--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > In a message dated 7/3/06 6:19:18 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > Opens in the Bay Area this weekend so I'll see next week (maybe if it > opens at the local Cinearts where I've seen the trailer). > > new.morning wrote: > > >Of course GM was the source of many of those electric cars around 1996 > >-- cited and pictured in the blurb. Does the Sony film suggest GM, > >beyond ending its 100 million + research, did so for nefarious > >reasons, other than economics? -- that is that the electic car was > >not going to make it in the then current climate of oil prices, > >jump-start incentives, and consumer preferences? (It was a cool car-- > >acceleration was unworldly.) > > > > > > So why haven't the Japanese developed an electric car. Aren't they more > dependent on foreign oil than we are?Seems anything GM or Ford can do, Toyota > can do better.
My company was involved in the electric car in the 90's. My recollection is that the economics just were too long run to get the cost of battery storage down, and lighter. And without the gov't willing to jumpstart demand and the subsequent economies of scale, GM and others backed down, despite their over 1 $bil sunk costs. And the SCAQB / South Coast Air Quality Board (or similar name) lost thier nerve and vision in requiring something like 5% zero emmissions vehicles by 20xx. Again the economics were too long run I beleive. I dealt with some of the 30 forecasts for electric vehicles in CA and they were quite small. The economics for most consumers were not forthcoming. Its a chicken and egg thing. 10-20 years ago, a gas tax refelcting at least partial social costs of oil, pumped into massive battery research would have paid large dividends today. Not only in cars but solar, PCs, and many areas. I suspect toyota saw the same. And focused on hybrids, which has had more short term viability. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/6pRQfA/fOaOAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
