hybrid cars-electric powered car

hybrid cars

If you listen to the makers, hybrid cars are the best invention since sliced bread. While there are many reasons to buy a hybrid car, including a new tax incentive for US owners, it helps to have a good understanding of how they work. This article explores the myths, benefits and drawbacks of owning one of these new “green” vehicles.
First off: What is a hybrid car? Basically, it’s a normal, fuel efficient car that has two motors - an electric motor and a gasoline powered motor. It also has a special system to capture braking energy to store in an onboard battery.

Why a hybrid? Why not a straight gas or electric powered car? After all, one of the basic rules of science is the more complex the system - two motors instead on one - the more often it will break down. This is the main reason many boat owners prefer one motor instead of the “double trouble” of two - despite the obvious safety advantages. This is a hard question and, in the minds of some experts, not fully answered.

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EVs mass market: $10k Electric car tax break proposed TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY, BYDDY, F, GM,

"The main open question is: will Electric Cars' adoption rate be correlated with Washing Machines' one or will it enjoy more explosive growth like Mobiles with rate of acceleration like iPods on the chart below? First, we will strike brutally and cynically (the way the Wall Street works): how can you compare washing machines and Cars? Even Electric ones? Cars are all about men, their personal social security space with a statement. How many of us discussed washing machines even the best ones? Brutal history about washing machines is that it was for the "best part" - to make her life better, it was not about status and not about statement - so it took 80 years to get to the 80% adoption rate. On a more serious note time has changed: it will not be about him all the time this time and it is not about U.S. only this time, but first back to iPod Moment."

We have another reason to believe that growth in Electric Cars penetration rate could be explosive: in all estimates government policy is crucial combined with lithium battery cost for mass adoption of EVs within next ten years.

DetNews.com:

Electric car tax break proposed

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf buyers in select cities would get $10K incentive under Senate plan
David Shepardson / The Detroit News
Washington -- Buyers of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf would be eligible for a $10,000 federal tax credit in some cities under a $10 billion Senate plan to boost electric vehicles.
House and Senate members on Thursday released similar plans intended to make electric vehicles more than niche models.
The House version would spend $6.6 billion, dedicating $800 million to five "deployment communities" to speed 700,000 plug-in vehicles into use and establish recharging networks. A Senate version would spend about $10 billion and grant $250 million to up to 15 communities.


The Senate version would extend the current $7,500 tax credit for 200,000 plug-in vehicles per manufacturer to 300,000. And it would boost the credit to $10,000 in those 15 communities.
That would further reduce the cost of the Volt, which will get up to 40 miles on a charge, and the fully electric Nissan Leaf, which will get up to 100 miles.
General Motors spokesman Greg Martin praised the bills.
"We appreciate Congress' foresight and interest in electric vehicles," he said. "With the Chevrolet Volt just months away from the showroom, we believe the timing is right to start working on policies that can accelerate early consumer adoption of advanced electric vehicle technologies."
Electric vehicles enjoy widespread support across the political spectrum.
"Republicans and Democrats agree that electrifying our cars and trucks is the single best way to reduce our dependence on oil," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., one of the sponsors.
Both bills would set aside billions more for research into batteries, research and tax credits.
The Senate bill also would create a $10 million prize for the first manufacturer of a battery that can get 500 miles on a charge.
Congressional aides have spent several months writing the bills. Members cited the recent Gulf oil spill as a factor in the urgent need to shift vehicles from oil to electric power.
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., noted that the United States has 2 percent of the world's oil reserves but consumes 25 percent of the world's oil.
"This isn't a question of if, but when," Markey said, adding the bill would speed up the widespread use of electric vehicles. "It will drive the creation of jobs, domestic manufacturing and homegrown innovation."
The Senate bill would require that one of the 15 deployment communities be a rural area of fewer than 125,000 people and would "reflect diverse populations" and geography.
The Senate bill sets aside another $2 billion for grants and cost sharing -- local communities would have to provide 20 percent of the funding.
Communities and their business and utility partners would have to apply for inclusion.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100528/AUTO01/5280349/1148/rss25#ixzz0pDCtrQjP"

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Lithium Batteries Powering Ten Percent of Autos by 2020 TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, FCX, BHP, LUN.to, NG.to, NSANY,

This report continues our quest in Electric Cars adoption rate scenarios:

"As you can see above, explosive growth in some sectors can happen even when economy is slowly growing as a whole. Authors of the Deloitte study very carefully took into consideration a lot of different aspects for adoption of the new technology like Electric Cars. Have they missed something? Maybe not when we are talking about U.S. in a "normal situation", but we are living in a "New Normal" according to PIMCO. Charts above and below bring us some more dimensions for thoughts. It is growth of Oil consumption in China from 1965 and below is Rate of this Growth compare to other countries. We will bring a new factor into the growth valuation for EVs - what if there is no more Cheap Oil left and how it feels to be grounded? We will address you to the Life After Oil and other thoughts on the Peak Oil."


LithiumInvestingNews:

"Lithium Batteries Powering Ten Percent of Autos by 2020

By Dave Brown – Exclusive to LithiumInvestingNews.com

The Royal Academy of Engineering has issued a report that suggests hybrid and electric cars may grab as much as 10 percent of the European automobile market by 2020. The largest impediments for this forecast appear to be cost hurdles, standardized regulations, and infrastructure investments.
The report points out that the reserve base represents sufficient lithium for a billion EV batteries, meaning that lithium shortages do not appear imminent and the diversity of possible battery chemistries suggests that a shortage of battery materials is unlikely. In addition to the lithium based batteries, which currently appear to be the industry’s state of the art technological benchmark, energy storage sources might potentially include lead, nickel, sodium, and zinc-based chemistries.
The report identifies four technical issues: availability of high energy-density batteries at a practical price, feasibility of charging vehicles, infrastructure implementation, and a ’smart grid’ that can recharge millions of electric vehicles using low-carbon electricity. The current contribution of renewable and low-carbon generation to the United Kingdom’s energy supply is one of the lowest in Europe. If the country intends to meet its renewable energy targets, a range of new low-carbon sources will be needed, including new nuclear power stations, wind farms, and tidal barrages.
Last October, a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP indicated that automobiles manufacturers are set to introduce 42 electric models worldwide by 2012"

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Powered by Lithium: Nissan CEO Ghosn Sticks With Bullish Electric-Car Forecast TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY, BYDDY, F,

This devise above is the basis for the Next Big Thing and we have it at every home which can afford to buy any car now.

Now we need these cars to be on the road and drive the market.

"The main open question is: will Electric Cars' adoption rate be correlated with Washing Machines' one or will it enjoy more explosive growth like Mobiles with rate of acceleration like iPods on the chart below? First, we will strike brutally and cynically (the way the Wall Street works): how can you compare washing machines and Cars? Even Electric ones? Cars are all about men, their personal social security space with a statement. How many of us discussed washing machines even the best ones? Brutal history about washing machines is that it was for the "best part" - to make her life better, it was not about status and not about statement - so it took 80 years to get to the 80% adoption rate. On a more serious note time has changed: it will not be about him all the time this time and it is not about U.S. only this time, but first back to iPod Moment."

WSJ:

Nissan CEO Ghosn Sticks With Bullish Electric-Car Forecast

Carlos Ghosn, credited with turning around ailing Nissan a decade ago, said today he’s confident sales of electric cars will account for 10% of the market by 2020. He isn’t worried by naysayers who, he says, are often car makers who simply aren’t prepared to compete in the rising electric segment.
The Nissan and Renault CEO said in a meeting with Wall Street Journal editors and reporters that the two car companies plan to roll out several electric models in the next few years. If anything, he says, that pace may still be too slow because demand for electrics is almost certain to accelerate once consumers see them in action. His biggest worry: that demand for electric vehicles “will take off faster than expected and we will be under capacity.”
So why he so bullish on electric cars when many analysts and industry watchers predict they will account for only about 2% of the market in 10 years? Part of the reason is infrastructure. Ghosn says Nissan is pursuing agreements with governments and businesses to install charging stations in parking garages, shopping areas, office parks and elsewhere so drivers won’t have to worry as much about range, a nagging disadvantage for electrics compared with gasoline-powered cars.
Ghosn also says there are charging systems in development that can cut the time it takes to recharge electric car batteries from hours to minutes. Nissan is focused on the U.S. launch in December of the Leaf, an electric sedan with a range of about 100 miles. Ghosn says the company is in contact with 130,000 “hand raisers” — people who have expressed interest in the Leaf, and 13,000 advance orders for the car. He says these numbers represent individual consumers, not government and corporate fleets."

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China will award buyers of green cars with subsidies of up to 60,000 yuan ($8,789) each TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC,

"We will bring a new factor into the growth valuation for EVs - what if there is no more Cheap Oil left and how it feels to be grounded? We will address you to the Life After Oil and other thoughts on the Peak Oil."

Nothing will be left to chance: China has carefully planed and now is executing its strategy in Electric Car space. Now we have another confirmation about State level shift in technology from China.

"Two charts show the dynamic of China's expansion into auto space reflecting the explosive Oil Consumption Rate of Growth above. This is why it will be not about only U.S. this time, but every move in China will affect U.S."

"Two most important points from here: Oil Consumption will go up dramatically with declining production, without major State level shift in technology China and India will not be able to bring mobility to its population without suffocating its own people and along the way they will drive prices for Oil above USD150 again."

Reuters:

Chinese green car buyers to get rebates -paper

Mon May 24, 2010 12:23am EDT
SHANGHAI, May 24 (Reuters) - China will award buyers of green cars with subsidies of up to 60,000 yuan ($8,789) each, the Shanghai Securities News said on Monday, as it steps up efforts to cut emissions in the world's biggest auto market.
Stocks Global Markets Cyclical Consumer Goods
The Chinese government has worked out a plan to subsidise green car buyers and will unveil details by the end of this month, the newspaper said, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Subsidies will be based on the performance and energy-savings efficiency of the models, the paper said.
Maximum subsidies for buyers of pure electric vehicles is 60,000 yuan each, while those for plug-in hybrid and normal hybrid cars are 50,000 yuan and 3,000 yuan respectively, it said.
Beijing said in December 2009 that it will subsidise green vehicle buyers in five selected cities.
It will also expand a pilot scheme to subsidise the purchase of clean-energy vehicles for public transport fleets in 13 cities to 20 cities, it said, without giving a timetable or naming the cities. [ID:nTOE5B9033]
Chinese automakers, unscathed by a savage global downturn, are ramping up efforts to get cleaner, low-emission vehicles on the roads, counting on the green drive to propel them into the top ranks of the global auto industry.
From leading Chinese auto group SAIC Motor Corp (600104.SS) to rising star Geely Automotive Holding (0175.HK), indigenous players showcased a host of new green vehicles at the 2010 Beijing autoshow in April.
Foreign automakers are also on the move. In 2011, General Motors [GM.UL] will roll out its Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid in China next year, while Nissan Motor (7201.T) will bring its electric model, Leaf, to the country. ($1=6.826 Yuan) (Reporting by Fang Yan and Jacqueline Wong)

READ MORE - China will award buyers of green cars with subsidies of up to 60,000 yuan ($8,789) each TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC,

Life after Oil: Copper, Energy Efficiency and Green Mobility Revolution TNR.v, MAI.to, FCX, BHP, RTP, LUN.to, CZX.v, CS.to, QUA.to, CHD.to, AUY, NEM,

"Peak Oil and Lithium: Joint Operating Environment 2010
Please pay attention, this report is written by those who knows the Real Price of Oil. If you account all military needed to protect Oil supply lines and cost of wars to get more oil, price will be well above 150 USD/barrel already. Now we all have another problem: there is simply no more oil enough for all. Will future wars for oil be the only answer?"

Electric Cars is the only commercially viable technology today to sustain mobility world wide with rising Oil prices. Lithium is at the heart of Green Mobility revolution - it is an industry adopted standard for batteries and billions of dollars are invested into battery technology and upcoming by the end of this year Electric Cars on a mass market scale. This Bull market is still very young - only a year or so from the beginning after the crash of 2008."

In our quest for the new Bulls ignited by Peak Oil and new disruptive transformational technologies we can not avoid old solid Copper play. Electricity is the most convenient form of energy available to us, it could be generated by using different sources, it could be transported and it could be transformed in another form of energy or to power different devices from A/C to iPod. Now we have means to store it, game has been changed in Energy Business with development of lithium batteries powerful enough for mobility applications. Electric cars is the new game in town and we have defined our Lithium Bull on supply side for Energy Storage applications. In a sharp contrast to Hydrogen proposition you do not have to invest first billions in the Hydrogen infrastructure - electric infrastructure is here already and it is relatively easy to extend and upgrade it for EV mass market use. Our argument here is that once we moved from high energy density fuel like Oil for mobility applications, we have really revolutionary development in batteries for energy storage and it will be always cheaper and safer to produce electricity at industrial scale plant than on board of the vehicle, when it should be safe, light, cost efficient and with high specific power. Here where Copper come into play as a "Green metal". We will need to provide the "Last Mile" - to build charging points. Copper is at the heart of every electric motor and electric motors are all around us providing necessary conversion of electricity into mechanical power. Now in this space the focus is on energy efficiency and Copper is taking the central stage.

"About Copper & Energy Efficiency

There's no better solution than copper when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of electrical products.
Copper is one of the most reliable and efficient media for transmitting electric power. Electricity flowing through copper wires meets far less resistance than it would in aluminum or steel wires of the same width. In fact, copper is a better electrical conductor than any other metal except silver, making it the most economical and efficient electrical conductor available. Using copper wires results in lower electrical transmission losses, thus conserving energy and reducing demand on generating capacity, which ultimately benefits us all!
As demands for electrically operated machines grow, consumers worldwide will naturally seek more energy efficient devices. Apart from saving on electricity bills, extensive use of copper in home construction will maximize safety, security and efficient energy management.
Conserve for tomorrow
Wasted energy needlessly depletes natural resources. It is expensive. It negatively impacts on the pocket books of people, companies, and national economies.
And it requires fossil-fueled power plants to work harder, thereby emitting more greenhouse gases and contributing to climate change. For all of these reasons, it is critical to find new ways to improve energy efficiency.
Switching to energy-efficient equipment, such as high- and premium-efficiency motors, high-efficiency transformers, and appliances requires only a modest additional investment. But that investment will more than pay for itself in reduced energy bills, usually within a short time.
Outstanding conductivity aside, copper possesses a number of other advantageous qualities as well. Copper is easy to work with and far more corrosion resistant than aluminum.
Sustainable Energy Efficiency Programs
ICASEA recognizes the need to continuously promote and tap Copper's limitless potential for electrical applications. We highlight the importance of the maintaining the economic efficiency of the energy systems so that society is aware that copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, and that increases the efficiency of electrical products. This in turn translates into lower operating cost, increased reliability, longer lifespan, and lower risk of brownouts, increased safety and more capital for business investments.
Our programs cover the entire chain of electrical systems - from electrical power generation to the transmission, distribution and end use of electricity. The benefits reaped include less waste and less heat generated when electrical systems are utilized for serving mankind.
We do this through sharing information and best practices in developing countries on the benefits of upsizing to the correct gauge of copper wires used throughout the construction industry to reduce heat loss and increase energy efficiency.
It is apparent in power generators, high efficiency motors, power distribution transformers, and magnetic ballasts. Copper also offers the most substantial electrical and energy efficiency benefits over other materials. We have co-organized and co-sponsored intra-Asian programs that have unlocked opportunities within the intra-ASEAN network to share knowledge and gain a position of influence in strategically important forums of the industry. Our programs have laid the foundation for future expansion of markets for the members of our centre."

READ MORE - Life after Oil: Copper, Energy Efficiency and Green Mobility Revolution TNR.v, MAI.to, FCX, BHP, RTP, LUN.to, CZX.v, CS.to, QUA.to, CHD.to, AUY, NEM,

Nissan in “Crisis Mode,” Banking on Electric Cars TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, FMC, SQM, ROC, HEV, VLNC, NSANY, RNO, F, FCX, LUN.to, BHP,

"Lithium is the leveraged play on Peak Oil and rising Oil price with coming Inflation. Sector is very small and market is even more smaller - everything is ready for the parabolic move in case of supporting fundamentals.
Recent Oil Spill shows the real price for Oil and leaves no doubt for us that there will be no more cheap oil: offshore drilling is costly now, it will be even more costly later. Relatively cheap Oil is in the hands of state owned companies in not so friendly to U.S. places. Oil squeeze will come from diminishing production rates and rising Inflation. The move will be even more explosive than in the Gold market - in the end only minority of people is effected by the gold price even now, Oil is the underlining of all Western Energy Diet. It is not sustainable. Emerging markets are taking more and more share of world wide production, oil producing countries are spending more at home. If you account all cost to produce, deliver and protect Oil supply to U.S. corp the price is already above 150 USD/barrel.
"Peak Oil and Lithium: Joint Operating Environment 2010
Please pay attention, this report is written by those who knows the Real Price of Oil. If you account all military needed to protect Oil supply lines and cost of wars to get more oil, price will be well above 150 USD/barrel already. Now we all have another problem: there is simply no more oil enough for all. Will future wars for oil be the only answer?"

earth2tech:

"Nissan in “Crisis Mode,” Banking on Electric Cars

By Josie Garthwaite

Electric cars and low-cost vehicles in emerging markets: That’s the name of the game for Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. in the next fiscal year. Reporting a net profit of 42.4 billion yen (about $458.7 million) for the year ending March 31 and a quarterly loss of 11.6 billion yen ($125.5 million), Nissan executives emphasized signs of recovery and strategic commitment to greener vehicles Wednesday in remarks to shareholders. In the previous year, ending March 2009, Nissan reported a 233.7 billion yen ($2.5 billion) net loss.
“Although we continue to operate in an environment that is volatile and uncertain,” Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn said in a presentation today in Yokohama, Japan, “fiscal year 2010 will be an important year in which we launch an affordable, mass-market, all-electric, zero-emission vehicle, extend our presence in emerging markets and develop additional synergies in the Renault-Nissan alliance.” (Ghosn also heads up Renault.)
Nissan plans to launch its first electric model, the LEAF sedan, in select U.S. markets in December, with national sales slated for next year. At $32,780 (before incentives), the car could be one of the cheapest highway-capable electric vehicles on the road in coming years. The pricing — which Mark Perry, director of product planning and strategy for Nissan North America, has told us will allow the automaker to turn a profit on the vehicle — places the LEAF slightly under retail prices expected for BYD’s e6, Coda Automotive’s Coda sedan, Tesla’s Model S and General Motors’ Chevy Volt (see: 12 Plug-in Cars You Can Drive by 2011 and Electric Sedan Smackdown).
Nissan expects capital spending to reach 360 billion yen (about $4 billion) or 4.4 percent of sales in the fiscal year ending next March, up from 273.6 billion yen or 3.6 percent of sales in the 2009 fiscal year. According to Bloomberg, Ghosn said the increase in that percentage will stem from the automaker’s buildout of manufacturing capacity for electric cars and efforts to expand in emerging markets.
Ghosn also commented that the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s new partner, German automaker Daimler, will contribute to the company’s “complete recovery and enable future growth.” That will mean, “growing and being sustainable in a new era that requires meeting the growing demand for affordable mobility while being conscious of and responsive to environmental requirements,” he explained.
Executives from Daimler and Renault-Nissan announced in April a comprehensive partnership to share powertrains and architecture for compact cars and light commercial vehicles. Among other projects, the companies plan to cooperate on electric versions of Daimler’s Smart Fortwo and Renault’s Twingo, and explore “opportunities to co-develop technologies related to electric vehicles and batteries.” In Japan today, however, Ghosn said it’s too early to disclose how the deal will unfold in terms of sharing technology for electric vehicles, according to the AP.
In a time when many automakers are racing to increase the range and decrease the cost of plug-in vehicles in upcoming generations, Nissan also plans to raise its investment in research and development to 430 billion yen (about $4.6 billion) in the 2010 fiscal year, compared to 385.5 billion yen ($4.2 billion) in last fiscal year.

The automaker will have some help when it comes to ramping up EV production. Nissan closed a $1.4 billion loan with the Department of Energy earlier this year, with the funds set to go toward retooling of a Smyrna, Tenn. plant for Nissan’s electric LEAF sedan, as well as batteries for the vehicle.
Nissan’s plan calls for production of the LEAF to begin in Oppama, Japan, and for the Smyrna plant to come online in 2012. In addition, the LEAF model and batteries are slated to start rolling off assembly lines at a plant in Sunderland, UK in 2013, with aid from the UK government.
The automaker sold 3.5 million vehicles in the year just ended, including a strong push from China, while North America and EU sales declined. For the 2010 fiscal year ending next March, Nissan is forecasting 3.8 million vehicle sales. Electric cars will represent just a drop in the bucket for the time being, with the automaker targeting sales of 6,000 units for the LEAF in Japan and aiming to bring in 20,000 reservations for the model in the U.S. before it launches in select regional markets at the end of this year.
Images courtesy of Nissan"

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Peak Oil and Lithium: Joint Operating Environment 2010: Oil Supply Concerns TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, FCX, FXI,

Chinese oil consumption growth from 1965

What will happen if there is not enough Oil for all?

"Wall Street Journal: The US may stockpile Lithium and REE under Strategic Materials Security Program.

Race for Strategic Materials is on and U.S. is not in the front seats now: China controls 97% of REE market and lithium mostly produced in Chile, Argentina and Australia at the moment. Bolivia - named the Saudi Arabia of lithium by some, has its own mind about its vast undeveloped resources of lithium. Japanese companies are buying into Canadian and Australian junior mining companies to secure lithium supply and Chinese are very active in Australia. When U.S. will look at domestic lithium development in Nevada? Government sponsored enterprise in U.S. Strategic Metals Development Corp. like a Japanese JOGMEC can do the trick and finance juniors like International Lithium, Western Lithium and Rodinia Minerals on J/V basis: otherwise it will be 80s with Japanese Fever all over again. This time Japanese conglomerates will control not only movie studious, but something little bit more essential in the time of peak oil - lithium supply for the Electric Mobility Revolution. Recent deal in Nevada by JOGMEC with Lomico Metals is the first step in that direction, properties are still under DD review, but appetite to be engage in lithium exploration and development in Nevada by Japanese is there. Who will be gone next? When GM, Ford, GE, Dow, Rio Tinto, Boeing and DOE will wake up?"

"We are running Gold Bull for nearly ten years now: Gold first, than Majors and follow up on Junior side. We were always wondering about Future of Energy and have collected some great memories on Uranium Run, Solar and Water plays. Gold Bull has years to run, but we are searching constantly for new Macro trends - it is very interesting to find out what will be the next Bull which will come out of these rubbles in case we are right and Inflation will be the answer to deflation war scenario. It is time for Lithium to come into picture.
Lithium is the leveraged play on Peak Oil and rising Oil price with coming Inflation. Sector is very small and market is even more smaller - everything is ready for the parabolic move in case of supporting fundamentals."

Please pay attention, this report is written by those who knows the Real Price of Oil. If you account all military needed to protect Oil supply lines and cost of wars to get more oil, price will be well above 150 USD/barrel already. Now we all have another problem: there is simply no more oil enough for all. Will future wars for oil be the only answer?

EnergyBulletin:

Joint Operating Environment 2010: Oil Supply Concerns (review)
by Rick Munroe
The United States Joint Forces Command regularly (about every two years) issues its “perspective on future trends, shocks, contexts and implications for… the national security field.” The newly released version of the Joint Operating Environment (JOE) is fundamentally similar to its predecessor, which was released in 2008. Its overall structure is only slightly altered, much of the text is identical, and the time-frame under consideration is the same (to 2030).
Amid the multitude of security threats, energy has moved rapidly to the forefront, and it is the oil supply issue which is the focus of this review. The main oil supply vulnerabilities which were cited in 2008 are reiterated, thus indicating that there has been no amelioration. It restates that “oil and coal will continue to drive the energy train” until 2030, though it warns that in order to do so, “the world would need to add roughly the equivalent of Saudi Arabia’s current production every seven years” (p. 24).
Significantly, a text box has been added on Peak Oil which states in part:“… Assuming the most optimistic scenario for improved petroleum production … [it] will be hard pressed to meet the expected demand of 118 million barrels per day [in 2030]” (emphasis added).
However, the JOE also states, “The central problem for the coming decade will not be a lack of petroleum reserves, but rather a shortage of drilling platforms, engineers and refining capacity” (p. 24).
Many peak oil analysts, including this reviewer, would agree with that statement. There is enough oil to get us through this decade, but ten years is a brief period in time, and the following decade could be a very different story. Drilling platforms and experienced engineers will indeed be at a premium, since land-based and shallow-water options seem be waning. As for refining capacity, we seem to be going the other way, with refiners struggling and numerous closures world-wide.
A graph at the bottom of page 25 illustrates the precipitous drop in production from existing wells and the relatively small flow which can be obtained from non-conventional oil. Given the use of natural gas to produce bitumen, the contribution of non-conventional oil would be even less significant if “net energy” were properly factored in.
The text box on Possible Future Energy Resources is similar to its 2008 predecessor, and again highlights the fact that despite intensive research and improved efficiencies, the contributions of oil sands and shale, biofuels, wind and solar will be minimal.
The JOE then warns, “A severe energy crunch is inevitable without a massive expansion of production and refining capacity” (p. 28). To add to the urgency, it restates its 2008 warning, “By 2012, surplus oil production capacity could entirely disappear, and as early as 2015, the shortfall in output could reach nearly 10 MBD” (p. 29). This warning is consistent with others which have been issued during the past 18 months (eg. the repeated verbal statements made by IEA chief economist Fatih Birol, the 2008 WEO, Paul Stevens of Chatham House, ITPOES, etc.).
However, while it warns in general terms of “the dangerous vulnerabilities the growing energy crisis presents” (p. 24), the JOE fails to mention two “next questions” which are as obvious as they are vital:- How might a global supply crunch affect oil exports? and- How can governments best prepare for and administer a liquid fuel emergency?Both issues require immediate and thorough examination, regardless of how close we are to peak oil.
While the JOE warns, “The implications for future conflict are ominous,” it fails to mention the strains which a severe oil supply crunch could place on civil order at home. It acknowledges the resulting potential for a prolonged US recession, deep cuts to defense spending, and diminished capabilities “at the moment they may have to undertake increasingly dangerous missions” (p. 28). However, the JOE makes no mention of the serious and predictable strains on the North American social fabric.
The difficulty of maintaining the domestic food supply chain and other essential services in the face of unprecedented energy prices needs to be considered as a reasonably probable piece of the future operating environment, given that the JOE’s own evidence points to a high probability of the very circumstances which would trigger such conditions.
The JOE’s Energy Summary is not optimistic. It does not mention peak oil a second time, but reiterates its prior warning that “production could reach a prolonged plateau. By 2030, the world will require production of 118 MBD, but energy producers may only be producing 100 MBD unless there are major changes in current investment and drilling capacity” (p. 29).
In short, elevating the profile of energy security within the JOE is a helpful step.Perhaps civilian as well as military planners will take note. The entire document is an interesting mix of philosophical quotes, a realistic assessment of intractable and formidable issues, and some very astute lessons from history.
Petroleum is something which we take for granted, with little consideration of its unique properties or its finite nature. Suddenly, concerns about its future availability are rocketing to the forefront. If nothing else, those lessons from history should warn us of our timeless tendency to see what we prefer to see. What many of us see is an endless supply of cheap oil for our grandchildren. This document prudently encourages us to look again….
Here is the link:

http://www.jfcom.mil/newslink/storyarchive/2010/JOE_2010_o.pdf

READ MORE - Peak Oil and Lithium: Joint Operating Environment 2010: Oil Supply Concerns TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, FCX, FXI,

Peak Oil: Big Map Of The Louisiana Oil Spill Area TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, HEV, VLNC, FCX, BHP, LUN.to, BSL.to, HBN.to, FXI, AA,

"Lithium is the leveraged play on Peak Oil and rising Oil price with coming Inflation. Sector is very small and market is even more smaller - everything is ready for the parabolic move in case of supporting fundamentals.
Recent Oil Spill shows the real price for Oil and leaves no doubt for us that there will be no more cheap oil: offshore drilling is costly now, it will be even more costly later. Relatively cheap Oil is in the hands of state owned companies in not so friendly to U.S. places. Oil squeeze will come from diminishing production rates and rising Inflation. The move will be even more explosive than in the Gold market - in the end only minority of people is effected by the gold price even now, Oil is the underlining of all Western Energy Diet. It is not sustainable. Emerging markets are taking more and more share of world wide production, oil producing countries are spending more at home. If you account all cost to produce, deliver and protect Oil supply to U.S. corp the price is already above 150 USD/barrel. Another "liberation" operation like Iraq, this time against Iran will break the camel's back with no return point. Competition for Oil is heating up and aggressive move by China into Electric Cars leaves no other options for US than to follow. In order to keep power China needs gradually improve standard of living, it will bring upside pressure on labor cost. Electrification will not only provide Energy Security to China, but will significantly reduce the cost of its transportation element and provide another opportunity to stay among low cost producers. Situation is completely different to U.S. - they have capital to invest in Electric Mobility CAPEX now and rip the rewards of lower cash cost on transportation side later. We will refer you to the Economics of Electric Cars.
Recent Ash Cloud events in Europe brought a very sobering sense of the feeling to be grounded. It is amazing how many things are taking for granted. This time it is Ash Cloud - what will happen with oil above 150?"

SAI:

Big Map Of The Louisiana Oil Spill AreaRead more

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Telekom Austria to Charge Electric Cars from Telephone Booths TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY, BYDDY, RNO, F, GM,

Infrastructure for EV is already existing in form of electric outlets at home and public one will be developed very soon. Fast food restaurants, supermarket and now Telephone Booths will be there waiting for EVs.

"2. EV's Infrastructure.
Charging infrastructure.
We agree with research report and do not see leveraged investment opportunities here. It will be the product of government investments and regulation, like in France at the moment - you have to incorporate charging points in any real estate development. Supermarkets and fast food chains will build it up to attract customers, utilities will provide it to comply with new regulations. better place - better think hard how to move in the value chain to stay in this game.
Smart grid applications for EVs.
It will be another technology game and big guys are moving into this space like GE, Google and Siemens. Place will be crowded. Whom will they be buying later?
Electrification Roadmap
After sale service for EVs.
This will be an area for a small business applications."

Cellular-news:

Telekom Austria to Charge Electric Cars from Telephone Booths

­Telekom Austria is launching a prototype telephone booth with an integrated charging station for electric cars. Following commercial launch, charging stations will offer the possibility to pay via mobile phone using text messages, paybox or a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) card with a RFID chip.
Telekom Austria Group's charging stations will leverage the existing infrastructure: Currently, the company operates roughly 13,500 telephone booths countrywide, of which 700 are multimedia stations. In the first rollout phase, the focus will be on multimedia stations that offer on-street parking opportunities for electric vehicles. By installing additional charging points, each telephone booth will be able to recharge more than one vehicle at a time. By year-end 2010 a total of 30 charging stations will go on stream.
Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO Telekom Austria Group, said: "We are bundling our strengths from different corporate segments to realize this highly innovative project: We are combining the company's fixed net infrastructure with our long-standing expertise in the mobility area, for instance, with successful services such as mobile parking. This also applies to mobile payment and identification systems, where we can rely on the proven industry track record of paybox austria."
The company added that it will use renewable energy to operate its charging station network."

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Lithium market: Japan’s Sanyo Increases Battery Spending to $2 Billion TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, LI.v, CLQ.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, NSANY, SNE, VLNC,

With this kind of money flow into the lithium batteries sector it is no wonder why Japanese companies are so active in the lithium market:

"Government sponsored enterprise in U.S. Strategic Metals Development Corp. like a Japanese JOGMEC can do the trick and finance juniors like International Lithium, Western Lithium and Rodinia Minerals on J/V basis: otherwise it will be 80s with Japanese Fever all over again. This time Japanese conglomerates will control not only movie studious, but something little bit more essential in the time of peak oil - lithium supply for the Electric Mobility Revolution. Recent deal in Nevada by JOGMEC with Lomico Metals is the first step in that direction, properties are still under DD review, but appetite to be engage in lithium exploration and development in Nevada by Japanese is there. Who will be gone next? When GM, Ford, GE, Dow, Rio Tinto, Boeing and DOE will wake up?"

"Japan’s Sanyo Increases Battery Spending to $2 Billion

Published May 3, 2010
Japan’s Nikkei today reported that Sanyo Electric Co. will increase spending on rechargeable batteries and solar cells to more than $2.13 billion. The company plans mass production of lithium ion batteries for plug-in hybrids and electric cars by fiscal 2012—and aims to capture 40 percent of the global market for vehicle rechargeable batteries by 2020.
Development of affordable, lightweight rechargeable car batteries—with greater energy storage capacity—is seen as the key to a mass-market for hybrid and electric cars.


In December 2009, Panasonic acquired a majority control of Sanyo for $4.6 billion. The merger created Japan’s second-largest electronics conglomerate—and gave the pair a market share in nickel metal hydride batteries, used in today’s hybrids, of about 80 percent. Panasonic has historically provided batteries for Toyota hybrids, while Sanyo supplied Ford and Honda.
According to a report in Nikkei in Aug. 2009, Toyota will use Sanyo batteries in a hybrid minivan slated to debut in Japan around 2011. Toyota also plans to use lithium ion batteries in a plug-in version of the Prius.
Asian battery companies have also taken a lead in lithium ion battery technology. South Korea’s LG Chem will supply batteries for the Chevy Volt. Japan’s NEC—a strategic partner with Nissan—will produce batteries for the all-electric Leaf sedan.
Back in the USA
The United States has, by no means, given up the fight. Last week, the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E (Advanced Projects Research Agency – Energy) program announced a new round of battery research funding of about $35 million. Among the 10 companies receiving support, Tucson’s Sion Power Co. was given a $5 million grant to develop a lithium sulfur battery that can go 300 miles between charges. Another $5 went to PolyPlus Battery of Berkeley, Calif., to develop a battery that has the energy density roughly equivalent to gasoline.
The federal government has also invested in battery manufacturing capacity. In 2009, the US Department of Energy awarded $1.5 billion in grants to US battery makers in attempt to build a domestic manufacturing base for advanced auto batteries—to spur growth in the burgeoning hybrid and electric car industry, and to create clean tech jobs especially in Michigan."

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EV mass market: Nissan books 8,000 Leaf orders in nine days, gets turned on with that electric feel TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM

"We expect that this move from Bolivia will bring sobering attitude to the the lithium market and all parties involved: battery makers will have to secure lithium supply and we can see another wave of consolidation among Canadian junior miners involved. Japanese, Korean and Chinese companies will have another look at brine projects in Argentina and Nevada, and hard rock in Canada and Australia. Chile has announced revision of its lithium strategy: in order to finance and develop new deposits it is considering to open its lithium market. All these developments are in a sharp contrast to the recent moves from Bolivia."


Engadget:



Nissan books 8,000 Leaf orders in nine days, gets turned on with that electric feel
By Darren Murph posted May 2nd 2010 5:11PM

Who says people aren't willing to pay upwards of $30k for a car that can only go 100 miles before needing to be tethered to a wall outlet? Evidently Nissan has struck a chord with the US populace, as the automaker just announced that 8,000 orders for the all-electric Leaf were booked in a mere nine days after orders went live. According to Mark Perry, the company's North American director of product planning and strategy, Nissan is "on its way to have 25,000 firm orders by December," and considering that it'll only ship initially in California, Arizona, Washington, Tennessee and Oregon, that's a pretty bold assumption. Better still, Nissan plans to "make money at the price that it announced," though we've no doubt that the $7,500 Federal tax credit has urged fence-sitters to jump in the pre-order line. Still, it's good to see consumers putting their money into unconventional automobiles, but we can't say we're eager to see a special run of Parking Wars dedicated to brawls over what motorist gets the last charging socket on Main Street. Or maybe we are, in a sick and sadistic sort of way."

READ MORE - EV mass market: Nissan books 8,000 Leaf orders in nine days, gets turned on with that electric feel TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, LI.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, SQM

Lithium market: Bolivia nationalises three private electricity firms TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, HEV, AONE, F, NSANY

We have wrote it before and these days Bolivian President Ivo Morales reminds us to warn everybody again.

"Electric Cars are here, they will be on our roads soon. They will be powered by Lithium and automakers are unveiling model after model of EVs in recent months. Investment decisions in Electric Cars Value Chain will be driven by politics and Supply and Demand in a tightly controlled Lithium market space. Will Lithium market be under control of our "friends" from Bolivia, like oil is now under control of OPEC? Will it be controlled by 3-5 companies with lithium revenue as low as 8%? Or will automakers integrate it into their Supply chain, when diversity of resource base will the dominant drive? If somebody would like to place future of Electric Cars into the hands of Bolivia and its leaders, they are welcome to try their luck - Japanese Multinationals do not play against Casino and bet on House in Las Vegas: they would like to have secure supply of lithium and REE from diverse sources in stable political regions close to the end markets. They are ready to go the distance and strike J/V deals with Juniors involved in Exploration and Development in Lithium and REE space."

Will political uncertainty in Bolivia (0r certainty, in another words, as it was demonstrated on 1st of May) prevent us from enjoying Electric Cars? Not at all, if we can believe developers in Lithium and REE space. Interesting discussion was taken place at EV World between Juan Carlos Zuleta with Bolivian Insider perspective on lithium development and Kirill Klip from International Lithium Corp. - one of the companies developing Lithium resources in Argentina, Nevada and Canada.

"Kirill Klip: Great article, Juan. Your perspective on development of lithium deposits in Bolivia is very important for the whole lithium exploration and development industry. Sadly for Bolivian economy and people involved, politic rhetoric will stand on the way of progress and even after being developed resources will not provide necessary geographical and political diversification for Lithium end users. Nobody of auto makers will be able to be a hostage of Lithium supply with political twist from Bolivia (Lithium Embargo comes to mind) and compete in the EV market. Luckily we have lithium available in other geographical locations like Argentina, Chile, Nevada and even spodumene projects in Canada can fly once EV market will take off. Magic number here is: 1% it is the cost of lithium in the end product – lithium battery. Price can improve dramatically without affecting end users and buyers of EVs. Bolivia still has a chance to become one of the sources of lithium if it overcomes all those problems you are highlighting in your article. I believe that there is a place for Bolivian lithium and for other resources to be developed in stable politically and economically locations for the coming electric mobility revolution.
Juan Carlos Zuleta: Although there is lithium available in other geographical locations, Bolivia is key to any electric mobility revolution because of the quantity of lithium it holds. I am not sure that the cost of lithium in the end product is only 1%; I suppose you are not referring here to battery grade lithium carbonate which is the kind of lithium compound that is finally used in the production of Li-ion batteries. To my understanding, this is still lithium albeit more processed and refined, and thereby much more costly than bulk or raw lithium carbonate. I have suggested elsewhere that Bolivia should concentrate all its efforts on producing that kind of lithium compound so that it adds more value to its lithium before it is sold. Furthermore, if the trend of the lithium market I have portrayed in my presentation at the Lithium Supply & Markets conference in Las Vegas last January is correct, then chances are that in about 10 years from now most automakers will use Li-air batteries which are purported to contain much more lithium than Li-ion batteries mainly because they utilize metallic Li rather than Li carbonate. So if Bolivia does not enter the Li market fairly soon, the prices of Li are likely to go up in a substantial way postponing indefinitely a lithium era in the world.
Kirill Klip: Juan, You have raised a very important question, which is manipulated very widely by those who do not like EV to become a reality. Electric Mobility does not depend on Bolivian lithium in a sense whether it can happen without Bolivian lithium - It can and will, but lithium market depends on pricing and projects’ economy outlooks depend on case if and when Bolivia will develop its lithium resources into production. I will refer you to presentation at Las Vegas Lithium Show by Keith Evans, Roskill and International Lithium among others. 1% as a cost of lithium contained is an estimation from FMC presentation at Las Vegas lithium show. I have seen another estimations ranging from 1% to 3% in the end price of battery sold. The most important message here is that even if lithium price doubles, it will not affect the price of batteries and EVs sold to consumers – technological and manufacturing progress will reduce the price in the metrics Capacity/USD much faster. Nissan and GM Volt are talking about raising capacity by 50% and reducing cost by 50% for lithium batteries within next five years. Bolivia could be a very important factor in Lithium market if it ever comes to it. On another hand, if Bolivia will be closed tomorrow, electric mobility will not be postponed at all - Bolivia is not producing any lithium now. FMC, SQM and ROC could increase their production, not as much as they would like everybody to believe, but still they can rump it up. New brine projects are coming online in Argentina and even spodumene in Australia now. With price above 10000USD/t of LC (now is around 5000-6000USD/t) spodumene lithium will take off – number of Canadian hard rock mining projects will be more than economical. Battery grade lithium is more expensive even now, but with higher prices for LC more battery garde lithium can be produced. International Lithium Corp. develops now a few brine projects and has a number of spodumene properties in Canada and Ireland. Orocobre is putting its brine project in Argentina into production cycle. Western Lithium develops lithium clay project in Nevada, Rodinia Minerals is involved in a number of brine projects, Canada Lithium develops into feasibility stage its spodumene project in Canada and talks about battery grade lithium. Lithium One has a number of brine exploration projects in Argentina and Canada as well. I have mentioned here only few of credible companies with advanced properties – in Australia there is its own story, starting with Galaxy. If and when Bolivia will come into production of Lithium will affect lithium market and prices, spodumene projects need to have a credit of other Rare Metals like Tantalum to be economical in this scenario and larger resources to bring economy of scale. If Bolivia will not come on stream before 2015 even spodumene projects under exploration now will have their chance to be developed, if it never comes – more projects will have their chance, but the bottom line is that Electric Mobility is not at the mercy of any political situation as it is at the moment and there are no reasons to postpone EV production for this reason."

We expect that this move from Bolivia will bring sobering attitude to the the lithium market and all parties involved: battery makers will have to secure lithium supply and we can see another wave of consolidation among Canadian junior miners involved. Japanese, Korean and Chinese companies will have another look at brine projects in Argentina and Nevada, and hard rock in Canada and Australia. Chile has announced revision of its lithium strategy: in order to finance and develop new deposits it is considering to open its lithium market. All these developments are in a sharp contrast to the recent moves from Bolivia.

BBC:

Bolivia nationalises three private electricity firms

Bolivian President Evo Morales has ordered the nationalisation of four private electricity companies.
Police moved into the offices of Corani, Valle Hermoso and Guaracachi firms, following Mr Morales' decree.
Corani is half owned by a subsidiary of France's GDF Suez. Guaracachi's main partner is Britain's Rurelec, while ELFEC and Valle Hermoso are local.
President Morales said that the government now controlled 80% of electricity generation in the country.
Last year, Mr Morales announced the takeover of a subsidiary of British oil company BP, which supplied jet fuel across the Andean nation.
He has recently nationalised oil and gas reserves to redistribute wealth to Bolivia's indigenous majority.
The four companies seized on Saturday account for more than half of Bolivia's electricity market.
They emerged following the privatisation of the state National Electricity Company in the 1990s.
President Morales nationalised the gas and oil industry in 2006 and the national telephone company in 2008.
Both those announcements also came on May Day, says the BBC's Andres Schipani in Bolivia.
Since then he has taken control of several utility and commodities companies."

Morales seizes Bolivian assets of UK-listed British Rurelec

President Evo Morales has seized the Bolivian assets of UK-listed British Rurelec, the largest power provider in the South American country.

By Lawrie Holmes

Published: 11:02PM BST 01 May 2010
A statement from Rurelec said its controlling stake in Bolivian power company Empresa Electrica Guaracachi was nationalised yesterday along with the two other privatised power-generation companies in the country as part of Bolivia's May Day programme. The statement said the asset was forcibly brought into state ownership yesterday by means of a Supreme Decree signed by President Morales, together with one regional distribution company and the national electricity transmission company.
Peter Earl, chief executive of the group, told The Sunday Telegraph: "We're disappointed because since President Morales came to power in 2006 we have invested $110m [£72m] of new capacity in Bolivia. We are the largest power company in Bolivia and managed to keep free of power cuts for the last year. As a result Bolivia has had the largest GDP growth of all countries in North and South America."


The company's statement said the move was taken in the face of assurances given to the British and French ambassadors at the end of last week that the Morales administration continued to want to maintain European private investment in the power sector.
"Furthermore, during the same week, the Morales administration stated publicly that it expected to reach a negotiated agreement for a public-private partnership with the electricity generators. Such an approach would permit even greater investment in new power plants by Rurelec and its subsidiaries," said the statement.
Mr Earl said: "We were in discussion about changing the way we work with the state electricity company ENDE."
Rurelec’s shares in Guaracachi are held through a wholly owned holding company subsidiary called Guaracachi America Inc (GAI) worth $65 million (£42.5 million), according to thecomapny. Additionally, GAI is due to receive US $5.5 million (£3.6 million) in dividends declared by Guaracachi. The Supreme Decree issued by President Morales on 1st May requires GAI to transfer all of its 50.001 per cent. stake in Guaracachi to ENDE, the state power company and states that ENDE must pay fair value for GAI’s shares. The Supreme Decree gives ENDE 120 days to formulate its fair value proposals to GAI.
Rurelec’s statement said it enjoys full protection of its investment in Bolivia as a result of an investment treaty between Bolivia and the United Kingdom which came into force in 1990. The Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments was signed in La Paz on 24 May 1988. This treaty protects all British companies and guarantees payment of market value in the event of compulsory state nationalisation of their investments in Bolivia. Rurelec is believed to be the third largest British investor in Bolivia after BP and BG."

READ MORE - Lithium market: Bolivia nationalises three private electricity firms TNR.v, CZX.v, LMR.v, RM.v, WLC.v, CLQ.v, LI.v, SQM, FMC, ROC, HEV, AONE, F, NSANY

Fisker Karma the world’s first premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) North American Retail Tour Schedule TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v,

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE – FISKER AUTOMOTIVE LAUNCHES NORTH AMERICAN RETAIL TOUR
Karma premium plug-in hybrid to make first visit to new Fisker retailers
IRVINE, CA – April 15, 2010: American green-car maker Fisker Automotive will be launching a North American tour to introduce the stylish Karma premium plug-in hybrid to local markets, and support the company’s new retail network.
Scheduled to kick off Tuesday, April 27 from the company’s Irvine, California headquarters, the two-month program will stop in 42 cities in 26 states and three Canadian provinces. An intended schedule can be found below and online in the News section of http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/
“This tour provides local retailers the opportunity to introduce the beautifully styled and environmentally friendly Karma to their customers and potential prospects,” said Marti Eulberg, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Fisker Automotive. “Fisker Automotive has established a network of proven retailers that will deliver the highest level of customer satisfaction.”
About Fisker Karma
The Fisker Karma is the world’s first premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). It combines world-class luxury and sports car-like performance with industry-leading economy and zero tailpipe emissions. The four-seat sedan was designed by Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker, who also designed the Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8, both of which were featured in James Bond movies.
With 403hp it can reach 60mph in six seconds and a top speed of 125mph, yet it can achieve more than 100mpg on an annual basis. The Karma has a total range of 300 miles, 50 of which are electric-only and powered by a Lithium-ion battery from A123 Systems, which can be fully recharged in as little as eight hours.
Distinctive, stylish and green, the Karma is priced competitively within its segment and appeals to eco-friendly customers who don’t want to compromise their passion for driving.
Fisker Automotive created the premium plug-in hybrid segment when it introduced the Karma at the 2008 North American International Auto Show as a concept. Initial customer deliveries are expected to begin first quarter 2011.
In September 2009 Fisker Automotive was approved for a conditional Department of Energy loan of $528.7 million, which will go toward the development of a line of lower-priced plug-in hybrids as well as the purchase of a former GM assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware. The company expects to create up to 5,000 direct and indirect U.S. jobs in the coming years.
Intended Fisker Karma North American Retail Tour Schedule
(check with local retailers for exact times and dates)
4/27
Irvine, CA — Depart Fisker Automotive
4/28
Las Vegas, NV – Gaudin Automotive
5/1
San Antonio, TX – Barrett Holdings
5/3
Austin, TX – Roger Beasley Highline Group
5/4
Houston, TX – McDavid Auto Group
5/5
Fort Worth, TX – Frank Kent Motor Co.
5/6
Plano, TX – McDavid Auto Group
5/7
Tulsa, OK – Don Thornton Cadillac
5/10
Huntsville, AL – Century Automotive Group
5/11
Atlanta, GA – Classic Cadillac
5/13
Tampa Bay, FL – Elder Automotive Group
5/14
West Palm Beach, FL – Palm Beach Motor Cars
5/15
Miami, FL – Warren Henry Automobiles
5/17
Orlando, FL – Fields Auto Group
5/19
Winston Salem, NC – Flow Companies
5/20
Greenbelt, MD – Capitol Cadillac
5/21
Fairfax, VA – Ted Britt Auto Group
5/22
Wilmington, DE – Union Park Automotive
5/24
Langhorne, PA – H.A. Ott Motor Cars
5/25
Paramus, NJ – Bergen Jaguar
5/26
Great Neck, NY – Jaguar Great Neck
5/27
Greenwich, CT – Miller Motor Cars
5/28
Norwood, MA – Jake Kaplan’s Ltd.
6/1
North Olmsted, OH – M2 Motors, Inc.
6/2
Grand Blanc, MI – Serra Automotive
6/3
Toronto, ON – Dilawri Group
6/7
Glencoe, IL – Fields Auto Group
6/8
Schaumburg, IL – Patrick Dealer Group
6/9
Neenah, WI – Bergstrom Corp.
6/10
Minneapolis, MN – Borton Automotive
6/12
Saint Louis, MO – Plaza Motor Group
6/15
Denver, CO – Rickenbaugh
6/18
Calgary, AB – Dilawri Group
6/21
Centerville, UT – Hadley Auto Company
6/24
Vancouver, BC – Fields Auto Group
6/25
Bellevue, WA – O’Brien Auto Group
6/26
Portland, OR – Ron Tonkin Family of Dealerships
6/27
Marin, CA – Price Family Dealerships
6/28
Sacramento, CA – Price Family Dealerships
6/29
Silicon Valley, CA – Price Family Dealerships
6/30
Santa Monica, CA – Sullivan Luxury Cars
7/3
Irvine, CA – Shelly Automotive Group
7/5
San Diego, CA – Marvin K. Brown Auto Group"

READ MORE - Fisker Karma the world’s first premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) North American Retail Tour Schedule TNR.v, CZX.v, RM.v, LMR.v, WLC.v,