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Is the electrification of the automobile just around
the corner? Not unless consumers are willing to
significantly change their expectations regarding
automobiles and, equally as important, be willing to
pay more for automobiles, according to ex-GM CEO,
Robert Stempel, whom set forth the EV1 program at GM
before being removed from his post.
Regarding the EV1 Stempel told the Wall
Street Journal, "The business side of the
case wasn't there. The EV1 was too expensive…We were
way off the cost target."
While consumer expectations might be opening to range
shortcomings, charging, and other issues slowing
electric drive adoption - mostly thanks to high gas
prices - battery costs are still high today according
to Stempel, whom has been with Energy Conversion
Devices since his dismissal at GM. Stempel likes the
NiMH battery, but believes it is simply not robust
enough for either plug-in
hybrid vehicles or pure electrics, and while he
thinks lithium could solve this issue, he suggests
that commodity costs could keep lithium batteries for
automobiles expensive for many more years.
Labels: electric cars
