Oxford Study – Electric car revolution will be extremely difficult
GM's EN-V: The key to the plug-in revolution?
Major changes in policy and industry support, plus a much better understanding of consumer behavior needed
While I am a big fan of plug-in cars, I’m a bigger fan of US energy independence, especially finding a way to end OPEC dependence as quickly as possible. In theory, plug-ins offer a great way to overcome this challenge. The real world, on the other hand, is a far more difficult place.
It’s not that plug-ins don’t have an extremely important role to play, it’s just that much more needs to be done — and should have already been done — along the path to the plug-in revolution. Like it or not, however, but the auto industry and policy makers have used plug-ins as an excuse not to do more. And the latest Oxford plug-in study, unfortunately, supports this position. Read more…
Categories: Plug-in Vehicles, Tax Incentives, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, GM EN-V, plug-in hybrids
Toyota Prius plug-in tops April plug-in sales
Prius is hybrid and plug-in king in April
Chevy Volt recedes a bit from last month’s big numbers
Sales of both GM and Nissan plug-in cars declined last month compared to the month before. However, the Toyota Prius plug-in achieved its best month of plug-in sales yet at 1,654 units.
GM claimed limited California supplies. Nissan stood by its 20,000 sale’s target. And Ford, well Ford just decided not to sell any plug-ins in April. Read more…
Categories: Buying plug-ins, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Plug-in Vehicles, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: Chevy Volt, electric cars, Nissan Leaf, plug-in hybrids, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid
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: Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, Fuel economy, Hybrid Cars
Ford explains lack of hybrid, plug-in pickup trucks
No Ford hybrid pickup trucks anytime soon?
The costs of hybrid trucks are just too heavy
Ford has owned the title to the best selling vehicle in America, well, almost forever. While that’s great for this American company, it’s terrible for US fleet fuel economy. If Ford’s top selling F150 Series came in a hybrid or plug-in option, on the other hand, it would be a game changer thanks to the incredible amount of gasoline such vehicles could save.
Unfortunately, Ford CEO Alan Mulally squashed any hopes for a major move to battery-powered pickup trucks any time soon. Read more…
Categories: Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
Hybrids, plug-ins dominate best cars for An American Terrorist
The best car for An American Terrorist
Fighting foreign oil dependence one car at a time
As I’ve argued numerous times, the only thing that is really going to change American energy policy and consumer purchasing is a revolution in consumer psychology, outside of either force, or an almost miracle technological breakthrough. That’s the idea behind An American Terrorist. To shake up the energy independence conversation.
Anyway, the Nissan Leaf took top honors amongst the 5 best cars for An American Terrorist. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Buying plug-ins, Chevy Volt, Energy Independence, Hybrid Cars, Nissan Leaf, Plug-in Vehicles, Toyota Prius C, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: foreign oil dependence
The funny thing about plug-in and hybrid car haters
This is America and the key to ending foreign oil dependence
Haters matter far more than battery car advocates realize
Electric cars are so Audi 5000.
No they’re not. They really make sense if you objectively analyze the data.
Analyze this. Only a moron would pay extra for a car that has a range of less than 100 miles.
Moron? Fox News watching neanderthal.
Tree hugging fascist.
There, problem solved. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Buying plug-ins, Energy Independence, Hybrid Cars, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
Thoughts about Chevy Volt cost-effectiveness, or lack of
Under the right lense, the Volt makes cost-effective sense
At least based on Volt data according to Consumer Reports
Just going over some more data regarding hybrid and plug-in cost-effectiveness, and it just amazes me how no two studies ever find the same results. Why? Is it all just about advertising? Anyway, check out Hybrid and plug-in cars that make the least financial sense for more on that angle.
Anyway, according to Consumer Reports, the Chevy Volt is cost-ineffective, taking at least 6 years — after the federal tax credit is deducted — before the Volt makes up its plug-in premium compared to the Chevy Cruze. But that could be a worst case scenario. Read more…
Categories: Buying plug-ins, Chevy Volt, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: Chevy Volt
Coda will offer most affordable EV around 2014
Coda makes huge EV promise
Prices similar to a conventional gas-guzzler
Around mid-2014 Coda will begin assembling electric cars, sub-assembled by China’s Great Wall Motors, that Coda promises will result in the “most affordable EV on the market.”
Still, there are some red flags in this project, such as the fact that Great Wall Motors has not yet even built an electric car. Read more…
Categories: Coda plug-in electric, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars Tags: china, electric cars
Chinese dreaming – BYD is China’s only electric car hope
BYD Daimler Denza electric car
China’s EV plans solely dependent upon foreign automakers
These days, China seems to be a tale of two countries. On the one hand, there is the rising middle class with money in their pockets buying up Buicks, SUVs, and luxury cars, but not hybrids or plug-ins. On the other hand, there is China’s working poor riding bikes, and if they are lucky, upgrading to e-bikes and three-wheeled electric vehicles.
And China’s goals of becoming a major automotive power, led by the battery, are facing significant headwinds. In fact, outside of BYD, few automakers seem ready according to many Chinese observers. Read more…
Categories: Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: china, electric cars, plug-in electric bikes, plug-in hybrids
GM’s EN-V could be more important than the Chevy Volt
Mainstream electrification could accelerate thanks to the EN-V.
Chinese electrification is a whole different monster
In the next 30 years, the world population is going to increase rather significantly and 80 percent of that growth is going to occur in the 25 largest cities in the world according to recent analysis by BMW . Personal transportation as we know it, simply won’t function in these megacites, and in many major Chinese cities, this urban mobility shift is already underway.
While electrification will undoubtedly be part of this future, just electrification won’t be enough. That’s why in China electric bikes and 3-wheelers are becoming extremely popular, far more popular than conventional electric cars. Consequently, GM’s EN-V could be more necessary and revolutionary than the Chevy Volt. Read more…
Categories: Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, GM EN-V, plug-in electric bikes
