Nissan's gamble on electric cars revs up

[Ed Barrow]

Source: The Tennessean

Nissan today will begin investing even more money in Tennessee as part of an ambitious project to build electric cars — a risky move in a nation where consumers have failed to embrace them.

But as the Japanese automaker starts construction on a $1 billion lithium-ion battery plant at its Smyrna manufacturing complex, Chairman and Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn signals that he is committed to the project. Nissan and its European partner, Renault, have pledged more than $5 billion for a worldwide rollout.

Risky or not, the investment is being heartily welcomed by Tennessee, which has lost 10,000 manufacturing jobs in the past year.

It's a gamble that analysts say might succeed if gasoline prices rise to record levels and remain there, but it could prove disastrous to Nissan's future.


Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100526/BUSINESS01/5260384/Nissan+s+gamble+on+electric+cars+revs+up

[wtmusic]

1. Maybe consumers have "failed to embrace them" because

they aren't yet available? :silly:

[madrchsod]

2. all depends on how many people can afford them

i`m betting not enough to turn a profit for years

[wtmusic]

3. They anticipate being profitable within 3 years

In CA the list price is $21,500, including the charger and rebates, and the 2011 model year is already sold out (at least in terms of those who have put down a refundable deposit).

Very affordable.

[madrchsod]

5. that is a great list price....

[defendandprotect]

8. Sure is!!

[itsrobert]

4. What?

"a risky move in a nation where consumers have failed to embrace them."

What country has embrace them? And what car would that be?

[mikelgb]

6. I reserved a leaf. All the other stories on it have been positive.

If the pre-orders turn over into sales for the large part the launch is looking pretty good.

[wtmusic]

11. The question mark is the actual range

and I'm betting it's going to be more like 70 miles than 100.

I've test driven it, and you won't be sorry. :thumbsup:

[defendandprotect]

7. Gas prices can only go up . . . we're at peak oil ---

But beyond that we've known for half a century at least that we can no longer

burn fossil fuels!

We needed electric cars on the road 40 years ago!!

Damage to the planet over that time may not be repairable!!

[Greyhound]

9. "a nation where consumers have failed to embrace them"?

Nothing like reich-wing BS to "balance" the "news".

The Tennessean aside, the industry itself is desperately trying to play catch-up, so much so that Toyota has/is partnered with Tesla and re-opening the NoCal plant they had with GM to build the engines for their new entry.

[sybster1000]

10. I live in Nashvegas..

I had heard this from some people moving here to work. I love the idea. I will buy one. Watch "Who Killed the Electric Car", a good documentary about corruption in the auto industry. Good for jobs here, probably not so good for our already polluted air.:eyes:

[laurel46]

12. We paid for technology in the MIC and should open up

the secrets of these horrible death corporations and use the technology for greater good. How many trillions have gone into this PHYSICS intensive industry that could answer our energy needs. I have no doubt that the technology would be invaluable. Please spread the word about this source of energy alternatives and that the military is already tooled and trained, it's their specialty, energy that moves mass. Imagine the students, publicly assisted through college, put to use for society rather than a few wealthy warmongers. It is galling to realize that the public subsidizes corporate america's employees and receives nothing back, especially when corporations keep intellectual property of their employees for their own profits.

[IDemo]

13. We've also "failed to embrace" hovercars, time machines, and teleportation