Lithium Charge: Electric cars key for state growth - Lithium-ion cells to aid Michigan's future ilc.v tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc

    

  Electric Cars are coming on our streets, Peak Oil presentation is made now at the U.S. House (it is the must see video) and Gas prices are down not for a long time. Panic release from SPR only confirms the seriousness of the situation, when only government intervention in the Election Cycle can bring the price of Oil temporary down. QE 3.0 is under way and US Dollar debasing will bring inevitable: Inflation multiplied by Peak Oil situation - Electric Cars are the only viable way forward now and its means high tech jobs, rebuilding of the manufacturing base and directed government subsidies to ignite the domestic economy.

  It is clear already for China, Korea and Japan, but in US we have the hesitation as usual.

"When major credit rating agency like Standard and Poor's gets on the bandwagon of Electric Cars and analyse it all across the value matrix you know that it is getting serious. The mass infrastructure is coming - the Oil one was not built in one day as well. Recent panic and release of Oil from SPR just indicates how stretched the Oil supply already, when economy can not even decide whether it will double dip or not. While West still discuss how to implement Electric Cars in our modern lives, Asian players are busy taking its lead in this strategic industry.

"Lithium Charge: China Begins Implementation of "12th five-year" Plan for Electric Cars. China takes Electrification of its transportation system very seriously and Chinese companies are very active now in the Lithium and Rare Earths spacesecuring the supply of this strategic commodities."

Electric cars key for state growth

Experts: Lithium-ion cells to aid Michigan's future

Jun 30, 2011  |  

33 Comments

A123 Systems CEO David Vieau

BY ZLATI MEYER

DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Michigan has a great future in electric car and battery production, with an estimated 20% of lithium-ion batteries coming from this state in the future, a panel of experts said Wednesday at a Detroit Economic Club luncheon.

Electric cars are expected to be a $14-billion industry by 2014, with electrified-vehicle capacity jumping from 100,000 to 1.7 million by 2015, according to Dan Galves, a member of Deutsche Bank's Global Auto/Auto Parts equity research team.

Galves sees great growth potential for EV battery companies in Michigan -- especially if the industry must move toward a proposed 56-m.p.g. fleet average by 2025 -- because "these are 500-pound products, not the sort of thing you want to ship all over the world."

David Vieau, president and CEO of battery maker A123 Systems, said his Massachusetts company decided to expand to Michigan because of state and local government cooperation, economic support and the region's talent pool. He said electric cars give the U.S. a huge opportunity to reduce its reliance on foreign oil and keep billions of dollars here.

"We have the opportunity to convert that foreign oil money into jobs," Vieau said, adding that switching to this new kind of car "is going to take 20 years. We need a commitment that we're going to get it done."

According to Vieau, back in 2008, there were five companies around the globe with 13 models of EVs, but now, there are 36 companies with 116 cars -- what he considers a harbinger of the sector's bright future.

"The goal is to improve fuel economy in all vehicles," Galves said, who noted a variety of 9-speed transmission and turbocharged downsized engines are also helping. "The internal-combustion engine is not going away anytime soon."

Panelist Micky Bly -- a General Motors executive director who leads global electrical systems, infotainment and electrification programs -- pointed out that GM is already planning "derivatives" of the Chevy Volt as well as expanding eAssist technology into SUVs and pickups.

"Our SUVs and pickups need some sort of electrification, too," he said.

And while Bly said styling draws consumers, Galves said they are also doing the math on new electric and hybrid cars.

A battery is $12,000, but he outlined how EVs save owners approximately two fill-ups, or $90, a month, which is more than $1,000 a year -- ultimately close to $12,000 over the vehicles' 10-year life.

Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan moderated the discussion.

Related articles

• Lithium Charge in Canada: Ontario's Electric Vehicles Plan Revs Up tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, a (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Charge: World Bank Study Highlights Rapid Growth Potential for China's Electric Vehicles Industry tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Drive: Ford's electrification strategy tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Drive: New Electric Cars: BMW Active E on CNBC today bmw, tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, a (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Drive: Electric Cars: A New Generation of Plug-Ins tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vln (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Drive: Electric Cars at 2011 New York International Auto Show tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, he (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Charge in China: Foshan Electrical Advances on Lithium Battery Venture With Hefei Guoxuan tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Surge: Electric Cars: Project Get Ready: Creating Impact with your Support tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• The Rush To Electric Cars Will Replace Oil Barons With Lithium Dictators (fastcompany.com)
• ABC Catalyst Peak Oil Report tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Drive: AutoBlogGreen: Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc. (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Charge: Secretary Chu Announces New Funding and Partnership with Google to Promote Electric Vehicles goog, tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, c (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Drive: Electric Car DBM Energy KOLIBRI Lithium Battery's Record Range of 280 Miles Per Charge tnr.v, czx.v, lmr.v, rm.v, alk.ax, sqm, cgp.v, abn.v, ura.v, nup.ax, usa.ax, srz.ax, fmc, roc, lit, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, res.v, ree, avl.to, nsany, f, gm, (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Investments: Richard Mills: Strategic Investor For International Lithium tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• James Dines on Silver and Gold Markets and what is coming next for Rare Earths and Lithium tnr.v, rvm.v, laq.v, bvg.c, bva.v, tnr.v, asm.v, grc.to, amm.to, ktn.v, gbn.v, rvm.to, mgn, asm.v, sgc.v, ngq.to, btt.v, alk.ax, nem, fcx, bvn, auy, abx, (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Charge: AutoBlogGreen: Better Place signs deal in China; State Grid wants 2,300 swap stations installed by 2015 tnr.v, czx.v, lmr.v, rm.v, alk.ax, sqm, cgp.v, abn.v, ura.v, nup.ax, usa.ax, srz.ax, fmc, roc, lit, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, res.v, ree, avl (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Lithium Charge: 25 Most Electric Car-Ready Cities, Ranked by Ford. Is Yours on the List? tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, g (sufiy.blogspot.com)
• Ford Experts Talk Electric Vehicles: Lithium Batteries f, tnr.v, czx.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, tsla, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc (sufiy.blogspot.com)