Comments on: Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn Explains His Electric Car 'Ah Hah' Moment

By: Cool Springs Tennessee

Cool Springs Tennessee — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:41:39 +0000

What do you think about Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosen replaced by Carlos Tavares? I think it will be good for the company. We're all very excited to start driving the Nissan Leaf electric vehicles when they start rolling out.

By: Yegor

Yegor — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:24:02 +0000

Shines, Thank you! That is a great idea!

By: Shines

Shines — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:09:10 +0000

This has been discussed before, but for Hal’s sake I will repeat.
Since the Leaf has regenerative breaking it should be adaptable to having a small “Generator Trailer” hooked up to the back of it for longer distance travel. The trailer could be a rental option for folks who want to take it on a long weekend or weeklong trip. It would basically be a gasoline generator with its own fuel tank. It would run while traveling beyond the normal range of the car. Once at the destination it could continue to recharge the car. Sure this somewhat defeats the purpose of an all electric vehicle, but it does offer an option for long distance travel while the new infrastructure is developed.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:43:22 +0000

Oil prices will continue to go up as supply availability decreases and demand increases. Meanwhile battery range will continue to go up and mass production will bring prices down. Add to that fast charging stations that will pop up between major cities and, well I’ll let you do the math. I think Nissan has excellent timing with electric cars, and Ghosn’s comment on the complexities of hybrids is spot on. The simplicity of the all electric car is a beautiful thing.

By: Max Reid

Max Reid — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:10:25 +0000

Yes Hal

EVs are good only for city, thats why its better to have a small generator that could power the car in Highway. Volt exactly has that thing. But unfortunately its very expensive.

Lets see whether someone can come with a small generator that could power the car for another 200 miles. So 100 Battery + 200 Gas will give the car a 300 mile range.

By: ex-EV1 driver

ex-EV1 driver — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:59:56 +0000

Hal Howell,
". . . it is useless travel to other cities"
Right now, the utility of using an electric car for inter-city driving limited only by the fact that the only electric cars in production are too small to carry much, to expensive for most people to afford, they can't handle fast charging, and there is not fast charging infrastructure hasn't been built out yet.
This is kind of like the comments of "Get a horse" that was yelled at the early automobile drivers when they got stuck, ran out of gas, or broke down on the road. Today, such a comment would appear to be silly now that roads are better, gas stations are plentiful, the cars are in high quality, low cost, mass production.
The electric car is plenty viable without the need for any breakthrough new technology. All that has to be done is for a company such as Nissan to actually make practical cars using modern production techniques.
Infrastructure is there today for inter-city travel (RV parks for charging) but needs to improve to speed up the charging time, something that can't happen until there are cars to actually use it.
Today, the 390 mile drive from LA to San Francisco in a Tesla electric vehicle takes about 4 hours longer than in an ICE vehicle, simply because one must charge up in the middle. Less convenient but hardly USELESS.

By: Old Man Crowder

Old Man Crowder — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:43:36 +0000

So just to be clear... He's suggesting that Nissan is, or wants to be, the leader in electric vehicle technology? After his little spiel about being a hybrid follower, he never actually comes out and says anything about all-electric leadership.

I hope Nissan keeps to their business plan of bringing additional electric models to markets around the world.

By: Hal Howell

Hal Howell — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:53:11 +0000

An electric car is great, for intra-city driving. However, it is useless travel to other cities. Hybrids will remain viable for some time to come. That’s just the way it is.

By: Max Reid

Max Reid — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:42:57 +0000

Very Good Nissan.

Also the Charging stations are springing up everywhere.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2010/05/voltageville-gets-first-public-ev-rapid-charger-in-us.html

Seems this station can charge upto 50% in 10 minutes and upto 80% in 30 minutes.

Every day, more than 40,000 vehicles are sold in China, surely this will increase the oil price. We need some vehicles that run with no gas.

By: Yegor

Yegor — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:35:29 +0000

Yep, Carlos Ghosn gave all the right points for going all electric!