One Small Step For Electric Cars
Battery technology must improve before electrics can compete with gas-guzzlers
In October, a Tesla Roadster competing in Australia’s Global Green Challenge broke the world record by traveling 313 miles on a single charge. But while the news may temporarily relieve some cases of “range anxiety,” it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Even though the Obama Administration has already bet $11 billion on battery-electric vehicles, and promised to have a million electric cars on the road by 2015, substantial obstacles must be overcome before electric cars can compete with much cheaper gasoline-powered cars for market share. First and foremost, the cost of batteries energetic enough to power a car for long distances must be reduced.
Yes, the Roadster’s performance in Australia is reason to hope, but the record-breaking car only averaged 35 miles per hour. And let’s not forget that it currently retails at a hefty $109,000 — much of which is the cost of its 1/2-ton lithium-ion battery. By comparison, the Chevrolet Volt, set to be released in November 2010 and priced around $40,000 after tax credits (one component of Obama’s bet), can only go about 40 miles on a charge before its gas engine has to kick in.
Scientists, many funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), are exploring different options for improving the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, which are currently the most popular type of battery used in electric cars. This was the topic of a November seminar held at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Other researchers are investigating more energy-dense and potentially cheaper alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Researchers in Japan have developed a nickel-lithium battery, which they claim could one day hold enough power for a range of up to 700 miles. And an Arizona-based start-up called Fluidic Energy just received a $5.13 million grant from the DOE to develop a “metal-air” battery that they claim has up to 11 times the energy density of the top lithium-ion technologies at less than one-third the cost.
Still, these technologies remain years from practical application, and until batteries get more efficient—and thus more affordable—gas guzzlers will continue to rule the roadways, whether we like it or not.
Will the cost of the battery decrease with economies of scale? I.e. is the cost of the half-ton battery simply not something that could be practical in all cars? Also, how important is simple capacity? If charges were quick and cheap, would people mind stopping at electrical charging stations twice as often?
Finally, as hybrids have shown, it’s not simply an either/or question between gas and electric. I hear they are doing some wonderful things with hydrogen these days as well.
Ben, December 8, 2009 at 8:53 pmA random ‘Smog Check’ inspection & repair ’secret shopper’ audit, ethanol cap and elimination of dual fuel CAFE credit can cut California car impact over 50% in 2010.(Prevent Over 2000 tons per day of sulfur, PM, HC, O3, NOx, CO & CO2.) Improved performance of AB32 at reduced cost. (support H.R. 1207)
Charlie Peters, December 9, 2009 at 12:13 pmCalifornia Smog Check providers have been questioned about a Sierra Research ‘Forty Nine Percent Refail Report’ Reporting a possible 50% fraud rate, Smog Check providers fail millions of cars but Tom Cackette officer of CARB and Tom Austin (Sierra Research) use the information to justify public policy but refuse to release the tax dollar funded report.
http://www.imreview.ca.gov/correspondence/governor_49percent_report_8.25.09.pdf
Charlie Peters, December 9, 2009 at 12:14 pmSchwarzenegger’s nominee to fight global warming has a checkered past
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=353445
Charlie Peters, December 9, 2009 at 12:19 pmCalifornia Air Resources board chair owns stocks in 13 energy firms
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/18/MNGBRKMAO.DTL
Charlie Peters, December 9, 2009 at 12:21 pmBattery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) will dominate the market within the decade. I’ve been driving one for 7 years now and charging it from a small 3 kW PV system. There has been virtually no need for maintenance, and certainly no oil changes or tune ups. And since I generate most of my energy from sunlight, my electric bill averages about $100 per year for both the house and the car.
Charging is very easy. I pull into the garage and it takes about 3 seconds of my time to plug in, then it charges while I sleep on cheap off-peak energy. There are public chargers all over SoCal where I live, so when I go out for dinner or a movie, my car is charging, when I get coffee or a haircut, my car is charging. BTW, all that public charging is free!
All of the world’s carmakers are racing to get plug-in cars to market. The leaders for now are Nissan (Leaf) and GM )Chevy Volt). Charging stations by the thousands will be installed starting next spring (know any electricians in need of work?) all over the west coast. By 2012, all markets will be served by the automakers.
The BEVs will mostly have a 24-30kWh battery pack which gives a range of 100-150 miles. That’s enough to cover over 95% of daily driving. For longer distances, a PHEV is in order. The Chevy Volt has an all-electric range of 40 miles, but has a small internal combustion engine fixed to a generator that provides power to go an additional 300 miles on a tank of gas.
For more info on this breaking technology, and the fight to get them to market, see http://www.pluginamerica.org.
Paul Scott, December 9, 2009 at 9:39 pmYeah I agree about the batteries. Lithium seems to have made some big strides in the last year so I think 200 miles per charge(all electric) is not far in the future.
German Car Parts, January 5, 2010 at 3:48 pmClean Air Performance Professionals
Friday, January 29, 2010
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )
C/o Lisa
RE: Sierra Research Report SR 2007-04-01
Dear Mr. Governor
California Air Resources Board (CARB) and The Department of Consumer Affairs/ Bureau of Automotive Repair DCA/BAR have contracted with Sierra Research for a Report of Smog Check performance.
Sierra has informed me the report was final in March 2009 and released to CARB.
CARB, BAR, IMRC, and the California Legislature are using the Report for public policy but refusing to release the publicly funded Report.
Mr. Governor, I’m confused, can you refer me to someone who might help?
Cc to interested parties
From: Charlie Peters
Clean Air Performance Professionals
cappcharlie@earthlink.net
(510) 537-1796 – fax: (510) 537-9675
CAPP contact: Charlie Peters (510) 537-1796 cappcharlie@earthlink.net
Charlie Peters, January 30, 2010 at 12:51 am# Charlie Peters Says:
January 31st, 2010 at 11:44 am
Clean Air Performance Professionals
Friday, January 29, 2010
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )
C/o Lisa
RE: Sierra Research Report SR 2007-04-01
Dear Mr. Governor
California Air Resources Board (CARB) and The Department of Consumer Affairs/ Bureau of Automotive Repair DCA/BAR have contracted with Sierra Research for a Report of Smog Check performance.
Sierra has informed me the report was final in March 2009 and released to CARB.
CARB, BAR, IMRC, and the California Legislature are using the Report for public policy but refusing to release the publicly funded Report.
Mr. Governor, I’m confused, can you refer me to someone who might help?
Cc to interested parties
From: Charlie Peters
Clean Air Performance Professionals
cappcharlie@earthlink.net
(510) 537-1796 – fax: (510) 537-9675
Charlie Peters, February 5, 2010 at 1:30 pmMoney available to clean air and improve smog program
Charlie Peters, The Daily Review / MY WORD, August 14, 2002
The smog check issue has been under continuous legislative debate since 1993. AB 2637 by Dennis Cardoza is an opportunity to improve program performance and public support.
We at the Clean Air Performance Professionals propose “reasonably available control measures” to improve California Smog Check performance. Consider a Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) quality audit (secret shopper) to improve smog check performance.
We propose using the CAP cars and funds to provide random quality audit of smog check providers. Audits that result in the car’s not being in compliance should be handled similarly to the former Consumer Repair and Education Workforce program. The Bureau of Automotive Repair program did not fine the licensees nor did it involve coercion. But when the question of “what would you like to do?” was asked, the shop took care of business and usually elected to fix the car.
The average smog check failure repair is about $ 150.00 statewide. The motorist pays about the same at the average repair station and the CAP station The average CAP repair is about $350.00. Many cars are not brought into compliance.
To level the smog check failure repair playing field so more cars meet standards after repair, the whole smog check market should be subject to a CAP (secret shopper) random audit.
Around 1985, BAR started a “missing part” audit. In 1991 that program was stopped,
The difference was a 300 percent change in result in finding the missing part.
When BAR ran fewer than on audit per station per year, the result was a change in behavior that started at more than an 80 percent rate, but moved to less than 20 percent rate of noncompliance.
The difference was a 300 percent change in result in finding the missing part. If the CAP audit was addressing the issue of repair compliance rather than just finding a missing part, the results may be the same or a 300 percent improvement in compliance.
With the missing part program, a follow-up audit with increasing demands lift the stations no options but to find the missing part or be removed from the game.
There are huge inconsistencies from smog check station to station and with BAR representatives. For BAR to decide a car is not in compliance, rules of smog check must be clarified. Money is available for the CAP program. It can be used for contracted scrap and repairs, or some of the funds can be used to evaluate and support improved
Performance of licensed small business. The cars and funds are the same, but the results may be credit for 2,000 tons per day in pollution prevention credit in the State Implementation Plan, rather than our current credit of fewer than 100 tons per day.
The governor and state Legislature would get the credit for improved performance. Performance improvements would be accomplished at a cost of less than $500.00 per ton. And program illusions would be reduced in 1 year.
Charlie Peters is president of Clean Air Performance Professionals. 510.537.1796
(retyped from original)
Charlie Peters, March 18, 2010 at 10:48 pm