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President Obama’s declared goal was to get 1 million plug-in hybrid and all-electric cars on the road in the United States by 2015.
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Now the 2015 car-sale data are in; time to review the bidding. Americans bought a record 17.5 million passenger vehicles in the United States, of which 116,548 — 0.67 percent — were either plug-in hybrids or all-electrics, according to insideevs.com.
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Automakers have sold 407,136 electrics (EVs) since they hit the market in 2010. That is 0.16 percent of the 250 million-plus U.S. passenger vehicle fleet.
Low gas prices have made electric cars even less desirable. Even with the government subsidies, people overwhelmingly do not see these cars as relevant and cost effective.
1920s – The electric car, after decades of success, ceases to be a viable commercial product and production stops completely. There are many factors that contribute to the downfall of EVs. Consumers wanted the longer range and higher speeds offered by gasoline-powered cars. In addition to this, most of the major concerns about gas cars had been addressed by this time. Gearboxes were becoming less complicated and easier to use and gasoline was widely available by the 20s. Really, the issue with electric cars was the same as it is now, people wanted to be able to drive as long as they wanted, and fill up their car quickly.
Don't be so quick to abandon the electric cars. Electric and hybrids are the future. Not the gas hogs like we used to have. Don't close your minds on new technology. Gas prices are low now. They may not stay that way. People are not thinking about electric or hybrids when they can keep the old 12 mpg clunker and still feed it with out it costing them a fortune.
Yes, President Obama made it a goal in his 2011 State of the Union speech. In 2013 he admitted that the goal would not be met.
However, other countries are doing pretty well in this regard. I am thinking about buying one as my next car, since my daily drive to work and back is around 25 miles. Plus, when gas is cheap, demand for an electric car goes down, and, hopefully, so will the price.
There needs to be a game changer that flips people's interest. An electric car in its current form, on its own, is not incentive enough for people to want one.
Electric cars were growing in the 1910s-1920s until they came up with an electric starter (in lieu of the hand crank) for the gas engines. That was the game changer for the gas engines back then.
Yes, President Obama made it a goal in his 2011 State of the Union speech. In 2013 he admitted that the goal would not be met.
However, other countries are doing pretty well in this regard. I am thinking about buying one as my next car, since my daily drive to work and back is around 25 miles. Plus, when gas is cheap, demand for an electric car goes down, and, hopefully, so will the price.
If "demand" for that electric car goes down any further none will be sold
When 10 year old hybrids and/or electric cars are available I will consider buying one so long as the price is around 5 grand or lower. This may happen when my Subaru finally dies due to New England rust.
In my own world my wife and I bought a 2004 gas guzzling (25 to 30 mpg) Corvette C-5. We expect this magnificent touring/sports car to provide many hours of entertainment as we finally get the chance to "See the USA in our Chevrolet".
The range isn't good enough for areas that are spread out and people have long commutes. At work everyone has to fight over the chargers. Too much stress to deal with on a daily basis.
Don't be so quick to abandon the electric cars. Electric and hybrids are the future. Not the gas hogs like we used to have. Don't close your minds on new technology. Gas prices are low now. They may not stay that way. People are not thinking about electric or hybrids when they can keep the old 12 mpg clunker and still feed it with out it costing them a fortune.
"when they can keep the old 12 mpg clunker" I don't think there are many of those left on the roads today.
2011 State of the Union:
"With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015."
We are 40% of the way there: "Automakers have sold 407,136 electrics (EVs) since they hit the market in 2010."
Tesla's new giga battery plant will be operational in 2016 churning out cheaper and better batteries. In 2015 Tesla sold about 40,000 cars and this is expected to double in 2016. Cheaper and longer range electric cars are coming. When automobiles were invented a hundred years ago they were also rich men's toys.
There are many reasons to move away from oil, we should be planning long term not just developing policy based on this years oil price.
People seem to have short memories as was the case with oil shortages back in the 70's and 80's.
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