Due to the massive torque available from the start, one of the best uses for electric drive is high performance (see Tesla Roadster Sport edition), off-road and heavy duty applications (think diesel- electric drive trains, mining dump trucks and buses in operation today). GM’s tentative step into the latter, using gas instead of diesel, the full size dual mode SUVs, have not sold well to date, but the concept electric Jeep that Chrysler put out is on point. Keep in mind that the worse shape the company is in general, the better (as in, people would actually want and buy this in huge amounts) the vaporware concepts they show, though (Chrysler’s electric Dodge Europa based racer and Jeep, and GM’s Chevy Volt and Cadillac Converj as examples). 2010 gets my next vehicle purchase – it’ll be 100% electric drive again.

Whats going on here is costs. If auto manufactures have to meet new gov w/ consumer demands they will be forced to look at ways to cut costs in production or their labor. Not an expert on this but lots of carbon fiber material may replace some metal components in cars or things like Lithium will mature on the market with possibilities of new technology aiding efficiency. If the gov lags behind like they did since the late 70′s we will get nowhere b/c the industry will have to rely on what some say is over bloated V8 non efficient vehicles and not look at smaller vehicles as profitable. I agree that SUV’s and station wagon types should be part of the equation but large SUV’s may always have significant/additional costs as more technology is needed to improve efficiency. As for work trucks I’m not a fan of V8′s at all we should get rid of the V8 in trucks and only have V6 and diesel. Trucks like a article a day or so ago should be important in future technological advances for those who need full size trucks and put on heavy amt of miles from office to the work site each day.

As for consumers we always contradict ourselves eg gas lows and highs related to auto sales. Larger cars or trucks for status symbols or those who just don’t care about emissions from their tailpipe or fuel efficiency b/c they can afford whatever the pump price is or some believe that they should not have to “pay” for hybrid or fuel technology because they don’t believe in global warming/or paying for something that has a collective benefit that is they don’t receive most of the benefits for themselves. These might not be a good egs. but I’m not sure left up to only consumers we can have the same amount of influence that gov has bc of the contradicts/stigmatization that sometimes divide us.

Currently the indication is Lithion ion batteries cost about $750 per KWh, so to put 10 or more KWh of usable capacity adds greatly to the cost of the vehicle, slowing its adoption. But folks keep talking as if the cost of lithium batteries will be cut in half in the next few years, which would speed adoption. Time will tell

I have also noticed that most US made cars have become smaller since the days of the land yachts; like the late 1970s. Due to this shrinking of full size American cars, I know many people who could not find a car big enough to suit their taste so they went to SUVs, and supercab trucks.

I just don’t understand this thinking. but, it does exist. I think there is going to have to be a tax penalty on weight combined with an incentive on efficiency to ever make the average citizen accept smaller and lighter cars. That’s part of the reason Europeans drive mini cars.