Affordable electric cars are on their way. GM is looking to bring the well received Chevy Volt concept car to market by 2010. Here's a look at it and other electric vehicle news.
GM is determined to put the Chevy Volt in production as early as 2010
It appears as if everyones favorite series-hybrid may make it into production as early as 2010. This news comes courtesy of General Motors Larry Burns, GM's vice president for research and development and Jim Queen, group vice president of global engineering. It is no secret that the Volt was a huge hit for GM at the Detroit Auto Show this year, and as our own statistics show, it was a hit with consumers who research their vehicles on the internet as well. Another positive point for the Volt's production possibilities is that Bob Lutz is behind the project, and as "the man" in charge of global product development, as he wishes, GM does.
From Wikipedia -
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid concept car created by General Motors. However, the company has avoided the use of the term "hybrid," preferring to call it an electric vehicle with a "range extender" due to its design.[2] The vehicle is designed to run purely on electricity from on-board batteries for short trips up to 40 miles (64 km) in the city—a large enough distance to cover the daily commutes of most Americans. With use of a small internal combustion engine hooked to a generator to resupply the batteries, the vehicle's range is potentially increased to 640 miles (1030 km) on the highway.
Other electric vehicles in the news -
150 mile range
80 mph top speed
$30,000
Coming late 2008
Phoenix SUV and SUT
100+ miles per charge
Speeds of 95 m.p.h. carrying five passengers and full payload
High torque: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 10 seconds
Long battery pack life: 250,000 miles/12+ years
Off board charger: 10 minutes to recharge to 95% capacity
On board charger: 6 hours to recharge from 220V plug-in
Coming late 2007 (fleet sales), 2008 (consumer sales)
AltairNano batteries
Here is an excellent interview with AltairNano CEO Alan Gotcher about the technology of the Nanosafe batteries used in the Phoenix SUV and SUT. If you are interested in electric vehicles, this is a must read -
Update - Electric Cars for the Wretchedly Poor Among Ye (snark)
The price of electric vehicles comparable to gas vehicles is dropping at an astonishing rate. When the Tesla Roadster came out, it was unheard of to see an electric vehicle with good range and performance in the $100,000 price range. My last diary featured the Zap-X, with performance better than the Tesla's, in the $65,000 price range. A couple months later, this diary features electrics $20,000-35,000 cheaper than the Zap-X (though not as awesome). To me the rate at which manufacturers are learning to build electric vehicles at lower and lower profit margins is amazing, but there is no pleasing some of you. You want your electric cars for the low low low at the now now now.
Let's see what I can find -
Myers Motors ??? (formally Corbin Sparrow)
Famous for appearing in the movie "Austin Powers: Goldmember" as a golden male-genitalia-mobile. 76 mph, 1000 miles on $20 of electricity. 30 mile range. Available for years, starts at $26,500. Actually that seems awfully high for what it is, but think of the Austin Powers lines you can deliver.
Let's keep looking -
25 miles on a charge, maybe 40 mph. With a maximum capacity of 303lbs, it seats one big fat American or 4 !Kung pygmies (who can perhaps use its optional Zebra camouflage and quiet electric drive to hunt Gemsbok. If it doesn't get stuck in a gopher hole).
Target price - $10,000
Still too rich for your blood?
Zap "Zapino" scooter
Well I have to admit, as scooters go, this is pretty decent looking. I would take this over a gas scooter, those things are really annoying.
40 mile range, 40 mph top speed. $3,195
So in conclusion a $30,000 electric car that is comparable to a gas car is, at this point in time, a phenomenol achievement. Please have some appreciation for what small companies like Miles, Phoenix, and Tesla are managing to pull off.
(BTW, if you are poorer than me, may God or the Great Spaghetti Monster save you.)
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