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.

Will Tesla Motors Hit The Mainstream Market?

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors has been a pacesetter when it comes to lithium-ion powered cars, but with one important caveat: only the rich can afford their $109,000 Tesla Roadster. Even as a second model is being planned (Tesla S), a six- or seven-passenger sedan expected to retail for close to $57,000 when it goes on sale in 2011 or 2012, only people who currently purchase BMW, Mercedes and Lexus models will be able to afford these pricey cars.

Mass Produced Tesla Model

Now, Tesla Motors says that they plan on mass producing a third model that should retail for just under $30,000 thanks to a $465 million low interest loan from the U.S. Energy Department. Expected to go on sale in 2016, the unnamed Tesla vehicle could help the automaker expand from the exotic car segment to a family friendly, budget preserving segment.

For certain, the Tesla Roadster hasn’t been much of a seller yet. Just over 700 cars have been produced on a Heath, UK assembly line, a facility that also builds Lotus models. Tesla is looking at a California facility for the Tesla S, a model that may sell as many as 20,000 units annually, thanks in part to a $7500 federal rebate.

Recently, Tesla announced that the company was investing $100 million to open up a powertrain plant to be located on the grounds of the Stanford Research Park; the company is currently looking at several sites in Southern California for its manufacturing base. Tesla also made it known that it isn’t interested in NUMMI, the former joint Toyota-GM venture that is slated to close down next Spring.

Extended Range Helps Tesla

Despite its high price, the Tesla Roadster has a strong advantage when it comes to range, able to travel as far as 244 miles on a single charge. This compares to about one hundred miles for the upcoming Nissan and proposed Coda Automotive models or to the Chevy Volt which will travel some forty miles before a small gas engine kicks in to extend its range.

The Tesla S is expected to be offered with several different battery range options of 160-, 230- and 300-miles. Tesla is engineering the “S” to allow owners to swap out batteries as needed which means that a buyer could choose the shorter range battery when ordering their car, but rent a larger range battery if needed. No word yet on what sort of battery option would be made available for the third Tesla model.

Source: Automotive News

Coda Automotive Introduces All Electric Sedan

The auto industry certainly is facing challenging times, thanks to a global economic downturn and consumer buying reticence. Once the markets rebound, we could be looking at a completely restructured automotive manufacturing landscape.

New Market Is Emerging

A number of manufacturers are pushing forward with their plans to introduce plug-in hybrid as well as pure electric vehicles beginning in 2010, a move which will suddenly open up new buying possibilities for consumers. These cars will run on lithium-ion batteries and have a range from about forty miles to perhaps several hundred miles. Some cars will use a supplemental gas battery, but not the sedan that upstart Coda Automotive plans to bring to the market next year.

Coda Automotive is an American company who is working with a Chinese supplier to bring a five-passenger, four door all-electric sedan to the states. That car hasn’t gone on sale yet, but the first models are expected to be sold beginning in California in fall 2010.

Long Range, Quick Recharge

Coda says that the average range of its sedan will be 90-120 miles, with a full recharge taking six hours to complete. The company claims that recharging the battery for a forty mile commute could be accomplished in as little as two hours. This is especially notable given that GM is currently readying its Chevy Volt for production, a car that has a forty mile pure electric range.

The Coda sedan will be priced higher than the Volt too, retailing for about $45,000, though buyers will be eligible to receive a $7,500 federal tax credit for their purchase, with some states including further incentives.

The Coda sedan will employ a regenerative braking system which will help to provide juice for the car. The company says that it can be recharged overnight at any standard outlet, costing under $3 per charge. Compare the price of gas for a one hundred mile trip in a sedan averaging 30 mpg and gasoline alone would cost in around ten dollars.

Partnering With Lishen

Coda Automotive says that they are partnering with China’s leading producer of re-chargeable lithium-ion cells, Lishen, to power its sedan.  A US manufacturer and distributor will also be used, that company is a joint venture of Coda and Yardney Technical Products, Inc.  The vehicle manufacturer will be Hafei, a state-owned producer of automobiles and airplanes.

The Coda sedan is expected to be delivered fully equipped with all of the amenities consumers want including power windows, doors, locks, a high end audio system, important safety features including anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning and an eight year/100,000 mile warranty on the battery.

Courtesy of Coda Automotive are several pictures of the 2011 Coda model: