Technology

So How Is the Gov’t-Supported Electric Car Industry Doing? Guess…

Infrastructure for Electric Cars on the Rise, Adoption by Public Not There Yet

Antonia Kraus begins a test drive of the new Chevrolet Volt Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, outside the state Capitol building in Lansing, Mich. (AP)

In just four years, the Obama Administration wants 1 million electric cars on the road. But will the inventory, demand and infrastructure for owning and charging these electric vehicles (EVs) ever exist, or be adequate? Recent reports offer a bleak outlook.

Though government funding and industry stakeholders are moving forward to meet Obama’s goal, consumer demand — or lack thereof — may not allow it. According to J.D. Power’s 2011 U.S. Green Automotive Study, electric and hybrid cars are estimated to account for less than 10 percent of sales through 2016. The survey also found that the most cited reason for purchasing an EV was to cut costs, not to save the planet.

Last month, Popular Mechanics reported the six-month sales for the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, two well-publicized electric cars. Though the numbers didn’t look good, they were quick to add that there are still waiting lists for these vehicles:

Only 3,071 Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicles were delivered to customers since they began arriving at dealerships in the first few “launch market” areas late last year. Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicle bettered that by more than 800 units, with 3,894 Leafs sold or leased by U.S. dealers through June 30 (including 19 in December 2010).

As a comparison, Chevy dealers delivered a total of 156,848 cars during this same time frame.

There are currently $2,500 to $7,500 in federal tax credits for plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars.

Even in terms of infrastructure, Costco — an early adopter of charging stations for electric cars with 90 stations created in 2006 –  the New York Times was reported the retail giant removed these stations due to lack of use:

“We were early supporters of electric cars, going back as far as 15 years. But nobody ever uses them,” said Dennis Hoover, the general manager for Costco in northern California, in a telephone interview. “At our Folsom store, the manager said he hadn’t seen anybody using the E.V. charging in a full year. At our store in Vacaville, where we had six chargers, one person plugged in once a week.”

Mr. Hoover said that E.V. charging was “very inefficient and not productive” for the retailer. “The bottom line is that there are a lot of other ways to be green,” he said. “We have five million members in the region, and just a handful of people are using these devices.”

Even though the climate for EVs may not be ripe among consumers, government and manufacturers are still moving forward with creating infrastructure. In April 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $5 million in new funding for EV infrastructure as part of its Clean Cities Initiative.

The Transportation Electrification Initiative, announced in 2009, provided $2.4 billion toward EV infrastructure. But even with this and other funding, Wired reports stakeholders as saying they don’t really want the help, nor do they need it:

We’re capitalists,” said [Richard] Lowenthall, chief technology officer at Coulumb Technologies. “We believe this market can only grow through capitalism.”

Wired confirms the industry is well on its way to implementing these capabilities, even though the average American may not be ready to adopt it yet:

These pieces are falling into place as big players like General Electric and NRG Energy join smaller outfits like Coulomb Technologies, Ecotality and Better Place in rolling out the infrastructure. We’ve already got more than 1,300 public charging stations nationwide and thousands more coming. Uncle Sam is spending more than $100 million to help install 22,000 residential and public charging points nationwide by 2014, and ABI Research says we’ll see more than 1.4 million residential and public chargers in the United States by 2016.

Infrastructure for Electric Cars on the Rise, Adoption by Public Not There Yet

Want to know more about the viability of EVs? Here are a couple stats from Wired:

  • The average cost of electricity in the country runs around 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. So, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates charging an EV with a 70 mile range will cost about $2.64 to reach full charge — that’s equivalent to running central AC for six hours. General Motors estimates that its Chevy Volt will use 2,520 kilowatt-hours of energy per year. This means annual charging costs will be about $277.
  • If we were to reach the 1 million car goal, the electricity grid would be able to handle it, according to Mark Duvall of the Electric Power Research Institute. “The United States produces 4,000 terawatt-hours of electricity a year,” he said [to Wired]. “One million EVs would be about one one-thousandth of our annual electrical production.”
  • Most manufacturers claim their EVs run up to 100 miles. According to a survey of 120 California families, EVs were able to meet 90 percent of their driving needs. But Wired states, these cars may not be reliable enough for heavy commuters.
  • How long does it take to charge? Depending on the type of charger, it could take up to 20 hours or it could take less than 1. According to CarStations.com, there are three levels of EV chargers. Level 1 will most likely be in a home’s garage or somewhere where the vehicle can be parked for a while; this level takes 16 to 20 hours to charge, depending on the vehicle. Level 2 is a faster option (takes about eight hours), which could allow for overnight charing and can be plugged in a normal home’s outlet. Level 3 charging stations are most costly to install but it can charge a vehicle up to 80 percent in just under 30 minutes. Repeated use of a level 3 charging station could downgrade the battery though and, therefore is not recommended, for at home, regular use.

Wired reported Ecotality, a clean energy technology company, is estimating there would need to be about 1.51 chargers per electric car to meet demand:

“The ‘one’ is the charger in your garage,” said CEO Jonathan Read. “The ‘point five one’ is the public or commercial charger.”

This means we need more than 1.5 million chargers to meet the president’s hope for 1 million EVs on the road by 2015, and only 1,300 are currently installed in homes and public places in the country.

But the bigger question is: Will we really need them?

Comments (214)

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  • Creativethinker
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:50pm

    I just got an email that said that GE is investing 2 billion into China and moving alot of plants and jobs to Bejing GE is a traitor

    Report Post »  
  • FRONTIERSMAN
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:48pm

    Exactly….and with limited range and long charge times, the only people who are buying them are the eco-guilty people or the folks who have disposable income to afford the novelty.

    Report Post »  
  • geonj
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:48pm

    GEs jeffery immelt has a lot of explaining to do, concidering GE is a major manufacturer of charging stations. and although i haven’t done the research, i would guess theses stations are built in china.

    Report Post » geonj  
    • INOGAWD
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 8:01pm

      You bring up a very good point..Where are these Charging Stations
      being built ??? Not in my Town….In China ? Thanks BO..
      I’ve always wanted to BUY a $45,000 Car that’s good for 70 miles..
      wonder how long it would take Me to get from AZ to Minnesota ? HMM !!

      Report Post » INOGAWD  
  • integrican
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:47pm

    I drive ‘gas burners’ ….and these are ‘coal burners’…..Yeah, that’s going green alright!
    Oh, BTW: What do you think our electricity would cost if only half of us owned these cars? They would really have to stoke up those coal plants (80% of elec. from coal) to meet the demand. With that amount of coal soot in the air, anticipate visibility to hover around 5 miles or less…..EVERYWHERE! Don’t even get me started with the unforeseen problems with battery recycling and disposal and the damage (irreversible damage) that will be experienced by our water tables. The shortsightedness in all of this is stunning!

    Report Post » integrican  
    • bartjoebob
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:57pm

      and guess what… when there is huge demand placed on coal, EPA is right there to denounce and restrict: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/getting-ready-for-a-wave-of-coal-plant-shutdowns/2011/08/19/gIQAzkZ0PJ_blog.html The never ending enviro-regulation storm continues. No wonder businesses are sitting defensively on mountains of cash and are afraid to hire. The surprises washignton keeps turing out neve cease to boggle common sense. Buy more electric cars, but severly limit power production = drive up price = justification for more clean tech gov’t subsidized green agenday BS. The free market doesnt want ANY of it. 2012 CANNOT come fast enough

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:17pm

      And Obama wants to get rid of coal plants, so how are they going to get electricity? And I agree with the fact that once even 40% of us are driving electric cars, the price will double. That means not only paying more for your car, but your home as well. And WHO can afford a new car? And because of cash for clunkers, there aren’t as many used ones out for sale.

      Report Post »  
  • ProbIemSoIver
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:47pm

    How is the Global elite’s new acquisition, to use for their Military / Industrial Complex ? In addition to seizing this corporation for their Military and Industrial benefits, they can use it for their implementation of social transportation and to create electric vehicles to take you (with a permit) to your destination along the corridors on the Global AGENDA 21 map.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzEEgtOFFlM

    Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • sb36695
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:47pm

    This is how politicians get rich. Their investments are always bailed out by taxpayers!

    Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:56pm

      No. They get rich because they are completely funded by the Global elite. Personally financed to Implement the NWO agenda, and campaign-financed their whole political career so that they never lose the riches that they have garnered by being employed by a global syndicate !!!

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • team1blazer
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:45pm

    If the government is involved in any project, it can not compete with private industry for the simple reason that the government has no clue how capitalism actually works. Just put in a bunch of SEIU union thugs and the whole gambit turns to dust.

    Report Post » team1blazer  
    • warriorspirit
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:21pm

      It can compete because the Government doesn’t need to show a profit, ever. It can just go deeper and deeper in the hole to “out do” it’s private sector competition.

      Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:43pm

    Nice goin’ there, barry.
    Another example of your fine leadership.
    And he wonders why we hate him….

    Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:29pm

      lol, Bush Sr. is a member of the round table. He and friends tell Obama what to do !!!! Bush Sr. would have told Bush Jr., if still in office, to seize GM and utilize it for their global agenda. Take the red pill and go further down the rabbit hole. Or go back to that steak and the Left vs. Right Paradigm.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:43pm

    if you compare Adolph and obama’s track records, they are parallel… until you get to ONE item on the list. MAKING autos for the common man. Adolph made the peoples car: the volks wagon. obama has tried it too –and failed with his stupid useless and senseless WEEBLE CAR.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • LOJ
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:43pm

    GM says its profits are up after getting bailed out with the tax payers money, but frankly I don’t know people who are buying GMs. They are buying everything but GM. The electric cars are not selling at all, this country runs on fossil fuels, its still the preferred choice, and the government has failed at all its socialist policies.

    Report Post »  
    • Furious American
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:03pm

      I will never buy a government motors car or dodge either for that matter. By not sticking their hand out for government money Ford has made me a lifelong customer.

      Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:40pm

    They have to burn too much coal to charge an electric car. I’ll stick with gas.

    Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:46pm

      What a country, the president wants more electric cars in one hand and less electric generation in the other, now what could possibly be wrong with that? I‘m just glad we have our brightest minds in control of the situation and not just some dumb guy like me that thinks that won’t work.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:48pm

      since obama is maliciously and deliberately shutting down America’s COAL plants now = 45% of America’s source of energy DELIBERATELY SHUT OFF … there is no sense at all in his ugly little Govt-Obama-Union weeble cars… no coal = no electricity. no coal = millions out of work = no buyers for the obama-weeble cars. MOST Americans do not live in cities.. there are NO electrical outlets along our county highways to recharge a stupid little obama-weeble car, esp not when it takes 50 miles one way for some of us to go to the store.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Hickory
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 6:34pm

      The problem is, we are subject to the rantings of an idiot. He jumps in front of a camera and just shouts what is written on the teleprompter with no thought as to what he is saying. Meanwhile, the first pig just keeps on stuffing lobster in her mouth. Oh such a charming couple.

      Report Post » Hickory  
  • megansmom
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:38pm

    Ok so I would be stuck at home for 16 to 20 hours to fill up or if I run low on power I could stop for a quick fill up of an half an hour. Then worry about loosing the batteries ability to hold a charge.
    No thanks i already have a device I have to worry about keeping charged A cell phone and I don’t want to drive one.

    Report Post »  
    • dnewton
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 10:20pm

      Just get one car per job you work. Come home change cars and cloths and go to the next job.

      Report Post »  
  • jessieH
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:38pm

    How are they going to make electicity with the EPA trying to shut down power plants? The moronic gov’t. is fighting itself. Do they have some super squirrels running on a treadmill, turning a generator? How they going to sell electric cars to people with no income? These tuna cans with wheels are junk. They are smaller than a semi’s wheels. The bleeding heart liberals won’t rest till no one is able to go anywhere.

    Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:02pm

      You hit the nail on the head, they don’t want us going anywhere. They want us living like they do in any 3rd world nation around the world.

      Report Post »  
  • RavenGlenn
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:38pm

    Because they want to save the environment! Duh!

    Seriously though…if all these people want to save the poor environment, they need to show that there is, indeed, a market out there for that. Then the free market will take over and produce what people are wanting. The facts are that nobody wants to pony up all that extra cost for this ‘noble good’ they would be doing to society. It isn’t worth it to 99% of Americans, so it isn’t going to happen. Plain and simple.

    The only way we produce these cars in the first place is with tax-payer money going to the car companies and telling them to make them. They aren’t stupid. They know there is no market for these, otherwise the government wouldn’t have to give them cash to make them.

    Report Post »  
  • RugerHoyt
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:38pm

    How am I supposed to check pivots in an electric car or truck? These have no use in the farmland…

    DRILL DRILL DRILL!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:37pm

    Barack Obama’s ideological zealotry boils down to something disgusting. Radical environmentalist ideology and crony capitalism are bad enough when engaged separately. But when combined to waste taxpayer money during one of the worst economies in American history in order to symbolically reduce emissions of gases that imperceptibly affect “global warming,” the effect is pure ugliness.
    Obama, and his anointed government czars think the Volt is a good idea that consumers will clamor for, at least 10,000 of them. During his Michigan GM factory visit, Obama looked so – what’s the word – manly as he hopped behind the wheel to drive a Volt all of two car lengths off the prototype assembly line. I certainly wouldn’t buy a car he endorsed, because he wouldn’t know a good vehicle even if it goosed him.
    Have you driven a Chevy Volt. . .lately? …not in my lifetime.

    Report Post »  
  • MUDFLAPS
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:37pm

    I wouldnt buy an obamamobile if it cost 10 dollars. I will not knowingly buy any GE products.
    They are in bed with this jerk and Im not having it.

    Report Post »  
    • J.C. McGlynn
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:41pm

      I would for $10.00 dollars. It would make a great target to shoot.

      Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
  • rubydee
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:37pm

    One other thing. Isn’t Obummer trying to shut down our coal plants? Where is all this EXTRA electricity supposed to come from? I have to tape my head everyday with duct tape to keep it from exploding.

    Report Post »  
  • lastgoodnametaken
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:34pm

    I used to work for Tesla. The cars look hot, but are truly poor quality. The mindset of the owners and managers there was that the Government would always be there to help, and they received some large loan guarantees. The money was squandered, and they will soon just be a footnote in history. Nobody that purchased a car there was worried about the environment, they were all worried about their image. I was there when Schwartzeneggar finally got his. He was too big to fit in it, so he immediately gave it to Maria. I wonder how THAT turned out??

    Report Post »  
  • Mahakala
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:31pm

    EV’s: The big fail

    Report Post » Mahakala  
  • JRook
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:30pm

    Hmmm let’s do some easy math here. If car sales fall in the US to 15,000,000 per year and electric or hybrids are only 8% of sales that would be 1.2 million per year. If we assume cars are kept for an average of 3 years, that would mean 3.6 million sold. Seems like we are well on our way to the goal of a million. Major barrier is the availability of charging infrastructure.

    Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 4:07pm

      You are leaving out the pesky little fact these things aren’t green. When you put in the extra energy required to build the batteries, dispose of the batteries, and energy loss by the batteries just bleeding off energy even when not being used, you have to drive these things close to 300k miles for them to be even energy neutral, much less green. Nobody is going to drive an electric car 300K miles esxpecially when you take in account they are only good for 50 miles per charge, the batteries will ware out long before the 6000 required charges.

      Report Post »  
    • dnewton
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 7:03pm

      The average length of time that a car lives is over ten years. The slow replacement rate is a big problem with laws that demand better fuel efficiency. Cost per mile declines the longer you keep it so a bump in the gas price can be tolerated versus buying a new one that runs on anything.

      Report Post »  
  • anOpinion
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:30pm

    Obama thinks he has helped emerging technologies, but he has done more damage to them than anything else.

    Eventually (in 2 or 3 decades), everyone will drive electric cars because they will be the preferable option. Forcing people to buy them before they are superior to fossil fuel vehicles just vilifies the technology and makes people want it to fail.

    Report Post » anOpinion  
    • bigpicture
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 10:32pm

      This kind’ a reminds me of the squirrely curly light bulbs. I might have considered adding a few to some parts of my home IF THE DECISION WAS LEFT TO ME, but the mandated demise of the incandescent is just making me dig in and resist the change. Like the VOLT with anticipated pollution from battery failure and disposal, we’re forced to deal with mercury and haz-mat suits if we break a curly light bulb.

      Report Post »  
  • smithclar3nc3
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:30pm

    The ignorance of Obama’s adminstration is boundless, when will they ever learn that the costumers make the market and not the other way around. If a manufacturer produces a vehicles in which price and comfort,and reliablity are all inclusive the whole electric thing might take off. Being that the range is so limited and our population so spread out and the cost so high I don’t it happening anytime soon

    Report Post »  
  • uncleherbert
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:29pm

    The gubmint has got to stop picking winners and loosers. The capitalist system does not need any help, just get out of the way.

    Report Post » uncleherbert  
  • Shasta
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 3:27pm

    Obummer doesn’t want our automobiles to be powered by oil, so he pushes us towards electrical cars. At the same time he is shuttng down our power generation plants, has almost completely shut down drilling in the US and is now setting his sights on natural gas. I need to wake up from this horrible dream

    Report Post » Shasta  
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