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All Juiced Up

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Cadillac Converj Photo: Sean Frego
Story Filed: 1/13/2009 10:00:00 AM EST
By Kirk Bell
Electricity was in the air at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and every automaker, big and small, was involved.
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Fisker Karma S Photo: Sean Frego
Fisker Karma S Photo: Sean Frego
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Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO Concept Photo: Bruce Whitaker
Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO Concept Photo: Bruce Whitaker
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Dodge Circuit EV Photo: Sean Frego
Dodge Circuit EV Photo: Sean Frego
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Chrysler 200C EV Photo: Rod Hatfield
Chrysler 200C EV Photo: Rod Hatfield

General Motors set the electrification revolution in motion two years ago by introducing the Chevy Volt Concept car to a packed house at the 2007 North American Auto Show here in Detroit. You know, or at least have heard of, the Volt. It’s the car powered solely by electricity.

 

Fast-forward to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show and just about every automaker is unveiling an electric vehicle in one form or another.

 

Why? Partly because it is the right thing to do eco-wise, but mostly because government overseers are pushing car builders into it with the fervor of a hyena fighting for meat at a fresh kill.

 

Like hybrids before them, electric vehicles will most certainly be unprofitable at the outset. Ford Motor Chairman Bill Ford believes a structured government energy policy will make or break the EV. “You could do it with a combination of a gas tax or other tax incentives on these new vehicles, or maybe a recycling program that would incentivize people to give up their old cars and invest in the new technology,” He said.

 

What’s New

No fewer than eight automakers unveiled plug-in hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs) or all-electric vehicles this year. The list includes the Cadillac Converj, the production model of the much-anticipated Fisker Karma and pre-production model of the Karma S Concept convertible, and three Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO electric vehicle concepts. These small M-B hatchbacks each had a different electric powertrain, including a fuel cell that converts compressed hydrogen into electricity.

 

Watch video of the ultra-luxury Karma hybrid

 

Toyota has earned its reputation as the leader in low-emissions, high-fuel mileage technology. In addition to showing a new Prius hybrid, the company also displayed the FT-EV Concept. A two-seat hatchback along the lines of the smart fortwo, the FT-EV is an all-electric vehicle that Toyota imagines as an urban commuter.

 

Ford has also been on board with hybrid technology. While the blue oval didn’t show any electric vehicles, it did announce plans to produce two by 2010, as well as a plug-in hybrid by 2012.

 

The other major electric vehicle announcements came from Chrysler LLC. They added two more EVs — the Dodge Circuit EV and the extended-range Jeep Patriot EV — to the three they had unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Chrysler LLC says it will make an EV available to the public by the end of 2011, but which one is still a mystery.

 

Chrysler also showed an E-REV concept, the 200C midsize sedan. The company is hopeful about the vehicle for two reasons. First, it looks like a comfortable, practical and efficient extended-range electric vehicle. And second, with electric or gasoline power, it could be a replacement for the unloved Chrysler Sebring sedan.

 

See the video of Chrysler's new electric vehicle designs

 

Finally, Chinese automaker BYD made some electric news. The company has already released the four-door hatchback F3DM in China, making it the world’s first commercially available plug-in hybrid. The company also plans for a plug-in hybrid midsize sedan called F6DM and a pure-electric compact four-door hatchback called e6. BYD, which has set a goal to come to America by 2011, plans to offer the F6DM and e6 in China before the end of 2009.

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:58:02 AM
Why are we so excited to have electric vehicles.  I assume it's to do with the environment, but right now to charge those batteries you're hooking up to an electric grid that is about 60-70% run by fossil fuels, and most of that is coal.  Then we're charging a battery and running that car at 50-60% efficiency.  So the overall efficiency of the system is only 15%.  I know we need to be prepared and figure out ways to lower fossil fuels, but until we have more wind solar, and/or nuclear power, which will take some time, electric cars are just making the problem worse.
Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:10:15 AM

uless roof panels are of solar constrution to recharge, they are literally spinning their wheels.

Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:24:36 AM
It still requires gasoline and nuclear power to create the electricity to recharge the cars and that will be used in the same abundance.  We still need more solar and wind technology in the cars and out before I will believe the car companies are really trying to make a difference.  Additionally with a 1000% mark-up on the price, what is the point.  I urge you all use public transportaion and lobby government officials to increase funds and advertizing there.  It is the only way to really save money and the environment.
Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:24:55 AM
We had this technology years ago. What happened to the electric vehicle that GM gave to consumers back in the early 90's. They crushed every one of them and would not let the people buy them with no explaination. They told some that the batteries were not able to keep a charge more than 25 miles but an inventor replaced the original battery with a super cell battery and was able to obtain 75 miles per charge. Who was paid off. America needs to know why.
Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:32:08 AM

What about the Volt.  It's mentioned twice in the first paragraph and then nothing.  I take it GM didn't get it to the 2009 show in Detroit.  Way to go GM.  I'll be looking at all the models mentioned above.

 

I live in Yuma, Az and the sun shines 322 days a year if you listen to all the promo on Yuma.  An electric vehicle is just the ticket here as 90% of my travel is less than 10 miles.  I do NOT want to pay $40,000 for an electric as my 1993 car (paid off, of course) get 20 mpg and 2,000 gallons will take me 40,000 miles.  If I don't pay $40,000 that's 10,000 gallons of gas at $4.00 a gallon and that 200,000 miles or more miles than I put on my last 3 vehicles.  That is why no one will buy all electric.  It's cheaper to pollute.  Oh yes, I didn't see any pricing in the article and I just assumed $40,000.  It's probably more.

Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:13:34 AM

bullfrog +2 on electricity.

I have several thoughts against electricity or hybrids:

Has anyone  thought about sitting in a electromagnetic field as you drive? 

Those large battery packs envelope the entire car in a magnetic field.

further I race rc cars and have seen theses cells cook off.  There is a tremendous amount of energy stored up in those cells.   I hope they get safe storage worked out.

 

Hybrid cars have a lot of limitations:   if you load up the car with passengers the mileage drops to low twenties.  if you run the air the mileage drops.  Not to mention you are still burning fossils fuels (middle eastern).  The hybrid is a step not the solution.

 

Furthermore, Toyota is going to release their 3rd generation hybrid with solar panels to circumnavigate the air conditioning electrical draw handicap.  US automaker are scrambling to introduce their first generation Hybrids. probably the throw offs of toyota's 1st generation technology.   Detroit is currently 10 to 15 years behind in technology.

 

US auto maker will never catch up because in Japan and probably Germany and England the best Scientist and Engineers are recruited into the Auto Industry, while we recruit to Aerospace.   My guess is the left over's go to Detroit.   Having the US contribute the finest Aerospace and defense technology to the world and have Japan and Europe provide the highest automotive technology to us works for me so far.   I drive a toyota.

I hope things changes.

 

The "Good Old Boys" infrastructure in Detroit will not change unless bankruptcy forces a complete restructuring of the existing Corporate and manufacturing process.

After hearing GM's Executive responding to congress, we have a long way to go.

 

Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:37:11 AM
The one question no one has asked about these electric cars is: how much does the battery cost when you have to replace one?  I have been told that it will cost at least $7,000. 
Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:38:59 AM
Hawk, go study the first law of thermodynamics and then get back to me.  That energy has to come from somewhere, safe storage is just that... storage.

Even then, pound for pound a battery contains far less energy than fossil fuels.
Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:51:51 AM
The boneheads in Hawaii think that electric cars are the be all end all.  Most of the power to charge them comes from the grid which is powered by fossil fuel.  Factor in the losses at each end and a plain old gas guzzler make much more sense.  Go figure.
Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:09:41 AM
A pretty good documentary on the Electric Car is "Who Killed the Electric Car."   Of course it is a documentary so there may be some biases however it provides some good insight to both sides of the argument.
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