Paul: Who killed my electric car?

[NoAmericanTaliban]

I drive an electric car. Not a hybrid -- a gasoline-powered car that gets some help from an electric motor -- but a full electric vehicle. I plug it in at night and can drive 100 miles the next day and go faster than 80 mph on the highway.

So don't think "golf cart"; these cars have power and pick-up.

While you won't see many electric cars on the road, they've been around longer than you might think.

In 1900, electric cars outsold both gasoline and steam vehicles because electric cars didn't have the vibration, noise and dirtiness associated with gas vehicles. But soon afterward -- with the discovery of Texas crude oil that reduced the price of gasoline, the invention of the electric starter in 1912 that eliminated the need for a hand crank, and the mass production of internal combustion engine vehicles by Henry Ford -- the electric vehicle went the way of the horse and buggy.....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/25/paul.commentary/index.html

[hpot]

1. No Thanks to Cobasys for limiting their NiMH licenses

Cobasys is the patent holder for the NiMH battery. No one can manufacture NiMH batteries without a license from them. Unfortunately, it looks like they are not interested in making batteries with a higher capacity than 10Ah.

http://www.evworld.com/blogs/index.cfm?page=blogentry&authorid=51&blogid=104

I guess they don't need the extra profit.

[acmejack]

2. I wonder what their thinking is?

Why wouldn't they allow a BEV to be produced?

[hpot]

5. NiMH Battery License Restrictions

"Although, as I said, the specific terms are confidential, this stipulation in Panasonic's license restricting it to producing only "certain types" of NiMH batteries for "certain transportation applications" is widely interpreted and understood to mean that Panasonic can only produce HEV batteries (<10Ah) but not BEV batteries (>80Ah) for vehicles sold in North America until 2015. Where this line is specifically drawn in Panasonic's license, whether it's closer to 10Ah or closer to 80Ah, is an interesting question, which of course we don't know the answer to. But the answer to that question is indeed very important because it is in that middle ground that we find the capacity range for PHEVs. So if the line is drawn closer to 80Ah, let's say for instance that Panasonic is permitted to produce NiMH batteries not greater than 50Ah, then that would allow Toyota to manufacture PHEVs with, say, a 40Ah battery pack for sale in North America. But if, on the other hand, the line is drawn at 10Ah, which I believe is more likely the case, i.e. that Panasonic is only permitted to produce NiMH batteries with capacities less than 10Ah, then that would obviously preclude Toyota from offering any PHEVs in the US until 2015."

http://www.evworld.com/blogs/index.cfm?page=blogentry&authorid=51&blogid=104

[acmejack]

6. I meant Cobasys

They must have some reasoning for preventing the the BEV from being marketed, especially at this time.

[hpot]

7. My Guess,

Someone bought out the license rights from them and is sitting on it.

[patcox2]

9. Probably nothing sinister, except desire to retain those rights.

It would be a lucrative business if it took off, so they probably want to keep the right to either manufacture or license to someone at good terms.

If demand arises, you can be sure there will be a supply.

Meanwhile, whats the difference anyway? The electricity is coming from where? Coal? Nuclear?

[hlthe2b]

3. an all electric Rav4 that goes 100 miles would be PERFECT

for me.... Damn, I wish they were available and I could buy one. I probably don't drive more than 100 miles at once more than a hand full of times each year. For that, I could rent a car.

I am nursing my 98 Suburu Outback for as long as I can, driving as little as possible--as I don't see anything coming on the market to buy. Why replace a moderately efficient car with one that is only marginally more efficient. I'd love an all electric or plug in. They could sell them by the train-load anywhere they wanted in the US, right now. Why the heck don't we have them available? (rhetorical only... I know the answer) :mad:

[michaelwb]

4. Alexandra Paul - Rocks

After seeing Who Killed The Electric Car? I looked up her website. Just look at her activism section!

I think I can overlook her being on Baywatch... ;-)

[hlthe2b]

8. yes... I can absolutely ignore her Baywatch time...

She's a class act...