Ford updates Congress - EVs coming in 2010
An electric version in 2012?CNBC's Phil Lebeau interviewed Ford CEO Alan Mulally today about Ford's updated plans being provided for Congress. According to Lebeau, Ford plans to turn a profit around 2011. Although Ford doesn't need financing right now, they are seeking to secure about $9 billion in loans to have access to if needed. If needed, Mulally will work for $1 per year.
Ford also announced that it will begin selling commercially available electric vehicles by 2010. In 2010, Ford will sell an electric van for fleet sales, followed by an electric sedan in 2011. Ford plans to elaborate on these plans, as well as plans for new hybrid vehicles at the North American International Auto Show.
Labels: electric cars, Ford
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:16 AM
6 Comments:
EV's coming in 2010....riiiiiiighhhhhtttttt....
They aren't predicting a massive amount of electric cars, so I think they'll offer them.
Getting EVs on the road, in small numbers isn't a problem for any major automaker. It's getting cost-effective, profitable mass produced EVs on the road that isn't so easy.
Plug in cars would cost the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to drive at the current average electric rates. The electricity to charge them could conceive ably come from solar or wind.We spent 168 billion on the last stimulus pkg that did nada for our economy. Why not invest in getting some alternative energy projects set up and running. It would create cheap clean energy and create new badly needed jobs. This past year the high cost of gas seriously damaged our economy and society. While we are doing the Happy Dance around the lower pierces at the pump OPEC is planning strategy to raise the price per barrel back up to between 75-100. per barrel.We really need to get on with alternative energy. Bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil and the control it has over our economy and society. There is a great new book out called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW by Jeff Wilson. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is worried about our economy and would like to see our country become energy independent.
So, why not just nationalize the auto industry, then?
To convert America's fleet into PHEVs would require that the government essentially fund it. These cars will cost much more than conventional cars up front. Yes, they will probably recover their costs in the long run, but American consumers won't buy that without massive tax incentives. Automakers can't afford to make these vehicles without massive tax incentives.
Without a gas tax pushing gas prices to at least $4.00 or $5.00, consumers will not buy these vehicles at prices that are profitable to automakers.
To make a massive conversion to electric drives happen fast, coupled with a new smart grid is probably more than a trillion dollar ticket.
Is it time to kill capitalism?
No it is not time to kill capitalism. The easiest thing the government can do that would have a profound impact on changing the direction of automotive transportation would be to commit to only purchasing hybrid or all-electric vehicles for federal fleet purchases.
It is what a government can and should do - lead by example.
With this new administration, there is actually a chance that something like this can happen.
I think that's a no-brainer and I think it will happen, but I don't think it would have that great of an effect. Many fleet managers have converted to hybrids - which made it harder for consumers to buy them and even led to huge hybrid markups - coupled with the run-up in gas prices.
In my opinion, the most free-market way to make it happen would be to add a gas tax, or a petroleum tax that puts a floor on gas prices of about $4.00, minimally. Then use that money for the smart grid and consumer tax incentives. In addition to raising funds, it would force much smarter transportation habits.
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