Amclaussen has it right. The next to the last paragraph talks about "zero-emission"? Only the point of emission has changed, not the actual emissions. Politicians make lousy engineers. Maybe they can just rewrite the laws of physics and viola, problem solved! It is not only the seen, but the unseen.
All this wondering about EV's. It is easy to understand why they are building them, government intervention in the automotive market. With California's looming ZPV requirements all the manufacturers need to be positioned to say, we build an electric car people just won't buy it. The feds also subsidize hybrids and electrics so the R&D costs the manufacturers less. As to the need for pure electrics, with the environmental zeal shown by many, if electrics made sense they would sell like hotcakes.
All this wondering about EV's. It is easy to understand why they are building them, government intervention in the automotive market. With California's looming ZPV requirements all the manufacturers need to be positioned to say, we build an electric car people just won't buy it. The feds also subsidize hybrids and electrics so the R&D costs the manufacturers less. As to the need for pure electrics, with the environmental zeal shown by many, if electrics made sense they would sell like hotcakes.
I asked several automotive excutives that same question several years back. However, from a different prespective. I asked what would it take to get them to build EV's? Was it the federal government? No was the answer. Was it the emissions regulations? Again, No. Was it fuel economy? No. They said the american public are in love with cars and would live in a hotel first before getting ride of their car. Then what will it take for them to produce EV'S? Simple they said its the competition for market share.
BTW: EV's are the same as fuel cell vehicles. EV's use the battery as the energy source and Fuel Cell cars use the fuel cell as the energy source. I guess if you could build a small enough nuclear power plant that would work as well. 50% of the EV would not change. The power source will continue to evolve. We could even use coal.
From another point of view there will come a time when folks will simply by a fuel cell EV. Drive it home and plug the house in to the car becasue the car's energy source will produce energy cheaper then what we pay the utility company.
Tekochip, you are telling us that the market for EV's is as the customers' second vehicle, not primary. If thats the case, manufacturers should be more focused on the target. The family second vehicle is usually smaller, cheaper and less capable than the first. Don't forget that there is a market - with different requirements and expectations- on the other side of the pond, too.
I don't know, I'm thinking of getting an EV the next time around.
Most families have more than one vehicle, and ours is no exception. I work at home, or have a close commute, and make trips to the airport as often as I can. A low range vehicle would work quite well for me and most commuters. I mention the second car because when a longer trip is needed, our family would still have an IC vehicle for the long haul. I think an EV as a second family vehicle is a good idea, if only the ROI would work out in the vehicle's favor.
We don't need a replacement now, but when the time comes I will consider an EV.
Yes, I think you nailed it there. Clearly, they're not expecting record profits from the BEVs - not yet at least. These are learning vehicles - to learn the technology, to understand the market, to see which features are most and least interesting to customers, and just simply to make themselves known as forward-looking companies.
None of the manufacturers seem to be targeting the best market for EV's, which is the Lght Commercial Vehicle market. These vehicles often work highly predictable routes, often only within urban areas, and are rarely used for non-work missions (ideally....). Piaggio experimented with a lead-acid battery powered mini-pickup. But no, the car manufactuers are trying to market a family saloon with the engine taken out and an electric motor stuffed in its' place, with the battery in the boot (trunk - US). The proper course of action would be to design electric from the wheels up, not doing a chop-job on an existing chassis. So it's not so much about creating a viable product as it is creating an illusion of "green" for posers.
When we talked to the author of that study a few weeks ago, however, he said this: "We've been trying to put this in the hands of policymakers. But the policy process is about what's good for the country and what's possible. There's no window right now for making changes to policy."
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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