Posted on 08/30/2014 11:30:35 AM PDT by ckilmer
One of the hottest clashes in technology pits two pathmakers in the new era of electric cars—Tesla and General Motors. Both are developing pure electrics that cost roughly $35,000, travel 200 miles on a single charge, and appeal to the mass luxury market.
The stakes are enormous. Most electrics have less than 100 miles of range. Experts regard 200 miles as a tipping point, enough to cure many potential electric-car buyers of “range anxiety,” the fear of being stranded when their battery expires. If GM and Tesla crack this, sales of individual electrics could jump from 2,000 or 3,000 vehicles a month to 15 to 20 times that rate, shaking up industries from cars to oil, which were until now certain that large-scale acceptance of electrics was perhaps decades away.
It is a substantial gamble for both companies. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has more or less bet his company on the contest. GM’s existence is not in jeopardy if it loses, but the outcome could still determine its place in the next generation of automaking.
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Just saying.
Build them in America.
Elon Musk is a visionary and genius and G.M. Are murders!
Tesla wanted to sell their cars on-line and then have them delivered directly to you.
GM used it’s influence with Federal and state governments to make that illegal in most, if not all, states.
Automobiles and firearms are the only product in America that requires you to visit a dealer to purchase, I think?
That’s all you need to know about the GM “competitive” spirit.
(Ironically, much like Tesla versus Edison back in the day.)
Well, unless the final solution is a fuel cell, it’s a loser because the consumer part of the power grid won’t be able to handle it...
Well, unless the final solution is a fuel cell, it’s a loser because the consumer part of the power grid won’t be able to handle it...
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That’s likely why Musk is also heavily invested in solar. He’s looking for off grid distributed power generation to handle the load. Might not work. We’ll see.
Solar charging works great since the car is in the garage overnight when the sun shines the brightest.
/sarcasm
lol
I would call 400 miles a tipping point.
Have they figured out if dead batteries can be recycled in quantities without harming the environment?
I am unable to see the economics of buying an electric or hybrid when cars cost 25-50% more to buy. Then the batteries are a big expense to replace. The electrical grid will have to be beefed up to handle all the extra load to charge batteries. And if the electricity will be generated with fossil fuels, there is no reduction in air pollution.
I drive a gasoline powered car with every option installed, my range is 400 miles plus, very cheap to maintain, have original battery, tires, spark plugs, belts etc after 4 years and 40,000 miles. And it cost under $20k to buy new.
Most people in cities don’t have a garage, which means they will have no way to plug them in. City drivers are pretty much the only market for them.
The idea is doomed from the start.
As a resident of rural N Nevada, I can assure you that 200 miles isn’t enough.
I don’t disagree. That’s likely also where Tesla’s battery comes in ...or any one of several different batteries that are much cheaper but larger—carry more charge...and are suited for houses but not cars.
http://www.aquionenergy.com/energy-storage-technology
http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/business-tech-news/aquion-energy-plant-rolling-toxic-free-rechargable-batteries/
It aint enough for me, and the overnight charge time stinks on ice.
I want to fill up in 5 min.
I am sure they are a pleasure to drive but these things are deal breakers.
Supposedly Tesla is investing in building an infrastructure of charging stations. Their goal is by 2024 to have 98% of the American population within 50 miles of one.
you’ll want to elaborate on that.
To top all that off, mileage varies upon weather conditions (battery’s do not work well in cold conditions) And if you use the heater or AC.
When you price gas at $4 a gallon - a long range electric car looks like a smart investment.
If they can get the battery where it needs to be, it will find a market.
Have they figured out if dead batteries can be recycled in quantities without harming the environment?
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I don’t know about the lithium based batteries. But the sodium based batteries for houses I think are recyclable.
http://www.aquionenergy.com/energy-storage-technology
http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/business-tech-news/aquion-energy-plant-rolling-toxic-free-rechargable-batteries/
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