Ford's EV Plans.

When I think electric cars, I think the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt - then maybe Tesla and Fisker sports cars. But options for would-be electric car owners are fast expanding, and Ford is about to tap into the growing greener car market with a trio of environmentally friendly cars, including an all-electric vehicle.

That's what I learned at a conference put together by Ford last month in Dearborn, Mich. Along with a hundred or so other bloggers, I got to visit Ford's headquarters - and take part in a star-studded program with talks from Malcolm Gladwell, futurist Joel Garreau, and "actorvist" Ed Begley, Jr. - who spoke glowingly of Ford's foray into greener vehicles.

The most exciting development, of course, is the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, which I really want to test drive. This car will charge up in just three to four hours from a 240-volt charging station - and go about 100 miles on a full charge. That car is expected to start getting delivered late this year. The best part, in my opinion, is that Ford is electrifying a car that's already an established brand with owners and devotees, instead of building a new customer base for a new model from scratch.

Next year, Ford is also going to offer C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid - which like the Chevy Volt will drive in all-electric mode for shorter distances, but also have a gas-powered option that's expected to extend the driving range to about 500 miles. The third car Ford will offer is the C-MAX Hybrid, which isn't electric at all, but is expected to have a better mpg than the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid, currently the most fuel-efficient sedan in America.

In his presentation, Begley emphasized how this trio of cars offers options for everyone. Because as we know, even if everyone suddenly decided they wanted to ditch their gas guzzlers for zero-emissions electric vehicles, the infrastructure just isn't in place to let people charge up those efficient cars. I, for example, would love to get a Ford Focus Electric if I was picking between Ford's three new cars. But as an apartment dweller with nowhere to plug in a car, the only greener Ford option that would work for me is the C-Max Hybrid.

The new cars weren't available for test drives, but I tried driving the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid as part of a contest to see which blogger could get the best miles per gallon by hypermiling. I thought I did pretty well when I achieved a 44.1 mpg on the contest course - only to find out the winner got 70-plus mpg! Maybe I'll get better with practice.

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Supply and not Demand Explains Sales differences between Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt

Sales figures for the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt are being closely watched. Since both cars represent a new breed of vehicle, the relative success of either one may possibly represent the dominant technology for years to come. Whereas the LEAF is an all electric vehicle, the VOLT is a plug-in hybrid (more on the differences here), and as both cars have been on the market for a little over six months, early adoption rates might suggest which technology appears to have the edge so far. Alternatively, of course, sluggish sales of both might bring into question whether there is robust demand for alternative vehicles at all.

If we look at the sales figures for the first 6 months of 2011, we see the relative advantage currently falls to the Nissan LEAF, which has sold 3,875 units compared 2,745 units of the Volt. However, to pick a winner of the popularity contest from sales numbers alone, would be to mislead.

Automobile Magazine reports that for both cars, supply is the main factor affecting sales so far. In the case of the Volt, supply has been temporarily reduced while the factory has been offline for 5 weeks,  in order to add greater production capacity.  In the meantime, a Chevrolet spokesperson asserts they are selling every Volt they can make. As for Nissan, the earthquake in Japan on March 11th slowed manufacture and supply of the LEAF, but now deliveries and customer reservations are increasing for the vehicle. Both manufacturers still project sales of at least 10,000 units for this year.

So, if current sales figures are not a true reflection of demand, then in the meantime, online marketing solutions company, Compete.com, might at least offer another perspective on demand. According to Compete’s website they gather data from “a statistically representative cross-section of 2 million consumers across the United States who have given permission to have their internet click-stream behaviors and opt-in survey responses analyzed anonymously.”  They have surveyed (presumably via this data gathering method) what they call “in-market shopper volume,” revealing that the Volt had a peak shopper volume of nearly 40,000 shoppers earlier this year, versus the LEAF’s peak of 14,700 shoppers, thereby indicating greater interest in the Volt. You can see Compete’s full analysis here, which while interesting, is of course limited in its significance. While shopper-volume tracks consumer interest on-line, or via surveys, it is not a qualified predictor of conversion to orders and sales.

For the moment therefore, more time is needed to see how these two vehicles fair, and to determine where the stronger demand ultimately lies. In the meantime, both manufacturers seem fairly bullish that their products are being enthusiastically received, and neither give the impression that sales are sluggish nor that customers are disinterested in their new generation of vehicles.

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Best Eco Friendly cars.

In our Magazines last issue, we reviewed 10 Electric Vehicles currently in and about to be introduced to the automobile market. Now we are helping you decide the best Eco friendly car in the market.
Here are a few we like you to take a look at.
Here are 6 of the E.V's currently in the market for you to choose from.

Maruti Suzuki Eco charge.

Toyota Prius Z4

Chevrolet Beat EV Electric

Hyundai i10 Electric.

Tata Nano Electric.

Reva NXG

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Top 10 electric cars

      The electric-vehicle hype continues, but very soon, there will be no more smoke and mirrors, performance promises and untested infrastructure challenges (Where do apartment dwellers plug in again?). That's right, EVs you can drive-and buy-are coming. The following is a compilation of EVs that are now or will soon be available for sale or lease in the United States and Europe. According to manufacturer claims, each is capable of attaining highway speeds of at least 65 mph and can travel a minimum of 75 miles between recharges. Please note that many of the prices listed are still early estimates (some won't go on sale until 2012), although it is important to keep in mind that in most cases, the batteries are included.
Aptera 2e
At 55 mph, half of the energy a car expends is spent to simply to push air out of its way. Traveling at the same speed, the Aptera 2e exerts significantly less energy parting the atmosphere. Ergo, the 2e is not your average car. But that much is obvious with one glance at this three-wheeled, gullwinged, peapod-shaped vehicle. Boasting a drag coefficient of just 0.15, 40 percent slicker than a Toyota Prius's 0.25 Cd, Aptera's website claims that the 2e "realizes less drag than Lance Armstrong on a ten-speed." They also estimate that the 2e would achieve more than 200 mpg if it ran on gas. Instead, it runs on batteries, attains a 100-mile range and will do 90 mph, given enough room on the freeway (it scoots to 60 mph in an unhurried 10 seconds). There's enough space inside for two passengers and, as Aptera claims, 11 bags of groceries. Prices range from $25,000 to $45,000, depending on whether you want one when it goes on sale sometime this year or are willing to wait until after all the celebrities receive theirs. It's on sale now, and 4000 people have already submitted deposits. Based on appearances, the owner's club should be an interesting bunch.
Bottom Line
If Aptera could make the 2e look a little less like a spaceship and more like a 1954 Fiat Turbina-which attained an efficient 0.14 Cd while still resembling a car-this would be an instant classic.
Audi e-Tron
The Audi e-Tron is what you get when you cross an R8 with a light socket: the all-electric two-seater is basically a heavily reworked-and rewired-version of Audi's midengine sports car. Except instead of an engine, there's a rear-view-obstructing battery pack consisting of 100 individual cells. The juice-all 313 hp-gets pumped into four motors, which each turn a wheel. Yes, it's a Quattro, and it goes up to 125 mph. It will also do 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, but high performance is not really the point. The point is that you can finally drive rings around Prius owners and watch the smug fall off their faces. Pricing has yet to be determined (a production version won't be ready until late 2012 at the earliest) but Audi has hinted that the battery-operated R8 would cost about $200,000.
Bottom Line
The e-Tron is for the jet-setters: A four-pack of motors and 100 lithium batteries will set you back about $50,000 more than the cost of an R8 V10 5.2 FSI.
BMW ActiveE
At one point, there were 500 electrified Mini Coopers whirring around, which made the Mini E the world's most popular electric car. But unlike the Tesla Roadster, which has since overtaken the electric production crown, the Mini E was never intended for sale. Instead, it could be leased for $800 per month, or about half the cost to lease a Tesla Roadster. Not exactly a bargain for a two-seat car with no cargo space, but not bad, either, considering that the Mini E is relatively useful as a two-passenger commuter car (relative to a low-slung sports car, that is). Still, it lacked a rear seat. Enter BMW's foray into electrics-the BMW ActiveE-which is a battery-operated 1 Series coupe with room for four. Like the Mini E, the BMW ActiveE will only be available to lease, starting in 2011. The car uses water-cooled lithium batteries to power a motor located at the rear axle, which develops 125 kilowatts (170 hp) and 184 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to get the 3900-pound vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. Like the Mini E, maximum range is 100 miles on a single charge, which takes about 4.5 hours.
Bottom Line
This vehicle is likely to convert Mini customers into BMW drivers.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV may sound like the latest in plasma-screen technology, but it's actually a joint venture between GS Yuasa, a leader in lithium-battery technology, and Mitsubishi Motors. The i-MiEV is a very tiny, very maneuverable four-door that seats four adults. It's based on the i, a K-class car that debuted a couple of years ago in Japan. However, unlike the i, the MiEV's propulsion system is no longer contained within the wheels, which tend to bend and flex and make generally inhospitable containers for motors. Instead, the engine-a 47-kw electric motor attached to a 330-volt battery pack-is located beneath the second-row seats. That's good enough for a 0-to-60 mph time of 11.4 seconds and a range of 75 miles. The car will recharge from a 110-volt outlet in 12 or 13 hours, or half that time plugged into a 220-volt outlet. The price is expected to be under $30,000, and sales will begin in late 2011.
Bottom Line
The i-MiEV will be one of the first electric vehicles accessible to the daily commuter: It is small, but still has is enough room for four adults and a couple of overnight bags-for under $30,000.
Nissan Leaf
Eco is chic. How else to explain that 56,000 people have placed a deposit on the Nissan Leaf? The Leaf is an electric five-door Prius-shaped vehicle that promises a 100-mile range-which is farther than 90 percent of commuters drive in a day. Its front-mounted electric motor emits zero emissions, yet provides 107 hp and 208 lb-ft of torque, which should translate to quick starts and a top speed of nearly 90 mph. Charging takes less than 8 hours on a 220-volt outlet, and the extra-powerful 50-kw charger option will provide an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Nissan marketing types claim its name is an acronym for "Leading Environmentally Friendly Affordable Family Car," which we can't help but notice spells LEFAFC. Note to Nissan: Why not revise that to the simpler, more direct: "Look-Electric And Functional!" But Nissan wanted to highlight the car's affordability. Thanks to an estimated price of $32,780 and a healthy $7500 federal tax rebate to consumers, the Leaf could be the first electric vehicle to costs less than the average car.
Bottom LineWith the $32,000 base price and hefty marketing campaign, it's safe to say that Leafs (or is it Leaves?) will begin covering America's roads rather quickly when deliveries begin in December.
Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is a rather handsome electric sedan under development by Tesla Motors. The price is expected to be under $50,000, with a base price of $57,400, minus a federal tax credit of $7500. The battery pack consists of 5000 lithium cells, which give the car a range of about 160 miles when fully charged. Larger 8000-cell packs would extend that range to around 300 miles. As for dynamic performance, Tesla estimates that its sedan will accelerate to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Recharging will take 3 to 5 hours, but a 480-volt QuickCharge system will do the job in about 45 minutes. Do-it-yourselfers will have no trouble swapping out the entire battery pack in less than 5 minutes, claims Tesla. The factory, which is rumored to be located in Southern California, has yet to be built, so unfortunately there is really no telling when the first production car will arrive. But deliveries are expected to commence by early 2012.
Bottom line
The Model S is made for those not making millions who have a healthy case of Roadster envy.
Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster was the first electric car to show the world that electric cars don't have to suck. Essentially, it's an electrified Lotus Elise, only quicker. The chassis is constructed at the Lotus factory in Hethel, England, before being shipped to Silicon Valley, Calif., for final assembly. Thanks to an electric motor and 6831 cellphone batteries that are wired together, the Tesla generates nearly 300 lb-ft of torque the instant you press the go pedal. The new Roadster Sport will do 0 to 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds and, because it has only one gear ratio, tops out at 125 mph. This car single-handedly redefines what it means to be green. It may not exactly be the most affordable definition, but that's because lithium batteries are still quite expensive. To date, Tesla has delivered more than 900 Roadsters at a base price of $109,000. The 2010 Roadster Sport model-which features performance tires and adjustable dampers and roll bars-will set you back a whopping $128,500.
Bottom line
It will be tough to shake the reputation of the Roadster as the sexiest electric sports car on the block.
Think City
From late May until late July, the sun doesn't set above the Arctic Circle. Hence, Norway is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. And when the sun is up all the time, people apparently spend a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the environment. Hence, the Think City. Available as a two-seater or as a 2+2, the Think City is a pioneer in the field of electric cars, having been around since the early 1990s, when Ford Motor Company helped engineer the first Thinks. These days, the Norwegians have completely taken over operations, and seem to be doing well-despite its somewhat fragile appearance, the Think City has been crash tested and approved for use on U.S. highways. Think CEO Jan-Olaf Willums has indicated that in 2011, the City will sell in the U.S. for $15,000 to $17,000, plus $100 to $200 per month to lease the batteries, which are available as either sodium-nickel or lithium-based. The top speed is 65 mph, and the range on a full charge is 130 miles.
Bottom line
Despite its Dr. Seuss-derived design, the Think City is a serious option for city commuters, with a most attainable price.
Volvo C30
An electric motor uses about a quarter as much energy as an internal-combustion engine that runs on fossil fuels, according to the electrical engineers at Volvo Cars. Playing the role of Pied Piper, Paul Gustavsson, Volvo's director of electrification, said: "We hope that the authorities and the rest of the society will follow Volvo Cars in our 'Drive Towards Zero,'" which is Volvo's goal of building cars that emit zero carbon dioxide, except in the production of the electricity it requires to charge them. To that end, starting next year, the Swedes will build an all-electric version of the Volvo C30, for sale only in the European Union. The batteries weigh 617 pounds, but provide the motors with enough output-87 kw (111 bhp) to get the C30 up to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds. The plan is to build a fleet of 30 vehicles, none of which will make it to North America, each with a 94-mile range. That alone won't save the world but, of course, the longest journey begins with a single step.
Bottom line
The Volvo might not be as quick as a BMW ActiveE, but it is more spacious inside.
Ford Transit Connect
Ford will produce five electric vehicles in the next few years, starting with the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric, a zero-emission lithium-battery-powered commercial vehicle that goes on sale this fall. The diminutive van-which has an 80-mile range and can be recharged on standard 120-volt or 240-volt outlets-uses few moving parts, promising fewer maintenance issues for fleets that run short, scheduled routes. Next year, Ford will follow up with a consumer-friendly 2012 Ford Focus Electric, which will use Microsoft's Hohm energy-management system to recharge batteries in off-peak hours. Ford also has three other as-yet-unannounced plug-in electric vehicles in the works, but company spokespeople remain mum on the details. At least until the next major auto show.
Bottom line
The electric Transit Connect is likely to be a go-to for small businesses that are looking to save some money on gasoline but can't afford a custom EV fleet.

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