Surprising EV news coming out of China
Dead on arrival.
Acting more American than Americans?
In the last few days there have been a few somewhat surprising alternative vehicle stories coming out of China, the often reported key to electric vehicle viability.
Turns out, at least for now, Chinese consumers don’t want to purchase either hybrid or electric cars.
The other day, BYD announced it was cancelling the F3E electric car. Instead, a focus on plug-in hybrids will be pursued.
That story was quickly followed by another story regarding Changan Auto and its plans to stop producing the Jiexun hybrid vehicle because the company couldn’t even sell one vehicle.
Overall, Chinese insiders claim that Chinese consumers first and foremost simply don’t want to pay extra to save fuel – sounds just like American auto consumers. Additionally, they don’t trust these new technologies and, in terms of electric cars, there is no infrastructure to support such vehicles.
Certainly, upcoming incentives to purchase such vehicles should change this buyer angst to some extent, especially as environmental and infrastructure details are worked out.
Just because you can turn a city bus into an electric bus doesn’t mean you can do it cost-effectively.
Down here in SoCal, natural gas powers most buses. So there isn’t any huge advantage yet in converting them into EVs. I don’t know about the buses in NoCal, but if they are also natural gas, then in terms of emissions, there isn’t much point in EV conversions.
In terms of when will you be able to get an electric car, I assume you mean an affordable, cost-effective electric car? I’d say when either gas prices go higher or a battery breakthrough is achieved.
And, if I had the money to build a company, I wouldn’t build EVs. I’d take the car sharing business model and add auto-drive technologies to it. Propulsion systems would be based on needs. Less cars equals less resources needed. Less traffic means less congestion and pollution and better fuel economy for all.
How much longer until the people (me) get a real electric car? I don’t personally care about tax credit for something I don’t want. I was excited about the Chevy volt, but it turned out to be another hybrid compromise. If I was rich I would buy a car from Tesla Motors Inc. (TLSA). I might be able to afford couple of their stocks. Have you ever noticed how people who really care about something (environment) do something about it (like Tesla Motors Inc.). I was thinking about what I could do to help get an electric car on the road. I found this company called Electric Car Company, Inc. (ELCR)(www.limo land.com ). I thought this would help make a difference. I spent $200 dollars. Turns out that the company is floundering. Once again know one cares. There giving the stock away! If everyone spent $50.00 we could take this company over. The Electric Car Company, Inc. can convert city buses to electric. You would think my friends in the bay area would be all over this company! There such big talkers! Not one politician has thrown this company a bone! They could have given this company a city contract to convert the metro over to electric. Which would have been a good job maker. Just more big talkers! So, you’ve read this far. Are you a big talker? What are you going to do?
But why won’t Chinese consumers purchase either hybrid or electric cars? Hybrid and electric cars are the future. How can one be not seeing this?