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It looks like supply and demand is working out in the consumers' favor when it comes to lithium-ion batteries. Production has been ramping up for the batteries as more electric cars go into production and that has led to an oversupply that may just keep piling up. Analysts are predicting a price drop of between 19 and 25 percent by the end of the year -- a slash that could also spell cheaper electric cars in the very near future.
Battery makers in Japan and Korea, like Samsung and Panasonic, account for 75 percent of the world's production, and they've been competing to get the largest share of a market that could triple over the next six years. This production and pricing war has created a glut of batteries and, luckily for consumers, a falling price.
Many first generation electric vehicles are going on sale in the coming months. I won't be surprised if the second generations, much like we've seen with later generation hybrids, include a cheaper price tag.
via Treehugger
image via GM
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written by steve clunn, September 03, 2010
Steve Clunn
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written by Mike N., September 03, 2010
However, that isn't the same as efficiency. A good electric car should be able to travel at least 4 or 5 miles on one kWH of energy. Even at 60 MPG, hybrids are getting less than that.
Now, the overall picture is harder to calculate because electric cars have losses outside the battery storage (energy generation, transmission, charger losses). However, the same can be said for making fuel too.
If you believe the market is efficient, you can do the analysis with dollars. An electric car that gets 5 miles per kWH costs 3 cents per mile to operate (energy only) if electricity costs 15 cents per kWH.
A hybrid that gets 60 MPG costs 5 cents per mile to operate (energy only) if gas costs $3.00 per gallon.
Personally, I don't believe the markets are that accurate. Too many subsidies and speculators on both sides.
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Its a welcome trend.But i have always wondered which has lesser impact on the environment. EVs or hybridS?? Sure electric cars have zero emissions, but their range is much lesser than hybrids.That means they are less energy efficient than hybrids....(total energy spent to travel a mile is much more for these than hybrids). And the lesser the energy efficient a vehicle is the more electricity is needed to power it ,that means more coal needs to be burned.
Or am i thinking too much into it?? :-)