The concept of green, electric cars used to be accompanied by a mental image of a boring, box-shaped SUV. Not only were the early models more suitable for soccer moms than the younger generations, but the price tags were also too high for students and entry-level workers to be able to afford them. Besides the price, people are also worried about the periodic battery recharging that needs to happen when driving an electric vehicle.
Some statistics
Today, much has changed in the green car industry thanks to rising oil prices, greater awareness of the financial benefits of owning a green car as. Motor manufacturers are zoning in on targeting a younger market by producing funky, zippy city-models.
According to a recent report by IBM’s Institute for Business Value (IBV), a fifth of American consumers (10%) are either “very likely” or “likely” to consider an electric-only car for their next purchase. The report, which polled 1,716 car owners and talked to 123 auto executives, also found that 30% of the respondents said they would consider buying an electric vehicle that gets only 100 miles (160 km) per charge (the basic standard). Another 30% said they would actually be willing to live with less than 100 miles.
What’s out there for first time car owners and students?
When it comes to the price tag of owning these cars, the report found that 40% of the respondents would pay up to 20% more for an electric car. This may sound like a reasonable increase for an electric vehicle, but young people (and the rest of the future green car drivers in South Africa) aren’t always too flexible with price tags.
When commenting at the launch of the eco-friendly Nissan Leaf, Company CEO Carlos Ghosn said consumers are itching for affordable, attractive cards with charging cords and he boldly precdicted such automobiles will comprise 10% of the market within 10 years.
Research has shown that students, singles and the young working crowd want modern looking vehicles that are environmentally friendly and don’t cost them an arm and a leg. Here’s what some of the big brands are offering in terms of entry-level electric cars:
The new Prius family
Toyota unveiled their new low-emissions Prius family at the American International Auto Show in Detroit on 10 January, 2011. The new range of vehicles is set to broaden the appeal of hybrid vehicles to all ages and lifestyles and include state-of-the-art features such as solar-powered ventilation, LED headlamps and lane keep assist.
Prius V: Aimed at young, growing families with active lifestyles, the car offers 50% more interior cargo space than the current Prius. The car can comfortably fit five people and has a sliding second row seats for more flexibility and space options. The Prius V is also one of the first Toyotas with the Entune™ multimedia system. For the first time ever in an automobile, this new system leverages the mobile phone to provide a richer in-vehicle experience with support for engaging mobile apps, such as Bing, OpenTable, and movietickets.com. The system can also access useful travel-related services, such as live weather, traffic, fuel information (location and price), stocks, news and sports.
Prius c Concept: This car has an entry price, offers superior fuel economy and represents a “city”-centric vehicle. Toyota hopes that the urban c Concept will appeal to singles and couples interested in an eco-sensitive, high-mileage vehicle.
Joule: The Joule is South Africa’s first electric car, which is being produced by Optimal Energy. Since the start of testing at the end of 2010, the Joule marketing fleet has completed a collected 800kms of testing mileage on local roads. The engineering team has been using the feedback received from these tests to update and improve the systems and performance of the vehicle. Although there isn’t a definite date set for when local consumers can buy the product, Optimal Energy is planning to provide selected media with Joule vehicles for initial evaluations by the middle of the year.
Nissan Leaf: Nissan will be leasing batteries for the Nissan Leaf in order to keep the cost of the car reasonable. By retaining ownership of the battery, Nissan has the ability to update the technology advances so consumers aren’t left with “old models”. The Leaf sports a 24-hour lithium manganese battery. According to Nissan, the cost of the lease, plus the money you will pay for electricity, will for most consumers be no more expensive than buying petrol.
Tata Nano hybrid: When the Tata Nano was launched in 2009, Tata Motors had already decided the next step would be to release a Tata Nano Hybrid. The eco-friendly car, which will be available by the end of the year, has already been labelled by some as the next “cheapest hybrid car in the world”. The car will have a Bosch cc two-cylinder engine, which is famous for its fuel efficiency and less carbon emissions. It is predicted that this technology will reduce the total carbon emissions of the car by 8-9%.
Electric scooters: Students or people living in smaller towns and cities may want to consider an environmentally-friendly scooter for their transport needs. China-based Donfeng Auomobile is launching an all-electric scooter towards the end of the year. Although the all-electric scooter will be launched in China (the company is targeting Chinese urban households), it probably won’t be long before South Africans are exposed to similar models and concept scooters.
The liveeco team
