Due to the surging costs of fuel, advances in lithium-ion technology, and growing environmental pressure to adopt “greener” operations, automobile manufacturers across the globe are setting their sights to developing electric cars.
This would mark one of the biggest technological shifts in the automotive industry.
A lot of car makers nowadays start investing in the hybrid engine technology. Hybrids are combustion engines that are powered partly by batteries that recharge from energy released by the vehicle. But most hybrid models being manufactured so far run largely by petrol. Though capable of giving consumers some savings on fuel, these new technology is quite expensive.
Currently, the market leader in hybrid car is Japanese leading car manufacturer Toyota. Its top-selling hybrid model, the Prius, sells as much as US$5,000 more than similar conventional cars due to its expensive batteries.
On the other hand, upscale brand Mercedes Benz will be the first car manufacturer who will mass-produce vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries. Its S400 BlueHybrid will be its inaugural model for hybrid cars.
Another upscale brand General Motors (GM) will be using lithium-ion batteries in some of its Saturn and Chevrolet models by 2010. The American car maker, which has already launched a hybrid version of its Buick LaCrosse in China as an opening salvo, will likewise produce hybrid versions of its bulky core vehicles like its Tahoe sports utility vehicle and the Silverado pick-up truck. But GM's signature model Chevrolet Volt, also known as the “moon shot”, which will also launch in 2010, is regarded by the firm as its most important vehicle currently under development. The Volt is conceptualized to be a plug-in electric vehicle.
But when it comes to producing pure electric cars, Renault/Nissan is on the upperhand as it plans to launch its pure electric cars in 2010. Helping the car maker in its endeavors is US-based Project Better Place which is working with Renault/Nissan on recharging venues in Israel and Denmark, then London and the rest of Europe.
Indeed, some power utilities are forging ties with car manufacturers, seeing electric vehicles as a significant future source of demand for their off-peak capacity.
Toyota and French power utility EDF are working together on recharging spots around Europe. There are also some similar projects in California and some American states. Clearly, the hybrid car technology is increasingly becoming significant to most developing countries.
Meanwhile, in emerging markets like China, the hybrid car technology is gradually being accepted by emerging car makers such as Chery, BYD and Geely. However, they would fully support the “green” revolution if the government decides to incentivize manufacturing of hybrid cars.
In Japan, however, one large car manufacturer, Honda, remains skeptical about electric cars running on lithium-ion batteries due to safety reasons. Nonetheless, the Japanese firm will still go "green" by using current-generation nickel metal hydride batteries instead of lithium-ion in its hybrid production next year.
Currently, the market leader in hybrid car is Japanese leading car manufacturer Toyota. Its top-selling hybrid model, the Prius, sells as much as US$5,000 more than similar conventional cars due to its expensive batteries.
On the other hand, upscale brand Mercedes Benz will be the first car manufacturer who will mass-produce vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries. Its S400 BlueHybrid will be its inaugural model for hybrid cars.
Another upscale brand General Motors (GM) will be using lithium-ion batteries in some of its Saturn and Chevrolet models by 2010. The American car maker, which has already launched a hybrid version of its Buick LaCrosse in China as an opening salvo, will likewise produce hybrid versions of its bulky core vehicles like its Tahoe sports utility vehicle and the Silverado pick-up truck. But GM's signature model Chevrolet Volt, also known as the “moon shot”, which will also launch in 2010, is regarded by the firm as its most important vehicle currently under development. The Volt is conceptualized to be a plug-in electric vehicle.
But when it comes to producing pure electric cars, Renault/Nissan is on the upperhand as it plans to launch its pure electric cars in 2010. Helping the car maker in its endeavors is US-based Project Better Place which is working with Renault/Nissan on recharging venues in Israel and Denmark, then London and the rest of Europe.
Indeed, some power utilities are forging ties with car manufacturers, seeing electric vehicles as a significant future source of demand for their off-peak capacity.
Toyota and French power utility EDF are working together on recharging spots around Europe. There are also some similar projects in California and some American states. Clearly, the hybrid car technology is increasingly becoming significant to most developing countries.
Meanwhile, in emerging markets like China, the hybrid car technology is gradually being accepted by emerging car makers such as Chery, BYD and Geely. However, they would fully support the “green” revolution if the government decides to incentivize manufacturing of hybrid cars.
In Japan, however, one large car manufacturer, Honda, remains skeptical about electric cars running on lithium-ion batteries due to safety reasons. Nonetheless, the Japanese firm will still go "green" by using current-generation nickel metal hydride batteries instead of lithium-ion in its hybrid production next year.
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