A leading automaker was provided substantial financial assistance to an organization advocating the spread of the use of Electric Vehicles (EV).
Plug In America, a nonprofit organization received a $25,000 grant from Nissan North America, Inc. in support of its continuing efforts to speed the adoption of mass-market plug-in vehicles through education and outreach. (more…)
North America’s commercial fleet has its first all-electric light duty Sport Utility Vehicle.
Rapid Electric Vehicle (REV), in a press release, claimed that the advanced modular electric drive system is now being used to electrify today’s most popular short-haul fleet chassis, such as those found in Ford Escapes and F-150s, transforming them into advanced, highway-capable electric vehicles.
Burlington Hydro Inc. (BHI) is first to own the REV 300 ACX, a retrofitted Ford Escape producing zero tailpipe emissions and complete with smart grid and wireless telemetry capabilities. The ACX features a 160-kilometre range, a 144-kph top speed, with no compromise to performance or safety.
“The REV 300 ACX is not a hybrid nor is it a concept vehicle – it is a fully electric vehicle that will be in daily use in the Burlington Hydro and GridSmartCityTM fleet,” said Jay Giraud, REV’s CEO and president.
“This is a first for Canada, made possible by Burlington Hydro’s leadership and REV’s vehicle architecture designed by our electric vehicle veterans who have more than 30 years experience developing proprietary drive systems and electric energy storage technology.”
According to the press statement, the SUV is the focal point of BHI’s Pure Electric Vehicle Demonstration Project, also the first of its kind. The one-year study will be conducted by the University of Waterloo, with funding from Transport Canada. It is designed to increase understanding of the operating characteristics of an all-electric fleet vehicle for practical and working applications. Characteristics to be monitored include recharging patterns and requirements; optimizing the usage and recharging cycle in a real life setting; overall vehicle performance; drive-cycle; a battery state-of-health and electricity grid impacts.
It said that the vehicle’s motor and drive system technology was developed specifically for fleet applications by REV, an international private company that offers complete modular drive systems, transforming light-duty Ford trucks into advanced all-electric zero-emission vehicles.
“Ontario leads the world in the development of the emerging Smart Grid, and Burlington Hydro is committed to be the leading distribution utility in Smart Grid development within the province,” said Gerry Smallegange, president of Burlington Hydro.
“This electric fleet vehicle demonstration project with REV and our partners is proof of that leadership pledge.”
From February 2010 to February 2011, a Burlington study supervised by Roydon Fraser, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Michael Fowler, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo will be conducted.
They said that the findings would be useful to designers and prospective operators of electrified fleet vehicles.
REV and Burlington Hydro believe “hub and spoke” fleets, like the one operated by Burlington Hydro, potentially represent the best opportunity for initial widespread vehicle electrification. These fleets typically operate from a central point and deploy vehicles with predictable usage patterns. They are therefore ideal in respect to a centralized recharging infrastructure.
“There are thousands of fleets comprised of millions of vehicles across North America alone and they represent a significant proportion of vehicles on our roads, most of which are in daily use,” Mr. Giraud said. “They include utility, couriers, mail, municipal vehicles and numerous other kinds of fleets. Therefore, using electric vehicles will deliver major, immediate environmental benefits for the fleet market today and other OEM platforms in the future.”
Most of the electric vehicles rolling out of a manufacturer’s lot are made in China.
IDTechEx reported that sixty-six of the manufacturers of electric vehicles in the world are based in China, precisely why more than ninety percent of the world’s electric vehicles are made there.
The report said that the country has the largest potential market for electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, the country controls 95% of the World’s rare earth reserves used in hybrid car batteries, motors and other key components in today’s electric vehicles, according to IDTechEx.
A previous study in China suggests that electric vehicles stand out among other alternative automobiles concerning cost, energy consumption, and impact on the environment. The country has been struggling in recent years battling pollution brought about by rapid industrialization.
Unless the country adopts more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, the strain on the environment would be irreversible.
However, the country is the second largest automobile market next to the United States and is now becoming a world contender in this emerging market for alternative vehicles.
Meanwhile, the company forecasts that the electric vehicle industry would continue to exhibit strong growth for the next decade. This is apparent they say even if some sectors have yet to recover from the global financial meltdown experienced recently.
Because more and more high-end vehicles are adopting the technology, they believe that electric vehicle sales will jump from 29 million this year to 49 million in 2020.
Car builder Renault for instance, expects electric vehicles’ sale to reach 100,000 units two years from now.
“Electric vehicles are being launched this year into the marketplace and we can expect to see an acceleration of interest from both manufactures and the public.”
Motorcycles, military vehicles, buses and earthmovers are among them according to IDTechEx.
The hybrid’s presence will rise from about 50% to about 60% of the value market through the decade.
Electric vehicles’ global output will increase and take a higher percentage of all cars, light industrial, and commercial vehicles a decade from now.IDTechEx launched a new report on the whole subject called “Electric Vehicles 2010-2020,” based on ten years of research on the subject, intensive desk research, visits and interviews.
The trends on the technology and planned vehicles were clarified in 185 figures and 58 tables including the historical context. Winning and losing strategies were evaluated. Time lines were given of the events to come.
The power of oil!
In readiness for this eventual occurrence it seems as though some of the oil rich countries of the world are now looking to invest into the electric car market as a future hedge.
So what exactly is going on?
While the name Tesla Motors continues to grab many of the headlines in the electric car market it is a little-known fact that back in 2009 luxury car manufacturer Daimler acquired a 10% stake in the business. The two car companies have been working together on technology for the future and there are plans for the introduction of Daimler electric Smart cars in the short to medium term. However, it looks as though Tesla Motors has attracted the interest of Middle Eastern investors who are interested in becoming involved in the operation.
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