Who
killed the electric car? That
is the question, at least
according to the movie of the
same name. Yet, in reality,
did anyone really kill the
electric car? Is it fair to
blame a company like GM, the
company most associated with
killing the electric car, for
the death of electric cars?
Are electric cars even dead?
In just a few days, GM will debut a Chevy electric concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show. In the last several months both Bob Lutz and Rick Wagoner have claimed the automotive future to be electric.
So, how could GM have killed the electric car if the automotive future is electric?
Perhaps, GM simply killed one version of an electric vehicle, one bad adaptation of an electric vehicle in the evolution of electric vehicles.
Lest we forget, even Toyota had a hard time finding enough batteries to produce 100,000 Toyota Prius hybrid cars just a year or two ago. Since electric vehicles require even greater battery capacity than hybrid cars, should we really be surprised electric vehicles didn't take America by storm?
Even Toyota, a company consumed by efficiency, has claimed that plug-in hybrid vehicles are not yet ready for mass-production. Plug-in hybrids offer very near electric car performance, but with the option of using conventional fuel when needed - significantly increasing the appeal of 'electric' vehicles.
Thus, is Toyota killing the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle?
Even today, hybrid vehicles could fade away for a number of years, particularly if gas costs decline for a couple of years. Yet, the dangers of foreign oil dependency won't go away because gas becomes cheaper. On the contrary, the dangers of foreign oil dependency will probably increase.
Inevitably, the only way hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles are going to go mainstream in the next decade is with significant political help, as well as consumer help. Consumers have to be willing to share some risk - to pay now and save fuel later. Politicians have to help consumers afford to buy these foreign oil dependency fighting vehicles.
Will consumers and politicians rise to the challenge, or will we again be blinded by temporarily cheaper gas?
In just a few days, GM will debut a Chevy electric concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show. In the last several months both Bob Lutz and Rick Wagoner have claimed the automotive future to be electric.
So, how could GM have killed the electric car if the automotive future is electric?
Perhaps, GM simply killed one version of an electric vehicle, one bad adaptation of an electric vehicle in the evolution of electric vehicles.
Lest we forget, even Toyota had a hard time finding enough batteries to produce 100,000 Toyota Prius hybrid cars just a year or two ago. Since electric vehicles require even greater battery capacity than hybrid cars, should we really be surprised electric vehicles didn't take America by storm?
Even Toyota, a company consumed by efficiency, has claimed that plug-in hybrid vehicles are not yet ready for mass-production. Plug-in hybrids offer very near electric car performance, but with the option of using conventional fuel when needed - significantly increasing the appeal of 'electric' vehicles.
Thus, is Toyota killing the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle?
Even today, hybrid vehicles could fade away for a number of years, particularly if gas costs decline for a couple of years. Yet, the dangers of foreign oil dependency won't go away because gas becomes cheaper. On the contrary, the dangers of foreign oil dependency will probably increase.
Inevitably, the only way hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles are going to go mainstream in the next decade is with significant political help, as well as consumer help. Consumers have to be willing to share some risk - to pay now and save fuel later. Politicians have to help consumers afford to buy these foreign oil dependency fighting vehicles.
Will consumers and politicians rise to the challenge, or will we again be blinded by temporarily cheaper gas?
posted by Dahcredyns at 8:20 AM 0 Comments
