Electric cars keep humming along, despite automaker turmoil
Filed under: Energy, Company News
Now might seems like an odd time for optimism from makers of electric cars. After all, falling sales of gasoline-powered autos are crippling established giants like General Motors (GM) and Chrysler. And the price of crude oil, already down nearly $100 from its peak last summer, is falling again over concerns that a lengthy recession could depress demand for some time.Still, some companies specializing in electric-powered cars say they're charging ahead. Take Detroit Electric. The company, a joint venture between California-based ZAP (ZAAP) and China Youngman Automotive Group, says it will start selling electric cars in the United States next year for $23,000 and up.
Detroit Electric will offer two models. The cheaper of the two will get about 110 miles before needing to be recharged. The more expensive version, priced between $28,000 and $33,000, will get about 200 miles per charge.
The cars will be built by Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings. A familiar name to green-car aficionados, Proton is responsible for the sleek Lotus Elise sports car, the basis for the much buzzed-about electric Tesla Roadster. The Roadster is quite the hotrod, reportedly capable of going from zero to 60 m.p.h. in under four seconds.
With a base price of $109,000 and a passel of celebrity owners including Hollywood stars Matt Damon and George Clooney, the Roadster is synonymous with enviro-luxury. But Tesla is also planning a push into less pricey cars. Its Model S will sell for $50,000 and hit the streets in 2011.
In the meantime, Tesla CEO and PayPal founder Elon Musk reportedly told Car & Driver that General Electric (GE) was the second-biggest investor in the company's recent round of financing. (Musk said he was the biggest.) If true, that would represent a huge vote of confidence not just in Tesla, but electric cars in their own right.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-30-2009 @ 4:25PM
R. H. Bidlack said...
I like electric cars; however, they have a serious drawback.
They can't carry enough energy. I think a pluggable hybrid
is a better choice. It has the advantage of both all-electric
cars AND gasoline powered cars. For short trips with enough
time in between trips they are all electric. For long trips they
have an engine backup which eliminates the time needed
for recharging. Maybe someday someone will invent a battery
that is superior to the lithium-ion for energy -to- weight ratios;
but, until that time a pluggable hybrid is the best choice. Gas-
oline mixed with air has a HUGE energy weight advantage.
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3-30-2009 @ 5:09PM
Alex Datig said...
There are no more excuses for the public to have to wait for an electric car that is affordable and makes sense. Electric powered cars have been around for 100 years. Fossil fuel powered cars became more popular, mainly because a very large service industry could be built around them. We may have to change the way we drive by realizing the small challenges of driving electric, a small sacrifice to make given the environmental benefits. GM's Wagoner abandoned it's electric car program and supported by the Bush Administration, made sure it would be impossible to resurrect the EV1 program. Under Wagoner and Bob Lutz, GM destroyed its electric car program and brainwashed the public to buy in to the Hummer. Getting rid of Wagoner is the greatest act of environmental justice! Hurray President Obama! Wagoner is the Bernie Madoff of car salesman. Let's make sure to follow the electric car makers carefully though. We have to be sure that the batteries have a lifespan beyond 10 years. Otherwise we face further environmental dilemmas by having to replace old batteries for which we have to find ways dispose.
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