Posted on 07/24/2013 1:27:04 AM PDT by grundle
On Monday, BMW announced that the U.S. base price for its all-electric i3 will be $41,350, not including any federal or state incentives. For General Motors' Chevy Volt, and possibly Tesla Motor's Model S, BMW's move spells major trouble. Here's why.
Bad news, GM
With a starting MSRP of $39,145 in 2012, the Volt was the best-selling EV, and it's not hard to see why. Really more of an electric hybrid than a straight EV, the Volt combines a 9.3-gallon fuel tank with a lithium-ion battery. This combination allows the Volt can go an estimated 38 miles on pure battery before switching to regular fuel, which extends the range to an estimated 380 miles. Because of this combination, the Volt cuts down on range anxiety, which is still a huge deterrent to getting consumers into EVs.
Now, compare the above to BMW's all-electric i3: According to BMW, the i3 has a pure-electric range of 80-100 miles, thanks to its lithium-ion battery, and has an optional range extender that lengthens that initial range by 80 miles. Plus, thanks to BMW's eDrive technology, a driver can extend the initial range up to 124 miles by putting the vehicle in one of the "EcoPro" modes.
Right away you can see the problem. Not only does BMW's i3 go farther on pure battery power, but with the purchase of the optional range extender, range anxiety goes way down. More pointedly, the base MSRP for the BMW is only $2,000 more than the Volt. I don't know about you, but if I had to decide between spending $39,000 for a Volt, or $2,000 more for a BMW, I'm going with the BMW, hands down.
Tesla, this is bad for you, too
Right now, Tesla is the crème-de-la-crème of EVs. But it's competing against all-electric EVs like Nissan Motors' Leaf, and Ford's Focus Electric. To put it simply, Tesla's Model S can drive circles around these cars. Yes, it's more expensive, but the technology, range, and precision of the Model S makes anything else seem almost silly in comparison. BMW, however, is a luxury brand with renowned German engineering, and its new i3, and the future i8 model, presents a new challenge for Tesla.
Consider this: The i3, designed from the ground up as an EV, has received praise from some of the industry's harshest EV critics. As BBC's "Top Gear" drivers put it:
At first sampling, then, this is a compelling electric car. It's not the first on the market, but BMW has put some original thinking into almost every part of its design and engineering. It drives sweetly, is distinctively designed, and has the reassuring range-extender option if you are anxious about running flat.
These are the same critics that gave Tesla's Roadster a less than glowing report -- in fact, Tesla sued the show for "libel and malicious falsehood" because of the review.
What to watch for
The i3 isn't set to hit showrooms until the second quarter of 2014, and right now it's too soon to predict exactly how this will affect GM and Tesla's sales. However, given BMW's reputation, the i3's reviews, and the just released base price, this is something investors would do well to monitor.
Electric cars are gaining in popularity, but they're still a niche market. Ford, however, has its hand in EVs and is starting to make its presence known in China. China is already the world's largest auto market -- and it's set to grow even bigger in coming years. A recent Motley Fool report, "2 Automakers to Buy for a Surging Chinese Market", names Ford and one other global giant, poised to reap big gains that could drive big rewards for investors. You can read this report right now for free -- just click here for instant access.
What hybrid can be purchased below average price of a comparable non-hybrid car?
why not hybridize a hi-tech diesel car?Why won’t bring hi-end diesels here?
I’ve always said (on the basis of mechanical engineering lab work in college) that anyone who claims to be going all out for fuel economy - and what else is a hybrid supposed to be? - isn’t really trying if they’re using a spark-ignition engine instead of a diesel.But then, what actually is the point of going full-bore for fuel economy when we have shale oil and gas? Speaking of natural gas, how much better is an electric car than a CNG-fueled car for anything? Incidentally, it’s possible to use (a lean mixture of) NG in a diesel engine, using the fuel oil injectors only to initiate combustion. Highly efficient.The historic limitation of the diesel, besides initial cost, weight, and the fuel-oil smell, has been flexibility - the power curve vs RPM is pretty much linear up to the (low, due to high piston mass) RPM red line. Which tends to require a lot of gear shifting. But a hybrid shouldn’t have the same problem with that . . .
My conclusion is that they don’t use diesels in hybrid designs because of weight and initial cost. The high gas mileage you already get from the hybrid feature reduces the payoff in fuel economy of changing to diesel prime mover, and the high cost and weight of the hybrid makes the high cost and weight of the diesel that much more painful. I guess putting a diesel in a hybrid is “a bridge too far . . ."
Unfortunately gasoline will be “Atlas Shrugged” high when this becomes a smart purchase. I hope that never, ever happens.
As a current BMW owner (Mine is 10 years old) I found that the free market drove my purchase cost below that of an equal year Honda Civic. I average 30mpg.
We will need to be well into $20/gallon fuel prices for this to make sense. Not to mention all other forms of energy will increase at the same time (the owner of an EV WILL see $1000+ monthly increases in their utility bills)
The whole EV car thing won’t make anyone’s life any easier.
Here’s another thought. Your city is about to be in a big storm for a week. Me, I go buy three jerry cans of gas. EV owner, out of luck if power goes out, can’t evacuate the city.
I would like one. I have a hybrid which gets astounding mileage, but most of the driving I do would fall well within the i3’s electric-only range. Not everyone drives 50 miles each way to work.
The electric company isn't cutting their profits to do this. The cost is either rolled into the rate or provided by the tax payers.
Now, well portrayed diagrams, I can understand. Looks like a finite system.
Never say never...
Ford to develop hybrid trucks solo after Toyota tie-up ends
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/23/autos-ford-truck-idUSL1N0FT1AN20130723
Ford, maker of the top-selling F-150 pickup truck, will develop its own rear-wheel drive hybrid system for trucks and SUVs, which will be available by the end of the decade.
“The whole EV car thing won’t make anyone’s life any easier.”
Agreed. They shouldn’t receive any perks either.(tax breaks, etc)
“Not to mention all other forms of energy will increase at the same time (the owner of an EV WILL see $1000+ monthly increases in their utility bills)”
I’m hoping we start to develop Thorium reactors, as well as using all types of domestic energy types.(LNG, shale, drilling, etc)
I suspect most buyers want the highest efficiency in $$$/mile, not miles per gallon. That makes the diesel hybrid a tough sell when including the purchase price.
” EV owner, out of luck if power goes out, can’t evacuate the city.”
This might be a net benefit for society.
Maybe this is a good investment for the electric company. For a $2400 investment they get to charge about $1000-2000 extra for electricity each year. Even removing there cost of generation they should have their money back in 2-4 years and then profit beyond that. Besides if you already have the charger your next vehicle is probably going to be electric as well.
No reason to automatically assume the cost is passed to the neighbors.
a Gallup poll released today, Americans chose dilithium crystals as the “most likely” fuel to run future cars and power plants, with 84% of Americans choosing the crystals over other options including nuclear, hydrogen, corn ethanol, shale gas, and photovoltaic solar panels. Respondents indicated that dilithium crystals are popular for providing quiet, clean energy, with a proven track record of seven-hundred twenty-six episodes in four different Star Trek television series.
LOL, don’t forget warp speed as a benefit.
Supposedly just about every Audi model will have a diesel engine available here in the U.S. over the course of the next couple years. The 3.0 TDI has been available in the Q7 for some time. It’s available in the ‘14 A8L right now.
Where did you come up with the fuel cost?
Typical electrics are cost ~$500 a year to “fuel”.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evsbs.shtml
Typical profit margin from a power company is 10%.
So they make $50 a year selling the extra power. It would take 48 years to recover the cost, no counting the time value of money which makes it longer.
Not really. 99% of my driving is less than 100 miles. I can keep a gas beater(my 2002 Explorer) for long trips.
My next door neighbor is a Democrat moron so I can hook up to his garage outlet without him knowing it.
Then you have the cold weather penalty. Its impossible to accurately figure a range on them. The environment plays havoc with batteries.
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