John Addison

Meet the Top 10 Low Carbon Footprint Vehicles of 2009

Good comments. Yes, Europe is ahead of the United States. This Top 10 article only deals with vehicles available in the United States with 2009 sales likely to exceed 1,000 cars. The availability in the U.S. of diesels like the Ford Fiesta would change this list. Ford will probably bring the Fiesta to the U.S. as a 1.6L gasoline due to the high cost and low current sales of diesels in the U.S. In 2011, this list will also be different as EVs and plug-in hybrids reach commercial volume.
As the article states, GHG are based on GREET 1.7 which includes source-wheels-emissions. Adding the emissions from manufacturing typically adds about 10 percent to total lifecycle emissions. See the GREET 2.7 Model for details at www.transportation.anl.../

Electric Vehicles Gain Traction in the Bay Area

Thanks for adding to the discussion and insights.

Globally EVs are much more prevalent than most think. Most in Asia are less expensive than internal combustion engine driven vehicles. Not Jim Cramer - initially the full featured 4-door sedans will be more expensive capex, but cheaper to fuel. With volume manufacturing, costs are likely to fall as they have with solar power. Most states are requiring growth of renewable energy, but even if its 100% coal power at the other end, the 3X efficiency of electric drive results in lower lifecycle emissions. Yes, battery performance can be a function of temperature. Plug-in Prius tests in Winnipeg at -40C showed little fuel efficiency improvement.

Mad Hedge Fund Trader - point well taken on lithium sources. Mr. Taylor, yes I hope that EESTOR gets commercialized at the right price. I've talked to those who heard the stealth pitch 7 years ago. Stay diversified. Disruptive change is never smooth, but when it succeeds it can make billions for the corporations that can adopt to the change.

Electric Cars for 2010: Shift from Foreign Oil to Riding on Local Renewable Energy

Thank you for the comments and debates about the fate of some future technology. The articles’ discussion about the plans of some auto makers is no guaranteeing that all will deliver in 2010. As some of you note, some may never get to market.

There are currently hundreds of electric vehicles being offered; some are being delivered. The article made no attempt to cover them all. If you want to look at many offerings, follow this link: www.alibaba.com/showro...

I loved riding in a Tesla and hope that they overcome their problems that have made them 18 months late. Here is my Tesla article. www.cleanfleetreport.c...

Over the past years, Zap has sent me press releases announcing billions of dollars of deals. I do not appreciate Zap promoters using my articles to promote their stock or their vehicles. Read the following SEC filing carefully. www.sec.gov/Archives/e...

I am confused about the comment "You ultra-Greens would do well right now to COMPROMISE." Customers will continue to make a wide range of choices from electric vehicles to big SUVs. I have written over 70 articles about a wide range of ways that people and corporations are using less oil. The solutions include electric vehicles, gasoline hybrids, improved diesels, high-speed rail, public transportation, corporate commute and flexwork programs.

Yes, some have good reason to be skeptical about EEstor. A modest VC investment is no guarantee of success. A123 has attracted over ten times the investment in EEstor. We will see if ZENN delivers a car using EEstor by 2010, or ever.

Yes, Toyota is likely to be a major force with a plug-in hybrid. Although A123 and others are doing Prius conversions, do not assume that Toyota’s offering will be a Prius plug-in. They may develop a distinct brand that is smaller and lighter for more range.

Electric vehicles are already successful in many fleet applications and with individuals in places like university towns. In three years, new affordable freeway speed electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will accelerate the current success. Yes, there will be some companies that succeed and some that fail. We need both incremental improves and cleantech innovation.

GM Looks Beyond Oil

There are some excellent points made in the above discussion. First, the person who has been driving their light electric vehicle (LEV) since 1999 has lots of company. 40 million people globally are riding LEV today. Look around when you visit a university town. You may see over 100 of them, often displacing gas guzzlers.

Our energy sources for next generation vehicles will make the difference between a climate solution and a climate crisis. Ken Zweibel, James Mason and Vasilis Fthenakis write that by 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions. A massive switch from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants to solar power plants could supply 69 percent of the U.S.’s electricity and 35 percent of its total energy by 2050. This quantity includes enough to supply all the electricity consumed by 344 million plug-in hybrid vehicles. Scientific American Article: www.sciam.com/article....