Over 10% of US drivers surveyed said they would consider purchasing a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle, according to a survey by Ernst & Young’s Global Automotive Center. The report canvassed the views of a thousand American licensed drivers to gauge consumer awareness and interest of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in the market. That represents about 20 million American drivers, enough demand to sell out 2010 and 2011 electric vehicles. Commenting on the findings, Mike Hanley, Ernst & Young LLP, Global Automotive Leader, said that although only 10% of the drivers responded positively to purchasing plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles, for a powertrain technology which is not yet widely available, it is a significant number which should not be ignored., automakers are betting that the electrification of power trains is the future of the auto business. This was clear from the ongoing North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
As automakers prepare to produce tens of thousands of these cars, big questions remain over how strong the demand will be. Some think that there will be rapid uptake in certain regions, much the way the Toyota and Honda hybrids have been adopted for instance in California. The Boston Consulting Group forecasts that 25 percent of new auto sales in 2020 will be hybrids or electrics, with the bulk being conventional hybrids.
Albeit much better than hydrogen, there are some barriers to consumer adoption like driving range, cost, and availability of charging stations in public places. Ernst & Young found that 34 percent of respondents were willing to subsidize local charging stations. However their top reason for considering buying an electric or plug-in hybrid was to save money on fuel costs. We applaud the automakers for their efforts and now it is up to the consumer as to whether electric/hybrid automobiles take off.
Uncle Sam’s about to Pay You $10K to Kick the Oil Habit
As oil continues to flow into the Gulf, it is becoming increasingly clear that this environmental disaster will be a major sticking point for voters come the elections in November.
Hence why we’re now seeing new House and Senate bills that, if passed, will increase incentives for electric vehicles. Albeit, the timing is suspect, but if this helps bolster support for electric vehicles and makes us some money in the process then why not!
The House legislation offers $800 million to five designated regions with the intention of getting 700,000 electric cars on the road within six years. The Senate legislation would pony up to $10,000 tax credits for electric car buyers in 15 metropolitan areas.
The legislation also bumps up the tax credit for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations from 30% to 50% of the equipment purchasing cost; it also extends the credit out to 2017.
Certainly this is great news for those major automakers that will soon be debuting their new electric offerings, including Nissan which has already had about 20,000 drivers pony up their reservation fees to be among the first to own the company’s all-electric LEAF. We are also thrilled to report that these vehicles are being built by U.S. workers in Tennessee.
Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation Intend to Work Jointly on EV Development, TMC to Invest in Tesla
TESLA MOTORS, INC. (Tesla) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) recently announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support.
The two companies intend to form a specialist team to further those efforts. TMC has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned initial public offering.
“I’ve felt an infinite possibility about Tesla’s technology and its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota’s approach to manufacturing),” said TMC President Akio Toyoda.” he went on to say, ”Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that ‘venture business spirit,’ and take on the challenges of the future.”
“Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. “We look forward to learning and benefiting from Toyota’s legendary engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise.”
TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997, and produced approximately 2.5 million hybrids in the twelve years since. Late last year, TMC started lease of Prius Plug-in Hybrids, which can be charged using an external power source such as a household electric outlet. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012.
Tesla’s goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. Palo Alto, CA-based Tesla has delivered more than 1000 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions. Tesla service rangers currently make house calls to service its Roadsters.
FedEx Introduces First All-Electric Trucks To Be Used in the U.S. Parcel Delivery Business
FedEx Corp. recently introduced the first all-electric FedEx parcel delivery trucks in the United States. Four purpose-built electric trucks—optimized for electric operation from the wheels up—are slated to hit the road in the Los Angeles area starting in June 2010, joining more than 1,800 alternative-energy vehicles already in service for FedEx around the world.
Rather than creating its own proprietary technology, FedEx turned to the marketplace to spur solutions that can rapidly be scaled up to provide affordable and reliable service to a wide range of delivery truck operators. It is purchasing its first North American all-electric vehicles from two different suppliers to evaluate the robustness of this technology for demanding daily FedEx Express deliveries in the Los Angeles area and provide information to help guide future FedEx vehicle purchases.
Two of the new all-electric trucks come from Navistar, and are being assembled in Indiana. These are based on the Modec design already operated by FedEx in Europe. Another pair of electric vehicles is being purchased from a different manufacturer for delivery to the Los Angeles area later in 2010. Both sets of electric vehicles are designed with a range that allows many FedEx Express couriers to make a full eight-hour shift of deliveries before their vehicles need recharging. To read more about see FedEx Sustainable Initiatives.
They represent the first step in the evolutionary change to Electric Vehicles to become main stream in the USA and abroad. ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations are manufactured by Coulomb Technologies and have the most advanced, feature-rich networked charging station capabilities available in the world. Combined with their ChargePoint Network Operating System (CPNOS), the ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations are the complete solution for a smart charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles with their ChargePoint Network.
ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations perform bi-directional energy metering via an embedded utility-grade electronic meter. The ability to precisely measure and report electricity use enables a sustainable, flexible business model that meets the needs of drivers, corporations, fleet operators, utility companies and municipalities. It has multiple flexible driver payment methods like “free” charging, pay-per-use, by subscription, and by kWh (where allowed).
