Are Electric Cars Really Better Than Gas Cars?

Vehicle electrification is in the news thanks to recent announcements of the planned launch of several pure electric powered vehicles including the Nissan Leaf, Fisker Karma and the Ford Transit Connect EV. Electric vehicles offer distinct advantages over their gas powered counterparts although their price premium can offset some of those benefits.

History

Electric cars are nothing new, having been sold a century ago by manufacturers such as Detroit Electric. Gas powered cars began to dominate the market by the 1920s because fuel was plentiful and they were cheap to build.

Credit Henry Ford for figuring out a way to mass produce passenger cars and get them to the masses.

Electrification

New technologies have made modern vehicle electrification a possibility. These cars are powered by sophisticated lithium-ion battery packs which are smaller and lighter than nickel-cadmium batteries used in many of today’s gas-electric hybrid models.

Look for cars such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid to eventually switch to li-ion battery packs. The all new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will use li-ion batteries from the get go when it is released later this year.

Fewer Parts

Though battery systems are complicated, electric cars do not have a gas engine, multi-speed transmission or an emissions system. Fewer parts means less to maintain, though the long term maintenance of any EV is not yet known.

We have already seen that ni-cad batteries last a lot longer than what some people thought they would, with many Toyota Prius cars far exceeding 100,000 miles on the odometer.

Environmental Impact

Electric cars emit zero emissions, run quietly and consume fewer resources while on the road.

However, energy is consumed at the power grid level as electricity is usually derived from coal fired electric plants. Those plants spew large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, canceling out some of the benefits of Evs.

Very Fast

Electric only vehicles are fast as they constantly operate at peak torque. The Tesla Roadster, for example, can go from zero to sixty in under four seconds. In a culture that prizes speed, the electric vehicle does not disappoint.

Electric vehicles will catch on only with the help of government support and buyers willing to give this technology a try. Rebates and tax credits at the federal and state level will bring prices down which means we’ll likely see a lot more of them on the road in the next few years.

So, are electric vehicles better than gas vehicles? That depends how you define “better” and whether you’re willing to accept certain limitations such as a limited range and higher initial cost in exchange for uncomparable fuel economy and unknown long-term durability.

Photo courtesy Fisker Motors.

NAIAS Takes Stroll Down Electric Avenue

I suggest that the people who run the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit hire musician Eddy Grant to launch next year’s show what with the “Electric Avenue” feature making its debut there in January.

Grant, whose “Electric Avenue” hit charted near the top of the US and UK charts in 1983 would probably get a kick out of opening the show. Or at least give people a reason to show up in Detroit in the middle of a cold winter.

Electric Avenue

The NAIAS describes Electric Avenue as being a 37,000 square foot feature located on the first floor of the Cobo Center. That showcase will shine the spotlight on electric vehicles and technology offered by the traditional automakers and innovative producers.

“Electric Avenue is going to be a unique feature of the 2010 NAIAS that will enable us to educate a diverse audience about the long-term viability of the auto industry using a subject that is top of mind globally these days,” said NAIAS Chairman Doug Fox. “Each year our show strives to provide an innovative approach to providing excitement. As one of the primary stops on the global show circuit we are able to draw key media and help exhibitors tell the short- and long-term strategies to a passionate audience of consumers and industry leaders.”

20 Vehicles

The NAIAS says that they have twenty vehicles which will be featured on Electric Avenue. Adjacent to the main stage, the auto show will offer symposiums and seminars related to vehicle electrification. No word whether that means that automakers will only feature their electric cars on Electric Avenue or whether they’ll reserve space within their own display areas to show off the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MEV and other products.

The NAIAS itself is experiencing a bit of a renaissance thanks to the decision of Detroit area and state politicians to pour money into the decaying Cobo Center. That facility has long been the home of what was originally known as the Detroit Auto Show, but it hasn’t been able to keep up the times.

The monies being directed to the Cobo Center will expand and update the facility, a move which will allow it to continue hosting the NAIAS for years to come. Without the financial injection, the people running the NAIAS were prepared to leave Detroit, perhaps the entire Motown region, and set up their shop elsewhere.

Calling Eddy Grant!

Developing Trends Promise To Reshape Auto Industry

The just released Kia Forte sedan will soon be joined by the Forte Koup, a stylish two-door model arriving later this summer.

We’re right at the middle of the year which is a good time to take a look at the auto industry and what is coming down the pike over the coming 6 to 18 months. The first six months of the year were very active as both GM and Chrysler went bankrupt with Chrysler already emerging through its proceedings and is now part of Fiat. The rest of the industry is awaiting for the market to rebound, but the auto landscape will continue to change in the months ahead.

The following are some of the changes on the horizon:

Near term – This summer, Ford will release the all new Ford Taurus a nicely redesigned full sized sedan for the Blue Oval. Ford will also be introducing its highly anticipated EcoBoost technology and will roll out its Lincoln MKT crossover by late summer. GM has a pair of Cadillacs in the pipeline – the SRX crossover and the CTS wagon. Buick will get a new LaCrosse sedan while GMC inherits the Terrain which is based on the Chevy Equinox. Chrysler has nothing coming up while Acura will stick a V6 engine in the TSX. The Kia Forte KOUP should be in showrooms by late August.

This fall – The remaining 2010 models will be out, a model year that began right after the new year when the Mercedes GLK was introduced. A hatchback BMW 5-Series is on its way, while a small X1 crossover is being introduced.  A restyled Audi A8 hits the market while the S4 makes its return. Hyundai introduces a restyled Tucson while the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will be welcomed back. A hybrid version of the Porsche Cayenne will be introduced. Mahindra will be selling their first trucks this fall.

Next spring – 2010 will have several watershed moments including the introduction of the Ford Fiesta subcompact. Throughout the year beginning in the Spring, automaker will be rolling out several pure electric and plugin hybrid models. Mitsubishi and Nissan appear to be leading the way with Ford and Toyota following.

Summer 2010 and Beyond – The Chevy Volt will likely hit showrooms by November but there will be lots of new models from new manufacturers including Coda, Fisker, Th!nk, Smart, MINI and perhaps V-Vehicle if the latter doesn’t turn out to be a bad case of vaporware. By the end of the year the Fiat 500 should be ready for the US. Tata Motors could be bringing the Nano to the US by year end, but 2011 looks like a better bet.

There is really very little uniformity in the auto industry as consolidation means some brands will disappear or be companies merged while new ones will continue to pop up especially if government money plays in as it is doing now in the US. China and India with their vast consumer societies are forces to be reckoned with as their cars begin to appear on American highways.

Thus, the forecast I gave is just a generalized overview, with room for additional changes too.

See Also — Coda Automotive Introduces All Electric Sedan