Despite all the difficult things happening today, there is still a lot to be excited about. There are 3 electric car manufacturers that stir my blood. All three make limited, expensive, niche products (they understand that new products don’t start out in the mainstream). All three have a maxed out waiting-lists of eager customers who already put their money where their mouth is (pre-orders).
1. Tesla Motors
Tesla Motors is named after Nikola Tesla, a man who’s inventions are considered by many to be on the same level as Thomas Edison’s. In particular, he pioneered the electric motor. It’s a fitting name for the bay area company producing all electric vehicles.
The Tesla Roadster is a two seat sports car built in Europe by Lotus. It’s imported without a drivetrain so that Tesla can install their all electric drivetrain powered by a state of the art lithium-ion battery pack. It does 0-60 in about 4 seconds and has a range of more than 200 miles per charge.
Despite its hefty $109,000 price tag, it has a long list of people who pre-ordered and are now waiting to receive their cars. Included on that list are a bunch of high-profile celebrities. Tesla delivered its 100th car last week and expects production to speed up significantly.
Tesla has the confidence and backing of powerful investors including Google’s co-founder Larry Page. They plan to let their current roadster pave the way for more affordable cars including an all electric 4-door sedan, the Tesla S.
2. Fisker Automotive
Fisker Automotive is a joint venture partnership between Fisker Coachbuild LLC and Quantum Technologies. The former provides their cars with delicious styling while the latter provides an advanced plug-in hybrid drive train.
The Fisker Karma is a large, 4-door, luxury, sport sedan priced in the $80,000 range. It will be assembled in Finland, but there have been talks of Fisker taking over one of GM’s plants in Detroit.
Like Tesla, Fisker Automotive has the confidence of a lot of investors—they have raised around $100 million. Their pre-order page currently says “Sold Out”. They expect to start delivering cars to that list of people in late 2009.
3. Aptera
Aptera is making a three-wheeled, giant sperm car that claims the lowest wind resistance of any production vehicle ever made. They claim the entire car has about the same amount of wind resistance as a normal car’s windshield wipers!
I can’t envision our roads full of these hideous Apteras, but I’m confident there is a large niche market that will eat this thing up. It’s only $30,000. I personally think they should start out with a higher price, but I have to remind myself that its main competition will be from Vespa scooters—what else do die hard environmentalists buy to make a statement like this?
The Aptera will easily be the most efficient production car in the world, and it’s supposedly not half-bad to live with. It has decent performance and comfortable amenities for two. It is available in either all electric or plug-in hybrid.
Automotive X Prize
Progressive Insurance is offering $10 million to the winner of the Automotive X Prize, a contest to see who can build the most viable 100+ mpg car. There are over 100 registered teams, some more promising than others. Here is a list of teams who have some progress to show.
I think Miles Electric Vehicles belongs on this list more than Fisker Automotive. Miles EV plans on building a pure electric highway capable sedan. The Fisker Karma is just a pimped up Chevy Volt, a serial hybrid that’s just marginally more exciting than a Prius turned plug-in via the Hymotion aftermarket upgrade.
[...] Benton Crane Benton Crane, December 12, 2008 Read the story at bentoncrane.net [...]
How do I get excited about a company who’s cars are worth more than I could make in 2 years income? My understanding is that a person should by a car that is 20%-30% of their yearly income. If that is the case, that Tesla is only available to those making 300,000 dollars or more a year.
Now, color me a bit jaded but that certainly restricts any market they have. Perhaps I missed the cars that will be easily afforded by the majority of Americans.
On another note, while I’d love to see the US return to it’s former glory of having some of the best cars available, but I think with the upper 5% of the company taking such high paychecks and with less and less skilled workers being retained at the companies, it’s no wonder the average American wants to buy foreign. Currently the only US vehicle I’d buy is a Harley Davidson (yeah, I know it’s not a car, but it’s American) and with their sticker price reaching nearly 20,000 dollars, it’s almost out of reach for me too. Of course, I suppose I could settle for the 10k or less models, and that’s not too bad..
@Morgan, remember when air conditioning was only available in cars for the rich? Now we wouldn’t consider buying a car without it.
These companies are exciting because they are glimpse of what will eventually become *standard.* Innovative products always start out as expensive luxury items: http://bentoncrane.net/2008/12/04/how-to-develop-the-hydrogen-infrastructure/
You are correct Ben, it’s probably some time before those new companies can compete. Of course, air conditioning was not a necessity until the 70’s, when muscle cars started to drop off. Trade a bigger engine for more power, or air conditioning. In fact, drop all the power requirements off the average powerplant in the average car and you are back to muscle car set ups..
Personally, I think the redneck air conditioning works fine.. (55 mph with the windows rolled down, pull enough air into the car to cool me down just fine.. It also increases my own gas mileage..)
I was really just mentioning that for the average car buyer, those new start up companies might just be too far off for them to be interested. If their prices could be lower, they’d get a quicker start and a quicker increase in growth, etc.
I’m really just pointing frustration at the current car manufacturers, who like Bill Gates, at one time were the new guys with fresh ideas, and now have become the old guy who is stagnant and has nothing but regurgitated ideas with no progression. Bill Gates has left Microsoft, it’s time for the Big 3 leadership to do the same. If they aren’t willing to put up their own money to save their own companies, they don’t deserve my money to help bail them out.. (now, I’m just ranting sorry…..)
[...] on the other hand; appear to be positioning themselves well. That’s why I listed them as the 3 American Car Companies to be Excited About. It will be fun to see how it plays [...]
So what’s the recycle plan for all of these batteries?
Not one company promoting plug-ins, or hybrids, explains the process in detail. At least not well enough to inform.
For all of those unfamiliar with the concept of environmental backlash, let me lay it out for you. In many cases the fix is worse then the initial problem.
Mobilizing thousands to drive electric and hybrid cars is one thing, but enabling hundreds of millions of people to these technologies poses some obvious scale issues (well beyond green marketing agendas). Recycling caustic materials, strains on existing systems that burn enviro-sensitive fuels (nuclear and fossil), and recycling issues are real. They create massive problems of their own.
What’s the plan? I am interested in hearing feedback. I am not suggesting that we do not pursue these channels to energy independence, but I am looking for some clarity.
I too am curious as to what will happen with the recycling of these batteries. If we really want to have a movement towards battery powered cars, then we need to consider the consequences of this type of action. As the poster above pointed out that it will actually be harder on our environment then easier.
Really though, what is going to be the plan? It seems that no one has really considered this.
@Maxrevz: I don’t know about those other two, but check Tesla’s website: they explain that they will take back old batteries (and old Teslas, for that matter) for recycling. As I understand it, they have a contract with a company that’s big in the business to recycle about 95% of the car (that obviously includes the batteries).
[...] car last month while most companies are still toying with prototypes. Last year I called Tesla an “American car company to be excited about” and I predicted that they would end up benefiting from the recession. I’m still excited about [...]
Excuse me but I came here thinking that you were writing about American cars…these, well, are not. I’m keeping my money for companies that support our economy, thanks.
@mimeauja,
Perhaps you could share what you had in mind? What does it take to be American?
Fisker does the job for me! Damn, great style!
Electric cars are deffo the way forward…way more eco friendly too. Do not like the look of the 3rd car though…not really my cup of tea.