Why Can't There be a New Automaker that....?

Question

So I'm sitting here looking at cars, and their MPG ratings etc, knowing that what I see is best cast scenario, but why doesnt a new automaker [its about time there was one...] or someone like GM take the initive to make an electric line of vehicles!?!?!?!

We all know that GM isn't doing that well in their sales, being beat over and over by foreign competetors. So why not do like Toyota did, create a new class like Scion, and make it all electric. OR even the possibility to change their current / new vehicle into an electric vehicle.

The reason that automakers dont want to make their cars electric is MAINLY because there are so many moving parts in a combustion engine, that they can suck us for more money over and over again to get the correct part. ITS NOT BECUASE OF OIL!!!!
And dont be the union a$$ that says mechanics would be out of a job. GOOD mechanics would adapt and learn how to fix electric engines. Plus you will still need breaks, tires, etc etc.
So whats holding them?

Yes, in the late 90s there were electric cars, and because battery technology wasnt that great they were costly.

Now you can get LiON batteries, just like the ones in most digital devices that would be awesome car batteries. Also, who said that you would need a propriority plug to recharge them? Why not just a house outlet? Then you could pull into an RV camp or even out of your hotel room you could plug in your Electric Car. The infrastructer is there, you just have to look a bit harder.

ALSO, how hard would it be for someone like BP to run an power line off their building to a pump-like station????? That is if "fill up" times were reasonable.

ALSO ALSO, wasnt the Gas powered car invented before the gas station??? So why not an electric car before an electric car station.

And why not 100 miles on a recharge? Who says RIGHT NOW they need to go 200miles? The cost of producing electric is much MUCH less then the cost of producing gasoline

Answer 1

There are a bunch of EV manufacturers that are producing highway-capable vehicles, with models out later this year through 2009. There are also a number of others who sell low-speed or neighborhood electric vehicles, mostly for speeds of up to 25mph.

Tesla Motors, Phoenix Motorcars, Miles Automotive, Universal Electric Vehicles, Commuter Cars, and Wrightspeed are working on (with a few already out) highway speed vehicles, and Miles, ZENN, GEM, Dynasty Motorcars, Reva (India), Think (Norway) are among other companies offering low-speed EVs.

Yes, the initial models from Tesla, Commuter Cars, and Wrightspeed are pricey, but their development (and that of the others) will help push along battery improvements that will benefit other manufacturers and us.

Answer 2

well acutally GM did build and market an all electric car. I think it was the EV1 (could be wrong on the name). It was marketed on the west coast to help offset mileage specs for GM. It didn't go far on a charge and also cost alot.

The biggest problem is gettng NA car culture to accept smaller cars (it is happening). But NA mfrs are not into making cars as user friendly as the japanese or europeans. Example was the chrysler omni/horizon. Was originally designed in france but still had the light controls on the dash.

Next is the fact that only in the last 5 years has the technology been decent enough for the hybrids to become reasonable in price, reliability and cost to build. Just recently battery technology has come to the state where the batteries are not 1/2 the vehicle in an electric car.

It takes money to build a new vehicle with a new motive system. There are no the facilities to accomodate the newer technologies. For example you can drive accross the country in a gas powered vehicle, but not in an electric. Neither can you in a hydrogen or natural gas car. There are not the factilities in enough places to allow recharge/refill that will get you across the country. Also americans want a car that can go a decent distance and that doesn't exist yet in an electric car. Sofar they only go about 50 miles. The average commuter today does that for work in a day or would use a lot of power for air conditioning or loud music (a big stereo eats power) there by making the trip to and from work a trial.

They are coming, but not this year.

Answer 3

Actually GM has hybrid cars and trucks now. So does Ford. The problem right now with cars that are all electric is recharging them. It's fine if you never venture far from home, but, most people also use their cars for family outings. Where do you recharge an electric car when your on the road somewhere. Eventually we will get there. It will take time though.

Answer 4

There is one - ZAP. They've already created and distribute the ZAP Xebra which is an electric car that goes up to 40 mph and 40 miles per charge. They've teamed up with Lotus Engineering to design the ZAP-X (also electric) which will get 350 miles per charge, go up to 155 mph, and recharge in 10 minutes. Unfortunately it will cost around $60,000, but that's much better performance and cost than the $92,000 Tesla Roadster, though the Tesla is available now and the ZAP-X won't come out until late 2008.

Answer 5

The electric car is still more of a concept than a reality. Someone like GM isn't going in invest in technology that might bomb, especially when they're already struggling. Heck, they still can't make traditional cars that get great marks on consumer reports....think that's why they came up with On Star.
Trust me, engineers have been working on the electric car for at least a couple decades; there must be some kind of snag to owning one or they'd be on the road. It would mean more international independance for America.

Answer 6

if they could, they wouldn't. GM has already tried to introduce an all electric car. but there are too few charging stations. and the max distance on a charge is 100 miles. they have all the cars that didn't sell, crushed in a junkyard. only a few private vehicles exist. my perpetual electric concept will work. you don't need to charge it up. it is all electric as well. not a hybrid. as a matter of fact, my perpetual electric concept will render the hybrid obsolite if it is produced. imagine driving a car for years, not miles. this concept allows you to drive for years, until one of the components fails. then you just replace the worn component, and drive for another 10 years or so. never gas-up, never recharge. this concept works with a very wide product base. auto, cycles,wheelchairs,watercraft,home, industial ancomercial aplications as well. if you have any questions about it, catch me at : [e-mail]

Answer 7

There will be plug-in hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles sometimes between 2010 and 2020. They are working on them, but the battery technology needs to improve vastly. It would be hard for a new company to start up, because auto making companies take a lot of capital to start up, so I think its easier for GM to create them than for a new company.

Answer 8

Another conspiracy scenario. If they could they would. It would be great business for them. ~
The battery technology is the main barrier, but it is being worked on. New lithium ion batteries are being made, that have a 10 year life and can be recharged from Zero to 80% in 5 minutes.

Answer 9

Electric cars are simply not competative in the market place, and as long as this is the case, no company will produce any except as prototypes or demonstration cars. In order for an electric car to be competative, it must have at least the same overall performance as a conventionally fueled (gasoline or diesel). This means that:

1) It must have a range of at least 200 miles on a single charge while maintaining the performance aspects outlined below.

2) Recharging from near empty to full must take no more than 10 minutes, and must be possible at numerous conveniently located sites around the country.

3) There must be no decline in performance as the battery is drained. This means that the car must maintain the same performance at all levels of charge.

4) Performance:

a. Must be able to travel at sustained highway speeds of at least 100 mph

b. Must be able to accelerate from zero to sixty in 10 seconds or less.

5) Comfort - must be able to do this with no loss of range or performance:

a) seat at least two adults comfortably
b) maintain cabin at a comfortable temperature with outside temperatures as high as 100 degrees F or as low as 0 degrees F
c) Must be able to carry bagage for two for at least a weakend

6) Total purchase price including TT&L must be no more than $50,000.

No such car exists at this point in time, and IMHO no such car is likely to exist in the near future.

Answer 10

These things are coming. But, ultimately the people that determine what the automakers do is the consumer. When the demand is there, you can bet the auto companies will be falling all over themselves to meet the demand.

For a better understanding of energy use and economics and how it drives the market, see my blog.

Energy Guru
www.energy-guru.blogspot.com