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Who will resurrect the electric car?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, May 28, 2007.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It appears that General Motors, one of the companies that killed the EV1 in 2001, could resurrect the electric car project by introducing the Chevrolet Volt in 2010 -- if all goes as planned. Considering the speculative gas prices, it's time automakers seriously start thinking about coming to market with electric vehicles capable of offering a more than reasonable range. Having gained experience from the EV1 and the ensuing developments on hybrid technologies, GM created an electric vehicle that uses a combustion engine to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack that powers the electric motor.

    Some of you might vaguely recall GM's first foray into the electric vehicle segment in 1996. Why did the American manufacturer undertake such a perilous venture? Simply put, they wanted to meet the new Californian regulations (implemented a few years earlier), according to which 2 percent of all the vehicles sold should produce absolutely zero toxic emissions. GM therefore had to invest over one billion dollars in R&D and marketing (the Clinton administration eventually backed this entire investment). Some 1,100 EV1s were produced and 800 of them were leased for a three-year period to residents of California and Arizona, who were very happy to consume in electricity a third of the amount of fuel normally used by a similarly-sized vehicle.

    At the time, the EV1 was considered as the most fuel-efficient vehicle. In addition to accelerating from 0 to 100 kph in 9 seconds, this two-seater had an electric range of 200 km. When the time came to recharge the batteries, all you had to do was plug the car into a 220-volt outlet. Unfortunately, at the end of the three-year lease trial, GM recovered the vehicles, destroyed them and cancelled the program.

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    #1 Tideland Prius, May 28, 2007
  2. Duffer

    Duffer Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 28 2007, 06:51 PM) [snapback]451161[/snapback]</div>
    I just saw a Chevy add on TV that said I could support our troops by purchasing a new Chevy pickup truck! Does that qualify as "GM's lead that everyone else" is supposed to follow? We Americans are as dumb as a box of rocks!
     
    #2 Duffer, May 28, 2007
  3. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clearview22 @ May 28 2007, 05:13 PM) [snapback]451224[/snapback]</div>
    Uh!! Is that a box of "pet rocks"?

    Dave M.
     
    #3 dmckinstry, May 28, 2007
  4. jtmhog

    jtmhog Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ May 28 2007, 11:17 PM) [snapback]451283[/snapback]</div>
    It is confusing to me what some posters are calling an electric vehicle (EV). The chevy volt is not an electric vehicle. The volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The volt is only a concept car. It is under development. In 1/06, at the Wash. D.C. auto show, the presenters would not open the hood to the volt. I later found out the car had no drive train. There was nothing under the hood. I recently saw a clip of the volt at an 6/07 auto show and the car had a drive train. Conclusion, the car is under development. Will it ever be for sale? Who knows. The GM electric vehicle of the 1990s, EV1, had only source of energy, the battery. Thus, it was an electric vehicle. The volt will have two sources of energy, the battery and a gasoline engine. Thus, the PHEV designation. I have read in several articles that Toyota is working on a PHEV version of the prius. We shall see.
     
    #4 jtmhog, May 30, 2007
  5. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jtmhog @ May 30 2007, 08:10 AM) [snapback]452076[/snapback]</div>
    It isn't what the posters are calling it. GM is very specifically calling it an EV to differentiate it from those pesky, inferior "hybrids." It is a tough one, because something like the Volt CAN be a pure EV. Most PHEVs being considered by the other makers are all "blended" like the Prius. In other words, no real EV range, just better gas mileage. If we call them all PHEV, it doesn't tell the whole story. Just like calling the Volt an EV doesn't tell the whole story. Nomenclature is about to get very confusing!
     
    #5 darelldd, May 30, 2007
  6. DGCL

    DGCL New Member

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    Tesla will resurrect the electric car. I think we can pretty much give them credit for already doing it. I can only hope that once Tesla becomes successful, everyone else pays attention to it. Heck, if Condy (ex member of the Chevron board who has had an oil rig named after her) says it's the way of the future then I think it's going to be an easy sell.
     
    #6 DGCL, May 30, 2007
  7. Essayons

    Essayons Essayons

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    #7 Essayons, May 30, 2007
  8. DGCL

    DGCL New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Essayons @ May 30 2007, 12:10 PM) [snapback]452224[/snapback]</div>
    That's a good point. Phoenix is making good progress as well. The reason I favour Tesla though is that they're the first company that's got massive financial backing, a great PR engine, and who are following the business style examples of successful automakers. They're not just making a really attractive electric car, they're making a really attractive car, full stop. I think that gives them a big advantage when the public goes car shopping. I think the Phoenix vehicles will be more of a workhorse for fleets, contractors, etc. whereas Tesla will be a full line automaker that appeals to everyone.

    That said, I hope there is more competition for Tesla and Phoenix, and I hope that the major automakers get in to the EV game. Not until after Tesla and Phoenix have enough power to survive the competition because after all we need people to set trends. Volvo and Mercedes do it with safety technology, GM and Ford with trucks, BMW and Lexus with luxury, and hopefully Tesla and Phoenix with electric vehicles.
     
    #8 DGCL, May 30, 2007
  9. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Essayons @ May 30 2007, 12:10 PM) [snapback]452224[/snapback]</div>
    Though they have FAR from the most viable financial strategy. Without the hoped-for ZEV trading, the Phoenix truck will cost MORE than the Tesla. I'll be amazed if the Phoenix truck is sold to individuals before the Teslas are on the road. But either way, I'm happy!
     
    #9 darelldd, May 30, 2007
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