( Air-Hybrid Blog )

Dream vs. Reality

Posted on 2 June 2010 | 0 Comments

2010 has been the year of the electric vehicle (EV). No doubt about that.

As this blog has pointed out in the past, electrification of the automobile is the marquis topic at every automotive event taking place. And for good reason. Given the challenges of petroleum dependency and the issues surrounding atmospheric greenhouse gases, the global engineering community is obligated to figure out a better way. That's what engineers do.

But after a while of listening, looking and reading, it becomes very clear: internal combustion is still what really sells and will not be phased out in our or our children's lifetime.  While the technical challenges alone are significant, questions continue regarding supply base development, electrical grid capability, government incentives for development, customer acceptance, recycling and many others.  

At the FISITA World Congress event in Budapest this week, it has been interesting to read the body language of those touting the future of the EV. In one session yesterday, a panel presented different OEM and supplier strategies for proliferating the market with electrified automobiles.  Yes, zero emissions is ideal and not having to burn fossil fuels would be a big help to the health of the planet.  But technical limitations and environmental impact make it an extremely hard sell.

One presenter from one of the world's largest auto suppliers, after pointing out how the amount of time needed to "fill up" a standard car takes several hours, bluntly stated that the possibility of ever reaching a point in the near future where a driver can charge their vehicle in less than an hour "is rather unrealistic."

Still, hopes appear high based on the hurdles the engineering community has overcome over the past 200 years. It just seems that it's going to take a couple more centuries until the EV is a sound economic, environmental, and desired product.

 

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid on display this week at FISITA