Inevitable and essential

Vvroooom!

Time magazine takes a new (good) look at electric cars and profiles the two "impressive sleek sexy"-looking options for those in the market for electric cars (and with some moolah to spend, must I add!)

Britain's Lightning GT and the U.S.-built Tesla Roadster both reach 60 m.p.h. in 4 seconds or less, their makers claim, with top speeds approaching 130 m.p.h.

A couple recent news articles that indicate that finally there is some traction in the 'general' run-of-the-mill car companies in delivering some electric car options. So, for those without $100K+ to buy the Lightning or the Roadster, there will be some lower-end options!

General Motors allies with US utility group on electric cars
General Motors Corp said it is collaborating with an organization representing U.S. utilities to ready the nation's electric infrastructure for the widespread sale of plug-in electric cars, such as the Chevrolet Volt.

The company is the second major U.S. automaker to announce a collaboration with EPRI, which represents utilities that generate more than 90 percent of the power in the United States. Ford Motor Co announced its own partnership with EPRI in March.

Nissan says electric cars will be quickly profitable
The electric cars that Nissan Motor plans to start selling by 2010 will have varying capabilities depending on a given country’s driving patterns, but all will be priced competitively and will generate profits

Also, Greentech media enlightens us about a funky looking 3-wheeled hybrid car, coming to a dealer near you, if you live in California.

Electric-car startup Aptera Motors has raised $24 million to build its first car, a futuristic three-wheeled ride priced at $27,000.

The Carlsbad, Calif. Company plans to roll out its first Typ-1 from the factory in December. More than 3,300 customers have paid the $500 deposit to get the car, which the company is only selling in California for now.

An interesting profile by Thomas Friedman of Shai Agassi, "the Jewish Henry Ford now obsessed with making Israel the world’s leader in electric cars"

Also a few news snippets from the Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose last week.

Electric Cars Are Inevitable - And Essential

Many experts agree plug-ins and EVs will only become more prevalent and could comprise half of all cars sold in America by 2050.
..
Petroleum accounts for 96 percent of the nation's transportation fuel, a position Lauckner says is untenable given the world's growing thirst for the stuff.

Critics argue 70 percent of our electricity is generated from fossil fuels and so plug-ins and hybrids don't reduce carbon dioxide, they just move it around. Not so, says the Electric Power Research Institute and the National Resources Defense Council. Their research shows plug-ins and EVs could cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 450 million metric tons annually by 2050. That's the equivalent of eliminating 82.5 million gasoline vehicles -- about a third of the number currently on the road in America.

Plug-in cars are going mainstream, and manufacturers have gathered in San Jose to show how they can boost mileage to 100 miles per gallon and beyond.

Electric car market could race for materials

My previous posts on electric cars: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.