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by Jack Collins

Smart Electric and Car2Go Potential

January 31, 2013 in Car sharing, Daimler, Electric Vehicles, EV News, Smart Electric

Car2Go Seattle WA Photo courtesy of Car2Go Smart Electric and Car2Go Potential

Car2Go Seattle WA
Photo courtesy of Car2Go
Smart Electric and Car2Go Potential

Car2Go Potential

Daimler made a couple of comments that were newsworthy in a press release today.  First, the company gave a strong signal that they expect good demand for the new Smart Electric and that they are planning to ramp up production.  The press release was referring to German sales in this comment: “Last year more than 1000 zero-local-emission smart fortwo electric drives were produced, and in 2013 the production will be continuously stepped up to meet the high demand as quickly as possible.”  Second, Daimler clearly expressed its happiness with the financial aspects of Car2Go, the car sharing subsidiary.  The release stated: “By the end of 2012 – much earlier than expected – the concept (Car2Go) had already become profitable in several cities.”

The language in this press release is very reassuring for the Smart Electric and Car2Go future.  The haze has cleared a bit.  There is significant upside to the EV story in the United States, if the Smart Electric is produced in volume.  Since Car2Go has been very active in the US market of recent, I suspect that they like the results to date, and they would be inclined to add the new Smart Electrics as they arrive.

The Smart Electric is perfectly suited for urban markets, which plays into the Car2Go model.  Currently, Car2Go has operations in the following US cities: Austin TX, San Diego CA, Washington D.C., Portland OR, Seattle WA, and Miami FL.  The mayors of these cities and the private sector charging companies have a great opportunity to expand the electric vehicle market with Car2Go.  The publicly accessible charging infrastructure in these cities needs to be fully developed.

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by Jack Collins

DOE Workplace Charging Challenge

January 31, 2013 in EV Campaigns, EV News

Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the Washington Auto Show Photo courtesy of the DOE 1-31-13 DOE Workplace Charging Challenge

Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the Washington Auto Show
Photo courtesy of the DOE 1-31-13
DOE Workplace Charging Challenge

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new collaborative effort to increase EV charging infrastructure at workplaces.  The name of this new EV campaign is the Workplace Charging Challenge. 

Energy Secretary Steven Chu made the announcement at the Washington Auto Show.  The DOE press release stated: “Joined by representatives from several of the founding partner employers, Secretary Chu also announced the first 13 employers that have signed the Workplace Charging Pledge as Partners, including: 3M, Chrysler Group, Duke Energy, Eli Lilly and Company, Ford, GE, GM, Google, Nissan, San Diego Gas & Electric, Siemens, Tesla, and Verizon.  The pledge commits each partner organization to assess workforce PEV charging demands, and then develop and implement a plan to install workplace charging infrastructure for at least one major worksite location.”

There is little doubt that significantly more Americans would purchase an electric vehicle if there was charging accessibility at the workplace.  Outside of the home, the workplace is typically the most desired location for charging.  By setting this challenge, Energy Secretary Chu clearly sends a message to corporate America that the government believes this is best for the country.

The DOE press release continued: “Eight stakeholder organizations also have signed the Ambassador Pledge to develop and execute plans to support and promote the workplace charging initiative, including: California PEV Collaborative, CALSTART, Electric Drive Transportation Association, Electrification Coalition, International Parking Institute, NextEnergy, Plug In America, and Rocky Mountain Institute.  To support the Partners and Ambassadors who sign the pledge, DOE will provide technical assistance and establish a forum for Partners and Ambassadors to share information.”

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EV Fuel Saving by State (DOE)

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by Jack Collins

Israel Airstrike Inside Syria

January 30, 2013 in EIA, EV News, Oil, Politics

Israel made an airstrike on a convoy in Syria headed for Lebanon. 

Reuters said: “Diplomatic sources from three countries told Reuters that chemical weapons were believed to be stored at Jamraya, and that it was possible that the convoy was near the large site when it came under attack early on Wednesday.”  This news undoubtedly filtered into the oil market.

The New York Times confirmed the story from American sources.  The New York Times reported: “Israeli warplanes carried out a strike deep inside Syrian territory on Wednesday, American officials reported, saying they believed the target was a convoy carrying sophisticated antiaircraft weaponry on the outskirts of Damascus that was intended for the Hezbollah Shiite militia in Lebanon.”

WTI oil increased to $98.02 a barrel.  The oil market has been bullish due to the problems in the Middle East.  According to the EIA’s latest weekly oil inventory report, total petroleum inventories increased by 2.0 million barrels.  There is plenty of crude oil in inventory at present.  However, there was a slight draw in gasoline inventories, and the market took this as a surprise, pushing wholesale gasoline prices up to $3.037.  AAA states that the national retail gasoline average is now $3.39, and this should move higher still with the latest moves in the oil market.

Source: US Gov. EIA World Oil Transit Chokepoints (Aug. 2012) Israel Airstrike Inside Syria

Source: US Gov. EIA
World Oil Transit Chokepoints (Aug. 2012)
Israel Airstrike Inside Syria

Cushing oil supply increased .3 million to 51.7 million barrels.  Seaway oil pipeline volumes were reported to be reduced about a week ago, and this inventory reading confirms that the glut continues to be a problem.  Business Week reported on Jan. 25: “Enterprise Product Partners LP (EPD) said the Seaway pipeline is ‘running as expected’ despite restrictions on how much oil can be received at the pipe’s final terminal in Jones Creek, Texas.  Shippers can take enough oil off the line at Seaway’s other terminal in Katy, Texas, to ‘make up the difference,’ Rick Rainey, a Houston-based spokesman for Enterprise, said today.  Rainey declined to specify the rate at which the line is currently running.”  The spread between WTI oil and Brent oil remains around $17, which suggests that oil traders think the glut of oil at Cushing will persist for a while.

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by Jack Collins

China Coal Pollution Problem

January 29, 2013 in China, Environment, EV News, Pollution

EIA Today in Energy (1-29-13) China Coal Pollution Problem

EIA Today in Energy (1-29-13)
China Coal Pollution Problem

According to the EIA, China accounts for 47% of total coal consumption worldwide, almost matching the rest of the world combined.  This timely report was released today, clearly showing the magnitude of the Chinese pollution problem.  Coal is the dirtiest of the fossil fuels.  By most estimates, coal emits twice as much carbon as natural gas.

The EIA reported: “Robust coal demand growth in China is the result of a more than 200% increase in Chinese electric generation since 2000, fueled primarily by coal.  China’s coal demand growth averaged 9% per year from 2000 to 2010, more than double the global growth rate of 4% and significantly higher than global growth excluding China, which averaged only 1%.”

Chinese leaders need to make some decisions.  They are clearly facing a dilemma between economic growth and the environment.  It appears that they are leaning towards a cap-and-trade system to be the decider.  Bloomberg reported: “Shenzhen is one of seven manufacturing areas in China scheduled to start pilot programs this year for carbon trading.  Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Tianjin, Chongqing and Hubei are the other participants in a network that Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts will regulate 800 million to 1 billion tons of emissions by 2015.  That would be the world’s biggest cap-and- trade program after the one in Europe.”

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by Jack Collins

Beijing Pollution is Hazardous

January 29, 2013 in BYD, China, Environment, EV News, Pollution

Thick smog hovers again over the city of Beijing China, and the city government is warning residents to avoid going outdoors. 

Residents are concerned about health issues and frustrated with the situation.  The US Embassy website in Beijing China shows that the air quality is hazardous.  The Embassy warns: “Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors; people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low.”

The Chinese government has introduced a smog warning system for residents of its polluted cities.  Xinhua news reported: “The National Meteorological Center (NMC) has introduced a three-tier color-coded weather warning system to alert the public to the severity of smog.  The system uses yellow to imply moderately smoggy weather, orange for severe conditions and red for extremely severe levels of smog.”

This is a great opportunity for the EV industry to step-up the development of electric vehicles in China.  This is a crisis, and the Chinese people are looking for solutions.  CNN reported: “Citizens were fed up with the hazardous air.  The latest blanket of smog, which began to cover the eastern China area on Monday, is the fourth to menace the area since the beginning of the year.”

BYD K9 electric bus Image courtesy of BYD Beijing Pollution is Hazardous

BYD K9 electric bus
Image courtesy of BYD
Beijing Pollution is Hazardous

I would certainly hope that more changes are coming soon.  It is rather odd that BYD is selling electric buses and electric taxis around the world when they are most needed in China.  The fact that BYD went to the effort to print newspaper advertisements in China recently to advertise the environmental benefits of its electric vehicles makes me wonder about the deliberating process of the Chinese government.

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