Why You Will Be Driving an Electric Car Within 10 Years

Hybrid cars (with both gas and electric motors like the Toyota Prius) are like mermaids. When you want a fish you get a woman, and when you want a woman you get a fish," says Carlos Ghosn, chairman of Nissan-Renault. Goshn (pronounced goshin- he's of Lebanese decent) believes that pure electric cars are cheaper and better.

That's why, Nissan-Renault is working on several all electric sedans that should cost around $20,000.00 and travel 100 to 125 miles on a full charge. They will be available sometime in 2011, or 2012.

In my recent article about the Chevy Volt, I said that at the expected $40,000.0 price, double the cost of the Toyota Prius, it might be a market failure. I assumed that the high price was due to the cost of the battery. It turns out that the high cost of the Chevy Volt, electric plug in car, is due to GM's decision to put a small gas engine in the car, that will take over, when the electric battery is depleted. The Chevy Volt will be able to drive about 45 miles, without gas, on a fully charged battery. It can then go another 600 miles using the gas engine, when the battery is depleted.

Electric Cars Are For Sale Now, In America, And They Are Pollution Free

The Tesla Motors Roadster, a 0 emission, all electric sports car, has been for sale in America since, July 2008. The Tesla Roadster can travel an average 225 miles on a full charge. The Tesla Roadster has faster acceleration than a gas car, the Roadster goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, and it has a top speed of 125 mph. The $108,000.00 base price tag, might be an impediment, but if you want one there's a waiting list. The showroom's in Menlo Park California.

You will have to get an electrician to install the 220 volt charging system in your garage, but if you can afford the Tesla Roadster, that's nothing. The lithium ion battery is expected to last 5 yrs. - 100,000. miles. Tesla Motors estimates that charging the car, will cost about 2 cents a mile, because you will mostly be charging at night, during off peak hours.

Tesla Motors is a silicon valley startup. They have lower manufacturing costs than the big U.S auto companies. They subcontract most of their manufacturing overseas. The Tesla Roadster is assembled by Lotus Cars in England. The motor is made in Taiwan.

Tesla Motors was co- founded by Elon Musk, a dot com millionaire who co-founded Pay Pal, and then sold it to Ebay. It's easy to write off Tesla Motors as another silicon valley, pipe dream, founded by young guys with too much easy money to burn. Recent developments would make you think otherwise. Elon Musk, the largest investor, has recently deposed the head of the company and taken over. Elon Musk downsized the company, laid off some people, and is digging in for the recession. In a recent interview, Elon Musk insisted that he has never had a business failure and will not preside over one now.

Tesla Motors is not content to just pick off the high end of the electric car market. Tesla Motors business plan is to produce an electric sedan that will sell for around $60,000.00. After economies of scale are reached, Tesla Motors intends to sell a cheaper electric car for the masses. Due to the recession, the sedan is now delayed to 2012.

Tesla Motors could sell high priced electric sports cars for years, before challenging Detroit. I have never been an auto enthusiast, but the Tesla Roadster is one hot looking ride. It's possible, that if one or more of the big three go bankrupt, Tesla Motors could manufacture, in one of the idled plants. But, that's not the only threat to Detroit, from electric cars.

Can't Afford A New Electric Car? Pay Little Or Nothing Down, and Just Pay 6 cents a Mile For The Use Of One

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