Common plug and charging protocols set

Eight of the world’s leading automakers would be meeting at the EVS26 event in Los Angeles to work together in finding a single-port DC fast charging mechanism meant to make the system easier and faster for electric vehicle charging of the future.

These automakers include Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen and are moving to support a standardized single port fast charging system known as DC-fast charging with a Combined Charging System in both the United States and the European Union.

This system utilizes a one-phase AC charging together with a fast three phase AC charging set up. At home, it would be using DC charging and an ultra-fast DC charging system for public chargers. This would allow EV owners to charge at most existing charging stations regardless of the power source.

The design came after review, analysis and collaboration from a number of current charging systems together with the preferences of US and European customers. This charging system would be developed for all vehicle markets in an effort to create a uniform standard for all the participating automaker vehicle platforms. This was also chosen by the Society of International Engineers due to its harmony and fast charging capacity. Furthermore, the International Society of Automotive Engineers picked the Combined Charging System as the standard to exponentially extend type-one AC charging platforms.

On the other side of the Pond, the European Association of Vehicle Manufacturers also chose the system as an AC/DC charging interface to be implemented for all new electric vehicle types starting from 2017.

It is expected that the harmonized fast-charging system would help accelerate the development of EV infrastructures for the market as well as able to reduce the overall costs for owners. This would hit the market later this year and the first vehicles that would use this technology would become available starting 2013.

Standardization is key

The recent events that occurred with electric vehicle have caused much concern for the industry. The recent battery fire with the Chevrolet Volt during testing and the Fisker Karma recall has put safety and storage of lithium ion batteries on the front page news.

All throughout history, when new technology becomes more available, only then would standards to guide its production and use are created and carried out. The path that must be created include the adoption of EV builders the common standards to govern all of its creations.

For this, the American National Standards Institute issued its recommended standardization road map. This is a122 page document designed to pinpoint where gaps exist between manufacturer’s ability and market implementation. This report offers what standards agency SAE International terms as “voluntary consensus” guidelines instead of governmental regulation with the force of law.

According to James McCabe, Senior Director of Standards Facilitation at the institute said, “The United States needs a coordinated approach. We saw it happening in other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia. There are no specific industry-wide standards that address the storage of lithium-ion batteries. This is a key safety concern, because they are likely to be stored in all sorts of situations, from repair facilities to swapping stations.”

The authors of the road map have identified battery storage and care as one of the major area requiring near-term standards. One of the bigger aspects is storage risk and must be evaluated based on several factors, such as state of charge, mechanical wholeness and battery age.”

This coming Monday, Massachusetts would become the second state in the Union to issue specialized special licensed plates for plug in electric cars. The first one was Hawaii and it is aimed to provide risk and caution for first responders in reporting accidents involving these kinds of vehicles.

Another new technology that the road map touched on was wireless charging. This kind of technology dispenses with the need for plugs and plug-ins, which is now near fruition into commercial use. As a carrot, the US Department of Energy has offered a $12 million grant for companies that can put up production-feasible wireless charging systems built into a fleet of market ready and grid connected electric vehicles.

The wireless standards are underway from SAE International. The first guidelines would be released from the institute would be due out in 2012. Another firm, Underwriters Laboratories is also developing safety standards for wireless. With interest in wireless charging at an al time high, the standards would help companies retain viability, competitiveness and efficiency.

More time for electric car value returns

As many more individuals purchase hybrid or electric cars, they have become savvy with the technology. In the face of ever increasing gas pump prices, many have started to compare their mileage with the costs.

With the comparison, many have become satisfied with their initial investments. This trend is ever increasing as many more Americans are looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle to help in easing with the difficulties because of increasing fuel process. With the many options and opportunities available in the market today, this has become a reality because hybrid and electric platforms offer “eco” or “super fuel economy” packages, even with standard internal combustion engine vehicle.

According to the latest data compiled by the New York Times and TrueCar, the option of choosing vehicles that offer better mileage through the latest technologies does not mean money is saved. Only two hybrid models, namely the Toyota Prius and the Lincoln MKZ and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, a diesel-powered vehicle has provided new technologies that can allow an average driver nearly ten years to save money. This is a better alternative compared to current internal combustion engine cars.

At the current pump prices, some as high as US$4 and may even reach up to US$5 a gallon. In order to achieve its pay return, gas would have to reach US$8 per gallon and it would take six years to achieve the investment returns.

Many analysts identify the added cost of the new technology as a factor in limiting the ability of alternative fuel cars to reach a greater mass audience. With hybrid sales increasing by more than sixty percent this year, they still account for less than three percent of total auto sales. Plug in cars on the other hand, has a smaller fraction of the market. Proof of this was the temporary halt in production by General Motors of its flagship Chevrolet Volt.

According to the same figures, the Prius and Lincoln MKZ would produce overall savings within two years compared to similar cars with the internal combustion engines from the same brand. Other hybrids though, despite claims and ratings between eight and twelve miles to the gallon compared to other models. The hybrids though cost more and need to be driven for five years before returns are found. These figures assume that the distance traveled was US$15,000 miles and the gas price would be just under $4.00 per gallon.

The figures, when adjusted to US$5 per gallon, would have differing results as to payback periods. The hybrid Ford Fusion, compared to the conventional Fusion, would just be six and a half years, and eight and a half years at US$4 per gallon prices. At US$6 per gallon, the hybrid Toyota Camry, the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima would create returns within just four years.

New business model for electric car companies

Because of the slowdown in the construction of the Aptera and the closure of Bright Automotive, one niche electric vehicle seems to take up the vacuum created in the market. This is the Wheego, the smallest car and company in the EV market in Europe. The car and company is a model for other start-ups in the automotive industry.

The Wheego is based out of Atlanta GA and uses the chassis of the LiFe, a two passenger vehicle imported from China. The drive train and battery array though is installed in California. Like the Coda, the Wheego has recently hit the California electric vehicle market.

This vehicle uses a thirty-kilowatt hour lithium ion battery array plugged into a sixty horsepower electric motor. The top speed is at 65 mph and is priced at the average of $32,995, with option for air conditioning.

The company that builds the Wheego is headed by Mike McQuary, who dabbled in music and the Internet before focusing his efforts on the Wheego and the electric car market. Under his stewardship, a total of thirty-six cars have been rolled out, with thirty-four of them already sold.

McQuary said, “Our dealers, totaling twenty seven from Tokyo to Arundel, Maine, are clamoring for cars. Three quarters of our dealers have never had a car, but they’re being very patient with our strategy.”

That strategy involves building cars when it gets the funds, either through venture capitalist means or selling out its inventory. Currently though, the market for these kinds of models are very limited, the company is planning to build a crossover vehicle from three Chinese car builders.

The company is also playing it smart in this economy and sluggish market. This company has exactly 7.5 employees and has stopped going after the cash pot being offered by the Department of Energy for Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing. Their initial proposal was initially rebuffed by the Department, saying that it needs to be geared more for job development.

For Wheego, they said, “Our ambition was never to create a full-on assembly plan for building electric cars, but it really doesn’t create a lot of jobs. So the DOE came back to us and asked us if we wanted to rewrite the plan to make it more aggressive in terms of job creation. But we opted instead to keep our integrity – we didn’t want to be disingenuous on our application. And, frankly, we’ve always had just enough funding to get to the next state. Not getting the loan has made us a tougher company and very smart at how we deploy capital.”

He added, “I see us as a company that creeps out instead of leaping out. Companies like Tesla and Fisker, which got the loans, have been better able to raise follow-up capital. But at this point, I’m hoping all the companies succeed, because a rising tide will lift up all our boats. I’m rooting for Coda to get its car on the road and I’m rooting for Tesla’s Model S, too.”

Signs of the times for the electric vehicle

Even if gas pump prices topped $4 per gallon, there are projected dark days ahead for electric vehicles. The continued slow sales of plug-in electric vehicles have slumped many companies, leading to many to reassess their goals and projections for this burgeoning market.

Market giants such as General Motors have halted the building of the Volt for five (5) weeks commencing on March 19. The sales have been disappointing to sale the least, but it is still fares better compared to the Nissan Leaf.

On the other hand, Toyota has reported that the sales of its hybrid Prius outpaced its plug-in electric vehicles ten to one. Despite continuous price increases for gasoline, the hybrid Prius still continues to lord over the market. The Prius hybrid is not a plug in, as it utilizes both gas and battery power to propel the vehicle.

According to Brett Smith, Co-Director of Manufacturing at the Center for Automotive Research, “All along you saw an enormous amount of hype for electric plug in vehicles. The public’s perception of the time frame for widespread adoption was way out of whack with the reality.”

There are projected troubled times ahead for the electric vehicle industry, as shown by the following circumstances:

• According to Consumer Reports, a Fisker Karma all-electric that was being run on a test track died during its lap. The cost of the vehicle was $107,850 and the company is reeling from the recent loss of funding from the Department of Energy. The company also announced that it has appointed Tom LaSorda as its new CEO, a position he formerly held with the Chrysler Group.
• In a recent statement, A123 Systems announced that it lost $257.8 million in 2011 because of the withdrawal of the orders from Fisker. On a similar note, Ener1, a builder of lithium ion batteries, declared bankruptcy last January.
• Bright Automotive also announced closure and bankruptcy after high hopes in selling hybrid plug-in delivery vans to the market out of its Anderson, In. facility.

Many industry experts still keep the faith, saying that plug in electrics just need time in order to catch on with consumers and the buying public. In time also, the technology would improve allowing for increased range and lowering the cost of the car. There is also the roadblock of decades of internal combustion engine sociology and psyche that needs to be modified to accommodate the technological requirements.

Another factor is the continued high price of the technology but this can all change with the continued skyrocketing prices of fuel would be the key factor in changing the landscape, despite the projected doldrums ahead.

Survey says on choosing electric or hybrid cars

According to the latest research, the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf and the Toyota Prius have obtained the most attention from future car owners. This was found in the 2012 Avoider Study undertaken by J.D. Power and Associates which focuses on the reason why individuals avoid purchasing a specific car model.

According to the survey, gas mileage was the most important aspect of the vehicle that is taken into consideration in purchases nowadays. In previous surveys, exterior styling, price and reliability were the top reasons. This feature alone makes the Volt, the Leaf and the Prius tops on any list, as they are the most fuel efficient vehicles in the market today.

The Nissan Leaf is a five door electric hatchback. The official range is 117 kilometers on a full charge and has a fuel economy rating of 99 miles per gallon. The Chevrolet Volt is plug in hybrid electric vehicle built by General Motors. In this set-up, the small motor engine serves as a generator to recharge the vehicle’s battery pack while in operation. The Toyota Prius on the other hand is one of the first commercially available hybrid vehicles in the world and remains one of the most commercially successful ones in the world.

For the year 2011, the Prius sold about 140,000 units but the Volt and the Leaf were not major sellers during the year. The main reason for such slow sales includes the disasters in Japan, supply constraints as well as technological issues of these vehicles. Aside from these reasons, the cost of the Chevy Volt makes the vehicle not amongst the top choices for new car owners. The Leaf and Prius were passed over because their exterior styling was unattractive. Other reasons include the small cargo space for the Volt and the Leaf while the overall performance of the Prius turned many possible buyers off.

On the other hand, the top reason for choosing the Volt is its impact on an individual’s image. For the Leaf, many purchasers said that the low maintenance cost is its prime attraction while the reliability is the Prius’ main enticement. The survey also found that very few individuals avoid US built cars while nearly 14% avoid imported vehicles. This can be readily attributed to the current worldwide economic recession.

One of the most significant results is the fact that 43% of prospective purchasers have indicated that an entire brand can be avoided because of its perceived quality and reliability even if the said vehicle was given positive reviews by car reviews and experts.

The Electric Car Revolution

The electric car revolution is facing another uphill climb and is in great danger of stalling. The first major sign is the decision by General Motors to suspend the production of its flagship Volt plug-in. Second sign is the bricking issues with Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadsters.

The major reason for the work stoppage for the Volt is the slow sales of the units currently available in the market. As for the Roadster and Leaf, warranty cancellation issues as well as the public relations issues associated with the technology and its expensive replacement costs.

All these have affected the market, as the buzz has cooled down as seen in the lesser promotion of the electric car in this year’s Geneva Auto Show. Many observers say that reality is setting in since the current vehicle platforms still have more questions that answers in their availability.

One such observer is Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s Head of Marketing. Despite these issues, many other auto executives firmly believe that electric vehicles would remain a major force in the market. While some believe, others are bullish and foremost among them is Carlos Ghosn, current head of Renault-Nissan.

At the opening of the Geneva Car Show, there is more focus on traditional internal combustion engines with emphasis on emissions and fuel efficiency. Last year, a show visitor would leave with the impression that plug in electric cars would be the norm by the next year.

Many still are keeping the faith, amongst them is Dieter Zetsche, the Chief Executive Officer of Daimer, the German car and truck maker. He and many others believe that in the coming decade carmakers would still continue to find fuel sources that is not fossil or carbon based. He said, “There is no alternative. We believe it is our responsibility to push this technology forward and make it marketable.”

For its part, Daimler is offering an electric version of its two-seat Smart car costing about 16,000 euros or US$21,000. The company is continuously developing hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Zetsche notes the many issues with emission-free vehicles, such as mass-market base, lack of infrastructure, limited range and the continued high cost of the technology.

The market players still high hopes with the market. The Opel Ampera, the European version of the Chevy Volt has been adjudged as the European Car of the Year. For Nissan, it is expecting to double its sales to 50,000 units in the United States. Renault is introducing to the market its very own battery powered compact car, the Renault Zoe. BMW is set to introduce the battery-powered iSeries by the end of the year.

Just a small hiccup for the full electric car revolution.

New breakthroughs in battery development

Envia Systems announced that it has made a major breakthrough on lithium ion cell technology. The California-based battery maker claims that its research would result in increased energy density at the same time reduces costs of these battery packs.

The company is funded by the US Department of Energy and GM Ventures, the venture capital arm of General Motors together with other individual investors. According to Atul Kapadia, Chairman and CEO of the company, “We will be able to make smaller automotive packs that are also less heavy and much cheaper. The cost of cells will be less than half – perhaps 45 percent – of cells today and the energy density will be almost three times greater than conventional automotive cells.”

He added, “What we have are not demonstrations, not experiments but actual products. We could be in automotive production in a year and a half.”

The company was founded in 2007 and had licensed technology from the Argonne National Laboratory. It was awarded $4 million in funds by the ARPA-E program of the Department of Energy. This program funds advanced energy research, as one of its founding principles is to develop lithium-ion batteries with the highest energy density in the world.

Central to the advancement of the company’s technology is the proprietary cathode, anode and electrolyte materials as it uses manganese for the cathode. One of its major investors, GM Ventures, during the announcement of its investment with the company, said that the company’s design and materials would be able to store more energy per unit of mass than any other current cathode materials. Since the cathode was a “key driver” in the total cost of a battery pack, the more energy the cathode is able to deliver, the lower the overall cost of the battery because of the lower number of cells needed in the array.

Envia claims that its battery packs would be able to deliver energy measuring at 400 watt hours per kilogram at the cost of $150 per kilowatt hour. Comparatively, Tesla rates its energy density battery for the Roadster at 121 watt hours per kilogram. The measurement of the watt per hours was measured during testing at the Naval Service Warfare Center’s Crane Evaluation System.

In response, the Center for Automotive Research through its chairman emeritus David Cole said, “If it’s true, it’s a huge breakthrough, because the main problem for battery cars has been cost. Right now, the lithium-ion battery is about three times as expensive as it should be for reasonable commercialization. That kind of cost target is the Holy Grail and once it’s achieved it’s game on.”

Road tax for electric car users

New legislative measures are being proposed in Arizona and elsewhere that would seek to impose additional taxes from owners of electric cars.

This is a reaction to the growing population of electric as well as alternative fuel cars that start to fill up the nation’s highways. For its supporters, since they also use the same highway system, they should also be charged for the costs to build and maintain the network of roads and bridges. The status quo now is that gasoline fueled cars pay to defray the costs of maintaining highways and roads.

One of the first proposed legislations was filed by Arizona Representative Steve Farley with House Bill No. 2257. The bill is to impose a vehicle mileage tax on electric vehicles pegged at $.01 per driven mile. This proposed measure gives the Arizona Highway Department the authority to collect the tax and create the implementing rules and regulations for its operation. There is also an automatic clause that increases the tax that uses the Gross Domestic Product of the country as its yardstick.

Other states have followed suit and have already existing laws to that effect. There have been previous incidents where biodiesel activists have been arrested for their failure to pay road taxes. They fall within the purview of the tax measure because biodiesel made at home falls within the category of home charged electric vehicles and this group is taxed because they fall outside the current system of cars that are chargeable for road taxes. Another measure has been proposed in Washington State that imposes a flat $100 fee per year per electric car over and above existing car taxes, in lieu of the mileage measurement per year requirement.

In order to pass, this measure would need a two thirds majority of the Arizona State Legislature.

The problem though is that there are only a few electric cars compared to the overall car population in the world today. The infrastructure cost is still minimal at best allowing for electric cars to still be around today. Putting up a tax system may only serve to be another setback to the full advent of the electric cars on the road. Until the electric cars rule the road, taxing them may not be a good idea in the long run.

GM Clones on parade

Last January 10, Via Motors unveiled its E-REV plug-in hybrid Silverado pick up truck, Suburban and Express Van lines. This company retrofits cars and trucks through the installation of a plug-in hybrid drive train called the E-REV. This system provides extended range travel using electric power with a supposed 100 miles per gallon in distance travel available on a single charge.

The Via Silverado provided voluminous torque produced from its electric motor. Because of its close ties to General Motors, these vehicles from Via Motors are called clones, because the company purchases glider versions of known GM models and then install their hybrid power train. The glider versions are shells of known GM models without the standard internal combustion engine.

The close relationship with the Detroit carmaker is due in part to Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman of GM. He is also currently on the board of directors of Via Motors. Another pivotal officer is Alan Perriton who is currently the company’s chief operating officer. He used to be one of the top honchos in the Asia Pacific operations of General Motors.

According to the company, the Silverado hybrid is able to provide twenty one miles to the gallon in combined hybrid-electric use. While initially Lutz called climate change as the biggest scam in history, his current goal of production of E-REVs is not merely “saving the planet from global warming.”

Despite the company’s clear lineage, the company has been slow getting off the ground. Firstly, GM has its very own hybrid Silverado, making for direct competition. Secondly, the company’s E-REV system is quite new and has not been fully tested and extended. Despite these issues, the E-REV Silverado has a 402 horsepower electric motor coupled with a 4.3 liter V6 gas engine. The engine acts as both generator and independent motor. The main propulsion comes from the 24 kilowatt per hour liquid cooled lithium ion battery array. The gas engine never drives the wheels, clearly putting the electric motor as its main engine with the gas engine as a mere secondary charging power source. It is said that in order to fully charge this vehicle, it only takes four hours.

The company is focusing on leasing or selling their units to government fleets then to private companies by 2013. The sticker price of the E-REV Silverado is $79,000 and on a lease it costs $700 per month. According to the company’s Director of Commercial Fleet Programs, Jeff Esfeld, the offer for the unit for inclusive lease deals would even add the cost of the electricity as a further benefit.

Being GM clones, they look like their Detroit counterparts. What is under the hood though, the lack of exhaust pipes and plug ports where pump should go can make this design a true electric vehicle for all to see and enjoy.