they plan to do that exactly (short of having charging stations deployed like parking meters) remains to be seen.
Now all we need is actual EV's to make the Mayor's dream a reality.
Gavin, you're on the clock. What's your move?
In addition to the obligatory "good" parking spots the city promises to make it easy for charging stations to be enacted. One of the more bizarre promises is the city claiming to make it easier for garage-less EV owners to have an easier time charging at home. How they plan to do that exactly (short of having charging stations deployed like parking meters) remains to be seen.
Now all we need is actual EV's to make the Mayor's dream a reality.
Gavin, you're on the clock. What's your move?
Monday, July 19, 2010
ELECTRIC VEHICLES WON'T BRING DOWN THE POWER GRID
Time to remove thumb from panic button, take a step back and breathe EV lovers. Your EV will not bring down the grid. According to Discovery News (seriously) the panic around the grid becoming susceptible to collapse due to us all plugging in our cars at the same time is simply misguided. Why? Because even with 250K plug-in vehicles in the US charging at the same time it's simply not enough to bring it down. Whether true or false it's nice to see someone challenging the notion that EV adoption will indoctrinate us to third world rolling blackouts.
GE Unveils the Plan for Wattstation
GE told the world about WattStation last week and now gives us some additional data. Good play for GE as charging is a new entree into the home and will lead to bigger and better things in the home management space.
By the way, hats off to the folks in Connecticut for actually putting a design element into the charging station. I admit it's not what I would have expected from them. Well done.
By the way, hats off to the folks in Connecticut for actually putting a design element into the charging station. I admit it's not what I would have expected from them. Well done.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Toyota and Tesla Plan an Electric RAV4
Somewhere in Southern California Ed Begley Jr is celebrating.
Appears the Tesla/Toyota deal is a bit more than Elon Musk getting more PR. The two are teaming up to resurrect the electric RAV-4 (which made a brief appearance back in the 90's/early 2000's). Tesla's on the hook for delivering a fleet of prototypes this year and the two will likely be using the now resurrected NUMMI plant in Northern California. Nice move for Tesla who appears to be treating its new found public status with the right type of enthusiasm.
Appears the Tesla/Toyota deal is a bit more than Elon Musk getting more PR. The two are teaming up to resurrect the electric RAV-4 (which made a brief appearance back in the 90's/early 2000's). Tesla's on the hook for delivering a fleet of prototypes this year and the two will likely be using the now resurrected NUMMI plant in Northern California. Nice move for Tesla who appears to be treating its new found public status with the right type of enthusiasm.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Brammo Announces 100 MPH Electric Motorcycle With 100 Mile Range
Brammo, the first e-motorcycle manufacturer to come to market with a product geared for the masses, unveiled its latest creation the Empulse. The latest iteration will come in three flavors (60 mile, 80 mile and 100 mile range) with prices commensurate to performance. Good news is all three will qualify for some level of rebate (depending on where you live and what level of performance you select). Interesting to see if this move opens up a category of products (many have made announcements but for now Brammo is the leader in the clubhouse.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Chevrolet Stands Behind Volt With Standard Eight-Year, 100,000-Mile Battery Warranty
GM plants the flag on assurance with a high standard. They are giving customers permission to invest in this vehicle by taking the concern out of the battery. Well done.
I am awaiting the new video of "Who Saved The Electric Car" starring the GM Volt crew.
I am awaiting the new video of "Who Saved The Electric Car" starring the GM Volt crew.
Electric-Car Maker ZAP To Acquire China’s Jonway
ZAP joins up with a Chinese auto manufacturer to increase production and scope of their EV lineup. A company with a long history in the EV space (from scooters to cars) and is currently a finalist in the X-Prize with their very cool 3 wheel vehicle. This is an aggressive company with a lot of experience in the EV space. Best not to count them out. Full article in link.
CB
CB
New eZONE Electric Vehicle Plant Brings Green Jobs to South Carolina
Lead entrant in the medium/low speed EV space makes another announcement on their burgeoning presence in the US. Interesting concept and strategy on how vehicles will be used for specific purposes. Not one size fits all. Industry data puts low speed EVs in a market that can be as big as 38M HH. A new category to emerge in transportation? Will be interesting.
CB
CB
Mitsubishi Says i-MiEV Could Have Sub-$30K Price Tag
Mitsubishi really wants to make a splash with the i-MiEV. The sticker price has always been thought to be in the mid 50's here in the states but now it appears it may come out below 30K (assume that includes federal rebates). Do not know what type of hit they are taking but you have to love the aggressiveness. Full article in link.
CB
CB
I'm back...
Took some time off due to birth of child. Little guy is great and mom, dad and sister are tired.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Can Daimler's Smart Car Survive?
Great article by my favorite auto writer Jerry Flint (over 50 years covering the car business). Specifically highlight how smart (official brand guidelines spells it lowercase) has watched it sales crater in the US over the past three years. The car's original intent (modeled after a Swatch watch concept) long went by the wayside. Other than Rome and Paris (where parking and roads wide enough for about two horses abreast) the car has yet to catch on. A new one is in the works but could be 3 years away.
What's The Learning? Smart gets a lot of publicity and has a loyal following but to the 77 nationwide dealers circling the drain that's not enough. Sales are still needed. Also, cars that are going to be distributed in small numbers need a high traffic environment that sells more than the cars themselves to mitigate risk.
What's The Learning? Smart gets a lot of publicity and has a loyal following but to the 77 nationwide dealers circling the drain that's not enough. Sales are still needed. Also, cars that are going to be distributed in small numbers need a high traffic environment that sells more than the cars themselves to mitigate risk.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
3 Reasons to Invest in Early-Adopter EV Companies (and 3 Reasons Not To)
There are good reasons to invest in battery makers and EV startups, and some equally good ones to wait and see. You may find the positive arguments presented here more persuasive if you’re already inclined to like EVs and want to help jumpstart the market. There are always equally valid reasons not to take the plunge.
The tea leaves can be read various ways. Battery maker A123 (supplier to Fisker, among others) excited the market with its IPO, whose value soared 50 percent on the first day, far exceeding expectations. But then reality set in and a stock that had gone over $20 settled down around $9. Tesla Motors is working on a $100 million IPO now, amid reports of CEO Elon Musk’s personal financial problems. But Tesla is glamorous enough that its public offering will probably succeed, despite any questionable fundamentals. In the best-case scenario, Tesla could be the Microsoft of tomorrow — the company everybody wishes they’d seen coming.
Nearly all EV and battery companies are seeking private investors, and some are starved for cash as they head into the final countdown to manufacturing.
And then there’s the thorny question of whether EVs will actually sell, and thus increase shareholder value. I’ve been surprised to discover that I know probably six or seven people who have taken the plunge and put money down on the electric Nissan Leafs that are coming at the end of the year. Admittedly, I travel in green car circles, and all of these people live in California (where a $5,000 state rebate brings the car’s cost down to $20,000), but it is a nice anecdotal evidence of a market developing. Bolstering that impression is the 13,000 $99 reservations the company took in the first few weeks, leading CEO Carlos Ghosn to say the company was sold out.
Green Light
Ensuring a future. By no means is the electric car a foregone conclusion. Many of the startup companies coming out with plug-in vehicles — Tesla, Coda, Wheego, Aptera, Fisker — are wholly dependent on early adopters to provide cash flow and take them from tentative and localized steps to a broader impact on the market (and thus on carbon emissions and local smog). You probably don’t want to be swayed by this as an investor, but my guess is that emotional decisions rather than bottom-line considerations will drive a lot of early investment in this specialized space. It’s an altruistic choice, sure, but so is the one taken by a surprisingly large number of environmentally oriented consumers who opted to pay extra on their utility bills for green power.
A better car. EVs could take off in the marketplace, confounding early negativity (or at least uncertainty) because early adopters will discover that concerns about “range anxiety” and new technology melt away. For many Americans, plug-in EVs will actually suit their lifestyles better than even the most frugal gasoline vehicle. Who hasn’t wanted to just sail past gas stations? Who isn’t tired of idling away $3 a gallon gas while stuck in traffic jams? If your commute is 60 miles or less round-trip (and, crucially, if you have a garage), an EV could prove very easy to own. Although the cost premium will likely mean you won’t see savings right away, some state subsidies are strong enough to (when combined with a $7,500 federal tax credit) virtually erase that premium. And battery EVs cost only about two to five cents a mile to run, compared with up to 50 cents a mile for gas cars.
Plugging into the future. Utilities really want EVs to succeed, and they are putting a lot on the line to help make it happen. This is big investment that this still-small industry can leverage. The EV will be, right from the outset, intimately tied to the electric grid and uniquely suited to interact with information technology, from the cell phone to the home computer. While your car today is as dumb as a Model T –want to know how much gas is in it? Turn the key and check the gauge — the EV’s current state of charge will be a click or a text message away. From wherever you are, you can use your phone to find an available station, or schedule a late-night charge. This kind of interactivity is the future of mobility. GM’s EN-V cars at the World Expo in Shanghai show one way forward: They’re capable of talking to each other and driving themselves.
Red Light
They hype fades: people will pay more, and get less. There’s no guarantee of satisfied customers passing on positive consumer messages, and sales could be a fraction of the optimistic predictions from interest groups like the Electrification Coalition. Without a doubt, early adopters will pay a price to be at the head of the line — just as people who can’t wait for iPads do. The high cost of batteries is at the heart of the EV price equation, and they won’t come down without significant volume. If you don’t include the subsidies I mention above (again, some are only available in a few states) you’ll pay $30,000 for a Corolla-sized car with about half the range. This could prove an insurmountable barrier to sales, especially if the Obama Administration continues to issue mandates for carmakers without providing the kind of direct reimbursement subsidies favored by the Chinese government (which is offering as much as $8,800 cash back).
The public grid is underdeveloped. Only Southern California has any kind of plug-in network today, and it’s embryonic even there. Cities like New York, with apartment living and little possibility of street charging, have barely begun to think about what shape their public grid will take. Big box stores, which might eventually offer free charging in their parking lots, aren’t really engaged with the issue yet. EV proponents claim that 80 percent of charging will be at home, but that’s just a theory untested in the real world.
Dead-end technology. Daily, I’m told of breakthroughs with fuel cells and low-cost hydrogen, with biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol, with ultracapacitors, that could make the early EVs obsolete before they’re even on the road. Fuel cells may have been 20 years away for the last 50 years, but Toyota will have one on the road in 2015, and an East Coast entrepreneur, Tom Sullivan, is building a Maine-to-Miami “hydrogen highway” (and trying to convince the world with full-page ads in the New York Times). Fuel-cell cars offer greater range than battery EVs, and hydrogen is an unlimited source. I personally don’t expect the EV to be eclipsed anytime soon, but it is a possibility.
Maybe, in the end, investors will have to take something of a leap of faith here. It could have rich rewards, but EVs are, one has to say, a speculative investment.
Related:
The tea leaves can be read various ways. Battery maker A123 (supplier to Fisker, among others) excited the market with its IPO, whose value soared 50 percent on the first day, far exceeding expectations. But then reality set in and a stock that had gone over $20 settled down around $9. Tesla Motors is working on a $100 million IPO now, amid reports of CEO Elon Musk’s personal financial problems. But Tesla is glamorous enough that its public offering will probably succeed, despite any questionable fundamentals. In the best-case scenario, Tesla could be the Microsoft of tomorrow — the company everybody wishes they’d seen coming.
Nearly all EV and battery companies are seeking private investors, and some are starved for cash as they head into the final countdown to manufacturing.
And then there’s the thorny question of whether EVs will actually sell, and thus increase shareholder value. I’ve been surprised to discover that I know probably six or seven people who have taken the plunge and put money down on the electric Nissan Leafs that are coming at the end of the year. Admittedly, I travel in green car circles, and all of these people live in California (where a $5,000 state rebate brings the car’s cost down to $20,000), but it is a nice anecdotal evidence of a market developing. Bolstering that impression is the 13,000 $99 reservations the company took in the first few weeks, leading CEO Carlos Ghosn to say the company was sold out.
Green Light
Ensuring a future. By no means is the electric car a foregone conclusion. Many of the startup companies coming out with plug-in vehicles — Tesla, Coda, Wheego, Aptera, Fisker — are wholly dependent on early adopters to provide cash flow and take them from tentative and localized steps to a broader impact on the market (and thus on carbon emissions and local smog). You probably don’t want to be swayed by this as an investor, but my guess is that emotional decisions rather than bottom-line considerations will drive a lot of early investment in this specialized space. It’s an altruistic choice, sure, but so is the one taken by a surprisingly large number of environmentally oriented consumers who opted to pay extra on their utility bills for green power.
A better car. EVs could take off in the marketplace, confounding early negativity (or at least uncertainty) because early adopters will discover that concerns about “range anxiety” and new technology melt away. For many Americans, plug-in EVs will actually suit their lifestyles better than even the most frugal gasoline vehicle. Who hasn’t wanted to just sail past gas stations? Who isn’t tired of idling away $3 a gallon gas while stuck in traffic jams? If your commute is 60 miles or less round-trip (and, crucially, if you have a garage), an EV could prove very easy to own. Although the cost premium will likely mean you won’t see savings right away, some state subsidies are strong enough to (when combined with a $7,500 federal tax credit) virtually erase that premium. And battery EVs cost only about two to five cents a mile to run, compared with up to 50 cents a mile for gas cars.
Plugging into the future. Utilities really want EVs to succeed, and they are putting a lot on the line to help make it happen. This is big investment that this still-small industry can leverage. The EV will be, right from the outset, intimately tied to the electric grid and uniquely suited to interact with information technology, from the cell phone to the home computer. While your car today is as dumb as a Model T –want to know how much gas is in it? Turn the key and check the gauge — the EV’s current state of charge will be a click or a text message away. From wherever you are, you can use your phone to find an available station, or schedule a late-night charge. This kind of interactivity is the future of mobility. GM’s EN-V cars at the World Expo in Shanghai show one way forward: They’re capable of talking to each other and driving themselves.
Red Light
They hype fades: people will pay more, and get less. There’s no guarantee of satisfied customers passing on positive consumer messages, and sales could be a fraction of the optimistic predictions from interest groups like the Electrification Coalition. Without a doubt, early adopters will pay a price to be at the head of the line — just as people who can’t wait for iPads do. The high cost of batteries is at the heart of the EV price equation, and they won’t come down without significant volume. If you don’t include the subsidies I mention above (again, some are only available in a few states) you’ll pay $30,000 for a Corolla-sized car with about half the range. This could prove an insurmountable barrier to sales, especially if the Obama Administration continues to issue mandates for carmakers without providing the kind of direct reimbursement subsidies favored by the Chinese government (which is offering as much as $8,800 cash back).
The public grid is underdeveloped. Only Southern California has any kind of plug-in network today, and it’s embryonic even there. Cities like New York, with apartment living and little possibility of street charging, have barely begun to think about what shape their public grid will take. Big box stores, which might eventually offer free charging in their parking lots, aren’t really engaged with the issue yet. EV proponents claim that 80 percent of charging will be at home, but that’s just a theory untested in the real world.
Dead-end technology. Daily, I’m told of breakthroughs with fuel cells and low-cost hydrogen, with biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol, with ultracapacitors, that could make the early EVs obsolete before they’re even on the road. Fuel cells may have been 20 years away for the last 50 years, but Toyota will have one on the road in 2015, and an East Coast entrepreneur, Tom Sullivan, is building a Maine-to-Miami “hydrogen highway” (and trying to convince the world with full-page ads in the New York Times). Fuel-cell cars offer greater range than battery EVs, and hydrogen is an unlimited source. I personally don’t expect the EV to be eclipsed anytime soon, but it is a possibility.
Maybe, in the end, investors will have to take something of a leap of faith here. It could have rich rewards, but EVs are, one has to say, a speculative investment.
Related:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Anxiety About ‘Range Anxiety
Great read on the anxiety of drivers regarding EVs but how the range being offered (around 100 miles) is more than enough for the majority of drivers.
China will pay electric car subsidies to makers, rather than buyers
China makes the call to give electric vehicle subsidies to the manufacturers as they view it more "politically palatable." Buyers will still get a subsidy just not as much as the manufacturers. Time will tell if this idea catches on.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tesla paid $42M for NUMMI but doesn’t have deal to build cars with Toyota
More pesky details roll out on the Tesla/Toyota deal. Not only does Toyota not have to build cars for Tesla, Tesla does not own any of the equipment in the factory (just the building). That means they will have to go to the well again for more cash once they bring the factory online. Also of note, the $50M in Tesla shares pledged by Toyota is only good if Telsa IPOs by December 31st of this year.
Maybe not such a grand deal after all...
Maybe not such a grand deal after all...
Elon Musk says he's broke
Tesla chieftain Elon Musk may not qualify for a loan for his own expensive Roadster according to VentureBeat. Repeated cash infusion into his fledgling car company and a nasty divorce have put his finances on the skids.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Coda Makes Plans for Battery Plant in Ohio, Pending Federal Loan Approval
First A123 announces jobs for the struggling state of Michigan and now CA start up Coda is looking to add them in Ohio. Coda (with backing from Chinese battery company Lishen Power Battery) will run the plant via a joint venture they have to develop electric car batteries. From Wheels @ NY Times.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Zipcar Gets $70M for Fleet Expansion
Zip gets dollars to grow their fleet and their fast growing 400K customer base.
Summary Box: New money for electric cars
From the AP...
GOING ELECTRIC: The Senate and House are proposing big grants for cities to install charging stations and other infrastructure needed to support electric cars. New tax credits would also be extended to some electric car buyers.
BIG GOAL: Lawmakers say the bills should help add 700,000 new electric vehicles to the road in the next few years.
THE BIG REASON: Electric vehicles are expected to hit car showrooms in big numbers starting this fall. But few cities have public places for them to recharge, potentially limiting how widely they can be used.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
GOING ELECTRIC: The Senate and House are proposing big grants for cities to install charging stations and other infrastructure needed to support electric cars. New tax credits would also be extended to some electric car buyers.
BIG GOAL: Lawmakers say the bills should help add 700,000 new electric vehicles to the road in the next few years.
THE BIG REASON: Electric vehicles are expected to hit car showrooms in big numbers starting this fall. But few cities have public places for them to recharge, potentially limiting how widely they can be used.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Emergence of the Electric Bike
Justin Timberlake (yes that one) is attempting to bring SexyBack to the e-bike space.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Nissan's Ghosn gambles big on electric cars
Cue the Kenny Rogers, Carlos Ghosn is betting it all on EV. Source: Bloomberg.
Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn made the rounds in the U.S. the last two days pumping up his electric-car plans. He said the automaker and its global partner, French carmaker Renault SA, will be able to build 500,000 electric cars a year by 2014. To back up his bold plan, he announced a $1.7 billion investment in a lithium-ion battery plant in Smyrna, Tenn. All told, Nissan is dropping $5 billion from 2007 to 2012 for its ambitious play to be the leader in electric cars. The U.S. government loaned Nissan $1.4 billion of the cash for the battery plant. So in essence, we all have a piece of his gamble.
And it’s a big one. The challenges to selling electric cars in big numbers are pretty obvious. The Leaf, Nissan’s five-passenger compact that hits the market later this year, can go 100 miles before needing to recharge. That recharge takes hours. And be careful about that 100 miles. That’s in the city, where stop-and-go driving recharges the battery. Out on the highway, it could get half of that, says Jim Hall, principal of auto consulting firm 2953 Analytics. That will limit its appeal, especially because American city boulevards aren’t exactly electric avenues lined with charging stations. The cars aren’t cheap either. The Leaf will sell for $25,280 after U.S. tax subsidies. That’s at least $5,000 more than most cars its size.
Cue up the ire of green-car fans. They hate hearing that electric cars might not populate every garage from here to Shanghai. Yes, many Americans only drive 20 miles to work and back. For them, the Leaf will be wonderful. Ghosn is also counting on China to snap up a lot of these. He said that his goal of selling half a million EVs would be less than 1 percent of the global car market.
All of that makes sense. But Ghosn will be rolling out cars faster than most big car markets—namely the U.S., Europe and even China—plan to install public charging stations. Renault and Nissan won’t be the only companies selling some kind of high-tech car. Ghosn says he doesn’t see the Chevrolet Volt as a rival to the Leaf since the Chevy has a small gasoline engine to recharge the battery, while the Leaf is electric-only.
I beg to differ. Some buyers want something green and clean. Whether the car runs only on electricity or gets super-high gas mileage makes little difference to some of those customers. To them, the Volt is more practical and has the same high-tech, green appeal. It will be an alternative. Adding more to the fray, Ford plans to sell two electric vehicles by 2012. Toyota is now teaming up with Tesla to build an electric car.
Is Ghosn crazy? Plenty of critics said so when Renault bought a stake in troubled Nissan in 1999. Ghosn made a money maker out of it. He may be overreaching this time. But he remains undeterred. He said the critics will not change the path he is on. He could prove them wrong again by becoming a leader well before others have the derring-do to go electric. He may also lose a lot of money in the process.
Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn made the rounds in the U.S. the last two days pumping up his electric-car plans. He said the automaker and its global partner, French carmaker Renault SA, will be able to build 500,000 electric cars a year by 2014. To back up his bold plan, he announced a $1.7 billion investment in a lithium-ion battery plant in Smyrna, Tenn. All told, Nissan is dropping $5 billion from 2007 to 2012 for its ambitious play to be the leader in electric cars. The U.S. government loaned Nissan $1.4 billion of the cash for the battery plant. So in essence, we all have a piece of his gamble.
And it’s a big one. The challenges to selling electric cars in big numbers are pretty obvious. The Leaf, Nissan’s five-passenger compact that hits the market later this year, can go 100 miles before needing to recharge. That recharge takes hours. And be careful about that 100 miles. That’s in the city, where stop-and-go driving recharges the battery. Out on the highway, it could get half of that, says Jim Hall, principal of auto consulting firm 2953 Analytics. That will limit its appeal, especially because American city boulevards aren’t exactly electric avenues lined with charging stations. The cars aren’t cheap either. The Leaf will sell for $25,280 after U.S. tax subsidies. That’s at least $5,000 more than most cars its size.
Cue up the ire of green-car fans. They hate hearing that electric cars might not populate every garage from here to Shanghai. Yes, many Americans only drive 20 miles to work and back. For them, the Leaf will be wonderful. Ghosn is also counting on China to snap up a lot of these. He said that his goal of selling half a million EVs would be less than 1 percent of the global car market.
All of that makes sense. But Ghosn will be rolling out cars faster than most big car markets—namely the U.S., Europe and even China—plan to install public charging stations. Renault and Nissan won’t be the only companies selling some kind of high-tech car. Ghosn says he doesn’t see the Chevrolet Volt as a rival to the Leaf since the Chevy has a small gasoline engine to recharge the battery, while the Leaf is electric-only.
I beg to differ. Some buyers want something green and clean. Whether the car runs only on electricity or gets super-high gas mileage makes little difference to some of those customers. To them, the Volt is more practical and has the same high-tech, green appeal. It will be an alternative. Adding more to the fray, Ford plans to sell two electric vehicles by 2012. Toyota is now teaming up with Tesla to build an electric car.
Is Ghosn crazy? Plenty of critics said so when Renault bought a stake in troubled Nissan in 1999. Ghosn made a money maker out of it. He may be overreaching this time. But he remains undeterred. He said the critics will not change the path he is on. He could prove them wrong again by becoming a leader well before others have the derring-do to go electric. He may also lose a lot of money in the process.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Ford Investing in E.V. Development in Michigan
Some good news for a state that sorely needs it. Ford is putting EV development into Michigan.
Bicycle Friendly State Rankings Unveiled
From Bicycle Retailer...Three cold weather states (WI, MN and ME) and 2 wet one's (OR and WA) are in the top five.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The League of American Bicyclists have unveiled their third annual Bicycle Friendly State (BFS) rankings.
"We are delighted to report that states, and statewide bicycle advocates, are using this program to target legislative changes, adopt new policies and even start new advocacy groups in order to improve conditions for cyclists," said Andy Clarke, League president, in a press release. "Change at the state level is harder to see than in a community or business, but is no less important, and we are seeing real progress."
At the top of the list are:
1. Washington
2. Wisconsin
3. Maine
4. Minnesota
5. Oregon
"Being recognized as a leader for three years in a row reflects the strong partnerships that have been forged over the years, as well as the smart investments that have been made at the local, regional and state level," said Kathleen Davis, director, WSDOT Highways & Local Programs Division. "In Washington, bicycling plays an important role in our overall transportation system, giving people choices for commuting and recreation." This marks the third year in a row that Washington has finished first in the ranking, and the second year Alabama has come in last.
The lowest scoring states ranked 46 through 50 are:
46. New Mexico
47. West Virginia
48. Montana
49. North Dakota
50. Alabama
Tennessee is one of the states that greatly improved its ranking; they jumped 20 spots in one year The state moved to 23rd place this year from their 43rd ranking in 2009. "The improvement in Tennessee's ranking is due in large part to the better collaboration among TDOT, regional and municipal planners, legislators, advocates, and sharing of information across the state," said Tom Evans, founder and secretary/treasurer of Bike Walk Tennessee. "We'll use the 2010 rankings and feedback as a guide to prioritize efforts for future improvements."
The League also is announcing the second round of Bicycle Friendly State awards, modeled after the successful Bicycle Friendly Community designation program. Four new states have been awarded the special designation, and two states received an honorable mention: Oregon (Silver), Delaware (Bronze), New Jersey (Bronze), Massachusetts (Honorable Mention), Florida (Honorable Mention) and Maryland (Honorable Mention). Along with last year's winners, these states show what can be done to promote bicycling through model policies, programs and a built environment that accommodates bicyclists of all ages and abilities.
The BFS program links the League's work with federal level and community advocacy throughout the nation and recognizes states that actively support bicycling. The state rankings were first conducted in 2008 and are conducted annually, with all questions and methodology remaining consistent to track states' progress. The BFS rankings are based on a 95-item questionnaire that evaluates a state's commitment to bicycling and covers six key areas: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement. The League offers feedback and technical assistance to states in an effort to improve their ranking as well as overall conditions for bicycling. The rankings are used to create momentum amongst states and communities to continue to become more bicycle friendly.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The League of American Bicyclists have unveiled their third annual Bicycle Friendly State (BFS) rankings.
"We are delighted to report that states, and statewide bicycle advocates, are using this program to target legislative changes, adopt new policies and even start new advocacy groups in order to improve conditions for cyclists," said Andy Clarke, League president, in a press release. "Change at the state level is harder to see than in a community or business, but is no less important, and we are seeing real progress."
At the top of the list are:
1. Washington
2. Wisconsin
3. Maine
4. Minnesota
5. Oregon
"Being recognized as a leader for three years in a row reflects the strong partnerships that have been forged over the years, as well as the smart investments that have been made at the local, regional and state level," said Kathleen Davis, director, WSDOT Highways & Local Programs Division. "In Washington, bicycling plays an important role in our overall transportation system, giving people choices for commuting and recreation." This marks the third year in a row that Washington has finished first in the ranking, and the second year Alabama has come in last.
The lowest scoring states ranked 46 through 50 are:
46. New Mexico
47. West Virginia
48. Montana
49. North Dakota
50. Alabama
Tennessee is one of the states that greatly improved its ranking; they jumped 20 spots in one year The state moved to 23rd place this year from their 43rd ranking in 2009. "The improvement in Tennessee's ranking is due in large part to the better collaboration among TDOT, regional and municipal planners, legislators, advocates, and sharing of information across the state," said Tom Evans, founder and secretary/treasurer of Bike Walk Tennessee. "We'll use the 2010 rankings and feedback as a guide to prioritize efforts for future improvements."
The League also is announcing the second round of Bicycle Friendly State awards, modeled after the successful Bicycle Friendly Community designation program. Four new states have been awarded the special designation, and two states received an honorable mention: Oregon (Silver), Delaware (Bronze), New Jersey (Bronze), Massachusetts (Honorable Mention), Florida (Honorable Mention) and Maryland (Honorable Mention). Along with last year's winners, these states show what can be done to promote bicycling through model policies, programs and a built environment that accommodates bicyclists of all ages and abilities.
The BFS program links the League's work with federal level and community advocacy throughout the nation and recognizes states that actively support bicycling. The state rankings were first conducted in 2008 and are conducted annually, with all questions and methodology remaining consistent to track states' progress. The BFS rankings are based on a 95-item questionnaire that evaluates a state's commitment to bicycling and covers six key areas: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement. The League offers feedback and technical assistance to states in an effort to improve their ranking as well as overall conditions for bicycling. The rankings are used to create momentum amongst states and communities to continue to become more bicycle friendly.
Car2Go car sharing program opens to the public in Austin, TX
Car2Go is now taking customers in Austin, TX. Source: Daimler
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tesla to build electric cars at Northern California plant
From the Los Angeles Times...Tesla is partnering with Toyota to build electric cars near Oakland. The plant was formally a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. Known as NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc) the plant was closed in April after making nearly 8M Toyota Corolla's. Upon closure 5K UAW members were laid off. The new plant will provide 1K new jobs.
Note the city of Downey, CA was extremely upset by the announcement as they were under the impression Tesla was signing an agreement today to put the plant in their fair city.
Note the city of Downey, CA was extremely upset by the announcement as they were under the impression Tesla was signing an agreement today to put the plant in their fair city.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Gordon Murray's T27 nearing production in UK
Gordon Murray's latest project, the T27, is reportedly getting much closer to production.
Three seater EV appears to be coming to life for the UK.
Three seater EV appears to be coming to life for the UK.
Low-speed electric vehicles are low-safety, watchdog group warns
Important article on the LSEV market. Current products are not up to snuff in terms of safety (says the LA Times). This can hamper distribution beyond the current hodgepodge of dealers and also means anyone with a strong safety message will have to highlight that in their presentation to customers.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
An Electric Car Test Drive—In 2020
Fascinating read from Popular Mechanics the day in the life of EV users in Southern California in the year 2020.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A123 Systems’ Lithium-Ion Battery to Help Revive U.S. Manufacturing Sector with More Green Jobs
Story on A123 bringing jobs to Michigan.
Hawaii Joins List of States Offering Big Incentives to Buy Electric Cars
Say "Aloha" to savings...Hawaii joined CA ($5K), Georgia ($5K) and OR ($1.5K)with their own local credit ($4.5K). Coupled with the federal max credit of $7.5K you can get 12K off a Leaf or Volt and drive silently through the islands.
Motorcycle dealers still scrambling to find customers
Sobering read on the continual decline of motorcycle and scooter industry. Among reasons, stable gas prices mean consumers are not seeking fuel economy options and the continued tight credit market.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Electric Car Maker THINK Completes Equity Increase; Eyes US Launch
Article on Think equity increase...
Mazda, Think, EnerDel partner on electric rentals
Interesting love connection here. Think Global (who just closed a $40M round last week) has teamed with Mazda to build a solar powered car for Japan. Interesting partnership as it matches Think's drive train and InerDel's batteries. Hey, if it works, no worries about running out of a charge :). Story from CNET below...
Mazda, EnerDel, Think Global, and others are partnering on a test project that will pair all-electric cars with stationary storage units as charging stations, EnerDel and Mazda announced this past week.
Mazda plans to convert some of its Mazda2 vehicles (known as the Mazda Demios in Japan) to all-electric cars running a Think drivetrain with EnerDel lithium ion batteries.
The cars will be offered to Japanese customers through a rental car program, called the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project, which should be up and running by March 2010 in Tsukuba City, Japan, near Tokyo, according to Mazda.
U.S. battery manufacturer EnerDel has described the test project as the Japanese equivalent to Zipcar in the States, a program in which customers join a car club that offers car rentals on an hourly or daily basis.
Instead of recharging stations tapping directly into a smart grid, those in the Tsukuba test project will use stationary grid storage units also developed by EnerDel. The stationary storage units will enable the rapid charging of the all-electric Mazda2 cars, while avoiding the possibility of having to tap into a smart grid during peak usage hours.
"The unique combination of on-site battery storage with rapid charging allows the use of direct current throughout the system, sharply reducing the amount of time needed to charge a vehicle," according to a statement from EnerDel.
The recharging stations, which will draw from solar panels as well as grid power, will be located at Family Mart convenience stores in the Tsukuba City area.
Itochu, a Japanese conglomerate that has partnered with EnerDel on energy projects since 2003, owns the Family Mart chain. It was through a partnership with Itochu that EnerDel and Think Global converted and tested a fleet of trucks to all-electric vehicles for the Japanese Postal Service.
Mazda, EnerDel, Think Global, and others are partnering on a test project that will pair all-electric cars with stationary storage units as charging stations, EnerDel and Mazda announced this past week.
Mazda plans to convert some of its Mazda2 vehicles (known as the Mazda Demios in Japan) to all-electric cars running a Think drivetrain with EnerDel lithium ion batteries.
The cars will be offered to Japanese customers through a rental car program, called the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project, which should be up and running by March 2010 in Tsukuba City, Japan, near Tokyo, according to Mazda.
U.S. battery manufacturer EnerDel has described the test project as the Japanese equivalent to Zipcar in the States, a program in which customers join a car club that offers car rentals on an hourly or daily basis.
Instead of recharging stations tapping directly into a smart grid, those in the Tsukuba test project will use stationary grid storage units also developed by EnerDel. The stationary storage units will enable the rapid charging of the all-electric Mazda2 cars, while avoiding the possibility of having to tap into a smart grid during peak usage hours.
"The unique combination of on-site battery storage with rapid charging allows the use of direct current throughout the system, sharply reducing the amount of time needed to charge a vehicle," according to a statement from EnerDel.
The recharging stations, which will draw from solar panels as well as grid power, will be located at Family Mart convenience stores in the Tsukuba City area.
Itochu, a Japanese conglomerate that has partnered with EnerDel on energy projects since 2003, owns the Family Mart chain. It was through a partnership with Itochu that EnerDel and Think Global converted and tested a fleet of trucks to all-electric vehicles for the Japanese Postal Service.
Adoption of Electric Cars Will Be Slow, Forecasters Say
Interesting take here from Deloitte on future of Electric Cars. Predicting only 2% to 5% of adoption within 10 years. The lines of demarcation are certainly being drawn in the space. Full article below:
High cost and still-limited performance will keep the number of electric cars at only 2 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. market a decade from now, a study by Deloitte Consulting issued this week said.
The forecast is a marked contrast from the more bullish outlook by some automakers and electric car advocates.
Nissan Motor Co., the first major automaker to introduce an electric car, has forecast that 10 percent of new car sales will be electric vehicles by 2020.
Deloitte expects the cost of producing batteries for electric cars to fall by 40 percent over the next four years.
The consulting firm said it expected that advanced batteries to power electric cars would cost near $600 per kilowatt hour in 2014. That would be down from near $1,000 per kilowatt hour today.
Nissan will introduce the Leaf, an all-electric car with a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge, later this year in markets, including the United States, that have offered government subsidies.
Brand Identity
The study also showed that Nissan and General Motors Co., the two major automakers that will introduce electric vehicles this year, face a potential problem with consumer perception of their brands when it comes to electric cars.
"The auto purchase decision in the United States is very much a brand purchase. People tend to affiliate with automotive brands," said Robert Hill of Deloitte.
The survey found that 17 percent of consumers would prefer to buy an electric car from Toyota Motor Corp., 15 percent from Honda Motor Co. and 12 percent from Ford Motor Co. GM's Chevrolet brand was fourth at 8 percent, and Nissan was ninth at 4 percent.
Tesla Motors, which already has a high-performance electric car on the road and is using U.S. government funding to develop a mass-market offering, was at 2 percent.
Deloitte's Hill said brands like Chevy, Nissan and Tesla might have to spend more on marketing than better positioned brands.
"The onus will be on them in a very difficult automotive market that they will bear the burden of educating consumers," he said.
Washing Machines, Cell Phones
Deloitte estimates that established automakers, led by Toyota, have spent $10 billion in the past decade promoting hybrid cars such as the Prius, which still make up only 3 percent of the pool of U.S. cars.
Hill said the adoption of electric cars could more closely parallel the relatively slow acceptance of 20th-century consumer breakthroughs like the washing machine than the fast embrace of more recent innovations like the cellphone.
It took the washing machine from 1930 until 1975 to go from 10 percent use in U.S. homes to 70 percent. By contrast, the jump for mobile phones to 70 percent from 10 percent in the U.S. market took a mere decade.
High cost and still-limited performance will keep the number of electric cars at only 2 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. market a decade from now, a study by Deloitte Consulting issued this week said.
The forecast is a marked contrast from the more bullish outlook by some automakers and electric car advocates.
Nissan Motor Co., the first major automaker to introduce an electric car, has forecast that 10 percent of new car sales will be electric vehicles by 2020.
Deloitte expects the cost of producing batteries for electric cars to fall by 40 percent over the next four years.
The consulting firm said it expected that advanced batteries to power electric cars would cost near $600 per kilowatt hour in 2014. That would be down from near $1,000 per kilowatt hour today.
Nissan will introduce the Leaf, an all-electric car with a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge, later this year in markets, including the United States, that have offered government subsidies.
Brand Identity
The study also showed that Nissan and General Motors Co., the two major automakers that will introduce electric vehicles this year, face a potential problem with consumer perception of their brands when it comes to electric cars.
"The auto purchase decision in the United States is very much a brand purchase. People tend to affiliate with automotive brands," said Robert Hill of Deloitte.
The survey found that 17 percent of consumers would prefer to buy an electric car from Toyota Motor Corp., 15 percent from Honda Motor Co. and 12 percent from Ford Motor Co. GM's Chevrolet brand was fourth at 8 percent, and Nissan was ninth at 4 percent.
Tesla Motors, which already has a high-performance electric car on the road and is using U.S. government funding to develop a mass-market offering, was at 2 percent.
Deloitte's Hill said brands like Chevy, Nissan and Tesla might have to spend more on marketing than better positioned brands.
"The onus will be on them in a very difficult automotive market that they will bear the burden of educating consumers," he said.
Washing Machines, Cell Phones
Deloitte estimates that established automakers, led by Toyota, have spent $10 billion in the past decade promoting hybrid cars such as the Prius, which still make up only 3 percent of the pool of U.S. cars.
Hill said the adoption of electric cars could more closely parallel the relatively slow acceptance of 20th-century consumer breakthroughs like the washing machine than the fast embrace of more recent innovations like the cellphone.
It took the washing machine from 1930 until 1975 to go from 10 percent use in U.S. homes to 70 percent. By contrast, the jump for mobile phones to 70 percent from 10 percent in the U.S. market took a mere decade.
Welcome
Check back for articles, notes and what not on the happenings in the world of transportation. This blog will focus on electric vehicles (2, 3, 4 wheel), car share, electric vehicle charging (commercial and home) and smart grid. The lens will be global with a particular focus on North America, Asia and the UK.
Thanks,
TC
Thanks,
TC
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