Cheap EVs

At least in the US market, I doubt that it will make a difference. Of these city cars only the fiat 500 seems to sell, and that has something extra. The iq and fourtwo have really low sales. I don't think electrifying these city cars will do well. The leaf is difficult enough to sell and it likely won't cost nissan anymore to produce than these city evs once the NA plant is live in december.

For more on the likely low sales of the fiat 500 ev
Fiat 500 EV Will Cost Chrysler - MSN Autos

Competition from the leaf/prius phv/volt/c-max energi make any bev city car a tough sell. Initial adopters want something more.

In japan the imev doesn't look like they are doing well either. Europe may be the market for these cars though, and I have no idea if they will sell well there.

 

The issue with these small cars, whether EV or not, is that they still require all the same parts as a larger car. Then they try to be more enticing to buyers by offering a more premium package. Which just increases the cost.

The Chevy Spark seems to be going after first time car buyers, and should have a price to reflect that. It is also technically larger than a true mini car, which will also help sales.

 

Smart cars don't sell well in DC -it is too small, too slow, and too expensive.
Eventually, I expect the Indian, Korean or Chinese automaker ( like Tata Motors, Hyundai/Kia, or BYD) to sell EVs under 24000USD in the USA.
Because the DC area doesn't have the recharging station infrastructure - my expectation is that BEV will remain regional fleet vehicles.

 

I don't think tata is going to really spend the money to follow US regulations and get many cars in the US. BYD is unlikely to sell well, but I could be wrong. Hyundai has decided not to make BEVs, and will stick to PHEVs for their hybrid entries.
Hyundai says it will not produce electric vehicles | SmartPlanet

Nissan and Tesla both seem to be leading the BEV charge in america. Again with the cost of the leaf it is difficult for a small city car ev to compete.

 

Tata Motors does exports conventional gas vehicles and BEVs to the UK (London market). US regulations are not the primary problem to selling a conventional car in the USA - establishing a large network for distribution and servicing are - the cost is enormous. BEVs do not require that much servicing as a conventional gas/diesel vehicle but a BEV has the additional problem of recharging - without quick recharging stations along the Interstate Highways and turnpikes - BEVs are restricted by their range as local transporation which limits their functionality and appeal. I am expecting that a massive network of BEV recharging stations and quick recharging technologies will be the real game changer tech that will push BEV acceptance in the USA 48 state region. For small island transporation (e.g. Bahamas, UK, Hawaii, and Iceland) a BEV's limited range is not a problem but on the continent which has vast stretches of highway -- a BEV's limited range and the lack of a viable recharging solution is a deal killer.

 

The iMiev can be had for under $30k, it is available now, and it seats 4. While is looks small, and it is, the front passenger room is more than good. The back??...well at least it has back seats, which can be folded down for more cargo.

Besides the fact that it burns no fossil fuel, and has an mpge of 112, the feature I like the best is?? Parking it...I can't tell you how much time and money it has saved me in NYC.

 

Tata has talked to fiat/chrysler about using their dealer network. The problem indeed is modifying the cars to fit US safety regulations. The UK has many cars that can't be sold in the US.

 

I am not convinced that the technology required to conform to US safety regulations poses a significant barrier. The engineering development solution cost is dwarfed by the marketing and dealership network cost. I've read industry news that suggest that Tata Motors are aspiring to eventually gain a foothold in the US market. India as well as China Automobile manufacturers are using more computer modeling/simulations before developing a real world prototypes for testing to speed up development time and lower cost. However, making a car is one thing - distributing and servicing it is another. With their lower labor cost both India and China will have a cost advantage over Japan/US/European when manufacturing BEVs.

 

As I said, tata has already negotiated with Fiat/Chrysler for dealerships in the US. Fiat/Chrysler wants this since selling tata will help it with cafe standards. The BEV simply needs to comply with safety regulations, but that added cost might not make sense right now given the potential market. If it can sell the gasoline car here as well, that might swing it, but the gasoline car also needs improved emissions for the US - it conforms to European standards. The additional weight and cost for the safety regulations probably greatly pushes the nano up in price and it may need to also go with a 3 cyclinder instead of a two for the US market. Believe me, if tata could sell the same cars in the US as it can in Europe, they would be at dealerships now. They need to decide its worth the costs of complying with the regulations, and that may drop the big price advantage a nano has against say a Nissan versa. The tata brand would sell here mainly for low price, which means it needs to conform to us regulations without pushing it up to the price barriers.

Marketing costs are pretty low, they could likely get by with an internet campaign. They do need to give the US dealerships a profit though, so selling costs if its low volume may be high.

 

At the time it first came out, I heard a figure of $8000 for the Nano in Europe and/or the US. Probably more in reality.

 

This is the concept tata built to US crash standards
Tata eMO proves you don't need a hatch on a hatchback

It would be interesting to see if they really can make it for $20K. I doubt it will get produced with all the wierdness of no opening hatchback and no outside handles for the rear doors. Still with a $7500 tax credits and 100 mile range many enthusiasts would buy one for their daly commute.

 

That's what I read as well - although that's not the cost of the Nano but what some think the price should be to bring the Nano sales profit in line with a USA dealership profit/sales business model. The increase weight and safety cost coming from increasing the strength of the frame/bumpers and installing a driver/passenger airbag system. The Nano would need to be redesigned so that an airbag system can be installed. Certain sections of the frame would probably need to strengthen to meet the US crashworthiness standard - much of this is now done in computer sim modeling before the prototype is created.

 

The history of the Yugo tells us that selling a car on price alone is not enough - I doubt Tata Motors will repeat that mistake. The base Nano is a pretty cheap car and doesn't even come with AC which would be a deal killer stateside. I agree any USA version Nano would be have to be localized for the USA market, e.g. it would have to have AC standard, airbags, and be more crashworthy. However - I don't think the engineering or manufacturing cost are a barrier. The cost of establishing a car dealership network involves more than a marketing/sales campaigns. Establishing a US dealership network also requires that mechanics are trained, specialized tools and test equipment would have to be shipped over, and the dealership would need to invest in a standing inventory of parts and supplies. The other problem is that if India sells too many cars in the UsA at too low of a price then they might be accused of dumping and face tariffs/import restrictions via a WTO ruling.