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
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…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Buying plug-ins, Chevy Volt, electric cars, Hybrid Cars, Nissan Leaf, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles, Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius C Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
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…
Categories: electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: china, electric cars, plug-in hybrids
Toyota Prius c leads list of hardest to find hybrid cars
Supplies of this hybrid are below a c
Toyota dominates list of scarce hybrids
With the July 4th holiday quickly approaching, many Americans are preparing to go car shopping. Unfortunately, some hybrid shoppers might have a hard time finding their preferred hybrid.
For instance, there is only a 9 day supply of the Toyota Prius c according to the latest research compiled by Forbes, making the c hybrid the hardest to find hybrid car. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Buying plug-ins, Hybrid Cars, Lexus RX 450h hybrid, plug-in hybrid cars, Toyota Prius C, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid Tags: Hybrid Cars, lexus rx450h hybrid, plug-in hybrids, Toyota Prius C, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid
What to expect from plug-in car sales through 2020
The plug-in built for America, but not Japan?
At least according to the latest plug-in analysis from Pike Research
President Obama’s goal of 1 million US plug-in sales by 2015 will not be met, at least based on a new Pike Research Report. Instead, total US plug-in sales through 2015 should reach about 410,000 plug-in vehicles. However, 1 million US plug-in sales should be achieved in 2018.
Overall, according to Pike, plug-in adoption — at least through 2020 — is going to be slower than expected, or at least expected by early advocates. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, plug-in hybrids
Crazy weather car advantage: Hybrids versus electric cars
Best car for crazy weather?
What’s the best car to own in a power outage?
With the lights still out in many parts of the Eastern US, many aren’t just having a hard time due to a lack of power, but also a lack of gasoline. So, what’s the best kind of car to own in these situations?
Of course, I’m only considering hybrid and electric cars, each of which has unique advantages compared to conventional gas-guzzlers in many scenarios. Read more…
Categories: Chevy Volt, electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: Chevy Volt, electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
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
How plug-ins are hurting America; and how to fix it
Why is the most cost-effective plug-in hated by most plug-in advocates?
It’s simply time to get real about battery-powered potential
In the last couple of days there has been a ton of news about the Facebook IPO. It’s the Internet boom all over again. Others say that Chinese investors helped stoke the fire, as they also did in the few years preceding the mortgage crisis.
Ironically, these themes are also woven into the plug-in revolution that is currently hurting America more than it is helping. Read more…
Categories: Buying Hybrids, Buying plug-ins, electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrid cars, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
Fisker fire: The plug-in revolution is dead
Another plug-in related fire is bad news for the plug-in revolution.
OK. It’s not dead, but the plug-in revolution is on life support
I have one metric in life when it comes to transportation. OK. It’s one metric, but it’s split into two parts. The basic metric — the main part — is simply US foreign oil independence, but the critical first part is OPEC independence, ASAP. If biodiesel can make that happen, I’m in. Batteries, I’m in. Natural gas, etc., I’m in. Ultimately, I don’t care which technology makes it happen, only that it happen.
However, one thing is clear. If ending OPEC dependence is dependent upon plug-ins, oil companies can bank on some huge profits over the next few decades because the plug-in revolution is barely alive. And the recent Fisker Karma fire is about to cause even further asphyxiation. Read more…
Categories: electric cars, Energy Independence, Plug-in Vehicles Tags: electric cars, foreign oil dependence, plug-in hybrids
Dealer markups are back for some hybrids and plug-ins
Will you have to pay more than sticker on a Toyota Prius c?
To the highest bidder wins?
If you’ve been following the battery-powered scene for the last several years, then I’m sure you remember the sad old days of 2007-2008 for hybrid car buyers. Thanks to the gas spike then dealer markups on hybrid cars were a common occurrence. In the worst case scenario Toyota Prius hybrids were being marked up $5,000 or more above MSRP with an additional $5,000 worth of dealer add-ons.
Unfortunately, dealer markups on hybrids and plug-ins appear to be back. Read more…
