# As Electric Vehicles Take Charge, Costs Power Down

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/01/as-electric-vehicles-take-charge-costs-power-down/
- Published: 2012-01-16T23:28:35-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Thanks to a cost-sharing project with the Energy Department, General Motors has 
been able to develop the capacity to build electric and hybrid motors internally.
Also teaming with Delphi automotive added capacity. So that has made cars like the
upcoming Chevy Spark EV a reality.

Most noteworthy, the record number of electric-drive vehicles on display in 2011.
That’s right folks, on the floor of Detroit’s North American International Auto 
Show. Without question this sends a clear message. That is the American auto industry,
dedicated to driving innovation. More importantly too, delivering advanced vehicles
to consumers here and around the world.

# GM is working with USDOE every step of the way to help make that vision a reality.

One of the keys to widespread consumer adoption is driving down costs. In addition
and more noteworthy, there is one area that continues to be a focus across the industry.
That focus the car cos want to cut is the cost of electric motors.

In addition to further research and development, increasing the domestic manufacturing
capacity of electric motors is one of the keys to accomplishing this. Upping capacity
will not only help meet growing consumer demand. However it will also help drive
down the cost of both the motors and the vehicle costs.

To help do this goal, the Energy Department has undertaken a variety of projects
with industry partners to find creative ways to design and manufacture electric 
motors. On one such project, the Department teamed with Delphi Automotive Systems
to cut the cost, size and weight of electric motors by using patented semiconductor
packaging technology. The result of this cost-sharing partnership is new packaging
that is smaller, lighter weight and allows more power to be produced than earlier
methods.

Additionally, Delphi also received a competitively awarded $89.3 million award under
the Recovery Act.  The award is to expand its manufacturing of power electronics
for electric-drive vehicles. Delphi is matching these funds dollar-for-dollar. More
importantly and the funding has allowed them to retool a formerly vacant manufacturing
facility. Yup for the project and to build a new testing and engineering laboratory.
The result? Delphi is currently increasing production of their power electronics.
More interesting is that is already has enough orders on file to account for total
production through 2015.

### Most importantly, Delphi is just one example of the competitively awarded, cost-sharing projects that the Department is undertaking with automakers and their suppliers. A similar project has allowed Magna E-Car to manufacture the electric vehicle motor control unit and motor. This unveiled the Ford Focus EV in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, is building the electric drive transaxles for the 2013 Focus C-MAX hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. And GM, thanks to $105 million in Energy Department support, now capacity to develop and manufacture electric motors for hybrid and electric vehicles such as the recently announced Chevy Spark.

In conclusion, cost-sharing projects are helping to turn innovative advanced vehicles.
Ones that might have otherwise been merely trade show concepts into a consumer reality.
They are creating jobs while lowering costs for consumers. Most importantly and 
pushing the auto industry forward. Finally they are helping American car cos introduce
innovative, efficient vehicles. So while cutting-edge cars like the Ford Focus [Electric](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/04/kia-ev-car-crowned-2023-world-performance-car/)
and the Chevy Spark might be relegated to the auto show floor for the moment, it
won’t be long before they become a familiar sight on car lots and roads across the
country.

Source: US Department of Energy, January 13, 2012 – 1:29pm, [http://energy.gov/articles/electric-vehicles-take-charge-costs-power-down](https://web.archive.org/web/20170628085957/https://www.energy.gov/articles/electric-vehicles-take-charge-costs-power-down)

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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