best economical electric cars image
Bobby64
I know the price will vary depending on the type of car, but a general estimate would be helpful.
Answer
The Mitsubishi I with its 16kWh battery (same size as the Volt) would be less.
The Leaf with its 24 kWh battery would be more. One figure I have seen quoted was $9000, but that was over a year ago from a UK publication. Nissan is about to open a battery factory in Tennessee which should lower the price. The significance of this number is that is was below the $400/kWh that was often quoted as the dividing line between what would be economical and what would not be. (numbers sometimes quoted for for replacing individual faulty cells are inflated as they include all the labor for removing, repairing and replacing the battery pack and cannot be multiplied to reach a total figure)
The Tesla roadster, high performance, 53 kWh battery of over 5000 cells is quoted at about $36000.
Model or Toy electric cars might be run on a "D" cell for considerably less as would older electric cars or "golf" carts that might be using lead acid batteries.
None of these numbers consider that at the "end of its useful life" for a modern EV (8 year 100,000 mile warranty is typical) the battery continues to support about 70 o 80% of its like new capacity. It is widely speculated that these batteries are not ready to be recycled for materials but that they will find a useful second life as stationary backup batteries for at least another 5 to 10 years. There is a potential resale market that is not yet established. This could be a deduction from the cost of a new automobile battery. On a pro rated basis if a new battery was $400 per kWh and could be resold at 70% ($280) then a new battery would only cost the vehicle owner the balance of $120 / kWh or (24 x 120) $2880 for a new Leaf battery. Profit taking and advances in technology makes it unlikely that vehicle owner will fully realize this potential...
So what do you consider a "general" estimate. ... Less than $400 / kWh might be a general reasonable figure for now.
The Mitsubishi I with its 16kWh battery (same size as the Volt) would be less.
The Leaf with its 24 kWh battery would be more. One figure I have seen quoted was $9000, but that was over a year ago from a UK publication. Nissan is about to open a battery factory in Tennessee which should lower the price. The significance of this number is that is was below the $400/kWh that was often quoted as the dividing line between what would be economical and what would not be. (numbers sometimes quoted for for replacing individual faulty cells are inflated as they include all the labor for removing, repairing and replacing the battery pack and cannot be multiplied to reach a total figure)
The Tesla roadster, high performance, 53 kWh battery of over 5000 cells is quoted at about $36000.
Model or Toy electric cars might be run on a "D" cell for considerably less as would older electric cars or "golf" carts that might be using lead acid batteries.
None of these numbers consider that at the "end of its useful life" for a modern EV (8 year 100,000 mile warranty is typical) the battery continues to support about 70 o 80% of its like new capacity. It is widely speculated that these batteries are not ready to be recycled for materials but that they will find a useful second life as stationary backup batteries for at least another 5 to 10 years. There is a potential resale market that is not yet established. This could be a deduction from the cost of a new automobile battery. On a pro rated basis if a new battery was $400 per kWh and could be resold at 70% ($280) then a new battery would only cost the vehicle owner the balance of $120 / kWh or (24 x 120) $2880 for a new Leaf battery. Profit taking and advances in technology makes it unlikely that vehicle owner will fully realize this potential...
So what do you consider a "general" estimate. ... Less than $400 / kWh might be a general reasonable figure for now.
Will an electric car ever make sense?
Goodwin
Now for this question, tell me if owning an electric car makes sense economically or environmentally. Why or why not?
Answer
A rather un-sexy answer to your question is to see where electric vehicles have already made sense both economically and environmentally. The NYC subway system was started in the late 1800's and quickly began to be electrified. In a closed environment the ICE (internal combustion engin) is so bad environmentally it is used as a method of suicide. For the long term economics of transportation electric vehicles are better every time. They require a larger capital investment but last far longer, with much less maintenance and fuel costs (compare the useful life of of buss es to electric trains.)
Some governments however wish to make capital expenditures appear small. They will choose ICE vehicles as being "cheaper" because it is much easier not to focus on the long term costs.
We live in a closed ecosystem that is like a subway tunnel. We are killing ourselves with levels of harmful and dangerous gasses in our atmosphere that are rising. It is not possible to say that the ICE vehicle is not harmful. It is only possible to say the harm has not yet overwhelmed us. A more important question is if it makes sense to continue to ignore the harm ICE vehicles cause to our quality and potential duration of life.
Economics seem to be less of a social issue. Electric vehicles operate more smoothly. The drivetrain can have less than 5 moving parts. They are extremely economical to operate and eventually the price will come down as it has for every other electronic device. The electric vehicle is a game changer. It may last so long that you could pass it on to your grandchildren. You might buy one for life rather than one every 5 years. If you add up the depreciation you pay in the course of a lifetime you could easily justify the cost of an electric car today. Someday credit applications may even ask if you own an electric car or an ICE vehicle.
In the event of an oil shortfall as predicted by the theory of peak oil and now the US military, electric vehicles may be the only ones not affectioned by some method of rationing. Even owners of petrochemical vehicles should therefore be encouraging others to buy electric vehicles as it leaves more oil for them.
So electric vehicles have and will make sense economically, environmentally, strategically, socially and even just for others to preserve your oil supplies.
A rather un-sexy answer to your question is to see where electric vehicles have already made sense both economically and environmentally. The NYC subway system was started in the late 1800's and quickly began to be electrified. In a closed environment the ICE (internal combustion engin) is so bad environmentally it is used as a method of suicide. For the long term economics of transportation electric vehicles are better every time. They require a larger capital investment but last far longer, with much less maintenance and fuel costs (compare the useful life of of buss es to electric trains.)
Some governments however wish to make capital expenditures appear small. They will choose ICE vehicles as being "cheaper" because it is much easier not to focus on the long term costs.
We live in a closed ecosystem that is like a subway tunnel. We are killing ourselves with levels of harmful and dangerous gasses in our atmosphere that are rising. It is not possible to say that the ICE vehicle is not harmful. It is only possible to say the harm has not yet overwhelmed us. A more important question is if it makes sense to continue to ignore the harm ICE vehicles cause to our quality and potential duration of life.
Economics seem to be less of a social issue. Electric vehicles operate more smoothly. The drivetrain can have less than 5 moving parts. They are extremely economical to operate and eventually the price will come down as it has for every other electronic device. The electric vehicle is a game changer. It may last so long that you could pass it on to your grandchildren. You might buy one for life rather than one every 5 years. If you add up the depreciation you pay in the course of a lifetime you could easily justify the cost of an electric car today. Someday credit applications may even ask if you own an electric car or an ICE vehicle.
In the event of an oil shortfall as predicted by the theory of peak oil and now the US military, electric vehicles may be the only ones not affectioned by some method of rationing. Even owners of petrochemical vehicles should therefore be encouraging others to buy electric vehicles as it leaves more oil for them.
So electric vehicles have and will make sense economically, environmentally, strategically, socially and even just for others to preserve your oil supplies.
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