electric car and transport, the point 2010 start
published: 25/01/10, 12:47
A few days ago I asked the question Pierre Langlois (expert in "defossilized transport", I like this term) of a possible marketing shortly (2011-2012) of an electric car with an "acceptable" price and performance.
That is to say a price similar to a thermal car of the same size (+ 20% max) and at least 100 km of autonomy. I ask no more!
Pierre is notably the author of Transport 21 magazine webzines. To read really to be updated on the evolutions.
Here is his answer (in US $, as he is from Quebec I prefer to specify it)
In fact Pierre defends, with a lot of common sense, the concept of the plug-in electric car with range extender: it is the concept of Cleanova that ... Renault does not want. Although I am not sure that the cleanova is pluginable but it would be really easy to set up!
Renault is currently "concentrating" on 100% electric vehicles (to move on to something else after the failure in 2-3 years?) ... Renault doesn't give a damn about us but "we" want more ...
That is to say a price similar to a thermal car of the same size (+ 20% max) and at least 100 km of autonomy. I ask no more!
Pierre is notably the author of Transport 21 magazine webzines. To read really to be updated on the evolutions.
Here is his answer (in US $, as he is from Quebec I prefer to specify it)
Bonjour Christophe
If we judge by the price of the iMiev which comes out this year in America and Europe, it is a subcompact at 48 $ US, therefore almost triple a traditional car.
The problem with all-electric cars is that they have an unnecessarily large battery. In America 75% of people do less than 65 km per day and 65% of people do less than 50 km per day. In Europe people still travel fewer kilometers, on average. So constantly dragging a battery that gives a range of 160 km is expensive ($ 20 per 000 km of range for an intermediate car).
Better a plug-in hybrid with a 50 km battery in all-electric mode and to add a fuel generator that will cost less than $ 4. We then save more than $ 000 and still do 15% of our km on electricity.
For example, the Chevrolet Volt should sell for US $ 40 at the end of 000 and be able to drive 2010 km in all-electric mode on a battery recharge. And it's a mid-size car, not a subcompact. An iMiev of the same size would sell for more than $ 65 US.
The car of the future for the next 30 years is definitely the plug-in hybrid, not the all-electric car. The batteries are too expensive and too heavy. The Syrota report commissioned by the Élysée reaches the same conclusion, as do several studies.
Personally, I bought myself a non-pluggable Prius 2010, which I will have transformed into a plug-in hybrid in 3 or 4 years when the efficient Li-ion batteries will be cheaper. My average consumption will drop to less than 2 liters / 100 km.
Hoping that these few thoughts will be useful to you.
Sincerely
Pierre Langlois, Ph.D.
physicist: consultant / author
www.planglois-pca.com
In fact Pierre defends, with a lot of common sense, the concept of the plug-in electric car with range extender: it is the concept of Cleanova that ... Renault does not want. Although I am not sure that the cleanova is pluginable but it would be really easy to set up!
Renault is currently "concentrating" on 100% electric vehicles (to move on to something else after the failure in 2-3 years?) ... Renault doesn't give a damn about us but "we" want more ...