http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?prog...amp;segmentID=9 The electric car may not be dead. A number of small startup companies are launching a new generation of electric vehicles. Living on Earth’s Ingrid Lobet reports that one company called Phoenix Motorcars will soon be offering an electric pickup truck and an SUV that use a unique type of battery.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(walt @ Dec 17 2006, 03:49 PM) [snapback]363481[/snapback]</div> This is really something to keep an eye on. Altairnano batteries are apparently not cheap (>$45K for their initial vehicles), but having a vehicle that can go 200 miles on a charge and the batteries last the life of the vehicle is an important step. Now that they apparently have the technical aspects worked out, hopefully they can focus on reducing production costs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(walt @ Dec 17 2006, 01:49 PM) [snapback]363481[/snapback]</div> I love this story. I don't think $45,000 for a truck or SUV is a lot considering these vehicles are not in mass production. Let the car companies know that you want them to produce BEVs. Write them and it will help make it happen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fibb222 @ Dec 19 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]364233[/snapback]</div> A lot of SUV are in this price range now getting 15-20 highway mpg. If it is $45k without much quality issues, I am first in line too considering I will never have to change motor oil or visit gas station again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(walt @ Dec 17 2006, 04:49 PM) [snapback]363481[/snapback]</div> Oddly, they don't mention the fact that Phoenix plans to sell in California only. My understanding of their business strategy is that they are building EVs now to cash in on a future market in clean-car credits in California. At some point, car manufacturers selling in CA must meet requirements that some percentage of the fleet meets zero or low emission targets. A penalty will apply to those not meeting this target, but manufacturers can trade their credits. So, they expect some of the majors to feel a real pinch in the near future, and expect them to by Phoenix's credits at a handsome price to avoid that penalty. So, to them, a car registered in California is worth a lot more than a car registered anywhere else. As they describe themselves on the page referenced below, the projected income from selling their clean-air credits may be far larger than the income from selling the vehicles. http://66.218.37.153/investors.htm Having said that, I'd love to be able to buy one of their vehicles.
