Posted on 02/05/2013 9:26:42 AM PST by jazusamo
According to Toyota Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, "Because of its shortcomings - driving range, cost and recharging time - the electric vehicle is not a viable replacement for most conventional cars; we need something entirely new." Uchiyamada is considered the "father of the Prius."
An article by Reuter's exposes the limitations of EVs and focuses on Toyota's, along with Nissan's, change in strategy, which is now moving away from EVs. Even the most ideological and extreme green energy proponents and backers of the Chevy Volt will have to open their eyes to the sad truth uncovered by the latest report.
The truth is that the technology of lithium-ion based, pure electric vehicles is not the most efficient manner to power motor vehicles. This is something that has been said before by many credible sources. In fact, I previously reported that auto industry executives and engineers voiced similar concerns . Even General Motors' executive director of powertrain-engine engineering, Sam Winegarden, once presented evidence that lithium-ion batteries, used in electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and GM's plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt, were ranked close to zero compared to gasoline and diesel fuels, which delivered the most energy for the least amount of weight and cost to the consumer. Now, Uchiyamada becomes the most credible source to weigh in and attention should be paid to his opinion.
The recent Reuter's article states the obvious, "The reality is that consumers continue to show little interest in electric vehicles, or EVs, which dominated U.S. streets in the first decade of the 20th century before being displaced by gasoline-powered cars." Also, "Despite the promise of 'green' transportation - and despite billions of dollars in investment, most recently by Nissan Motor Co - EVs continue to be plagued by many of the problems that eventually scuttled electrics in the 1910s and more recently in the 1990s. Those include high cost, short driving range and lack of charging stations." It is important to note that the criticisms are aimed at plug-in EVs and not hybrids like the Toyota Prius.
American taxpayers and voters should open their eyes to the insane waste of taxpayer money on a pursuit by the Obama Administration to electrify the US auto fleet before considering whether or not this is the most efficient manner in which to wean America off of fossil fuels. The criticisms (i.e. reality) are coming from non-biased sources, not from right wing extremists or oil proponents. Why is the truth so hard to see? Why aren't Republican representatives questioning the green farce? How many billions of dollars need to be wasted on the green folly before the truth is exposed? No one in government is fighting to end the madness, even though a recent congressional budget office report showed that EVs are costing taxpayers billions of dollars with little benefit.
January's dismal sales figures for the Chevy Volt confirm the lack of interest by consumers in costly plug-in vehicles and some Chevy dealers have pulled the plug on the car . General Motors has been dishonest regarding demand for the vehicle and has had to manufacture demand with incentivized leases. Taxpayers pay $7,500 in federal subsidies on each plug-in EV sold (or leased) and sales are still swooning. Nissan has thrown away almost $6,000 on incentives on its competing Leaf, and the car sells even less than the Volt! What is it going to take to get the picture?
The saddest part of the green boondoggle story is that our own government is responsible for the wasteful focus on plug-in vehicles. General Motors still has Obama-appointed management that will not back off on the plug-in EV technology. In fact, they are doubling down on the losing hand. But Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Nissan executive vice president, sheds light on the true driving force behind the EV madness. Reuter's quotes Yamashita as he blames rising government fuel efficiency standards, "It is not possible to meet (future) regulations unless vehicles are electrified."
So, there you have it. Our government forces automakers to build cars that few want in a misguided strategy that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars backing a technology that was unproven and now admittedly not the best alternative to gas-powered vehicles. Auto manufacturers are not trying to make money selling the cars, nor are they even concerned with the low sales, with the exception of GM which has staked its reputation on the Volt and has had political motivations. The automakers don't have to sell a lot of these cars to meet rising government standards; they only have to offer them, which does nothing to actually help the environment or oil dependence. Now how stupid is that?
Mark Modica is an NLPC Associate Fellow.
Austin, the Leftist capital of TX, has installed numerous charging stations that are rarely used. What a boondoggle.
Just as long the GM is a subsidy of the Federal Government, no way in hell is the Volt going away..
Second article in two days and this one is just as wrong as the other. The Prius as well as the Volt are not pure electric vehicles. They are hybrids. They have a conventional gas engine as well as electric capability. You can drive just as far in either as a conventional car.
Cars and guns. Two things people who have no idea what they are talking about,having no problem sharing their ignorance.
The Volt may be an overpriced car that nobody wants, but it is not a pure plug-in electric car. That is what the article is talking about.
The Volt runs on gasoline if it is out of charge. The Leaf does not.
It is important to note that the criticisms are aimed at plug-in EVs and not hybrids like the Toyota Prius.
Auto Ping.
The government will use our money to prop up a failing system. Only government can do this. Government just raises taxes when its policies fail, as they always do.
Agreed...GM can afford to lose money on the sale or lease of every Volt as long as taxpayers subsidize GM sales and their finance company Ally Financial.
Last time I went to Logan airport in Boston they had charging stations for electric cars with parking spots right next to the elevator in the parking garage. There were about 6 spots all empty. Each one had a sign: parking for electric vehicle only. The rest of the garage was full.
The Green Police ain’t gonna like this one...
Sorry the Federal Government should not be in the Auto business..
I would love a good electric car.
However, I - as pretty much all of the science community - know that 1) we just don’t have suitable batteries yet, and 2) had we the batteries, we don’t have the power grid capacity.
I really wish that politicians would attack problems about which they had adequate intellect...such as.....er....uh.....
Time for BO to issue an Executive Order, mandating that people buy electric cars. /sarc
Well said, agree on all points.
I would add...Do away with the taxpayer subsidies and tax credits.
—I would add...Do away with the taxpayer subsidies and tax credits.—
There is nothing I hate more than duping people into buying something with Government “tax credits”. Government shouldn’t pick and choose winners and losers (they mostly pick losers). Anything not good enough to make it without subsidies isn’t good enough to begin with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.