Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report

skruse · 06-16-2008, 04:55 PM

The future belongs to electric cars because of high fuel prices and environmental considerations, the head of the biggest European car maker, VW, said on Monday.
"In the next few years, we are not going to do without petrol and diesel motors, but the future belongs to the electric car," VW chairman Martin Winterkorn told the mass-circulation German newspaper Bild-Zeitung.

ENN: Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report

hiremichaelreid · 06-16-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skruse

The future belongs to electric cars because of high fuel prices and environmental considerations

Yes it does. Finally.

darelldd · 06-16-2008, 09:01 PM

One word: Duh.

More words: Gosh, who could have seen THAT coming?

stevecaz · 06-17-2008, 09:17 AM

Not only the electric car, but electric heating to replace oil and natural gas, and electric lawn equipment. In theory, and in the near future a reality, electric generation should and will be clean, cheap, and plentiful.

The biggest challenge as I see it now is freight trucks. Where do you get all those Kw to replace the energy in diesel. Big rigs will be on diesel for a long time, which will be OK for that long time if cars aren't.

jdenenberg · 06-17-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevecaz

The biggest challenge as I see it now is freight trucks. Where do you get all those Kw to replace the energy in diesel. Big rigs will be on diesel for a long time, which will be OK for that long time if cars aren't.

We'll need to go back to freight trains they are much more energy efficient. Trucks will be only for short haul and there energy options exist.

JeffD

tochatihu · 06-17-2008, 09:27 PM

Large-format batteries remain a challenge because they need to be durable, energy-dense, inexpensive and available in very large numbers. But they need to be so darn big because the vehicles are so darn big.

Think about urban people-moving, then google electric scooter China. This is being done right now with PbA.

sorka · 06-17-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdenenberg

We'll need to go back to freight trains they are much more energy efficient. Trucks will be only for short haul and there energy options exist.

JeffD

Norfolk Southern claims they can move 1 ton 410 miles on 1 gallon of gas. After doing some research, this would seem to be a very conservative statement and in fact the efficiency can be a great deal more than even this.

That would equate to about 600 MPG on a 3000 lb car.

sorka · 06-17-2008, 10:27 PM

Typical passenger trains get 460+ MPG per passenger.

06-16-2008, 04:55 PM	#1
skruse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Great Central Valley, Fresno, CA Posts: 1,121 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report The future belongs to electric cars because of high fuel prices and environmental considerations, the head of the biggest European car maker, VW, said on Monday. "In the next few years, we are not going to do without petrol and diesel motors, but the future belongs to the electric car," VW chairman Martin Winterkorn told the mass-circulation German newspaper Bild-Zeitung. ENN: Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report

06-16-2008, 09:01 PM	#3
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 4,434 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 9	Re: Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report One word: Duh. More words: Gosh, who could have seen THAT coming?

06-17-2008, 09:17 AM	#4
stevecaz Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 75 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report Not only the electric car, but electric heating to replace oil and natural gas, and electric lawn equipment. In theory, and in the near future a reality, electric generation should and will be clean, cheap, and plentiful. The biggest challenge as I see it now is freight trucks. Where do you get all those Kw to replace the energy in diesel. Big rigs will be on diesel for a long time, which will be OK for that long time if cars aren't.

06-17-2008, 09:27 PM	#6
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 1,798 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: Pioneer #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Re: Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report Large-format batteries remain a challenge because they need to be durable, energy-dense, inexpensive and available in very large numbers. But they need to be so darn big because the vehicles are so darn big. Think about urban people-moving, then google electric scooter China. This is being done right now with PbA.

06-17-2008, 10:27 PM	#8
sorka Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 417 My Car: 2009 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Future belongs to electric cars: VW chairman Winterkorn in report Typical passenger trains get 460+ MPG per passenger.

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