Brad Plumer of the Washington Post discusses at successes and challenges of the electric vehicle industry in this recent piece.
RMI’s Randy Essex and Ben Holland respond to EV critics by putting first-year sales into context. See the recent post from the RMI Outlet, here.
In a recent report by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and RMI’s Project Get Ready, America’s fifty largest metro areas are evaluated on factors like regulatory requirements, incentives, public charging, permitting and planning and power reliability. These cities are compared to show who is currently readiest for EVs, which are making steady progress, and which need [...]
“Hello Electric is an initiative of Purpose, a social enterprise that builds new forms of social movements to address global problems. Hello Electric will work with governments, business and nongovernmental organizations to promote electric vehicles, supporting this emerging industry. Hello Electric is independent and does not favor any particular vehicle [...]
On July 22nd, The U.S. Department of Energy hosted a Plug-in Vehicle and Infrastructure Community Readiness Workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to gather information and best practices from several communities and stakeholders in the process of launching programs to deploy electric drive vehicles. DOE has made videos of the session available.
Watch webcast here.
National Poll Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for Plan to Expand Electric Vehicles
A recent conducted poll by the Electrification Coalition shows strong support for electric vehicles and legislation that will facilitate their deployment. Read more here.
The Electrification Coalition has created a presentation, which covers the results of the poll. You can find that in our [...]
Lotus Engineering released a study which looks at the benefits of reducing weight for automobile efficiency and performance. The engineering firm cut the weight of a Toyota Venza by 38%, resulting in a 23% reduction of fuel consumption. The study concludes that such weight reduction could be implemented across the industry by the 2020 production [...]
In honor of Earth Day, Capitol One Auto Finance released a survey, which found 78% of the sampled drivers believed that electric vehicles would have a strong and permanent place among automobiles in the future. In fact, 42% of those surveyed stated that 25-50% of all vehicles on the road in ten years would be [...]
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released a new white paper that highlights the vulnerability of all fifty states to sudden spikes in oil prices. In ranking the states, NRDC looked at the percentage of income that the average driver spends on gasoline, for each state.
To read more about the paper, click here.
Accenture conducted a survey of over 1,800 consumers and found that 60% were more likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only when the benefits outweighed traditional, gasoline-powered cars in “every way.” The survey suggests that consumer concern over fuel efficiency is only a part of their purchasing criteria. “Green,” essentially, is not the [...]
The U.S. Postal Service has asked Bright Automotive to create a prototype for an electric mail truck.
The automaker is one of five companies working with the postal service to create an electric version of the classic Grumman LLV. Quantum Technologies Inc., Zap!, EDAG Inc., AC Propulsion and Auto Port Inc. will work with the USPS to [...]
Ford Motor Company is working with Florida-based utility, Progress Energy, to expand their plug-in vehicle research partnership. Progress Energy will add a plug-in electric Ford Escape to its Florida operations. The utility will use the Escape to test smart grid communications and control systems.
To learn more about this partnership and others, click here.
Car rental company, Avis, will begin adding Renault electric vehicles to its European fleet next year.
Read more: Avis to Offer Cars with Cords
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed a fast-charging system that could cut the charging time of a plug-in vehicle by a factor of ten. This system uses an inverter to charge the battery and eliminates the need for an on board charger.
Read more here.
A new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) compares the cost-effectiveness of various vehicle technologies. The study states that charging hybrid electric vehicles dynamically (while in motion) may offer a cost-effective approach to vehicle electrification, while limiting the need for an extensive charging infrastructure.
Read more here.
Ford has announced that it will release compressed natural gas and electric versions of the Transit Connect. The vehicles, said to have an 80 mile range, will primarily be used as taxis and cargo vans.
Read more about Ford’s electric vehicle here.
Japan and Renault-Nissan are teaming up to offer EV charging stations at approximately 18,000 hotels in Japan. These will create an even stronger charging network in Japan.
This information follows the great news that SAE J1772 has finally been approved!
Coulomb has secured $14 million in Series B venture funding. The funds will be be applied to further research and development, as well as the company’s efforts to expand further into the electric vehicle charging market.
Read more here.
Ford will update its assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan for the production of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vehicles. The automaker is also moving its battery production offices from Mexico to Michigan.
Read more here.
We’re very excited to officially announce new technical advisor, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. A vital addition to our team, UL will provide technical expertise to our city partners and stakeholders as they prepare for the arrival of electric vehicles.
For the full press release, click here.
Better Place is getting a boost of additional funding. The $350 Million, coming from HSBC Holdings and Lazard Asset Management, will be applied toward research and development, implementing charging and battery-swapping infrastructure in Israel and Denmark, and increasing the company’s presence in the United States.
Read More:
Better Place adds $350 million toward its electric car goals. [...]
Edmunds Inc., says it’s time to update the way we express our vehicle energy consumption. And we agree.
Goodbye Miles Per Gallon, Hello Monthly Fuel Cost is the title of a new article by the leading vehicle research guide. As is noted in the article, various new technologies coming on board will dramatically alter the way [...]
Electric vehicles could account for 15% of all new car sales in the world’s biggest cities. That’s what McKinsey and Co. is projecting in their new study. McKinsey’s research focuses on the advantages of EVs in urban settings, especially as complementary cars–second vehicles used for specific driving missions.
The paper adds that, while many consumers will [...]
Coulomb Technologies and Aker Wade Partner on Level III Networked Fast Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles (Green Car Congress)
Remember range anxiety, the fear that electric vehicles would leave drivers stranded on the road with a depleted battery? Well, everyone’s favorite EV critique just got a bit less relevant. Yesterday, Coulomb Technologies and Aker Wade announced [...]
Think, an Oslo-based electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to invest $43.5 Billion in an assembly plant in Elkhart, Indiana. The car is said to have a 100 mile range on a single charge and a top speed around 70 mpg. Lighter and smaller than some of its counterparts, the ‘Think City’ comes will come [...]
All Londoners Will be Within a Mile of a Charging Station by 2015
The City of London has announced an audacious plan to have 25,000 charging points throughout the city–essentially, a charging station within a mile of every citizen. These charge points will be found in public, residential and commercial zones.
London’s goal to take the [...]
The National Research Council has released a new report, which claims that electric vehicles will fail to reach widespread adoption. The report has caused a bit of controversy with multiple groups, who have claimed that the report uses flawed research.
For additional information, see CalCar’s Felix Kramer response. The Electrification Coalition also issued a response [...]
A new article on msnbc.com covers the costs of the plug-in electric vehicles. Referring to a new report from the National Research Council, the article suggests a long wait (2028) before plug-ins become financially advantageous. The article cites the familiar argument that batteries remain to costly, creating a hefty premium for the cars. What is [...]
In October 2009, Edison Electric Institute (EEI)–the association of U.S. share-holder owned utilities–pledged to push forward the transition to vehicle electrification. EEI’s member utilities have committed to developing greater electric transmission capacity, adopting smart-grid technologies, and building up infrastructure. Utility fleets will also begin to transition to electric vehicles.
The pledge focuses on the following:
Infrastructure: Utilities [...]
Last month, our team travelled to Portland, Oregon to attend EV Roadmap: Preparing Oregon for the Introduction of Electric Vehicles. The conference, which brought together the area’s leaders of vehicle electrification, left us quite impressed. Portland is wasting little time in preparing for the plug-in.
For more information on the city’s efforts, check out our recent [...]
The recent issue of the McKinsey Quarterly featured an interesting article, A New Segmentation for Electric Vehicles. The piece references a recent McKinsey and Company study, which found that automakers could benefit from designing and marketing vehicles around specific purposes. Assuming that the battery remains an expensive consideration, the study looked at the most optimal [...]
Mitsubishi has teamed up with Japan Delivery System Corp. to create a system for integrating charging stations into large apartment complexes. The technology aims to create additional opportunities for urban charging, other than those found in workplace or retail locations. According to IBM VP of Electricity and Utilities, Alan Schurr, 80 percent of drivers park [...]
The Electrification Coalition has released its roadmap to 75% electric VMT by 2040. An aggressive goal, but a great, in-depth primer on the EV market. They also held press release with an informative roundtable discussion moderated by Thomas Friedman.
PGR partner city has announced the launch of its official plug-in roll out. They have already installed 15 charging stations and have converted plug-ins ready.
Get the details here.
Plug In America has released a great a new tool that tracks all of the available and soon-to-be-available plug-in electric vehicles.
Check it out!
PG&E has released a comprehensive manual concerning all of the details in EV installation, codes, and rate structure issues and solutions.
Read more here.
Autoblogreen wrote the following quick blog on EV license plates in Toronto, a PGR city, on 11/5/09.
Want to emblazon your ride with Ontario’s new “environmentally friendly vehicles” license plate? There are two hurdles you’ll have to jump. First, wait until next year when the plate actually becomes available on July 1. Second, you’ll need to [...]
CNET, among others, has covered the total cost of ownership calculator:
Calculator runs cost numbers for plug-in vehicles
Automakers this week are showing off all manner of fuel-efficient concept cars at the Frankfurt auto show in Germany. But, in general, the majority of people are reluctant to pay a big premium for the last green auto technology.
Think [...]
From Green Car Congress on 9/8/09.
Pike Survey: 48% of US Consumers Interested in Purchasing a PHEV40
8 September 2009
Expressed interest in PHEV40 purchases. Click to enlarge.
According to a new survey from Pike Research, 48% of prospective US consumers would be “extremely” or “very” interested in purchasing a PHEV with a 40-mile range on a single charge [...]
(FROM CNN) It’ll take higher gas prices, or a big subsidy from GM, for the new plug-in Volt to be cheaper to drive than the Toyota. But that doesn’t mean it won’t find buyers.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The Volt may get 230 miles per gallon, and GM says it will cost only 40 cents to [...]
Posted by the Wall Street Journal on August 6
Charging Infrastructure in Short Supply
The Department of Energy is awarding billions of dollars to companies developing next-generation batteries that can power cars. But one crucial element is in short supply: stations where electric vehicles can recharge.
Though the Energy Department is spending $2.4 billion on developing technology for [...]
Six cities are on their way to becoming plug-in ready. Could yours be next?
In Boulder, Colo., the Rocky Mountain Institute has set up a project to help cities recognize and do the long-term work they need to do to prepare for electric cars.
The University of California, Berkeley, Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology released a new study examining the market size for electric cars with switchable batteries as well as the economic and environmental benefits of mass-market adoption. The study shows rapid adoption for electric vehicles, quantifies how the electrification of the U.S. transportation system will decrease America’s [...]
To learn more about the SAE’s progress with regard to J1711 (Emissions and Fuel Economy Testing), J1772 (Conductive charging), J2464 (Battery Pack and Capacitor Pack Safety), J2836 (Vehicle-to-Charger Communication), J2894 (Charging Power Quality) standards, CLICK HERE.
Project Get Ready blogs about the need to support accelerated plug-in adoption in the near term to reach mass adoption in the long term.
The City of Vancouver has released a series of ‘quick start’ recommendations. Project Get Ready is highlighted as an action item to enable zero-emission mobility.
Rocky Mountain Institut today announced the addition of Denver, Colorado to Project Get Ready.
By joining Indianapolis, IN, Raleigh, NC, and Portland, OR, Denver will become a pioneer in the adoption of efficient vehicles.
When asked about Project Get Ready, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said, “Denver has a long history of developing innovative programs to address growing [...]
Dr. Lyle Dennis wants New York City to be one of Project Get Ready’s next partner cities. Jim Motavalli blogs about Dr. Dennis’ efforts. Click here to learn more.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cory Lowe, 970-927-7345 o., 970-376-2911 c.
Rocky Mountain Institute’s Project Get Ready prepares the nation for the electric vehicle transition with 20 pioneering cities.
Ready, Set, GO! RMI’s Mobility and Vehicle Efficiency Team (MOVE) to collaborate with cities and technical experts to create a prioritized menu of strategies that will encourage adoption of plug-in [...]
Listen to the Audio of Project Get Ready’s Official Launch Press Release:
Press Release
http://move.rmi.org/files/smartgarage/ProjectGetReady_PressCall.wav
Project Get Ready’s Laura Schewel blogs on GM Fastlane about community readiness for plug ins. Click here to learn more.
BNET: EV Manufacturers are Plugging Into Available Federal Money
To read this article click here.
