"We will be covering the National Plug In Day across more than 60 cities in US TODAY! Lets make it big this time! Spread the news, donate your tweet for the good cause and send your pictures @Sufiy:
Ford has started with a very low profile launch of its pure Electric Focus - it was more like a compliance car than the proper aggressive mass market proposition. But the recent headlines about major investments in electric cars by Ford make us to reconsider our previous judgement about the real intentions of the company.
"Peak Oil is in the headlines again. Greased by the Oil mass media would like you to think that everything could be kept as it is - but it is not true any more. More and more people understand this mega trend and energy transition will the 21st century investment game. Just look what people with money and vision do now, not only what they are talking about."
"High Gas prices are the best advertisement for Hybrid and Electric Cars and they are here to stay if economy will not dive again. Americans are not very big fans of Electric Cars yet, but when asked about Energy Independence, 80% confirmed that the Dependence on Oil is unsustainable and they are ready to do something about it. New technology - Lithium batteries for Plug In and Electric Cars is making this transition possible."
"High Gas prices are the best advertisement for Hybrid and Electric Cars and they are here to stay if economy will not dive again. Americans are not very big fans of Electric Cars yet, but when asked about Energy Independence, 80% confirmed that the Dependence on Oil is unsustainable and they are ready to do something about it. New technology - Lithium batteries for Plug In and Electric Cars is making this transition possible."
Ford is developing eco-friendly vehicles and green technologies designed to represent the future of automotive transportation. We’re committed to this initiative not just because it’s the most economical thing to do, but also because it’s the right thing to do.
This cutting-edge technology helps ensure drivers don’t have to sacrifice performance for efficiency. We know there are limits to what today’s technology can do to squeeze the most energy out of a gallon of gasoline. That’s why we’re developing technology that will help eliminate the reliance on petroleum-based fuels.
The Ford Global "Electrification" Strategy includes plans to launch five new full electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid vehicles in the compact, midsize and light commercial segments by 2012.
Ford invites you to join us for a tour of the Michigan Assembly Plant: the flexible manufacturing facility where Ford builds the Focus, Focus Electric, and soon the C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid.
Ford invites you to join us for a tour of the Michigan Assembly Plant: the flexible manufacturing facility where Ford builds the Focus, Focus Electric, and soon the C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid.
An unprecedented campaign in mass media against Electric Cars is ongoing these days. Reasons are all the same: "Electric Cars are dirty, they are very expensive, they are ugly, they are not selling well and there are no places to charge them". Last week the new claims were added to the hating mix - "dirty money and dealings in the electric space": SolyndraGate is taking over the Fisker. Why this old no news was made the news by FOX all over the media we are not sure...maybe it is related to the election "silly season" somehow.
Ford flew me out to Dearborn, Michigan to see the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid cars, in addition to a highly anticipated model that I can't talk about or else a guy named Lefty will show up at my front door with a violin case. In addition to touring the Ford plant, I hung out inside a Ford Focus Electric with Chad D'Arcy, Ford Focus Electric Marketing Manager.Compared to the Nissan Leaf, the Ford Focus Electric will offer over 100 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent) and its 23kWh lithium-ion battery charges in half the time (3-4 hours) via a 240v outlet. With a top speed of 80MPH, the Ford Focus Electric is a modest mouse and its trunk space leaves much to be desired, but I was highly impressed by the structural integrity of the vehicle from bumper to bumper
"We are just coming out of the "Europe's End of The World" scenario, all world economies are on the edge of recession, but Oil is moving closer to $100 again. We have a very sobering reminder from IEA about the real issues behind all recent events in the financial markets. There is NOT enough Oil for everybody left, Peak Oil is all about the price and transportation is driving this demand with half of the global oil demand coming from China only. By 2015 more cars will be manufactured outside of OECD. Oil prices can go up to $150 by 2015 in the real terms and $176 in the nominal terms. It will be the major risk for the global economy. Time is to check your Lithium portfolio."
This is the very smart move on the part of Ford and Sun Power. Pricing will be crucial, but it is the move in the right direction. Buyers of the Electric cars will be interested in the alternative energy sources and this move could drive both markets. The game changer will be the implementation in U.S. of the Renault scheme with Lithium batteries leased to the buyers and combined tax rebates on Electric Cars and Solar panels, when everything is sold as the one package and with a turn key installation.
"Lithium Charge: Electric Car demand expected to jump-start lithium stocks. In this article we have almost all credible Lithium investment universe. Always keep in mind that analysts are promoting the companies, which they have business with and which was financed by the house they are working for. Otherwise, Jonathan LEE and David Talbot are talking about the right names and it is very encouraging, that they are bullish on Lithium demand and particularly now we can see the serious promotion of all lithium plays. Byron Capital was one of the first to put Lithium on the investors' radar screen and now Dundee Capital is expanding this mega trend introduction to the market place. We are doing the same here and writing about stocks we are interested in and having a position. General bullishness in Lithium sector should move the new names to the radar screen as well. Almost all Lithium juniors were under pressure for the last 6-8 months and will be coming strong now into the Fall with return of the risk trade. You have plenty to chose from based on your DD and risk profile: from major producers - to the more risky development plays.
Ford is very vocal now telling its story about Electrification and its Electric Fleet. But talking about evolution in battery technology and Electric cars market in general we will point out to the at least two revolutionary developments:
"We have the breaking news from Germany and DBM Energy. Information is very scarce at best and only in German so far. Revelations from this hidden in the heart of Germany company are groundbreaking: KOLIBRI Lithium Metal Polymer Batteries (Lithium-Polymer-based technology) have passed extensive independent safety tests and demonstrated endurance of 5000 charging cycles. New independent test confirms 454.82 km driving range on one charge! But company claims that the battery in this case was smaller: KOLIBRI 62.928 kWh and that it translates in 714 km range in case of previously used 98.8 kWn battery in the DBM World Record Electric Car Drive in October 2010! To put things into perspective, in case when you drive 225 km every day you will need to recharge the car equipped with this battery every other day and this battery will last 27 years."
"We have another view on Electric Cars market growth potential - this time from World Bank analysis of China's Electric Vehicles industry. Before we have discussed research note from Deutcshe Bank on the more broad subject of Chinese Leadership Towards a Low Carbon Economy and now we have a more specific research on China's very ambitious plans for the new Strategic Industry - Electric Cars.
China is in the headlines every day now and moving the global markets these days. State level planning allows to allocate resources and leapfrog Combustion Engine technology and even Hybrids - directly into the Electric Cars."
Every tick up in Gas price will drive more and more people into electric space. Hertz today has announced its roll out in London of Electric Cars rental scheme after New York. In another important news DOE has confirmed that U.S. is on track to have 1 million Electric Cars by 2015."
Ford is moving fast with its Electric Cars now and builds connection with its future customers educating them about new technology. It is very important time when first mass produced electric cars are hitting the roads GM Volt and Nissan Leaf.