An Inconvenient Truth & Who Killed the Electric Car - Beyond Tiki

C christiki295 Member LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is Joined: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 3837	C christiki295 Posted posted on Tue, Jul 18, 2006 11:46 PM On 2006-07-18 19:13, TikiTikiTavi wrote: Check out the last sentence in the third paragraph... "The cost to replace the battery is more than the value of the vehicle." Important issue. However, the short answer is that Toyota currently uses the 2nd generation battery in its Hybrids, so the cost has decreased with increased production. The website offers this information: he NiMH batteries used in later-version EV1s are expensive—but not as expensive, in the long run, as an internal combustion engine. With no moving parts to maintain or repair, the battery lasted the life of the car (especially since the car’s life was abruptly terminated before its time). GM never mass-produced the NiMH batteries, which would have reduced their cost. Toyota currently uses NiMH batteries in the highly profitable Prius. A new generation of electric vehicles is being developed using more powerful Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries (which yield five times as much energy as lead-acid batteries) Powered with its Li-ion battery technology, the tzero boasts a range of 250 miles. Currently, a Li-ion battery pack that provides 100 mile range for an electric vehicle runs more than $10,000, or $100 per mile of range. However, much of that cost comes from battery assembly and the very low production volume. As adoption of the Li-ion technology for plug-in hybrids and electric cars increases, the cost is predicted to decrease by at least half. For example, the Li-ion battery pack that is used in the EnergyCS plug-in hybrid prototype costs over $1000 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but large scale manufacturing by a major automaker for Li-ion batteries in the near future is anticipated to be bring the cost to well under $500/kWh.Li-ion batteries are also expected to be competitive with today's Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries for advanced automotive applications within a few years. http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/electric.html

On 2006-07-18 19:13, TikiTikiTavi wrote:

Check out the last sentence in the third paragraph... "The cost to replace the battery is more than the value of the vehicle."

Important issue. However, the short answer is that Toyota currently uses the 2nd generation battery in its Hybrids, so the cost has decreased with increased production.

The website offers this information:

he NiMH batteries used in later-version EV1s are expensive—but not as expensive, in the long run, as an internal combustion engine. With no moving parts to maintain or repair, the battery lasted the life of the car (especially since the car’s life was abruptly terminated before its time).

GM never mass-produced the NiMH batteries, which would have reduced their cost. Toyota currently uses NiMH batteries in the highly profitable Prius.

A new generation of electric vehicles is being developed using more powerful Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries (which yield five times as much energy as lead-acid batteries) Powered with its Li-ion battery technology, the tzero boasts a range of 250 miles. Currently, a Li-ion battery pack that provides 100 mile range for an electric vehicle runs more than $10,000, or $100 per mile of range.

However, much of that cost comes from battery assembly and the very low production volume. As adoption of the Li-ion technology for plug-in hybrids and electric cars increases, the cost is predicted to decrease by at least half. For example, the Li-ion battery pack that is used in the EnergyCS plug-in hybrid prototype costs over $1000 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but large scale manufacturing by a major automaker for Li-ion batteries in the near future is anticipated to be bring the cost to well under $500/kWh.Li-ion batteries are also expected to be competitive with today's Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries for advanced automotive applications within a few years.

http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/electric.html

Post #243784 by christiki295 on Tue, Jul 18, 2006 11:46 PM