Phoenix Motorcars Gonna do the Plug-In Thing
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 04.26.07
By now I’m sure you’ve heard about Phoenix Motorcars and its not quite attractive but very advanced electric vehicles. Pacific Gas & Electric laid down its money to add Phoenix SUTs (sport utility trucks) to its fleet, and George Bush recently ogled a Phoenix on the White House lawn. Now it comes over the PR wire (via Green Car Congress) that Phoenix will also be offering a plug-in hybrid option for its line. With a small internal combustion engine traveling along with the advanced battery pack, the vehicle won’t be limited to its 150-200 mile battery range, but will be able to kick into gas mode whenever stored electricity starts to peter out. All cost issues notwithstanding, many think that the plug-in configuration is key in convincing car buyers that electric vehicles are viable and practical for those of us who aren’t George Clooney or Ed Begley Jr. ::Green Car Congress
Also check out AutoBlog Green for some video of the SUT in action and words form the company’s VP of sales and marketing.
A queasy feeling on reading this news........ is this the first step in the sellout to the Oiligarchy?
Remember Toyota RAV4 EV...
US automakers already have a plethora of hefty hybrid SUVs that get only 20 mpg...are they giving up the dream?
And what about their PG&E order? Do they get switched to hybrids too?
Not sure where you are getting the 150-200 mile range from. Pheonix dropped the claimed range from 130 to 100+ miles...
Susan K, don't worry. This news release only says that they have signed an agreement with their technical partners to begin development on a PHEV system, so they are years away from building one. I would assume that for now they will continue to make EV's including the PG&E vehicles.
Further, I would assume that the PHEV system would ba an option rather than the standard model because it will be more expensive. They'll need to keep their less expensive EV model for the sales volume.
Given the that the hybrid would be plug-in, it should still get excellent mileage. For short trips it wouldn't need to use the ICE at all, and on longer distances, given its small size, would probably get mileage similar to the Ford Escape hybrid.
As for the CRV-EV, it used NiMH batteries that just couldn't handle the duty cycle required for an EV. Phoenix claims that their Altairnano lithium-titanate batteries overcome this issue.
A 130 mile range is still listed in Phoenix's FAQ, though that might be an oversight. They do say that they are working on an "expansion pack" that would extend the range to up to 250 miles. I assume it would be offered as an option at additional cost.
I wish Phoenix luck. Even if they are planning on licensing technology from existing hybrid manufacturers, it is going to take them a few years to develope the vehicle. If they are planning to design their own, even longer. By then Toyota may have a Tacoma Hybrid and their sales potential could evaporate.
That's business, I guess - nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Hi! One of the pretty amazing cars I have ever seen so far. I admire the fuel efficiency capabilities because it's electric powered and has a cool backup plan of using the fuel, only when the battery is about to discharge!! Really cool!! Furthermore, there are various "cool" cars that are available in the market and because of that, we can't just avoid comparing one car from another because, yes, we have our obvious reasons like the one you have shared. For those who want to check other cool cars in the market, you may want to check if you can buy from Japan auctions, discounts guaranteed! You see, auctions is not only limited to ebay but you can buy cars from Japan directly even online. Thanks you so much for sharing and keep em coming! Have a good day! :)
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG! But, with a different meaning since the EV-1s been gone.
Upstart company wants to woo the American masses to buy ugly car!
Here's a BRILLIANT IDEA. Hey, why not woo the masses with a vehicle that would APPEAL TO the masses!!!!!!
WOW
Countless dollars invested in R&D...Twelve cents spent on designing the thing!
Product/Transportation design 101: Design a product that people WANT to buy!
Comparison: Designing a camera or iPod that looks like a sundried raisin. Hmmm, might sell?
Or perhaps a car that looks like a AMC Gremlin??? Oh wait, that one didn't work out did it?
;-)
Japan is most famous for compact cars due to their effective fuel consumption. The recent Hybrid cars also getting popular day by day. Fuel prices are rising and so is the demand for Hybrid cars. Will this truck keep it up? not sure. Let's see.
Talk to your EV dealer. Mine said there is more talk than action on any electric vehicles. He has been doing it so long that he only talks about the products that are shipping and available for sale to consumers today. He will not even go in to what people are "planning" because there has rarely been any follow through.
There are good units out there now, working. There are just as many that don't appear to work, and the companies have mainly pictures of products they hope to make. Make sure you find a dealer that can back up the product.