Interest For EVs Fading
It’s “another broadside for the EV industry,” says Automotive News [sub]. The alleged artillery barrage was sent by the Center for Automotive Research. It cancelled its 2012 Business of Plugging In conference. The reason? Lack of interest.
Says Brett Smith, CAR’s co-director of conferences:
“Some could look at this as the industry is dead and no one cares about this anymore.”
Not completely true, says Smith. The newness of plug-in vehicles is wearing off, and with the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and the Nissan Leaf EV on the market, “we don’t need the message of how they will fit in. They’ve got to live or die on their own.”
According to AN, “car companies are seeking to distance themselves” from electric vehicles. CAR also has lost interest. The Business of Plugging In conference won’t return for 2013 either, Smith told AN, claiming “that CAR knew from the beginning it would have a finite life span.”
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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For a while, I was planing on a 12 Camry SE. But, when I went to pull the trigger, I selected a 12 Camry LE Hybrid. Before taxes and plates, I paid 24,500. This thing is delivering 40 mpg. And, it drives like a normal car. This is a GAME CHANGER. FYI ... I tried to purchase a Pruis plug in, because I am getting worried about a gas shortage. If you keep up on the news, you will see gas lines in the UK. They will be here. But, on the east coast, it is very very difficult to get your hands on one of these, so I opted for the Camry Hybrid. With the 17 gallon gas tank, it goes nearly 670 miles on a tank of gas. FYI ... I actually gave the 13 Malibu a look before the Camry purchase. From the outside, it looked great. But, the inside had a cramped feeling. I could not stand the way the dash curved. But, the deal killer was the mpg. I don't understand how the 13 Malibu Eco Hybrid can cost the same as the Camry Hybrid LE, but deliver so much less mileage. I am now keeping my Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Acura TL gas tanks full. When the gas shortage hits, I will have three tanks for the Cam Hybrid. I would have preferred the Prius plug in, but I was not willing to pay massively over the sticker to get one. If I was GM, Ford, or Chrysler, I would be scared. A gas shortage will put Toyota back in the drivers seat. Prius. Prius V. Prius C. Cam Hybrid. Prius Plug In. This is the same story as before. Detroit talks gas mileage. Toyota delivers gas mileage.
People bought AZTECS too. Seems I saw a lot of them in Seattle at one time.
On wall street, that report is viewed as political. Wall Streeters think the Obama administration ( which runs the energy department ) cooked these numbers for political purposes. Bottom line is millions of vehicles are comming on line in the developing world. There will be a shortage, and it will just show up.
I've never been a big fan of EVs b/c they've always been a shoot the moon strategy. Hybrids and plug-ins are a stop gap solution that will allow us to develop the electrical or alternative fuel technology we need.