Mike Howard wants Elk Horn, Iowa, to play a role in the nation's future in electric cars. "We have a dream about electric vehicles and we're going to make that a reality," he said. Anticipating an electric car revolution, Howard invested $30,000 to install four charging stations in Elk Horn, despite the fact that the small town currently has exactly one electric car—a Chevrolet S-10 pickup that Howard himself converted to run on batteries.
The auto industry’s race for cars that use less petroleum and spew fewer emissions has multiple technology pathways. Major global automakers are now aligning into one of two camps. The “Either/Or” carmakers choose one technology and run with it, while the “Portfolio” guys market multiple technologies all at once.
Does the Aptera futuristic three-wheeled vehicle have a chance to succeed in the real-world market? Or is it destined to become another visionary, but entirely impractical vehicle, much like Buckminster Fuller’s 1933 three-wheeled Dymaxion Car? In recent days, it appears that the visionary reach of Aptera's founders may have exceeded their grasp.
One hundred percent of car sales will be zero emission vehicles in 2050. That’s the vision of the California Air Resources Board, explained in a meeting in late October to review the state's zero emission vehicle (ZEV) strategy. The agency calculated where the statewide vehicle fleet should be to meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction targets in 2050—then worked backwards.
Chrysler is killing its dedicated electric car program. General Motors is moving forward with its sleek electric-drive Caddy. What do these two news flashes tell us about Detroit’s prospects in the bold new era of EVs and plug-in hybrids? And what about that other Detroit car company?
Nissan released an image yesterday of a light commercial electric vehicle concept. It’s just a sketch, but the drawing signals that Nissan is moving forward with plans to build an entire electric vehicle program—rather than focusing on a single vehicle.
The 2009 SEMA Show, an annual automotive extravaganza of hot rods, muscle cars and automotive oddities, opened this week in Las Vegas. In keeping with the times, SEMA will feature a “Making Green Cool Zone” to show off the next generation of aftermarket diesel, hybrid and electric car products. The green theme doesn’t try to hide the show’s raison d’etre: flaunting unbridled horsepower, unfettered innovation, and outlandish design.
There’s a new federal proposal on the table to give makers of pure electric cars bonus points to help them meet new tougher fuel economy standards. Joseph White of the Wall Street Journal calls it the auto-industry version of a "buy one, get one free" deal. The debate over CAFE and electric cars is already underway—more than a year from the introduction of the first mainstream electric vehicles. Is it a fair industry incentive or a shell game?
The race to provide the world with affordable plug-in cars has a wild card: China’s BYD, the car and battery company backed by investment guru Warren Buffet. A combination of powerful forces—an enormous burgeoning domestic market, battery expertise, and low cost production—gives credence to the company’s plans to sell millions of hybrid and electric cars within just a few years. That’s if BYD can overcome its current quality challenges and technical hurdles. And that’s a big If.
With oil prices reaching record levels for the year—and potentially heading higher—the prospects for electricity-powered cars is also on the rise. Deutsche Bank said prices could surge to $100 a barrel in the next two quarters if the US dollar continues to weaken. Rising oil prices alone are not enough to ensure the future of electric cars—but there are clear signs of a massive transition to plug-in hybrids and electric cars.
