Charging into the future
With an initial asking price of around $100,000, the Tango, Tesla and other EVs still carry a hefty premium. But when consumers factor in what they won't be spending on gasoline, it doesn't seem so pricey anymore. And there are other savings: no tune-ups or oil changes, and no transmission to repair either.Brake pads may not need to be replaced before, say, 100,000 miles, because electric cars can rely on what is called regenerative braking. By using the electric motor to slow the vehicle, it actually generates electricity that in turn recharges the batteries, meaning stop-and-go traffic can actually extend the range 10 percent to 15 percent. With electricity usage costing one to four cents a mile, what's not to like here?
Is there a market?
Lingering skepticism about electric cars mirrors what hybrids faced. Critics pooh-poohed hybrids as too complicated because they integrated two different power systems and said there was little consumer interest. But the success Toyota and Honda have found with hybrid cars has made people rethink the electric car. Toyota, which once showed little faith in plug-in hybrids (an electric with hybrid backup), has made a U-turn and is now heading in that direction, as is Ford. Both Nissan and Mitsubishi will be launching electric models by 2010.In the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car?", actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr., says, "The electric car is not for everybody. It only meets the needs of 90 percent of the population."
Tesla founder Martin Eberhard seconded that thought in "Red Herring" magazine, saying, "Ten years from now, it'll be obvious that electric cars are the way to go. They are more efficient than any other car on the road. They are the ultimate multifuel technology because you can make electricity with whatever comes along."
Soaring gasoline prices, which topped $4 a gallon for the first time recently, could bring even more skeptics on board in the search for a cheaper alternative.
Comparison chart
|
| Tesla | Roadster | 130 | 250 | $90,000 |
| Wrightspeed | X1 | 112 | 160 | NA* |
| DaimlerChrysler | GEM | 25 | 30 | $7,000-$12,500 |
| Phoenix Motorcars | Light trucks | 95 | 120 | text |
| Commuter cars | Tango T100, T200, T600 | 150 | 80 | $18,700-$108,000 |
* Vehicles not currently in production, so no price has been quoted