As the rollouts of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf approach, it is a stretch to say that the East Valley will soon be a mecca of electric car activity — but it does figure to be a hub.
Phoenix/Tucson is one of five markets nationwide to participate in the Leaf’s initial run, and those cars can be charged at any of approximately 400 station locations around the Valley that one company is planning to install.
At Arizona State University, a team is working on creating an environmentally-friendly electric car battery with a range approaching 1,000 miles on a single charge.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Bill Sheaffer, executive director of the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition. “With the infrastructure that is going in, I think you’ll see this project get off the ground pretty quickly.”
Or at least as quickly as auto production allows.
The Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is schedule for launch in November. The following month, the all-electric Leaf gets its limited release.
Based on the most recent sales figures available, 529 Arizonans have paid the $99 reservation fee for a Leaf. Only “nine or 10” cars will be sold in the state during the first run, said Jason Doherty, Internet and fleet director at Riverview Nissan in Mesa.
“The interest has been great,” Doherty said. “Our store does not typically see much floor traffic, but I would say we get two people a week walking in, assuming we have the Leaf here to drive. They want to see it and touch it, and we tell them they have to wait until December.”
The Volt retails at about $41,000, the Leaf — an acronym for leading, environmentally-friendly, affordable family car — for $32,780. Tax credits and other incentives will apply.
In 1996, General Motors launched the EV1, the first mass-produced all-electric car. However, GM felt that the revenue did not justify the production costs and scrapped the project in 2002.
The Volt and Leaf are expected to be more successful. Those cars seat four people, while the EV1 fit only two. The nation is more green-conscious than in the 1990s. Most important, the supporting infrastructure — thanks to large federal grants and funds, and charging-station technology that will be compatible with all electric cars — is much greater.
ECOtality, a San Francisco-based company, received a $99.8-million stimulus grant to build charging infrastructure in five states, including Arizona. ASU’s battery team — headed by Cody Friesen, associate professor of materials science — got $5 million in stimulus funds.
“The amount of money being put in at the federal level, and the participation of cities and towns has been fantastic,” said Marc Sobelman, ECOtality Arizona area manager. “The battery life of the Leaf is expected to be 100 miles. The average person in Phoenix drives 24 miles one way to work, so people can get to and from work and make whatever side trips they need to during the course of a day with no problem.”
Mesa is negotiating a charging-station contract with ECOtality. Frank McRae, energy resources department director, said he is confident a deal will get done and that the city will have stations ready for the Volt and Leaf.
McRae said Mesa hopes to have around 50 stations but might have to settle for 30-40. City officials believe Mesa is especially suited for the project because it has its own electric utility, an island within the Salt River Project system, that serves about 15,000 customers in the downtown area.
“It’s an opportunity to get into a sustainable energy role we haven’t been able to get into until now,” McRae said. “The City Council and manager’s office agree that this is something for the future that we should pursue.”
Ron20 posted at 1:50 am on Thu, May 3, 2012.
I think, electric cars would be the upcoming car models in automotive industry. This type of cars will be given first priority in future. At present we have Skoda Fabia which we are planning to replace. I have huge collection of old cars.
http://www.indiandrives.com/blog
John paul posted at 4:29 am on Wed, Jan 4, 2012.
Hello,
This articles are so nice. Thanks for the sharing.
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SamSmith posted at 1:56 am on Mon, Oct 31, 2011.
Total waste of money. Probably based on Wisconsin support of a train or something.
Have you ever checked into the resale value of a Prius?
Even hybrids have a serious problem. The minute the batteries die they are as worthless as a trillion dollar bill.
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SamSmith posted at 1:56 am on Mon, Oct 31, 2011.
Total waste of money. Probably based on Wisconsin support of a train or something.
Have you ever checked into the resale value of a Prius?
Even hybrids have a serious problem. The minute the batteries die they are as worthless as a trillion dollar bill.
Rv camper
SamSmith posted at 1:55 am on Mon, Oct 31, 2011.
Total waste of money. Probably based on Wisconsin support of a train or something.
Have you ever checked into the resale value of a Prius?
Even hybrids have a serious problem. The minute the batteries die they are as worthless as a trillion dollar bill.
Rv camper
ukcobb posted at 3:31 am on Mon, Sep 26, 2011.
It such an amazing part has been developed by Arizona university now EV can run 1000 of miles in a single charge. Car manufacturer moving to EV according to trend petrol prices increasing day by day and electric vehicles can give more potential so they are taking hard step to develop charging stations and car battery.
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jackson26 posted at 2:38 am on Thu, Apr 14, 2011.
Hi,I must admit that today is my first time I visit here.This is very Good article, Totally a unique one to know.Today's many automaker concentrate on electric cars. Which has been more advantage and very comfort than regular cars. Because electric cars is Eco-friendly.Thanks for sharing such a nice information with us.
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MIcheal73 posted at 9:37 pm on Sun, Mar 27, 2011.
Electric cars produce no pollution at environment, which will contribute to clean air in cities. But, at the same time, their use increases demand for electricity generation.
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Angel Smith posted at 4:02 am on Tue, Feb 15, 2011.
This articles are so nice. Thanks for the great information.
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Accuracy posted at 5:00 pm on Fri, Sep 17, 2010.
The future of cars is electric . . and is now.
As the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is slated to go on sale this year, eleven (11) Chevrolet dealerships across the nation were the first to unveil the new 2011 Chevy Volt last Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010.
And General Motors and its Chevrolet Volt have started taking orders.
Customers could not test drive the Chevy Volt, a four-passenger, front-wheel-drive electric vehicle, at the dealerships’ open house events. GM plans to sell 10,000 Chevy Volts in 2011, and will have a production capacity of 45,000 vehicles in 2012.
Nissan Leaf is going on sale in December 2010 in Arizona, California, Washington, Oregon and Tennessee. The automaker has been accepting reservations for a refundable fee of $99, and already has 18,000 pre-orders, according to John Schilling, Nissan spokesman.
brilor posted at 11:08 am on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
Hey DonFromChandler,
Ask the GM engineer when the Volt will be available for purchase at AZ Chevy dealers. The answer will be late 2011 or 2012
Sparky posted at 9:17 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
It is good to see something happening, but it is still just a dog and pony show. There are no American LI-ION battery plants (yet) although glass-mat gel cells are doing fine with existing cars. Someone should be able to produce a basic vehicle and sell it for less than $10K, but that won't happen. The most expensive part of a car is the drive train, and can easily be replaced with an electric motor and speed control for 3 grand. At the same cost, most existing petro-fuel autos can be converted to run on distilled water, but you won't see that happen either.
Paul Scott posted at 8:09 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
Hi All, some good comments, but I thought you might benefit from the experience a few hundred of us who were lucky enough to get some Toyota and Ford EVs years ago.
We saved about 1000 of the original Toyota RAV4 EVs and Ford Ranger pickup EVs from the crusher back around 2003 and 2004. Virtually all of these EVs are still running, most still on the original battery pack.
In my case, I'm about 8 years and 86,000 miles into my RAV. Since I installed a small PV system just prior to getting the car, I have been running my house and car on sunlight. My electric bill averages about $100 per year.
We surveyed the EV drivers in CA a few years ago, and 49% of them had solar. That compares to less than 1% of the general population.
You guys in AZ have even better sun than we do, so adding PV to your house is going to be very lucrative. We're seeing returns on the investment of 12-15%.
Most good solar companies offer leases like SolarCity. For zero money down, you can get a solar PV system and your lease payment will be less than what you currently pay your utility.
Add an EV to the mix and now you're saving all the money you used to give to the oil companies. Instead, you use some to pay for the PV, and pocket the rest.
Spreading that money around your local community strengthens your economy and makes jobs for you and your friends, not some evil freaking sheik who gives your money to those g-damned terrorists who are killing our soldiers.
If an EV is not right for you, you should still want them to succeed, because for every EV that replaces a gas burner, your air gets cleaner, your economy stronger, and your nation safer.
DonfromChandler posted at 8:00 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
A GM Chey Volt Engineer will be in Phx on Oct21st to give a technical talk about the Chey Volt at the SAE AZ NV Section dinner meeting at the Airport Hilton with emphasis on the charging system for the batteries.
brilor posted at 2:33 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
"The Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is schedule for launch in November".
Ignoring the "schedule" instead of "scheduled", the Volt will only be available in CA, DC,
NYC and Austin, TX in late 2010. Balance of TX, NY state and Connecticut in March of 2011
. Arizona is NOT on the GM's published roll-out schedule. It is disingenuous of the author
not to mention this for AZ readers.
Slow One posted at 1:19 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
Tribune, do an in depth story on this battery at ASU. This could be the "missing link" for the electric car revolution. Put solar panels on the roof of the car and the house and you could be free of most energy costs.
jlmealer posted at 1:09 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
Mealer Companies LLC has, for over 20 years, developed the MEALER AUTOMOBILE which is not an EV, yet can recharge an EV or run your home, office, tent city power supply .... and uses no oil except for lubricants and that issue can be dealt with from plant life synthetics.
But the GM Family, your electric company and the gov't who reaps billions from energy taxes simply don't want us around.... Think about THAT before touting EVs and power grids.
We're in court now with a signed letter of confession from the cabal.
Sandyand801 posted at 12:50 pm on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
Seriously, who is going to pay that much for a car that doesn't "travel" well???? Can't we do something better than 100 miles for 35g's.... I mean.. Good grief..and sooner or later I gurantee u this much that SRP and or APS will figure out some way to add on to your bill for this "free" service... I mean after all this is the 1st place I have ever lived where in the summer time they are legally allowed to get away with nearly 3x's ing ones bill even if they have the AC set at 85 inside. SO the "Free electric" pump won't be free for long...
Accuracy posted at 10:53 am on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
While, Chevrolet (is alerting dealers it is going to lead the role) to “change the game for electric vehicles”. You can expect the Chevy Volt to be on display at some Arizona dealers in November. A federal tax credit can cut the Volt's price by $7,500, to $33,500. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be delivered select dealerships in mid-December.
The rechargeable Chevy Volt electric car would get 230 mpg in city. It can be fully charged in a standard 120 volt outlet in 10 hours.
And according to Chevrolet’s official website promoting the vehicle, they will have another option for owners to install a 240 volt outlet, which could charge the car batteries in four hours.
While, The Detroit News says that the Nissan Leaf will get up to 100 miles on battery power alone and will go on sale by the end of the year.
ofuque2 posted at 9:40 am on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
My understanding is that, right now, the charging stations are free. Of course, as soon as the electric cars take off and become a large segment of our transportation, I'm sure that we will have to pay for their use. I am also sure that eventually the price will quickly approach the cost of fossil fuels. Just like the tobacco industry diversifying and buying up companies that supply our food, the oil industry will diversify and start controlling ANYTHING that can turn a large profit as oil usage dwindles. It's a no-win situation for the common man.
Marcus Gallio posted at 9:04 am on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
EVERYONE - If that ASU team can indeed create a battery capable of a 1,000 mile charge, it will be the scientific breakthrough equal of splitting the ATOM.
You're talking Noble Prize, Baby.
ftroop posted at 8:57 am on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
This may be a stupid question, but who pays for the electricity that is charging these cars? I don't see a credit card swipe on the machine. Is it another freebie?
AZ_Resident posted at 7:32 am on Wed, Sep 15, 2010.
Well, hoorah Phoenix leading the way to less dependency on the oil from Saudii. Here's hoping this becomes a huge sucess for the state....