Inexpensive long range Electric Vehicles – is it possible?

The Go Green Guy | May 4, 2013 | 2 Comments

Tesla Model S EV

This is an Update from an article posted last year on Inexpensive Long Range Electric Vehicles that I thought was worth re-printing with additional text.

Are long range electric vehicles possible? The future of the Electric Vehicle depends on the price point and range.

To really make an impact on the auto market, Electric Vehicles will need to get 300 miles plus per charge, fully recharge in a few hours and have a price point in the $20,000 – $25,000 range.

Is that impossible?

I don’t think so and neither does the U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. In some very Bold Statements made last year Mr. Chu had this to say:

“Because of increased demand, we’ve got to think of all the other things we can do in transportation. The best is efficiency,” Chu said.

Batteries are the ”heart” of electric vehicles, he said, adding that the Department of Energy is funding research that will drop the cost of electric-vehicle batteries 50% in the next three or four years and double or triple their energy density within six years so “you can go from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on a single charge,” he said. “These are magical distances. To buy a car that will cost $20,000 to $25,000 without a subsidy where you can go 350 miles is our goal.”

The goal is to make the transition by the year 2017.

In order to make it happen he stated two major policy changes that should help:

1. Offering a $7,500 rebate for electric vehicle purchases, instead of a $7,500 federal tax credit so that consumers wouldn’t have to wait until they file their tax returns to pocket the discount.

2. Scaling up battery production. Three years ago, less than 1% of all advanced batteries were produced in the U.S. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has secured investments that should lead to 30 new U.S. battery manufacturing plants.

The battery is the key to the future of the EV. Hopefully by putting all of these companies to work developing and manufacturing batteries, it will only be a matter of time before a light weight, quick charging, long range battery will be discovered. Companies are experimenting with light weight carbon fiber materials that could double as body panels and the cars battery, that technology is still in early development, but it does help to inspire hope for the future.

There is no reason for the US not to lead the way in the advancement of transitioning from your oil dependent Gas Guzzler to an efficient and eco friendly EV that could basically run for free with the installment of Solar Power.

Another thing that will be part of the transition and has to happen, is the advancement of EV charging stations as well as a national EV charging infrastructure, so that one can rely on finding a place to charge up when they travel out of their local area. That is also in development and the more EV’s that hit the road, the more attention will be paid to taking care of the EV driver.

“The Department of Energy is happy to be a part of this [event], but more importantly we’re very happy to be really trying to push for the electrification of vehicles in the U.S.,” Chu told the Los Angeles Times. “The reason is very simple. We have to diversify our transportation energy.”

(via LA Times)

How can we help to make this happen?

We need to be diligent supporters,

We need to be positive,

We need to share information in a positive manner,

As we move forward it is OK to ask questions and be skeptical but do not let your skepticism hold you back or produce negativity.

Let it propel you! Let it lead you to asking more questions, for only in our quest for information will come the answers!

Don’t say if I ever drive an EV, say when I start driving an EV. It is only a matter of time, if we want it, we need to ask for it, let the powers that be know that we and the planet we love, need our long range Electric Vehicles. Focus has to be on the development and manufacturing of an inexpensive, reliable, long range electric Vehicle!

Update May 5, 2013: This post was written over a year ago and things are all ready getting better. As of right now, manufacturers are starting to address this situation. In fact Nissan has introduced new pricing on the all electric Leaf. leaf They are leading the way in lower price high quality EV with a descent range that still needs to get better for the broad market.

Others are making moves as well: Toyota is working with Tesla with it’s new Rav 4, Ford has an all electric Focus, Chevy has the all electric Spark coming next year, Smart car has an EV version, but there is still a matter of range anxiety for many. Luckily with all the new interest and rising sales in EV’s, long range , quick charge battery development and manufacturing has also become a focus for many auto manufacturers and battery manufacturers. There is hope!

If you can see a Clean Future for generations to come, can you see it being led by the long range Electric Vehicle? I can.

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Tags: affordable EV, ev

Category: Go Green News

About the Author (Author Profile)

Creator/Host of Go Green America TV
Jeff (Jf) Davis aka The Go Green Guy is from Maine
Moved to LA to follow his passion as an actor
these days he is still acting, lives in LA with his wife and two boys
an writes about Green Living for his website Go Green America TV
that will soon be a TV show!!