Comments on: Nissan CEO: Easily More Than 1 Million Electric Cars On US Roads by 2015 http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/ What is the future of fuel? What's new? What's next? Since 2007, Gas 2 has covered a rapidly changing world coming to terms with its oil addiction. Sat, 26 May 2012 14:59:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mark Thomason http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-13308 Mark Thomason Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:55:42 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-13308 If you consider electric cars to be PHEV and Pure EVs, then I think this goal is attainable. If you're just talking Pure EVs (which requires a good base of charging infrastructure to be installed), then it's very aggressive. While I agree with Russ that there is a large block of people that will buy them soon (I can't wait for mine!), EV's broad success really comes down to gas prices. As we saw during the last decade, whenever gas prices spiked, so did the lines at the Toyota dealer to get a Prius (I created a graph of this on my blog on 9/22). But most American's have short memories and they like to live in the past, so when gas prices relax, they go buy a huge/cheap SUV that fits them better. That said, OPEC (along with oil demand from China and India) has a lot to do with the success of EVs in the US. If you consider electric cars to be PHEV and Pure EVs, then I think this goal is attainable. If you’re just talking Pure EVs (which requires a good base of charging infrastructure to be installed), then it’s very aggressive.

While I agree with Russ that there is a large block of people that will buy them soon (I can’t wait for mine!), EV’s broad success really comes down to gas prices.

As we saw during the last decade, whenever gas prices spiked, so did the lines at the Toyota dealer to get a Prius (I created a graph of this on my blog on 9/22). But most American’s have short memories and they like to live in the past, so when gas prices relax, they go buy a huge/cheap SUV that fits them better. That said, OPEC (along with oil demand from China and India) has a lot to do with the success of EVs in the US.

]]> By: Mark Thomason http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-36598 Mark Thomason Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:55:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-36598 If you consider electric cars to be PHEV and Pure EVs, then I think this goal is attainable. If you're just talking Pure EVs (which requires a good base of charging infrastructure to be installed), then it's very aggressive. While I agree with Russ that there is a large block of people that will buy them soon (I can't wait for mine!), EV's broad success really comes down to gas prices. As we saw during the last decade, whenever gas prices spiked, so did the lines at the Toyota dealer to get a Prius (I created a graph of this on my blog on 9/22). But most American's have short memories and they like to live in the past, so when gas prices relax, they go buy a huge/cheap SUV that fits them better. That said, OPEC (along with oil demand from China and India) has a lot to do with the success of EVs in the US. If you consider electric cars to be PHEV and Pure EVs, then I think this goal is attainable. If you’re just talking Pure EVs (which requires a good base of charging infrastructure to be installed), then it’s very aggressive.

While I agree with Russ that there is a large block of people that will buy them soon (I can’t wait for mine!), EV’s broad success really comes down to gas prices.

As we saw during the last decade, whenever gas prices spiked, so did the lines at the Toyota dealer to get a Prius (I created a graph of this on my blog on 9/22). But most American’s have short memories and they like to live in the past, so when gas prices relax, they go buy a huge/cheap SUV that fits them better. That said, OPEC (along with oil demand from China and India) has a lot to do with the success of EVs in the US.

]]> By: PhilM http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-13307 PhilM Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:09:30 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-13307 I agree 100%. I'm one of the "older" crowd - 55+ and I'm on-board. I won't purchase another car unless it's at least plug-in hybrid. Preferably all electric, but I will accept a diesel plug-in that can run bio-diesel from algae. You can tell I'm an optimist when it comes to this stuff! I agree 100%. I’m one of the “older” crowd – 55+ and I’m on-board. I won’t purchase another car unless it’s at least plug-in hybrid. Preferably all electric, but I will accept a diesel plug-in that can run bio-diesel from algae. You can tell I’m an optimist when it comes to this stuff!

]]> By: PhilM http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-36597 PhilM Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:09:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-36597 I agree 100%. I'm one of the "older" crowd - 55+ and I'm on-board. I won't purchase another car unless it's at least plug-in hybrid. Preferably all electric, but I will accept a diesel plug-in that can run bio-diesel from algae. You can tell I'm an optimist when it comes to this stuff! I agree 100%. I’m one of the “older” crowd – 55+ and I’m on-board. I won’t purchase another car unless it’s at least plug-in hybrid. Preferably all electric, but I will accept a diesel plug-in that can run bio-diesel from algae. You can tell I’m an optimist when it comes to this stuff!

]]> By: Marc http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-13306 Marc Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:49:33 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-13306 I think it should be the future as long as the cars or batteries are reliable and don't get a bad reputation like diesel cars did in the US years ago. The other thing is charging stations or induced curent through the roadway. I think it should be the future as long as the cars or batteries are reliable and don’t get a bad reputation like diesel cars did in the US years ago.

The other thing is charging stations or induced curent through the roadway.

]]> By: Marc http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-36596 Marc Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:49:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-36596 I think it should be the future as long as the cars or batteries are reliable and don't get a bad reputation like diesel cars did in the US years ago. The other thing is charging stations or induced curent through the roadway. I think it should be the future as long as the cars or batteries are reliable and don’t get a bad reputation like diesel cars did in the US years ago.

The other thing is charging stations or induced curent through the roadway.

]]> By: Russ Finley http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-36595 Russ Finley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:37:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-36595 I agree with Ernest. The poll was based on a sampling. It missed the concerned and dedicated environmental types who will buy them like they are one gargantuan voting block, and once they catch on, everyone will want one. I agree with Ernest. The poll was based on a sampling. It missed the concerned and dedicated environmental types who will buy them like they are one gargantuan voting block, and once they catch on, everyone will want one.

]]> By: Russ Finley http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-13305 Russ Finley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:37:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-13305 I agree with Ernest. The poll was based on a sampling. It missed the concerned and dedicated environmental types who will buy them like they are one gargantuan voting block, and once they catch on, everyone will want one. I agree with Ernest. The poll was based on a sampling. It missed the concerned and dedicated environmental types who will buy them like they are one gargantuan voting block, and once they catch on, everyone will want one.

]]> By: J.D. Kennedy http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-13304 J.D. Kennedy Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:54:06 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-13304 It seems to me that if we can get a million new electric cars on the road in the next 5 years, we could simultaneously do the same with converted/retrofitted cars. Recycling a used car with an ICE engine does two things: gets a gas-guzzler off the road and an electric in it's place. Not to mention it costs less and uses fewer resources. True, we need forward-thinking manufacturers to do what Nissan is doing. But we also could use some more forward-thinking mechanics to start building conversion businesses. It seems to me that if we can get a million new electric cars on the road in the next 5 years, we could simultaneously do the same with converted/retrofitted cars. Recycling a used car with an ICE engine does two things: gets a gas-guzzler off the road and an electric in it’s place. Not to mention it costs less and uses fewer resources. True, we need forward-thinking manufacturers to do what Nissan is doing. But we also could use some more forward-thinking mechanics to start building conversion businesses.

]]> By: J.D. Kennedy http://gas2.org/2009/11/16/nissan-ceo-easily-more-than-1-million-electric-cars-on-us-roads-by-2015/#comment-36594 J.D. Kennedy Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:54:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4120#comment-36594 It seems to me that if we can get a million new electric cars on the road in the next 5 years, we could simultaneously do the same with converted/retrofitted cars. Recycling a used car with an ICE engine does two things: gets a gas-guzzler off the road and an electric in it's place. Not to mention it costs less and uses fewer resources. True, we need forward-thinking manufacturers to do what Nissan is doing. But we also could use some more forward-thinking mechanics to start building conversion businesses. It seems to me that if we can get a million new electric cars on the road in the next 5 years, we could simultaneously do the same with converted/retrofitted cars. Recycling a used car with an ICE engine does two things: gets a gas-guzzler off the road and an electric in it’s place. Not to mention it costs less and uses fewer resources. True, we need forward-thinking manufacturers to do what Nissan is doing. But we also could use some more forward-thinking mechanics to start building conversion businesses.

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