PHEV Misinformation
Before we get into PHEV misinformation let’s get through some PHEV news.
January brings good news about the resolution of issues about Volt safety. So announcements of many new PHEVs to come, many new sources of anti-plug-in criticism and PHEV misinformation. Finally, it’s a response mechanism. There are lots of other resources for the Electric Auto Association, CalCars-News readers who haven’t had a chance to keep up with the latest developments.
NEW PLUG-IN HYBRIDS COMING INTO VIEW
The wave of announcements continues, with production PHEVs misinformation continues yet we now expect:
- Opel Ampera
- Ford Fusion Energi
- Honda Accord
- Mercedes B-Class E-Cell
- Volvo XC60
- Audi A1 e-tron
- Mitsubishi PX-iMIEV
- possibly a Lincoln version of the Fusion
- and a Cadillac version of the Volt,
- and others at the concept stage, plus, of course, many pure EVs.
NHTSA CLOSES BOOKS ON VOLT FIRES
The National Highway Transportation Administration’s review of fire-related issues on the Chevy Volt has also been closed. Here is the NHTSA’s official statement.
GM’s precautionary measures announced Jan 5 for same-day February installations, have been approved. GM’s statement welcoming the end of the investigation. So that’s clearly less PHEV misinformation getting out there.
ONCE MORE ABOUT FIRES:
We’re glad to see more and more people compare the significance of a handful of fires. That’s essentially weeks after crash tests with hundreds of thousands of conventional vehicle fires a year.
Oh, and did you or anyone notice when Ford just recalled 286,000 SUVs over a potential fire hazard? PHEV Misinformation again dot com!
NEXT: CONGRESSIONAL QUIZ:
Meanwhile, the head of NHTSA and GM’s CEO Dan Akerson will testify Wednesday at a Congressional subcommittee hearing. All so the Volt critics could extend their “fear, doubt and uncertainty” strategy.
On a parallel track to another House hearing Wednesday for cleantech critics. All reviewing the State Department’s decision on Keystone.
OTHER MOSTLY GOOD NEWS FROM GM:
Volts produced for sale in California after Feb 6 will have Low Emissions Packages. That’s making them eligible for the 40,000 stickers allowing HOV (car-pool) lane access. It’s also with a $1,500 state tax credit on top of the federal credit. We continue to hear that every car produced sells quickly. But GM has said it might scale down production plans from its goal of 45,000 US and 15,000 international Volt sales in 2012:
ROUGH TIMES AHEAD FOR PLUG-INS?
The path forward may not be smooth. Especially because of PHEV disinformation.
By 2006 we had a broad and popular non-partisan coalition, endorsed by the Bush Administration to incentivize US production of cars and batteries, and provide credits to hundreds of thousands of early buyers. By 2011, when the cars arrived, we found EVs condemned by many as ” Obama’s pet project,” earmarked for failure as part of political campaigns. So the other side of PHEV misinformation is real economic growth!
Add to that a media onslaught that promotes the idea that cars arriving in the market at a rate twice that of hybrids a decade ago are in fact failing.
Taken together, plug-ins now have an uncertain position. Advocate Chelsea Sexton in Jim Motavalli’s book, High lVoltage: The Fast Track to Plug In the Auto Industry,” in February 2011 predicted “a couple of rough years” with “deployment missteps, changes in policy and negative media stories, whether earned or not.” She suggested we scale back our expectations — and avoid complacency.
END OF THREE EV CREDITS
At the end of 2011, along with corn ethanol credits and a cleantech loan program, credits for two- and three-wheeled vehicles, charging systems, and EV conversions were not extended. They lapsed because companies building businesses in this area didn’t give it their attention — or didn’t have the resources to devote to the issue. We mourn especially the last one, a placeholder for a much larger credit we’d like to see for converting gas-guzzlers to plug in. At a time when there was significant interest in converting Prius hybrids to plug in, A123 Systems and its affiliate Hymotion, worked to build support for the credit. We hope that as gas-guzzler conversion companies emerge, they will be able to make the case for reinstating at higher levels.
IMPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL $7,500 CREDIT
This current all-important program is the subject of increasing attacks. Uninformed criticisms have come after the introduction of a House bill to repeal the credits — including ones from the Washington Post. See rebuttals and links to the editorial at PIC and Climate Progress. The greatest threat may come not from a direct attack but from an attempt to end the credit as part of a larger package of fiscal changes.
WE NEED MORE EFFORTS TO COUNTER MISINFORMATION.
Great resources are out there. Pass the word about the Department of Energy three-minute video, Electric Vehicles 101, introducing and explaining EVs and PHEVs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M69GBL0IDzI . Don’t miss a
posting by Rocky Mountain Institute/Project Get Ready’s Ben Holland and Randy Essex, countering the idea that 2010 sales were a disappointment. Still, we need something more — mechanisms equivalent to those that climate change deniers and others have perfected to jump on news stories as they appear.
SIERRA CLUB STEPS UP WITH EV MEDIA RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK
The Network aims to notify advocates of breaking stories and equip them with arguments for letters to the editor, online postings, articles, etc. It will focus on policies, including the new fuel efficiency standards, and on issues directly involving plug-in cars. To join and get more info, contact Sierra’s Senior Campaign Representative for
EVs, Gina Copland gina.coplon-newfield@sierraclub.org
FISKER SHIPS, WINS AWARDS
The Karma, which recently began shipping and had its own two episodes of precautionary modifications for a small number of cars delivered to customers, has won the Top Gear Luxury Car of the Year and Overall Car of the Year awards in addition to its previous Design of the Year award from Automobile Magazine.
http://www.plugincars.com/top-gear-crowns-2012-fisker-karma-luxury-car-year-110655.html
A test drive report by John Voelcker.
VIA PROGRESSES WITH LARGE VEHICLE PHEVS
Surprisingly, Via Motors has gained credibility by enlisting GM veterans including Bob Lutz.
Via announced plans to sell several thousand “VTrux” — extended range pickups, cargo vans and SUVs based on conversions of GM Silverado, Tahoe and Express vehicles.
It’s significant that GM will provide “gliders” (vehicles without drivetrains), which can reduce the final cost. Roush Engineering is a partner and PG&E is a first customer and an evaluation of its potential.
VOLT TEAR-DOWN
CalCars has been hoping someone would “open up” the Volt, as engineers did years ago with the Prius and as the people at http://www.ifixit.com and http://www.ifixit.org do with appliances and high-tech gear. Finally one is in view. See 10 short videos
Corporate sponsors Munro & Associates and TechInsights appear to be saving their findings for a conference in March in San Jose , but some of the videos (including one called “Under the Hood” show the careful redundant safety engineering features in the car.
RECENT SIGHTINGS OF RON GREMBAN AND FELIX KRAMER
See Ron on battery cooling issues and Felix critiquing a popular new book on global violence for overlooking climate change.
REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR OUT ON DVID
Startng this week, you can buy the movie; this will be followed by availability at Netflix and Hulu.
A FEW ARTICLES WE LIKED:
- Factions Square Off in Battle for Electric Car Future: Brad Berman analyzes the four major contenders: Anti-EV Republicans and Media, Obama Administration, Auto Industry, and EV Drivers and Advocates:
http://www.plugincars.com/factions-square-battle-electric-car-future-111588.html - Wards: Volt is a symbol of headwinds against U.S. innovation:
http://www.green.autoblog.com/2012/01/09/wards-volt-is-a-symbol-of-headwinds-against-us-innovation/
summarizes the more fully developed arguments at
http://wardsauto.com/commentary/why-innovation-dying-america - Consumer Reports: 2012 Detroit auto show: The rise of the mainstream plug-in hybrid: A “look how far we’ve come” and “no other technology can have the same impact” thought-piece on PHEVs, which
credits Andy Frank for his early work.
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/01/2012-detroit-auto-show-the-rise-of-the-mainstream-plug-in-hybrid.html - Wired Pulls a Charlie Sheen on Clean Energy: Experts Easily Debunk Absurd Hit-Job on Solar and Wind Power: rebuts the idea that Solyndra means Cleantech has failed at
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/01/22/408784/wired-clean-energy-experts-debunk-solar-wind/
. The referenced article is at
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2012/01/ff_solyndra/all/1)
SUPPORT CALCARS
If you intended to donate at the end of 2011 but didn’t , we have switched our 501(c)3 sponsorship to the Electric Auto Association, of which we are a chapter. Go to
http://www.calcars.org/sponsor.html for tax-deductible contributions online by credit card or by mailing a check. Thanks as always for your help in keeping CalCars and our website running!
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Felix Kramer fkramer@calcars.org
Founder California Cars Initiative
http://www.calcars.org
http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html
By: Felix Kramer, Calcars.org
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