Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - (Page 14) 14 • SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 EDITORIAL STAFF VIEWS FROM EUROPE 313-446-0361 E-mail autonews@crain.com Web site www.autonews.com Keith E. Crain Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Peter Brown Associate Publisher and Editorial Director DETROIT 313-446-0361 Fax: 313-446-0383 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207-2997 David Sedgwick Editor dsedgwick@crain.com Edward Lapham Executive Editor elapham@crain.com Richard Johnson Managing Editor rjohnson@crain.com John K. Teahen Jr. Senior Editor Mary Beth Vander Schaaf Deputy Managing Editor Charles Child International Editor David Kushma Retail Editor Dave Guilford News Editor Philip Nussel Special Projects Editor James B. Treece Industry Editor Jesse Snyder Senior Writer Karen Faust O’Rourke Insight Editor COPY EDITORS: Bob Allen, Tom Fetters, Patricia C. Foley, Kenn Jones, Gregory Skwira Susan Zavela Bamford/Graphics Editor Rick Kranz/Product Editor REPORTERS: Leslie J. 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Electric cars are fun to drive Tesla test drive shows the appeal and some glitches Guido Reinking A future in which we’ll all be driving electric cars does not appeal to me very much. I don’t have anything against using electrically powered public transportation. But electric cars? Aren’t they bereft of any emotion, just another appliance? Anyone harboring such misconceptions should test drive a Tesla Roadster. The all-electric sports car, which is based on the Lotus Elise, boasts acceleration on a par with a Ferrari. Tesla says the Roadster’s 248-hp electric motor propels it from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. On a recent company-sponsored test drive in Munich, the car offered the heart-pounding ride of a street racer. Unfortunately, the test drive also illustrated the car’s technical weaknesses. Anyone who thinks of an electric car as just another appliance should test drive the Tesla Roadster, the writer says. Good when it worked Of the three test cars offered at the Tesla presentation, one did not start. Another began emitting smoke from the lithium ion battery compartment in the rear. Although the range and performance of lithium ion batteries are superior to the range and performance of nickel-metal hydride and lead-acid ones, lithium ion batteries are complex, expensive and not without danger due to the energy they store. When the Tesla functioned, it functioned well. But as the glitches comment demonstrated, the electric car seems to me not suitable for volume production yet. In the future, major technological advances in the automobile will continue to come from large auto companies, not from small, high-tech firms in California. Guido Reinking is editor of Automobilwoche, a Crain publication that covers the German auto industry. investment. Creating a car is different from writing a new computer program or designing a mobile phone with a camera or an MP3 player. Suppliers such as Robert Bosch and Continental are investing hundreds of millions of euros to develop electric-drive systems built around lithium ion batteries. Next year, Mercedes-Benz will begin selling a hybrid S class powered by Continental’s battery pack. That kind of vehicle will make up an interesting market niche in the next 20 years. The electric car is just one of many building blocks in the future of the auto industry, but it is one you can have fun with. You may e-mail Guido Reinking at greinking@craincom.de A job for the big guys Developing and building a car requires thousands of experts and huge Where is the power going to come from? Hybrids, electrics are hot — but not without problems Ian Morton The auto industry is increasingly buzzing with electric excitement. Battery-driven minicars that are cheap to “fuel” already are on the streets of some European cities. This month, Daimler AG announced a deal with German energy giant RWE to provide charging stations for electric cars in Berlin. Renault and Nissan have announced plans for electric car partnerships in Israel, Denmark and Portugal. Norwegian electric carmaker Th!nk already has delivered more than 100 of its City minicars to customers in Norway. Automakers are moving toward hybrids and electric cars because rising prices of gasoline and diesel fuel have boosted consumer interest in alternative powertrains. A survey of 8,000 motorists in eight comment Ian Morton is a contributor to Automotive News Europe. countries conducted by German supplier Continental found that nearly half of the respondents (45.8 percent) said they would be interested in buying a full-electric car. But many experts say that hydrogen is years away from being a viable solution, so the attention returns to alternatives such as hybrids and electric cars. Which alternative will win? Not knowing the answer is costing companies billions of dollars as they try to prepare for multiple scenarios. Electric and hybrid cars are a hot topic now, but another key question is: Where will the power for all those battery recharges come from in the future? tric cars could lead to a worsening of the carbon dioxide produced to keep all those wheels rolling. About a century ago, electric cars sold just as well as their combustionengine counterparts. Ultimately, however, they succumbed to a better technology, which at the time was gasoline powertrains. And history has a habit of repeating itself. What do you think? We would like to hear from you. Send a letter to the editor via e-mail (autonews@crain.com) or to the Detroit address near the top of the box at right. Here’s what we need. No more than 250 words Your name and title, company name if we can print it, city and state; or tell us about your connection to the auto industry Your phone number or e-mail address Your permission to print it Coal? Oil? Nuclear? One estimate says that a fifth of the new cars sold in 2020 will have an electric powertrain. International Energy Agency statistics show that 56 percent of Europe’s watts come from power stations that run on fossil fuels. Wind and sun can make only small contributions, so we are back to the familiar debate over coal, oil, natural gas or nuclear power. Nuclear power has its supporters, but it takes up to 15 years for a new powerplant to reach start-up. Without a clean source of energy, the elec- In the long term But are hybrid and electric cars the long-term answer? Already there are signs that hydrogen is being considered the solution of the future. On Sept. 4, the European Parliament voted in favor of new rules that aim to have standards ready for the technology before it is rolled out. http://www.autonews.com http://www.autonews.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - September 29, 2008 GM, Ford and Chrysler place new-product bets Credit freeze could mean cash crisis Mr. Big Volume reaches the end of the line Korea's revolving door Mazda quits Ford Credit for Chase Mitsubishi, UAW reach tentative agreement Volt could break feds' 100 mpg ceiling Chase cuts back on auto leasing Target for Traverse: No. 1 in large crossovers BMW's new 7 series: Timing may be all wrong Tucson revisited Can Ford light fire under Fiesta? Lithia puts brakes on used-car stores Revived Mercury will focus on 3 segments VW taps 'zealots' to promote diesels Farley, Leuliette will kick off World Congress The new Soul (and nose) of Kia Hyundai: Drivetrain key to more mpg Taxpayers at risk if firms get fed loans - then fail GM plans high-tech small engines for Volt and Cruze Buick looks upscale Denso says U.S. woes will cut its profits Denso: No plans to make hybrid parts in U.S. Bailouts are a bad idea Chic small cars? Check them out at the Paris show Credit's no problem, but a weak brand is Helping dealers helped GM Ford field rep didn't help at all Who knew? Electric cars are fun to drive Where is the power going to come from? Hyundai shifts its U.S. ad agency Hyundai, Kia mold separate identities Behind on hybrids, Hyundai sets high goals Dealers Flashes of genius, years of turmoil No cop-out; car designed for police use PICTURE THIS: A trip to the bank RV sales drop 31.9% in June Mexico sales off 4.8% in Aug., 1.2% for 8 mos. Suzuki to aim pickup at motorcycle owners Experts: Learn Korean hierarchies Readers' comments on Bill Heard's collapse Bill Ford sells some Ford stock CarMax net income falls ArvinMeritor raises forecast Toyota plans CNG concept Chrysler cuts 250-300 salaried workers Minority supplier drops stamping business Will Cerberus buy up Chrysler to wave bye-bye? Rioters kill supplier exec in India No pickup seen for pickups Piech's ploy was masterstroke in war with Porsche Honda's highway groove music: It sounded better on vinyl St. Louis dealer to paper that outsourced typesetters: 'Deal me out' Automotive News - September 29, 2008 Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - (Page Bellyband1) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - (Page Bellyband2) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Mr. Big Volume reaches the end of the line (Page 1) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Mr. Big Volume reaches the end of the line (Page 2) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Volt could break feds' 100 mpg ceiling (Page 3) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Tucson revisited (Page 4) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Tucson revisited (Page 5) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - The new Soul (and nose) of Kia (Page 6) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - The new Soul (and nose) of Kia (Page 7) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page 8) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G1) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G2) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G3) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G4) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G5) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G6) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G7) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G8) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G9) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G10) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G11) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Buick looks upscale (Page G12) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Flashes of genius, years of turmoil (Page 9) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Denso says U.S. woes will cut its profits (Page 10) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Denso says U.S. woes will cut its profits (Page 11) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Ford field rep didn't help at all (Page 12) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Ford field rep didn't help at all (Page 13) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Where is the power going to come from? (Page 14) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Where is the power going to come from? (Page 15) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Hyundai, Kia mold separate identities (Page 16) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Hyundai, Kia mold separate identities (Page 17) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Behind on hybrids, Hyundai sets high goals (Page 18) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Behind on hybrids, Hyundai sets high goals (Page 19) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Dealers (Page 20) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Dealers (Page 21) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - RV sales drop 31.9% in June (Page 22) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - RV sales drop 31.9% in June (Page 23) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - RV sales drop 31.9% in June (Page 24) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - RV sales drop 31.9% in June (Page 25) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - RV sales drop 31.9% in June (Page 26) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Mexico sales off 4.8% in Aug., 1.2% for 8 mos. (Page 27) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Suzuki to aim pickup at motorcycle owners (Page 28) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Experts: Learn Korean hierarchies (Page 29) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Readers' comments on Bill Heard's collapse (Page 30) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Chrysler cuts 250-300 salaried workers (Page 31) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Minority supplier drops stamping business (Page 32) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - Minority supplier drops stamping business (Page 33) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - St. Louis dealer to paper that outsourced typesetters: 'Deal me out' (Page 34) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - St. Louis dealer to paper that outsourced typesetters: 'Deal me out' (Page 35) Automotive News - September 29, 2008 - St. Louis dealer to paper that outsourced typesetters: 'Deal me out' (Page 36)
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