Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Energy Conversion Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Devlin who wrote (2241)	9/7/1998 3:59:00 PM
From: Tom Hoff	Respond to of 8393

INTERVIEW-Electric car makers seek to woo sceptics By Gillian Handyside BRUSSELS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The European electric vehicle industry will later this month stage potentially its largest ever bid to convince a doubting public of the merits of its fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles. ''There are prejudices. People say electric cars are like go-carts, break down all the time and won't start in the rain,'' Frederic Vergels, executive director of the European Electric Road Vehicle Association (AVERE), told Reuters in an interview. ''In fact, the major motor manufacturers -- who wouldn't do anything to destroy their reputations -- are nearly all seeking to market electric or hybrid vehicles now,'' he said. ''They see these vehicles as a potential jackpot once people realise they are cheaper to run and insure than conventional cars.'' AVERE expects over 1,500 vehicle, battery and fuel cell manufacturers, electricity suppliers and infrastructure providers to converge on Brussels' Heysel Exhibition Centre from September 30 to October 3 for what it hopes will be the world's largest exhibition and conference on the new technology. As environmental constraints tighten and the public becomes increasingly intolerant of city noise and air pollution, the motor industry is under growing pressure to develop viable alternatives to the conventional internal-combustion engine. AVERE estimates there were 15,000 electric vehicles on Europe's roads in 1997, compared with 3,000 in both the United States and Asia. Most belong to big service fleet operators like bus companies but the general public has yet to be convinced. Vergels insisted the latest generation of electric cars had overcome many of the drawbacks that hampered earlier versions. The average modern model travelled 100 kilometres before it needed recharging, had a top speed of 100 km per hour and consumed 0.2 kilowatts of electricity per kilometre. Compared to a conventional car, an electric vehicle was faster off the mark at traffic lights and generated up to 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2), the greenhouse gas seen as one of the main contributors to global warming. ''Of course we have to pollute to generate electricity to power the car but that pollution occurs at the power station. In the city itself, where pollution problems are most acute, the vehicle produces no emissions and no noise,'' Vergels said. But he acknowledged there were still several hurdles to overcome before electric cars became commonplace, including high costs, the inconvenience of recharging and public scepticism. Electric vehicles are still almost twice as dear to buy as a conventional car, partly because there aren't the required economies of scale but mainly due to the cost of the battery. ''Demand is rising among big fleet operators -- especially in France where (public utility) Electricite de France is promoting the technology -- because they realise electric vehicles are cheaper if you analyse the costs over the vehicle's entire life. But ordinary citizens only consider the initial price.'' Motorists were also wary of cars that ground to a halt after 100 kilometres and took eight hours to recharge, Vergels said. ''In fact, 90 percent of urban drivers do less than 40 kms a day and can recharge overnight. But we are working on rapid recharging that takes only 30 minutes and lobbying city authorities to provide facilities in public car parks,'' he said. Drivers' qualms and imperfect batteries meant many auto makers saw hybrid petrol-electric vehicles as the most promising medium-term option, he said. 12:53 09-07-98