Comments on: Chrysler, Mazda, Hyundai, and Nissan announce plug-ins — Honda stands alone against PHEVs

By: shop

shop — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:31:33 +0000

Yes, the batteries still need improvement, but that is hardly a reason not to aggressively pursue what is certain to be the car of the future. What is particularly ludicrous about Honda’s position is that they remain enthusiastic about hydrogen cars — indeed, they are probably the only major automakers still drinking the hydrogen-flavored Kool-Aid–

By: msn nickleri

msn nickleri — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:09:43 +0000

That’s probably not enough “nega” for you though

By: Hydrogen Motors

Hydrogen Motors — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:46:25 +0000

DWV looking for the best young scientists from the area of hydrogen and fuel cells
Also for the year 2008 the awards back to the DWV Innovation Award Hydrogen and Fuel Cell to young scientists. The now-established tradition has become an annual award goes to the best Diplom-/Masterarbeit from Germany or dissertation on the subject of energy or hydrogen fuel cells, together with all ancillary areas.

By: Earl Killian

Earl Killian — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:25:54 +0000

Robert, in case you didn’t see it, I posted on California’s attempt at negamiles: http://climateprogress.org/ 2008/ 09/ 10/ california-targets-sprawl-to-reduce-co2/

That’s probably not enough “nega” for you though.

By: Earl Killian

Earl Killian — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:11:13 +0000

Ronald wrote, “Practically betting the company on it.”

Even if the Volt succeeds, its volume will be tiny even by GM’s downsized standards for many years. I don’t see that as betting the company on a vehicle. I see it as GM’s attempt to leapfrog others in technology that can then be applied across its product line. Eventually it will make a difference to GM’s long-term place in the automotive world. But it won’t make or break the company in the next 8 years.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:53:41 +0000

Make a big difference if people stayed at home instead of driving all over the place. Negamiles?

By: Earl Killian

Earl Killian — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:12:37 +0000

A number of comments cited concern with powering plug-ins (PHEVs and EVs) with coal instead of gasoline. (1) The efficiency of EVs slightly exceeds the dirtiness of coal, so the a coal powered EV would generate less CO2 than a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) on wells-to-wheels basis. (2) Only a fraction of any country’s grid is coal (in 2006 it was 49% in the US and 69.7% in China). (3) Coal power plants usually run at constant output; other kinds of power plants are used to handle variations in load above the minimum usage. Therefore the only way that EV power will come from coal is if EVs raise minimum usage and new coal power plants are built in response. EPRI’s Comparing the Benefits and Impacts of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Options suggested that EVs in the US would be primarily charged off of marginal power coming from natural gas. (4) While the ICEV to EV comparison is fairly clear, even on coal power, the hybrid (HEV) to EV comparison does depend on the fraction of coal power on the grid (#2 above). I remember once calculating that in the US, only 5% of the population lived in states where HEVs would be better than EVs because of the CO2/kWh in their state.

By: Ronald

Ronald — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:32:17 +0000

I have read in other articles that toyota thinks that GM has reached to far with their Chevy Volt. Toyota claims that it’s to much to put into a production vehicle with large potential volumes. Toyota said GM needs more experience with the cars at lower volumes before they build as many as GM hopes. GM agreed that they are taking a big risk with the vehicle. Practically betting the company on it. If the Volt car gets out there and there has to be a large recall, with the other financial problems, that might be the company. There isn’t room for error.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:32:49 +0000

According to the calcars link you provided, Honda are working on pure EVs. It seems a bit unfair to beat them up about hydrogen without mentioning that they are doing pure EVs too.

Quote:
Honda sees PHEVs as having “unnecessary fuel engine and fuel tank; promises all-electrics “assuming we can come up with a really high-performing battery __that we are working on currently__.” Doubts PHEVs have environmental benefits.

Anyways – keep the posts coming – I enjoy the read.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:18:22 +0000

What an irrelevant debate.

Road transport in the US represents a small piece of one country’s contribution to AGW. If there is a transition to EV’s (of any flavour) it will be market-driven not climate-change driven, hence is unlikely to result in a net reduction in emissions.

Joe, what is this obsession with EVs? Why not obsess about something which really matters, such as banning all coal fired power stations worldwide? Now that really would make a difference.

[JR: Cutting GHGs in electricity is easy whenever we get serious about climate. Not so with transport. EVs and PHEVs here and abroad are a core climate solution. And I diss coal fired plants an awful lot on this blog.]