macira wrote: Do you "green folks" know that prior to 1919 (yes that's not a typo) there were cars made that were the "hybrids" of their day?
Gasoline engine, electric motor/generator and batteries?
Never did see anything about "Standard Oil" buying them out, they just didn't work very good.
Well, maybe you just answered your own question.
"they just didn't work very good". That's why they didn't buy it out?
How much less would that loss be if they didn't kill the EV1, but instead offered a plug in Hybrid? Pretty reliable numbers say that a EV1 like hybrid could have been done in the 30K range. Had they taken what they did and made the Prius, they'd be beating Toyota severely.
It's coming, just a little bit of patience. Toyota, GM, and Ford all offered electric vehicles. They didn't make it, neither did the dinosaurs. When it's practical and cost effective, we'll be able to buy them, and the manufacturer will make money selling them, maintaining them, and repairing them, just like any other vehicle.
I don't want an electric vehicle, yet. GM's working on the Volt, their second ground breaking, bold automotive program that goes where nobody else has really gone yet. Ev1 was being built when America was still in love with big trucks and SUV's, car sales continued to dwindle across the board, and GM leased a total of how many over 4 years of production?? Them's slim pickens, I don't care how many fingers you count on.
No doubt mistakes have been made, GM could (and should) have handled the EV1 situation differently. Remember that companies are in the business to make money. And when they can do that, and also bring something new to the table, they usually will, it's called profitable business, and it's what all of them are striving for.
What's even better is that GM is saying the Chevy Volt battery will have a 10 year 150,000 mile warranty.
Stressor wrote: Johnson Controls, here in Milwaukee, has the technological answer and they are gearing up to make all the NIMH batteries we could ever want, and they will outlast the car.
Good stuff coming.
Johnson Controls does not have the best track record when it comes to making long-lasting batteries.. I'd rather see LIfeline or East Penn do the job
Since neither makes Lithium or NiMH batteries, neither is likely to be the one making vehicle propulsion batteries.
Unfortunately, it really looks like China is going to clean our clocks on this market and we're going to be sending $5k to $15k per vehicle to China for batteries.
macira wrote: Do you "green folks" know that prior to 1919 (yes that's not a typo) there were cars made that were the "hybrids" of their day?
Gasoline engine, electric motor/generator and batteries?
Never did see anything about "Standard Oil" buying them out, they just didn't work very good.
There was also the Baker Electric. It was only suitable for town use because of the limited range, it was useless in cold weather, pedestrians hated them because they were so quiet, they were so expensive that only a few people could afford them, the lead acid batteries were extremely heavy and toxic, and they only lasted a few years. There just weren't enough sales to make them profitable.
Or so I have read. I wasn't there. I'm not THAT old!
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
Dang, I totally spaced that they acquired Saft and Varta.
Back before Saft was enjoined from using their NiMH batteries in vehicles, I was involved in a project using them for EV's. We were quite pleased with their product.
macira wrote: Do you "green folks" know that prior to 1919 (yes that's not a typo) there were cars made that were the "hybrids" of their day?
Gasoline engine, electric motor/generator and batteries?
Never did see anything about "Standard Oil" buying them out, they just didn't work very good.
Yep. Jay Leno has two electric cars in his garage, a Tesla Roadster, and a Baker Electric. He also has a 1925 hybrid.
But what you may not be aware of:
In the 80 years since, the following have been invented:
NiMH batteries, L-ION batteries, the microprocessor, the MOSFET, the IGBT, and rare earth magnets. They're a little better today.
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