No such thing as zero emission generation unless we are talking about hydroelectric power generation which is limited in location and generation ability relative to consumption. Then there is the loss factor when transmitting electricity. The batteries are toxic, somewhat recyclable which degrading efficiency overtime. Generation of this extra capacity will necessitate more nuclear power plants which entails huge public funds to create with enormous cost overruns and storage costs of very toxic nuclear waste. Refineries are paid for by the private cooperation with some public subsidy with a shorter and less negative environmental impact. So why change? What have we gained? We are merely shifting who removed that dollar form our pockets.
Net effect is when system is up and running, people will pay enormous sums to charge their cars either at home or from a changing station in the field. The price of gas will seem a bargain in comparison. Second the only issue with combustion of petrol is the nitrous gasses which are emitted when staring form cold starts. The catalectic converter resolves this issue. CO2 feeds plat life so there is a net positive effect when driving. Further oil exists all around us since it is naturally produced by the earth in an endless supply. Why not work to make the engines more efficient, cars lighter and stronger and regulate gas so that higher octane is cheaper than lower or use different mixes of gases to achieve larger driving ranges?
If people want to use electric vehicles why not have governments regulate that they must be self regenerating? This would be much more advantageous. Alternative powered cars to gas cars would lead to a competitive environment where by gas prices are no longer inelastic.
Electric cars in this mode form Nissan is inefficient, costly, not environmentally friendly in comparison and thus not the answer to the supposed problem presented to us. In fact the may exasperate them.
Nissan said on Tuesday that its all-electric Leaf hatchback will be available for order next month for $33,000 before subsidies.
Customers can order the $32,780 vehicle beginning April 20 in the United States. Nissan says it will start shipping the Leaf in 20 U.S. metropolitan areas in the first half of next year, with nationwide availability coming later in the year.
Leases are available for $349 per month.
With consideration to the Leaf’s range of 100 miles, Nissan also suggests consumers purchase a home charging station, such as one made by Aerovironment, which can be installed for about $2,200.
U.S. government incentives are steep for the car: a federal tax credit of $7,500 is available for the car, with another for half the cost of a charging station, up to $2,000.
California, Georgia and Oregon also offer incentives at the state level — $5,000 for California and Georgia and $1,500 for Oregon.
At $25,000 — that’s $33,000 minus the rebates — Nissan has priced the Leaf low enough to be in the middle of the American market and high enough to ensure profitability.
That’s a good thing, because Nissan’s goal is to sell 50,000 Leafs globally in the first year. (The Leaf is slated for global rollout in 2012.)
The rub is how Nissan will handle warranties for the lithium-ion battery packs found in the vehicles, which degrade over time and could shave off tens of miles from its total range after 10 years of use.
It takes about eight hours to charge the Lead with a home 240-volt charger. Plugged into a standard U.S. 120-volt outlet, that increases to 16 to 18 hours.
Right now, the nation’s infrastructure can’t handle charging away from the home in any scaled capacity, but Nissan says it’s working with municipalities and utilities to offer public charging stations.
Related on SmartPlanet:
- Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn: 56,000 orders for Leaf zero-emissions car
- Car-friendly outlets pave way for electric driving
- Revving up the electric-car industry
- GE, Juice turn on EV car chargers next quarter
- Chrysler plots Fiat 500 electric vehicle for 2012
- Ford, Microsoft partner on Hohm electric car management software
- Houston makes bid to be electric car capital of the U.S.
- Report: Electric vehicles will be 20% global market by 2030
- Why electric cars aren’t the solution for (sub)urban America
