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…
Categories: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, plug-in hybrids
Impossible to forecast the future price of hybrids and EVs?
Tesla Model S: The smartest battery-powered car around?
Using the Tesla Model S as a battery price metric
It seems pretty clear that batteries for hybrid and electric cars will become cheaper over time. New technologies, better manufacturing, and scale all seem on an inevitable path towards making batteries cheaper. But when? Also, are there any confounding variables lurking?
If Tesla’s Model S battery packs are any indication, then it seems that predicting the future price of hybrids and EVs is largely impossible. At least that’s the conclusion New York Times writer Paul Stenquist reaches after reviewing the pricing of the Model S and its corresponding battery price tell. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles, Tesla Model S Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, Tesla Model S
10 years, minimally, before the plug-in revolution gears up?
Who killed the electric? An ignorant question?
The battery-powered world according to DOE secretary Chu
In the next 10 years, automakers will probably sell at least 150 million new vehicles in the US alone. Most of them will be traditional gas-guzzlers, although many will be turbo charged, fewer cylinder-engined guzzlers — a positive step at least. Nevertheless, many of those 150 million new guzzlers; however, will be on US roads for up to another 2 decades. Guzzling. Guzzling. Guzzling.
That paints a pretty sad story of US foreign energy dependence for at least the next 3 decades — a terrible tale that is supported by the latest suggestions from Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Read more…
Categories: Chevy Volt, electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrids
Batteries versus cars: Has the lithium revolution already been won?
Is the battery more important than the car?
Is A123 America’s only hope?
Lithium prices are skyrocketing. That’s been a big story the last few days. Smart phones, tablets, and now the move towards lithium-powered hybrid and plug-in vehicles is significantly accelerating demand for lithium.
Unfortunately, the lithium mining industry has been stagnant for years, and it will take massive capital and time to change those dynamics. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: lithium, lithium batteries
Where is the auto industry taking us?
Energy density according to Exxon.
Hybrids, EVs, fuel cells. Or gas-guzzlers forever?
I was cleaning out some bookmarks and came across this graph in an interesting article regarding energy density. The article and the graph come from Exxon, which used the graph to explain why by 2040, 90 percent of transportation would still be fueled by liquid fuels.
Now, there are countless arguments to make as to why Exxon is wrong, and I’m not going to make any of them. Instead, I wonder just one simple thing: Where is the auto industry taking us? Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, Fuel economy, Hybrid Cars
Study – No plug-in car game changers through 2020
A lithium-ion battery pack for the Chevy Volt.
And plug-in hype could even stunt development
Earlier today I read about a study that claimed that lithium-ion battery prices had declined from $800 kWh last year to $689 this year because “production capacity exceeded demand”. So, if demand had met expectations, prices would have been $800 kWh?
If true, that matches up pretty well with a study commissioned by the UK Committee on Climate Change that finds through 2020 no major breakthroughs in lithium-ion prices are expected. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrids
2020: Hybrids, plug-ins and foreign oil dependence
AlQaeda, Iran and Israel, Egypt: The dangers of foreign oil dependence.
2020 is becoming clearer and scarier
Why do hybrid cars and plug-ins matter? Will they create long term jobs in the auto industry? Can they end global warming? Or does it all boil down to the dangers of foreign oil dependence? That really depends on whom you ask, but the majority of Americans would settle on the dangers of foreign oil dependence.
In the last few days, we’ve learned a lot about the auto industry and we now have a better vision of what 2020 is going to look like and how it will impact US foreign oil dependence. And if you’re not scared. You should be. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Energy Independence, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, foreign oil dependence, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
Everything we know about hybrids and plug-ins today is wrong
One major barrier to electrification overcome?
Toyota will lose its hybrid crown, and lithium-ion might be just fine for the battery revolution
In general, most believe that in order to truly replace gasoline cars, battery packs will eventually have to move beyond lithium-ion technologies, into lithium-air and numerous other technological possibilities, for example. According to Envia Systems, however, their new cathode materials could put electric cars on par with conventional gas guzzlers now.
And on a different electrified note, a new study suggests that Toyota’s days as the hybrid king could be numbered. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
No touchdown dance for the Chevy Volt at the Super Bowl
Legit Prius contender? The Volt at it's debut
Did GM misjudge Main St. and the Toyota Prius?
Years ago, before the debut of the Chevy Volt concept, but as rumors emerged that GM was aiming to take on the Toyota Prius, I claimed that a GM-like-Prius would be even more successful than the Prius. An American-made Prius would be a true freedom fighter, a US manufactured attack on foreign oil dependence. In fact, I argued that GM could build a whole marketing concept around this freedom-fighter vehicle.
While some might argue the Chevy Volt is a such a vehicle, data coming out of the Super Bowl, suggests otherwise. Read more…
Categories: Chevy Volt, electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius
Electrification needs another decade of battery development
When will the Prius lineup be a pure lithium-powered lineup?
At least according to Continental AG CEO regarding the future of electric cars
For some time now experts in the battery maker space for plug-in cars have been warning of an over-supplied sector amidst limited demand and a time of industry consolidation. In recent weeks the bankruptcy of Ener1, for instance, has demonstrated the upheaval that many are expecting in this space in the next few years to come.
In fact, startups in this space shouldn’t expect any profits for at least another 5 years according to the executive of one major automotive player.
Today, electrification is still facing some serious obstacles. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, lithium batteries
