Two Years and 119 Cars! (Summary)

Previously

…I wrote about some cars expected in the next 12 months.

Summary

These cars only scratch the surface of what's listed at the Plug-in America Vehicle Tracker site.  Not all of the cars listed are actually highway safe.  Not all of them can get 80 mi on 80% charge  Not all of them are priced below $33,000  Not all of them are coming out in 2011 or 2012.  Not all cars are even listed.  And certainly not all of them are even standard, consumer-level cars.  But it's a start, and a good start as we learn more about the electric driving future that shall inevitably arrive.

So here too is to two more year and another 119 cars!

Two Years and 119 Cars! (Tomorrow)

Previously

…I wrote about some of the Electric Vehicles available today.

Tomorrow

In just the last year, a number of cars have been announced with varying levels of fanfare, most of which targeting a 2011 or early 2012 release.  Many of these are listed on the Plug-in America Vehicle Tracker, and others are too new for even that list.

Ford Focus Electric

I first learned about the plans for an electric Ford Focus in late 2010, mentioning it as early as my And when problems with the LEAF were announced in early December, I became very keen to find out as much as I could about this potential LEAF competitor.

Tesla Model S

A Tesla as a family car, I first mentioned the Model S indirectly in my EVSE installation post.  With the highest upgrade boasting a range of 300 mi (483 km), this isn't just a work-and-back-again car; it can really take you places, if you're willing to pay.  But that range-extended upgrade is currently price unknown and for that $57,400 Plug-in America lists, all you get is 160 mi (257 km).  Still, it's a very beautiful car and if I had $5,000 to spare I know I'd reserve one today!

Toyota Rav4 EV (2012)

Just when you thought Toyota had forgotten how to make an EV, they're back with an all-new, redesigned with a Tesla drive train, Rav4 EV 2012!  I've yet to talk much about the 2012 Rav4 EV but I have seen it and I'm very excited!

Ford Transit-Connect EV

I first learned about the Ford Transit-Connect EV when researching the Focus Electric.  I have notes from the big announcement at that time that I've yet to transcribe onto this blog.  Then again, if I had I dime for every post I intended to make but never have time to get around to, I'd be a professional blogger by now!  The Transit-Connect is more of a delivery van than a commuter car, so it's not really an Affordable Electric Car so much as an Affordable Electric Truck; but I'll leave someone else to write that blog.

C-Max Energi

I've mentioned the C-Max Energi in a post about the Focus Electric, but then dedicated a post of its own to this PHEV and a wholehearted recommendation for a blog about it written by a friend of mine who recently received his very own Nissan LEAF.

BYD Auto e6 and Coda Automotive CODA Sedan

I mentioned both of these cars in the Ford Focus Electric post as a counterpoint to an established, American automotive corporation.  Both are built in China and both worry me a great deal in terms of safety because of this.&nbps; It's not that China isn't a country full of skilled laborers, but in a country that would put lead in its toys and poison its milk, I just don't want to trust my life to one of their cars.

Li-ion Inizio

The Inizio, and indeed all of Li-ion Motors cars are missing from the Plug-in America site.  But, I did see this car back in January and even interviewed a representitive from Li-ion Motors that I hope to bring to you in the near future and I look forward to learning more about their future Liv line of vehicles.

Next up

A summary of the Plug-in America Vehicle Tracker…

Two Years and 119 Cars! (Today)

Previously

…I looked back at my first post.

Today

Since that first post, I've added a number of cars to this blog; some mentioned occasionally, some quite frequently.  All of these up and coming or already arrived cars deserve a mention since they're all at least partially able to take the label of Affordable Electric Car and all but one mentioned in the Plug-in America Vehicle Tracker.

Chevrolet Volt

I first mentioned the Volt in my second post to this blog, back when it was still designed with 60 mi (97 km) range.  I've no doubt has a love / hate relationship with the Volt over the last 2 years, but don't get me wrong, the Volt is the right car for a lot of people, and anyone interested in an EV with a 40 mi (64 km) round trip daily commute should seriously consider this car.  I even know a place where you can get the Volt at MSRP!

BMW Mini-E

I haven't spoken much about the Mini-E — so far only in my EVSE installation post — but this car has been on my mind a long, long time.  When the leases were announced for 2009, I jumped on the chance to get one of the 500 East Coast orders.  But alas, my region wasn't one of the privileged ones, so there was no Mini-E for me.  On the bright side, at least I saved over $800 per month for the last 2 years!

Toyota Plug-in Prius

The holy grail, as it were, of the PHEV world is the Plug-in Prius.  For years, home hobbyists were converting their Toyota Priuses into Plug-in cars to take advantage of inexpensive electrical rates.  I first mentioned the Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) Plug-in Prius in January and was much enthralled.  It may not be the EV of my dreams, but it's about bloody well time!

Toyota Rav4 (2002)

The 2002 Rav4 Electric was the only car from the late 1990s and early 2000s that survived to today.  This was due to it being the only car in that time that was available, for a brief, 6-month period, for customer purchase, unlike the long, lost and mythical GM EV1.  I first mentioned this car when I saw it in real life back in January, the very same one on the wikipedia page liked above.  Of course, since the 2002 Rav4 EV is no longer made, it's not on the Plug-in America list; at least not for that model year…

Nissan LEAF

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know it's not a question of what I have said about the Nissan LEAF, it's a question of what I haven't!  I first signed up on the mailing list for the LEAF in February 2010, and have been following it ever since.  Indeed, my first mention of the LEAF was as early as May 2010 in a massive post about the physics of fuel economy.

Smart ED

Although Plug-in America's database is quite thorough, there are some very important cars that have yet to make their list.  Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Smart Electric Drive, which I first mentioned to you back in January when I saw the first car ever leased in North America.

Next up

Some cars expected in the next 12 months…

Two Years and 119 Cars! (Yesterday)

Previously

…I wrote an introduction to the Plug-in America Vehicle Tracker.

Yesterday

Of the original 4 cars I listed 2 years ago, 2 of them have a place on the Plug-in America Vehicle Tracker, 1 is considered Low-Speed (link to EAA broken) and therefor not suitable for this list and one that may never come to market and therefore may never appear on the list.

Eliica

Specifically, the Eliica is still just a pipe dream of Keio University and although in many ways ahead of its time, it isn't likely the path that the standard electric vehicle will take given it's 8 wheel design.  None the less, I still say the in-wheel motors are the best design possible for an EV, eliminating the need for Rack and Pinion steering — I can tell you from experience, lack of Rack and Pinion steering makes it really hard to turn at speed — since the in-wheel motors could be digitally tuned to turn ad different rates as with the Rack and Pinion gearbox.

Zenn

The Zenn cars of my beloved Québec haven't gone anywhere — at least not anywhere in a hurry.  The Zenn is still, at its core, a city car.  Thus, it's neither appropriate for the Plug-in America list, nor sutable by my EV Criteria.  But I have to support La Belle Province…

Tata Indica EV

Okay, so it's not the Nano-E I mentioned 2 years ago, but Tata motors of India is most indubitably still in the EV market with the Indica EV due out later this year.  And with a range of 124 mi (200 km) and 65 mph (105 kph) top speed, if the price is right it may just be one of the first Affordable Electric Cars out there.  But it's got some stiff competition.

Tesla Roadster

Ah, the Tesla Roadster.  Still going strong.  Still $109,000.  Still not nearly affordable.  But the Roadster isn't ever meant to be affordable; Tesla has another car for that.

Next up

Some of the Electric Vehicles available today…

Two Years and 119 Cars! (Introduction)

Introduction

It was two years ago today that I began this blog with 4 cars I suggested we watch to be the first Affordable Electric Car to market.  Oh, how the landscape has changed in these brief 2 years, and how much I've learned in the process.  Not the least of which of all I've come to know in the world of the Electric Car is the table kept by the Plugin America organization.

Plug-in Vehicle Tracker

Plug-in America's Plug-In Vehicle Tracker is the most definitive list of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).  With 119 cars, trucks and bikes currently listed, the future looks bright for the EV revolution.

In the next few posts I'll be bringing you an abbreviated survey of what was, what is and what will be in the world of the electric car.  This is but a small sample of all the cars listed at the Plug-in America site; I've tried to enumerate some of the most important or interesting cars but you can find a complete list by visiting the site.  It's well worth a look.

Next up

A look back to my first post…