EVcast #49: Weekly EVcast: The Tipping Point

Hi guys!  That was my first live podcast with y’all- Woohoo!  (usually, I actually have to be at work during the podcast;-)  I have a couple of links to share- the first two show the cost of Lithium, from last year and from this year:

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/42758/story.htm

and

http://www.post1.net/lowem/date/20080605

So- even if we take the highest rate of $8500/ton, and up it to $10,000/ton in case we are suddenly price-gouged, and multiply that by the estimated 28,000,000 tons of Lithium, which should be enough for our EV needs for a long time, the cost would be 280 billion dollars- okay, not a factor of ten, but still LESS then HALF what we pay every year for Oil to foreign countries.

            And as to the question of if we even have enough Lithium in the world?  Well, that is still an ongoing debate, but the articles in the two links below go a long ways to dispelling any concern, especially in calling into doubt the negative report by William Tahil that has spurred most of the concern.  The first article is at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jul/31/motoring.energy

and the second, more revealing article is at:

http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1434

            One last point- even if our supplies of Lithium do become limited or questionable, the beautiful thing about electric motors is that they do not care where the electrons come from- new battery technologies, whether air batteries or super-capacitors from EESTOR, will slide into place just fine.  And we haven’t even talked about air-powered cars yet…

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Hmmmm, air-powered cars, I like where this is going Paul!!

Thanks for the Li links, a little substantiation goes a long way.

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To clarify the "Chronicle" discussion, it does appear to be a daily program - link to ABC Boston Channel for more information, schedule etc:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/index.html

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LOL!  As far as air cars go, they are an intriguing idea- no special chemicals needed to store energy, just tanks of compressed air.  However, I am in doubt as to the amount of power that can be stored this way, and in the range air tanks will afford, though there have been articles discussing storing wind or solar energy via compressed air.  I have come across two air powered engines- the first was part of a Discovery Channel episode on alternative transportation about a French company, MDI, who is trying to bring the car to market with TATA, the Indian car company- their engine seems to operate much like an ICE engine.  Their web site is:

http://www.mdi.lu/eng/affiche_eng.php?page=accueil

I also came across a more interesting air engine with an Australian company called Engineaire- their idea uses a variation of a Rotary Engine, and seems much smaller and much less complicated.  Their link is at:

http://www.engineair.com.au/

I know this is a little off the EV path, but these type of engines are interesting none the less, and perhaps could be an alternative to NEV's or limited range vehicles.  You can also find examples of each on Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4&feature=related

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Bo,

'domesticate' ->->-> 'repatriate'?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/made-in-usa-starts-to-make-a-return/

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The real tipping point imho is when someone sells a new EV that is a raving success for $20,000.  Similar to the Prius being the tipping point to hybrids.  I still believe EVs will cost less to make and buy, fuel, repair, and insure in the long run by a wide margin.

Who are the best bets to make this car Tesla, BgAuto, Think, Nice, Smart, Nissan, Zenn, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Virgin, Green Vehicles, Tata, GM, Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Daimler, A123, GM, Miles, Tiger, Volkswagon.  Probably missed a couple sorry.

The niche is there who will step up????  First someone has to try and sell one.  I would buy one with a 15 mile range tomorrow if it existed.

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