My report is organized into two parts. First, the cars. Since producing great electric cars is the final goal, lets start with the end in mind. I'll tell you about my driving impressions from the test drives and some of the info I learned. Second, I will cover technologies that captured my attention. Finally, I will wrap it up.
As a Volt owner and someone who has driven the Nissan Leaf quite a few times, I wanted to try something new. I went out to test drive the Ford Focus EV (right). When you sit in the car, it feels great. The interior Ford designed has a luxury and functional feel. The Ford rep who went on the drive with me said the Focus EV comes with the top-of-the-line interior. On the drive I tested the acceleration and braking smoothness (a hallmark of electric cars) and felt this car is on par with the Volt in my garage and the Leafs I've driven. The car lists for $39,200, which is similar to the most expensive Leaf. The EPA-rated range is 76 miles with the 23 kWh battery, which is very similar to the Leaf too. One difference is the Focus EV has a faster (6.6 kW) charger, so you can charge the whole battery in 4 hours with a 220V, Level 2 charger. That is a superb charging time. My Volt has a much smaller 16 kWh battery and it takes that long to charge from empty to full. This car is a real gem. I wish Ford was being more aggressive with the rollout, but then again EVs aren't flying off the dealers lots. This car was impressive to drive and my estimation is it will be a very competitive offering in the all-electric vehicle segment. It will be very competitive with the Leaf. In fact, if I were to purchase an all-electric car, I would choose this one. I prefer the styling to the Leaf. I really like the front grill with its Aston Martin influence, plus the interior is nicer than the Leaf.
On to the Coda (right) all-electric vehicle. With the EPA-rated, best-in-class, 88 miles per charge I was really interested. The car is comfortable, with a "basic" interior feel. One issue the car has is the navigation/EV display is too low. When I went for a spin, the Coda did not feel as refined as the Focus EV, Leaf, and Volt do. The braking was more herky-jerky, however the acceleration feel was similar. I would say the Coda felt more like I was driving a EV-converted Toyota Corolla. It just doesn't have the same quality feel of the established car OEMs. Coda does come with the 6.6 kW charger like the Focus EV, so it juices up quickly. If you need more range than the Leaf and Focus EV give you, and you are willing to drive a less-refined car, Coda may be the answer for you. The Coda will cost you $37,250, which is a deal for the range. Maybe if you upgrade to the leather interior option it would give a better feel. Coda does offer the longest warranty on the battery -- 10 years.
The Archimoto EV(right) is a different kind of car entirely. For me, I'd rather have a traditional car. I didn't take it for a spin. But you have to see the picture.
I drove Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles for the first time at EVS26 -- the Toyota, Honda, and Mercedes. They do have advantages over the all-electric vehicles. The most significant is with hydrogen you can fuel up in 3-5 minutes. Also, the cars were larger. The Toyota is an old-version Highlander (right) and the Mercedes (below) is a small SUV as well. The Honda FCX Clarity (below) is a large car. They give you 200+ miles in range too. However, there are show-stopper disadvantages. Namely, you can't buy and use them yet. Honda and Mercedes have Southern-California-only leases for now. And the leases cost $600 and $849 respectively. With the leases you get a lot: free insurance, hydrogen and the car. But it is really only a test fleet. All the Fuel Cell cars are coming out in 2015. By then there will be lots of EV charging stations and EVs will have even more range. I don't think there will be that many Hydrogen stations by 2015. So you can tell, I'm an EV man over Fuel Cells.
At EVS26, Toyota launched the RAV4 EV that is based on the standard RAV4, but with Tesla batteries and drivetrain. It costs nearly $50,000 and has a 100 mile range (the EPA will probably say something like 75). Tesla stock tanked after the announcement because Toyota said they were only going to build 2,600. It really feels like a toe-in-the-water move by Toyota so they have something on hand in case all-electric cars take off. Honda also had a Fit EV that is only available for lease in California. With the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate in California, and possibly other states, it feels like car manufactures are going to have lots of limited-run EVs to test the waters.
When you walked in the show, you were hit with the Qualcomm Halo (right) display. This is a wireless charging offering. Wireless charging was a big trend at this show with 5+ vendors showing their wireless charging products, including large companies like Delphi and Qualcomm plus startups like Plugless Power. All claimed great efficiency. Plugless Power told me the system, with an add-on to the EV, costs a bit more than a fancy 220V Level 2 charging station in your house.
Lotus engineering came with an interesting offering. They made a purpose-built generator (right) for EREVs. Quite a nice, small package. Basically it is a sideways-mounted 3 cylinder. I think this is a really interesting option for car OEMs to extend the range of their EVs without taking up much space or using much gasoline. I wonder what a little engine like this could do in my Volt instead of the full 1.4 liter 4 cylinder.
Another intriguing technology was from Protean Electric. The car pictured to the left has the in-wheel electric motor on both rear wheels. Each in-wheel motor has 102 HP and weighs only 62 lbs. That is an impressive 204 HP combined. The unit has an integrated disc brake. So for the room it takes to put the disc brakes on a car, an OEM can offer electric drive. This really gives companies a lot of options for simple modification of their ICE cars into hybrid cars.
We've all heard (or rather not heard) the quietness of EVs. Many worry about pedestrians not hearing the cars. At the Ride and Drive at the show, there were many pedestrians wandering about looking at the cars, and many people test driving the quite EVs. This caused lots of issues. Whenever I went for a drive, I had to be super careful because no one heard the car. In the picture to the right, the little box at the bottom is a Delphi unit that can make an EV generate ICE sounds. I guess you can program in what you like from a Model T to a Maserati.
GM showed off their little futuristic Pod car (right). It is called the General Motors EN-V Technology that they did with Segway. To really understand what they are thinking, you've got to watch the 4-minute video located here.
THE WRAP UP
I left EVS26 with a positive impression of where EVs are today. Just think about it, from last year to this year we now have many options. The Volt, the Focus EV, the Leaf, the MiEV, Via Trucks & Vans, Tesla Model S, Fisker, and the list goes on. EVs are going to grow significantly in sales with all these compelling products.
However, as Bob Lutz said on the panel below, battery technology must take a leap ahead and become more affordable for the mass market. The mass market needs a 300-mile-range EV that costs about the same as an ICE car. We know there are many investing in creating a better battery. Startups like Envia claim to be developing such batteries. Panasonic and LG and A123 keep making strides. I just hope there is a battery breakthrough in 5 years instead of longer. For now, we can rest assured that EVs are rolling out and will make a big difference on the road ahead.
To see a video montage on EVS26, click here.
THE CARS
As a Volt owner and someone who has driven the Nissan Leaf quite a few times, I wanted to try something new. I went out to test drive the Ford Focus EV (right). When you sit in the car, it feels great. The interior Ford designed has a luxury and functional feel. The Ford rep who went on the drive with me said the Focus EV comes with the top-of-the-line interior. On the drive I tested the acceleration and braking smoothness (a hallmark of electric cars) and felt this car is on par with the Volt in my garage and the Leafs I've driven. The car lists for $39,200, which is similar to the most expensive Leaf. The EPA-rated range is 76 miles with the 23 kWh battery, which is very similar to the Leaf too. One difference is the Focus EV has a faster (6.6 kW) charger, so you can charge the whole battery in 4 hours with a 220V, Level 2 charger. That is a superb charging time. My Volt has a much smaller 16 kWh battery and it takes that long to charge from empty to full. This car is a real gem. I wish Ford was being more aggressive with the rollout, but then again EVs aren't flying off the dealers lots. This car was impressive to drive and my estimation is it will be a very competitive offering in the all-electric vehicle segment. It will be very competitive with the Leaf. In fact, if I were to purchase an all-electric car, I would choose this one. I prefer the styling to the Leaf. I really like the front grill with its Aston Martin influence, plus the interior is nicer than the Leaf.
On to the Coda (right) all-electric vehicle. With the EPA-rated, best-in-class, 88 miles per charge I was really interested. The car is comfortable, with a "basic" interior feel. One issue the car has is the navigation/EV display is too low. When I went for a spin, the Coda did not feel as refined as the Focus EV, Leaf, and Volt do. The braking was more herky-jerky, however the acceleration feel was similar. I would say the Coda felt more like I was driving a EV-converted Toyota Corolla. It just doesn't have the same quality feel of the established car OEMs. Coda does come with the 6.6 kW charger like the Focus EV, so it juices up quickly. If you need more range than the Leaf and Focus EV give you, and you are willing to drive a less-refined car, Coda may be the answer for you. The Coda will cost you $37,250, which is a deal for the range. Maybe if you upgrade to the leather interior option it would give a better feel. Coda does offer the longest warranty on the battery -- 10 years.
The Archimoto EV(right) is a different kind of car entirely. For me, I'd rather have a traditional car. I didn't take it for a spin. But you have to see the picture.
The Prius Plug-in (left) was the best-selling plug-in EV in the US in April (its first month of shipping). It really is just a Prius with a bigger Lithium-ion battery and a plug. I can understand why Toyota went with this strategy. It gives them an incremental offering that leverages their industry-sales-leading hybrid architecture. The result is a less expensive car, $32,00, but little range. The Plug-in Prius delivers only an 11 mile EV range, with many caveats. If you "punch it" in EV mode, the gasoline engine goes on. If you turn on the heating/air conditioning, the gasoline engine can go on too. I would get very frustrated trying to keep this car in EV mode. Plus I wouldn't like only 11 miles of range. The price differential is nullified by the EV rebate you get on a Volt, Leaf or Focus EV. But you can't argue with success. This is an easy-to-deal-with hybrid car that has no range anxiety. I myself purchased a Volt because I couldn't live with the limitation of an all-electric vehicle range. I really like the generator that keeps you rolling. This Prius is a cheaper alternative.
I drove Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles for the first time at EVS26 -- the Toyota, Honda, and Mercedes. They do have advantages over the all-electric vehicles. The most significant is with hydrogen you can fuel up in 3-5 minutes. Also, the cars were larger. The Toyota is an old-version Highlander (right) and the Mercedes (below) is a small SUV as well. The Honda FCX Clarity (below) is a large car. They give you 200+ miles in range too. However, there are show-stopper disadvantages. Namely, you can't buy and use them yet. Honda and Mercedes have Southern-California-only leases for now. And the leases cost $600 and $849 respectively. With the leases you get a lot: free insurance, hydrogen and the car. But it is really only a test fleet. All the Fuel Cell cars are coming out in 2015. By then there will be lots of EV charging stations and EVs will have even more range. I don't think there will be that many Hydrogen stations by 2015. So you can tell, I'm an EV man over Fuel Cells.
The Via Motors EREV truck (left) was a pleasant surprise. This is the startup where Bob Lutz (of Volt fame) joined the board of directors. Via takes a standard GM Truck, Van, or Suburban and makes it an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). It goes 40 miles, then a gasoline generator kicks in. The truck is like a Volt on steroids. The electric motor is equivalent to 402 HP, so this vehicle has plenty of power. Via uses the standard V6 engine that comes with the truck for the generator, so it has plenty of power to charge the batteries. Via even adds the ability to plug in electric equipment. Via is focused on fleet sales for the next couple years, then plans to go retail. The truck is quite expensive at a whopping $79,000. Via claims fleets will see payback in a few years and that prices will go down with volume. They also want to put in a more economical generator for better mileage and to save money. Driving the Via Truck had all the benefits of electricity in a large vehicle. I really think Via has something here. We all know Americans like their big rigs.
A complete deja vu was an actual EV1 (below). AeroVironment gave everyone a treat by bringing the car to their booth. No test drives. In fact, they told me the car isn't operable. But it sure was a treat to see the star of "Who Killed the Electric Car" in the flesh. The car really was ahead of its time in technology and styling.
At EVS26, Toyota launched the RAV4 EV that is based on the standard RAV4, but with Tesla batteries and drivetrain. It costs nearly $50,000 and has a 100 mile range (the EPA will probably say something like 75). Tesla stock tanked after the announcement because Toyota said they were only going to build 2,600. It really feels like a toe-in-the-water move by Toyota so they have something on hand in case all-electric cars take off. Honda also had a Fit EV that is only available for lease in California. With the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate in California, and possibly other states, it feels like car manufactures are going to have lots of limited-run EVs to test the waters.
THE TECHNOLOGIES
There was a show floor full of the latest EV technologies. It is amazing to see such an industry behind the electric vehicle. You really get the feeling everyone is ready for this market to take off. In fact, they have been waiting years...this is the 26th EVS. On the positive side, this was the first year EVS had the comprehensive "Ride and Drive." With so many models, we could be on the cusp of real EV volume growth.
When you walked in the show, you were hit with the Qualcomm Halo (right) display. This is a wireless charging offering. Wireless charging was a big trend at this show with 5+ vendors showing their wireless charging products, including large companies like Delphi and Qualcomm plus startups like Plugless Power. All claimed great efficiency. Plugless Power told me the system, with an add-on to the EV, costs a bit more than a fancy 220V Level 2 charging station in your house.
Lotus engineering came with an interesting offering. They made a purpose-built generator (right) for EREVs. Quite a nice, small package. Basically it is a sideways-mounted 3 cylinder. I think this is a really interesting option for car OEMs to extend the range of their EVs without taking up much space or using much gasoline. I wonder what a little engine like this could do in my Volt instead of the full 1.4 liter 4 cylinder.
Another intriguing technology was from Protean Electric. The car pictured to the left has the in-wheel electric motor on both rear wheels. Each in-wheel motor has 102 HP and weighs only 62 lbs. That is an impressive 204 HP combined. The unit has an integrated disc brake. So for the room it takes to put the disc brakes on a car, an OEM can offer electric drive. This really gives companies a lot of options for simple modification of their ICE cars into hybrid cars.
We've all heard (or rather not heard) the quietness of EVs. Many worry about pedestrians not hearing the cars. At the Ride and Drive at the show, there were many pedestrians wandering about looking at the cars, and many people test driving the quite EVs. This caused lots of issues. Whenever I went for a drive, I had to be super careful because no one heard the car. In the picture to the right, the little box at the bottom is a Delphi unit that can make an EV generate ICE sounds. I guess you can program in what you like from a Model T to a Maserati.
GM showed off their little futuristic Pod car (right). It is called the General Motors EN-V Technology that they did with Segway. To really understand what they are thinking, you've got to watch the 4-minute video located here.I left EVS26 with a positive impression of where EVs are today. Just think about it, from last year to this year we now have many options. The Volt, the Focus EV, the Leaf, the MiEV, Via Trucks & Vans, Tesla Model S, Fisker, and the list goes on. EVs are going to grow significantly in sales with all these compelling products.
However, as Bob Lutz said on the panel below, battery technology must take a leap ahead and become more affordable for the mass market. The mass market needs a 300-mile-range EV that costs about the same as an ICE car. We know there are many investing in creating a better battery. Startups like Envia claim to be developing such batteries. Panasonic and LG and A123 keep making strides. I just hope there is a battery breakthrough in 5 years instead of longer. For now, we can rest assured that EVs are rolling out and will make a big difference on the road ahead.
To see a video montage on EVS26, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment