Photo: The Phoenix Motorcars “SUT” electric pickup.
The New York Times has come up with an overview of what’s happening with the electric car market, including a list of many of the major companies trying to launch electric cars, and what those cars should be like.
The vehicles mentioned in the article include the Tesla Roadster, Zap-X, Chevrolet Volt, Think City, Phoenix S.U.T. (see our post about a test drive of the Phoenix electric pickup), Wrightspeed X1, Electrum Spyder, Venturi Fetish and the Tango. They do not mention Miles Automotive.
From the article:
Trading the internal combustion engine for batteries could bring well-publicized advantages: reducing pollution, raising mileage, promoting energy independence. E.V.’s and plug-in hybrids could deliver the gasoline equivalent of 100 miles a gallon or more. For consumers, that would in effect roll back the clock to buck-a-gallon gas. Car owners could save money in their sleep, recharging in the off hours when electricity is cheapest.
And compared with hydrogen fuel-cell cars, the infrastructure for electric cars already exists, requiring only more plugs in more places. Aside from home recharging, it would be easier to install pay-per-use outlets at curbsides and in parking lots than to spawn a network of hydrogen filling stations. Wal-Mart and McDonald’s might offer convenient electricity for customers or employees.
Sounds good? There is one problem. There is still not a single E.V. or plug-in hybrid available that can approach the driving range, interior room and performance of a typical gas-powered family sedan, at anywhere near the price that an average consumer would pay.
