Comments on: A more sober approach to electric cars via auto veteran Bob Lutz

By: Kay

Kay — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:51:00 +0000

Thanks for your great coverage of VIA Motors extended-range electric trucks, vans and SUV’s, which drive using the same concept as the Chevy Volt but for large vehicles. I drive a Chevy Volt and am averaging 2,000mpg and it costs me about $1.50/day to charge in electricity at my home. I recently applied for a solar roof grant and hope I am chosen so I can hopefully power my clean car using clean energy. I love my Chevy Volt but would love a VIA luxury electric SUV so I can cart my kids around without polluting! :)

By: Paul Scott

Paul Scott — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:59:55 +0000

I sell the LEAF for a Nissan dealer in LA. We are getting used 2011 LEAFs in trade for newer models. The 2013 LEAFs will be selling next month. I already have a long list of people who want to trade. The used LEAFs will be selling for less than $20K. They are as good as new since EVs require virtually no maintenance. They will continue to work perfectly all the time.

Every year, the used LEAFs will become more plentiful and get lower in price. The cost of operation is extremely low.

By: Paul Scott

Paul Scott — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:56:57 +0000

@brianschoedel, The U.S. grid is only 39% coal, and that is dropping fast. Even if you use a mostly coal-generated grid mix, the EV is still considerably cleaner than the most efficient gas burner.

The beauty of the EV is that you have the CHOICE to use renewable energy for charging. This is never a choice with gasoline. If you have a problem with dirty electricity, you should not be using it to run your home. Most utilities have a renewable energy program, so you can switch to that. Or, if you have the roof for it, solar is now cheaper than grid power in many states. Here in CA, it’s been cheaper than grid power for more than 5 years. You can lease a solar PV system for less than you are paying the utility for their dirty energy.

Once you switch your home to clean energy, then your car will also run on that zero-pollution energy. It’s all there for the taking, but YOU have to act!

By: GPMP

GPMP — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:19:48 +0000

You’re wrong on both counts.

1. Electricity rates would have to more than triple for it to cost the same to fuel your car as compared to gasoline. If retail rates were to increase by, say 30%, there would be a massive shift to renewables, further reducing the unit cost of generating the electricity. And if you don’t like the idea of paying a utility to fuel your car, make it yourself. A $10.000 investment today will provide most of the fuel you will need for one car for the rest of your life.

2. Burning coal for electricity and sending it via the grid to propel your electric car is several times more efficient than the current method of burning gasoline in a small internal combustion engine in each car. Besides The US grid currently gets about 40% of its electricity from burning coal and that number is dropping. Some regions of the US get very little electricity from burning coal, particularly where the is an abundance of hydropower.

By: chrispbarlow

chrispbarlow — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:23:09 +0000

“As far as the environment will it reduce the carbon footprint by burning a coal plant to supply electric far away versus burning gas in our neighborhoods?”

Yes, is the answer to that. The conversion of thermal energy to electricity, and back to kinetic energy with an electric motor is a lot more efficient than burning fossil fuel in an internal combustion engine.

By: AC Points

AC Points — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:59:20 +0000

Interesting. I think GM’s stated goal is to be selling 500,000 battery tech vehicles in 5 years (ev, hybrid, and light hybrid). That should be somewhere between 4% and 6% of their worldwide sales. That doesn’t seem to fit with 10% of all sales as ev sales by 2020.

By: AC Points

AC Points — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:48:19 +0000

yes vw jetta hybrid td

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:24:37 +0000

I have zero plans to buy a new car. I don’t ever see me owning one because it will be a used one and one worthwhile will need to come out in the next 10 years for it to happen.

By: russellleeo

russellleeo — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:54:58 +0000

The carbon footprint of hybrid and electric cars will get better as electricity production moves away from coal.

Installation of solar panels are accelerating this move.

By: brianmschoedel

brianmschoedel — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:55:21 +0000

The funny part about hybrid or electric cars is that once the masses have shifted to this “green technology” you will be charged a similar price to fill up your car with electric versus today’s gasoline.

As far as the environment will it reduce the carbon footprint by burning a coal plant to supply electric far away versus burning gas in our neighborhoods? Hopefully this will at least be better for your health as long as you don’t live downwind from the electric plant.

Does anyone have a hybrid diesel turbo in the US yet?