Plug-in Vehicles

A lot of Leafs blowing around my LA neighborhood

The perfect plug-in for city folk?

Where a plug-in electric car makes a lot of sense

So, a new Chevy Volt ad finds the Volt telling its gas-guzzling parents that it’s electric. Even when the Volt is at the gas station converting gasoline into electricity, I wonder? Maybe.

Nevertheless, it’s this EV focus that makes it so interesting how many Nissan Leafs are blowing around my neighborhood compared to Chevy Volts. Read more…

A $30,000 Tesla plug-in electric car by 2015?

An Model X Teaser. $30,000 plug-in next?

To be followed by a Tesla pickup truck?

MotorTrend via Autocar is reporting that Tesla is planning a BMW M3 Series plug-in to come some time after the Model X launches in late 2013/early 2014. While the new Tesla plug-in will be smaller than the M3, it will also offer a smaller price tag, possibly as low as $30,000 for the base model.

And a Tesla pickup truck might not be too far behind. Read more…

Is the Tesla Model S Bob Lutz’s new Toyota Prius?

The key to electrification.

Had GM focused on a Model S-like plug-in, rather than the Volt, would they be more successful?

I never liked ex GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz and co-father of the Chevy Volt until I met him. Even then I often haven’t agreed with him, I love his tact, or lack thereof. Lutz shoots from the hip and makes no excuses.

And Lutz’s latest target is the idea that Tesla is such a smarter EV player than GM and the rest of the Big 3. Read more…

New study on cheaper plug-in battery prices: Now to 2025

Much cheaper Volt battery packs by 2025

Is plug-in success more dependent upon psychology than technology?

After reading the details of a new McKinsey study on lithium-ion battery costs from now through 2025 that forecasts dramatically lower lithium battery prices, I asked Should America go all in plug-in cars on Soultek.com this morning.

So, should America go all in on plug-ins? Read more…

Better residual value: Hybrid cars versus plug-in cars

c hybrid offers best residual value compared to all hybrids and plug-ins

How does plug-in depreciation compare to hybrids?

Obviously, no one wants to buy a new car and then drive off the lot and suddenly realize its worth drastically less than what was paid. Unfortunately, all new cars lose value as soon as the dealer hands you the keys, which is why savvy financial folks, such as Warren Buffett, only buy slightly used cars.

And residual value after 5 years is an even scarier number.

So do hybrid or electric cars hold their value better? Read more…

Cool concept but $18,000 is just too much for MyCar

$10,000 or less?

But neighborhood electric cars could have potential

Aside from less interest in cars compared to previous generations, another reason millennials are driving less is because many parents are in no hurry to give their kids the keys to the car. Perhaps one day this over-protective attitude could lead to real interest in Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs).

In order for that to happen, however, NEVs such as Greentech Automotive’s MyCar will need some serious price reductions. Read more…

Is the luxury segment the key to ‘global sustainability’?

If only we could all drive a Fisker plug-in. LOL!

Or just an oxymoronic phrase for rich wankers?

If you’re going to buy a luxury vehicle, there is no doubt that buying a green luxury vehicle is better than buying a traditional luxury vehicle.

But can luxury ever really be sustainable, or green? Read more…

Study finds China to fall far short of plug-in car goals

BYD’s electric dreams still more dream than reality

Still an important market for the development of plug-in cars though

The Chinese government has both over-estimated Chinese demand for plug-in vehicles, as well as the capabilities of the domestic Chinese auto industry to build quality electric cars. Consequently, a new Pike Research study finds that China will fall far short of its plug-in goals.

Instead of 500,000 plug-ins per year by 2015, China will hit 152,000 units per year by 2017 — or less than 1 percent of total Chinese auto sales. Read more…

What’s wrong with the Nissan Leaf?

Time to turn a new Leaf on plug-in sales

Is the Leaf Carlos Ghosn’s biggest mistake?

Happy Fourth of July. Wasn’t going to post anything today, but then I saw the sale’s numbers for the Nissan Leaf. Just 535 Leaf electric cars were sold last month, down from 1,708 last June.

What is going on with Nissan’s plug-in plans? What’s wrong with the Nissan Leaf? Read more…

Mitsubishi i plug-in electric car fairly safe

Just don’t get hit on the passenger side.

Four out of five NHTSA stars

OK. Let’s cut straight to the chase on this one because there is no easy way around this. No way of being polite. The Mitsubishi i feels a little fragile and therefore, not the safest. Of course, here in America we’re used to huge, heavy rides.

But, just because the i plug-in electric car is small and light doesn’t mean it’s not safe. In fact, the NHTSA gave the i 4 out of 5 stars in its safety ratings. Not bad. Read more…