Is China the key to electric cars? Good riddance Marty?
Can Tesla survive in America?So, if you follow electric cars, then you know that Martin Eberhard is out as the CEO of Tesla Motors, and that has some, such as Edmund's Inside Line, speculating that the launch of the Tesla Roadster is not going to go smooth, maybe ever.
How ironic!?
After the debut of the Chevy Volt, Eberhard was very quick to mock GM's electric efforts, and their technology. Yet, some are claiming that the $100,000 electric Roadster produced by Tesla might never hit the road, let alone a more economical electric sedan that could possibly compete with the Volt. While that would be a shame, and I hope it doesn't happen, it is becoming quite obvious that the road to electric vehicle success isn't as simple as Eberhard seemed to have believed.
Back in January, when I criticized Eberhard's comments, I was ridiculed by some for believing in GM's efforts and questioning Tesla's long term capabilities. Finish: Is China the key to electric cars? Good riddance Marty?
Labels: chevy volt hybrid, electric cars, tesla
posted by Dahcredyns @ 1:44 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Complete Story
So, if you follow electric cars, then you know that Martin Eberhard is out as the CEO of Tesla Motors, and that has some, such as Edmund's Inside Line, speculating that the launch of the Tesla Roadster is not going to go smooth, maybe ever.
How ironic!?
After the debut of the Chevy Volt, Eberhard was very quick to mock GM's electric efforts, and their technology. Yet, some are claiming that the $100,000 electric Roadster produced by Tesla might never hit the road, let alone a more economical electric sedan that could possibly compete with the Volt. While that would be a shame, and I hope it doesn't happen, it is becoming quite obvious that the road to electric vehicle success isn't as simple as Eberhard seemed to have believed.
Back in January, when I criticized Eberhard's comments, I was ridiculed by some for believing in GM's efforts and questioning Tesla's long term capabilities. In the last few days I've felt quite vindicated. More important, I believed then, and now, that America desperately needs GM to be successful in America by selling very fuel efficient American-made vehicles. Consequently, in my opinion, GM deserves the benefit of the doubt regarding the Volt.
Might GM F it up? Certainly, but until then, they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Case in point, China
In China, Miles Rubin, founder of Miles Automotive Group, is hoping to produce a $30,000 electric vehicle to be sold in America. The Miles XS 500 has a top speed of 80 miles per hour and a range of 120 miles at 60 miles per hour, but the real jaw-dropper is its price tag and its launch date of 2009.
"Both the low cost and the high range can be attributed to China, where low labor costs keep the price down and state-sponsored research into battery technology yielded what Rubin said was an advanced lithium ion power pack produced by Lishen Battery," writes CNNMoney.
So, will Tesla move to China? Will GM? Will all automaking? Is ending foreign oil dependency at the expense of the entire U.S. auto manufacturing sector a worthy trade off?
Will a Chinese automaker be so much more compassionate to the desires of American consumers? Toy scandel anyone?
Tesla Roadsters, Chevy Volts - built in America - could fight foreign oil dependency, invest in American manufacturing, and provide high tech jobs that Americans desperately need. Such vehicles might be America's last best hope for U.S. automotive success.
Thus, why would anyone whom cares about such issues want to see either the Roadster or the Volt fail?
I don't, and Eberhard should not have either.
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