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 first hybrid gas-electric car in the United States, the original Honda Insight, reported its first 17 sales in December 1999. One decade and 1.5 million hybrids later, the auto industry is ready to embrace hybrids and other green cars like never before. What are the major trends we expect as hybrid cars boldly move into the first year of their second decade? Plug-ins, new models, a growing market, and an evolving Prius. Prepare for the green car movement to shift into warp speed.
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.
Vice President Joe Biden will announce tomorrow that Fisker Automotive will build plug-in hybrid cars at a Delaware plant formerly run by General Motors. The use of the GM plant by Fisker, an unproven California-based start-up, is an ironic symbol of the new era of competition for next-generation green cars—pitting small innovative companies against the world’s largest carmakers.
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.
