Join Bo, Ryan and guests for a detailed discussion on some hot EV related topics of the week including: How many EVs do you see on the road by 2015 and why? Is pure EV technology ready for the big time, or should automakers be focusing on plug in hybrid technology to meet mass market? What do you see as some the biggest obstacles for mass market adoption of EVs and what could be done about them?
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petro refining is the largest industrial user of electricity. a shift from fossil fuelers to plugin electric would not cause a major demand on the grid, just a shift. i don't thnk too many people are aware of this.
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Actually "guest", it has been discussed before and disputed on this show. Do you have any data to support this?
ThanksJohn C. Briggs
Glad to see GM, F, and Chrysler sill working on EVs GM, F, and Daimler still contribute a lot of taxes to the USA. They have not had earnings for years (and thus no corporate income taxes) however, all employees must still pay income taxes. Revenues account for all the steel, health insurance, bolts, and air bags seats needed to build cars. GM had $166 billion of revenues, F had $139 billion, and Diamler-Chrysler had $190 billion in revenue in 2008. For a total revenue of about $500 billion. If 20% of that ends up as income taxes. The government can make money giving a $100 billion grant to the big 3 yearly. They are presently giving loans. I think it would be EV+ to provide up to $100 billion in funding to the big 3 annually. $50 billion would provide net $50 billion in tax revenues. They have gotten loans but they are going to have to pay that back. A $10 billion loan is really more like $2 billion in cash. As the loans were below market and the value of the dollar depreciates with time. In summary, don't get too upset about bailouts to companies where the employees pay income taxes. BillBerggren
John -
I sent you a PM regarding this very issue. Doesn't sound like you got it. There is plenty to back it up.
Darell, Sorry, I didn't get the PM. When you get a chance, send it over to
John C Briggs at R C N dot COM with no spaces. I would love to know more about battery pricing.ThanksJohn C. Briggs
Perhaps the analogy of Compact Fluorescents is a good one for EVs. They were always more energy efficient than incandescent lamps. The early form factor and technology required the user to invest in new fixtures. The first users to adopt them were commercial users like apartments. As they improved in performance and form factor they were very expensive and a few folks adopted them for the energy benefits.
Now they are the social norm at least in California. They have become inexpensive and comparable in performance to incandescents. By the time CFLs own the market LEDs will begin to compete and they will prevail in the end. EVs will prevail because they are more energy efficient, potentially more convenient to fuel, and potentially more durable.
Fred