When will car manufacturers stop pretending that they can't make all electric cars?

Question

I think GMC have bougth out a silly overpriced hybrid, please, we all know that oil is rubbish and getting more expensive we also know that electric have been made by top car manufacturers as prototypes.I know its about money but please it is really time to move on isn't it?

Answer 1

When customers stop pretending they don't want to buy them.

Answer 2

Plugin electric vehicles are available.  That is not the hurddle. Look at all these people who did it themselves. It isn't difficult. http://www.evalbum.com/

The problem is battery technology.

Almost everyone with home-made EV, used conventional lead-acid batteries. They would remove the trunk's spare tire and the entire trunk area and more would be lined with a bank of batteries. Most EVs run at more than 200Volts. The top speed is less than 50MPH and a round-trip on a full charge is not too impressive at less than 20 miles. But these people have great fun.

Like I said, the problem is battery technology. The most energy dense batteries are based on lithium-ion technology.  These are used in laptops, cell phones, and expensive power tools. Cars using this technology can go at super speeds, and can go over a hundred miles. Not bad. But that much battery power costs more than the rest of the car.

On August 2007, GM vice-president Robert Lutz announced that GM will produce an all electric Chevrolet Volt by 2010. Toyota, not to be outdone in publicity relations, promised to beat GM to the punch before GM does. Of course anyone can make a $50,000 EV. You just have to pay for the batteries.

Its not time to "move on". It is time to hop into one and move.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_hyb...

Answer 3

There are several affordable long-range high-speed EVs coming out in about a year.

Available in California in October 2008, the Aptera typ-1e will cost about $27,000 with a top speed of 95 mph and range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Soon thereafter Aptera will introduce the typ-1h, a plug-in hybrid version of the typ-1e with a 40-60 mile range on purely electrical energy, and a range of over 600 miles total when in electric/gas hybrid mode, for around $30,000.  On a 120 mile trip, the typ-1h will get 300 miles per gallon.  The shorter the trip, the higher the efficiency.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Available in 2009, the ZAP Alias will cost $30,000, have a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 100 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Soon thereafter the ZAP-X will be available at a cost of $60,000 with a top speed of 155 mph and a range of 350 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Available in 2009, the Miles Javlon will cost $30,000 with a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.milesev.com/

Phoenix Motorcars will start selling their SUT to individuals in 2009.  It will cost $45,000 and have a top speed of 100 mph with a range of 100+ miles per charge.

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/

Answer 4

There are several main reasons electric cars aren't manufactured.  The cost, which is quite large in comparison to any conventional car with an internal combustion or diesel engine.  The range is also a large factor, as most can't go further than 200 miles.  Consumers have selected vehicles with a range of 400 miles or more for decades.  There is also the recharging of the electric car, which takes at least several hours, and you obviously can't use the car during this time.

There are several companies that will sell you an electric car though.  Just be ready to fork over alot of cash.  See the source - the website links to almost all companines that sell electric, or nearly electric cars.

Answer 5

I honestly don't see much of an advantage of an electric car. It dosen't do anything for the environment. it still has to get its electricity from power plants, which burn coal, which is just as bad as a standard car burning gas.

Answer 6

It's not that they can't make them, it's just that no one will buy them at a sufficiently high enough price to make them profitable.

Answer 7

when the petrol giants stop intefering. What will they do with all the engime manufacturing plants and the foundries etc

Answer 8

Long overdue.  They need to make electrics and strong hybrids with the batteries now available, rather than holding out for the perfect battery before they come to market.

As for the overpriced hybrid -- it's an SUV.  They're all overpriced.

Answer 9

practical electric cars cost at least $30,000 if you want more range the price goes up.