Presentation for the Island Institute
ELECTRIC CARS: HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE
 The i8, BMW's expensive sleek futuristic plug-in hybrid
supercar. The car is powered by a powerful 96-kilowatt (129horsepower) electric motor driving the front wheels, and an
efficient 230-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder
gasoline engine motivating the rear wheels.
Adam Lee, Lee Auto Malls
The electric automobile is in its heyday.
Of all of the cars produced in the United States
28 percent are powered by electricity, and
electric autos represent about one-third of all
cars found on the roads of New York City,
Boston, and Chicago.
The electric automobile is in its heyday in 1900.
Of the 4,192 cars produced in the United States
28 percent are powered by electricity, and
electric autos represent about one-third of all
cars found on the roads of New York City,
Boston, and Chicago.
The electric automobile is in its heyday in 1900.
Of the 4,192 cars produced in the United States
28 percent are powered by electricity, and
electric autos represent about one-third of all
cars found on the roads of New York City,
Boston, and Chicago.
What Happened?
Stalled Progress
114 years ago, one-third of all cars on the road
were electric. Today The American market share
of plug-in electric passenger cars increased from
0.14% in 2011, to 0.37% in 2012, to 0.62% of new
car sales during 2013.
- Wikipedia
U.S. DOE Assessment:
The key goals to be met over the next five years
to make plug-in electric vehicles competitive
with conventional fossil fuel vehicles are:
 Cutting battery costs from their current
US$500/kWh to US$125/kWh
 Eliminating almost 30% of vehicle weight
through lightweighting
 Reducing the cost of electric drive systems
from US$30/kW to US$8/kW
$75,000-$100,000
$19,000-$25,000
$19,000-$25,000
Affordable Electrics?
Mitsubishi i-MiEv
 Range: 62 miles
(pure electric)
 Price: $23,800
Affordable Electrics?
Toyota Prius PlugIn Hybrid
 Range: 11 miles
(electric +
gasoline)
 Price: $30,800
Affordable Electrics?
Nissan LEAF
 Range: 84
Miles (pure
electric)
 Price: $29,800
Obstacle #1:
The Cars Are
Still Too Expensive
Obstacle #2:
The Electricity Is
Too Expensive
Cost to Generate Electricity
Cost to Deliver It
Is this really so bad?
…Or this?
…Or this?
Is There Still Reason
To be Hopeful?
Is There Still Reason
To be Hopeful?
Yes.
Steadily Improving Batteries
• 1800 – Invention of Voltaic Cell
• 1859 – Invention of Acid-Lead
Battery
• 1899 – Invention of NickelCadmium Battery
• 1949 – Invention of AlkalineManganese Battery
• 1991 – Commercialization of
Lithium-Ion Battery
• 1996 – Introduction of
Lithium-Ion with Manganese
Cathode
Electric Car Rebirth
 1832 – Scottish inventor debuts first crude
“electric carriage.”
 1859 – French physicist invents rechargeable
lead-acid battery.
 1891 – First successful electric car built in U.S.
(Des Moines, Iowa).
 1900 – 28% of U.S. cars are electric.
Electric Car Rebirth
During the 1920s the electric car ceases to be a
viable commercial product. The electric car's
downfall is attributable to a number of
factors, including the desire for longer
distance vehicles, their lack of horsepower,
and the ready availability of gasoline.
Electric Car Rebirth
Today, there are nearly 20 models offered from
more than a dozen different brands—in a
range of sizes, styles, price points and
powertrains to suit a wide range of
consumers.
Electric Cars In The Market
BMW i3
BMW i8
Electric Vehicle Sedan
Plug-in Hybrid Coupe
81 miles (pure electric)
$42,300
25 miles (electric + gasoline)
$137,000
Electric Cars In The Market
Chevrolet Spark EV
Fiat 500e
Electric Vehicle Coupe
Electric Vehicle Sedan
82 miles (pure electric)
$27,500
87 miles (pure electric)
$32,600
Electric Cars In The Market
Ford Focus Electric
Kia Soul EV
Electric Vehicle Sedan
Electric Vehicle Sedan
76 miles (pure electric)
$30,800
93 miles (pure electric)
$34,500
Electric Cars In The Market
Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive
Volkswagen e-Golf
Electric Vehicle Sedan
Electric Vehicle Sedan
85 miles (pure electric)
$42,40
83 miles (pure electric)
$36,300
Tesla Model S
Electric Vehicle Sedan
300 miles (pure electric)
$69,900
Thank you