Re: Electric Vehicles saved from the shredder


"Rob Dekker" <rob@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:AvC1k.6346$mh5.5246@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"daestrom" <daestrom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:4846e08e$0$7040$4c368faf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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People didn't like the need to drive all around LA looking for a charging station and then finding them out of order. Nor did they like having to call a tow truck when they went dead. (who would?)


You are right : American consumers are used to pumping at a gas station at regular intervals, they are not used to charging their car at regular intervals.
For people to change, an incentive is needed. And that incensive was not that strong at the end of the 90's with lead-acid batteries and $20/gallon oil.
Now that all that changed (batteries did, and oil price did), but we don't have any production EVs (or even plug-in hybrids) around.


Yet the memory of investors is still there. A few enthusiasts such as yourself obviously would clamor to get an electric. But do you think it's worth designing a whole new production line for 4000 orders? or even 10,000?? Americans are just getting 'used to the idea' of gas-powered hybrids. Certainly as they grow in number and PHEV's become available there will be more.

Frankly, GM only did the EV-1 because of legislation, not because there was any real market for it. Until there is a solid market, there is no real reason for any manufacturer to invest millions (billions??). If you owned stock in some company making 'widgets', would you want them spending all your dividends inventing a 'wocket' that nobody wants to buy?

Go watch the movie. It's really interesting.

I have. I think many of its points are unsubstantiated conspiracy-theory nonsense. They offer arguments like, "well it *must* be GM deliberately stopped it'". But they don't offer any evidence other than the filmmaker's own *interpretation* of events.


GM finally gave up and didn't want to keep supporting this 'white elephant'. End of story.

daestrom
P.S. Now with hybrids that can be filled up at any gas station, and the price of gas over $4 a gallon, people are more interested in hybrids than they ever were in EV.

True. But these only get 40 mpg (Asian models) or 20 mpg (GM models).
We need 60 mpg vehicles now, and 80 mpg vehicles next years, if we want to continue to drive same miles in the face of 3% annual oil supply decline.
Plug-in hybrids should be here already. Electric drive should be here already. EVs should be back already.
But it's all postponed till 2010 or later.

In *your* opinion. Obviously the market doesn't agree or they would already be here.

GM just announced that there has been a 'breath-taking' shift in the auto market. The number 1 seller is no longer Fords F-150 pickup truck but has been superceded by high MPG imports. They are closing four of their SUV plants.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_bi_ge/gm_shareholders

High time too IMHO. America's honeymoon with big gas-guzzlers is long overdue for a reality check. It will be a painful adjustment for many workers and supporting companies, but better to make these adjustments gradually than any sort of overnight, radical change to all EV.

daestrom

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