Top 10 Electric Cars for 2010 and 2011 including Nissan Leaf, Prius Plug-in, Chevy Volt, Ford Focus EV

Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011

By John Addison (updated 8/2/10, original 12/14/09)

Tesla is the first to sell 1,000 electric cars for the U.S. highways. Like its Roadster, the company is going zero to sixty in less than four seconds. Tesla is also developing a roomy Model S hatchback that starts at $57,400, about half the price of the Roadster. The Roadster is battery-electric with a 240 mile range; the Model S will have a remarkable electric range option of 300 miles per charge. Tesla is working with shareholder Toyota to bring back the Toyota RAV4 EV, an electric SUV. Tesla is working with shareholder Daimler to put Smart EDs on U.S. streets this year.

Nissan will be the first auto maker to put over 10,000 electric cars on U.S. highways. About 20,000 have made deposits for Nissan LEAF and several cities are in major partnerships. The LEAF can be purchased starting at $32,780 or $349 per month. The Nissan LEAF is battery-electric with a 100 mile range per charge. LEAF Test drive. This 5-door, 5-seat, hatchback has the right size and range for many who drive under 100 miles daily, or for households with more than one car. Nissan LEAF Details

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) will build on the million car success of Toyota hybrids. At first glance, the PHV looks like another Prius until you spot the J1772 plug for smart charging. Five hundred PHV are in fleet trails from cities to car sharing services. In 2011, U.S. dealer orders were planned, but with Toyota’s 8 million vehicle recall this is may be delayed. Toyota will initially control costs by only using a 5kWh battery for a 14 mile electric range. In late 2011, Toyota will expand its offerings to include a pure battery-electric FT-EV.

General Motors wants to be the plug-in leader with the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid with 40 miles of electric range and added 300 miles by engaging a small gasoline engine to act as a generator. Chevrolet will deliver over 10,000 in 2011. GM has a complete Voltec Propulsion System roadmap which envisions added offerings of pure battery-electric, E85, and diesel. Converj may become the Cadillac of extend-range electrics. Look for a range versus cost battle with Toyota, as the Volt achieves more electric range by adding to vehicle cost with a 16kWh battery. Chevrolet Volt Test Drive

Ford will be selling at least three electric cars by the end of 2011. The best seller will be the Ford Focus EV a battery-electric that we expect to aggressively compete with the Nissan Leaf. Ford will be taking orders for a 2012 plug-in hybrid; likely, it will be the Ford Focus available any way the customer wants it: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, or fuel efficient sedan. Ford is already selling the Transit Connect Electric compact van. Focus EV Report and Test Drive

Mitsubishi will take orders next year for the 2012 U.S. version of the iMiEV, the best selling EV in Japan. Mitsubishi is currently suggesting a ballpark price in the low 30s. This fun-to-drive 5 door, 4 seat hatchback, will have a wheel base 5 inches wider for the U.S. market, but the micro-compact will still be able to get those precious city parking spaces that no other car can take except the smart. The more powerful U.S. version will have an electric range of 50 to 80 miles with a 16kWh lithium battery. iMiEV Test Drive

Fisker Karma is a luxury sports plug-in hybrid with prices starting around $90,000. With a $528 million DOE conditional loan, Fisker is moving into production with plans to start shipping Karmas to dealers in late 2010. A more affordable family sedan is planned for 2012.

Think has been selling its smaller battery-electric City car in Europe for years. Many of the Copenhagen climate delegates were transported with Think EV. With new capital from EnerDel, Valmet, and Kleiner Perkins, Think hopes to have its financial struggles in the rear view mirror and be on U.S. roads by the end of 2011. Clean Fleet Report

Chrysler has about 40,000 of the GEM 25-mph light electric vehicles (LEV) on the U.S. roads in university towns, fleets, and retirement communities. With federal and local tax breaks, the net cost is under $10,000. With the growth of electric cars and charging stations, sales may actually increase for cost-leading LEV. A sub-compact electric Fiat 500 EV is expected to be offered in the U.S. in 2012, priced in the mid-thirties. In a DOE project, 140 Dodge Ram Truck Plug-in Hybrids are being built.

BYD has over $200 million invested by Warren Buffet. BYD is now selling its plug-in hybrid and E6 battery-electric car in China, but with little success. We expect the plug-in hybrid to be a freeway-speed electric car price leader in the U.S. in 2011. The E6 battery-electric is likely to be more expensive with enough batteries for a 250 electric range. These may take longer than expected to be selling in the U.S. due to tough safety, regulatory hurdles, and charging standards.

CODA plans to deliver an electric car with up to 120 mile charge range using over 33 kWh of lithium batteries from their joint venture with China’s Lishen Power Battery (Lishen). This 4-seat sedan should have more range than the Nissan LEAF and it’s 24kWh battery pack, but may be priced thousands higher than the LEAF. Over $100 million of big name investors back this spin-off of Miles. CODA talks about taking orders by the end of the year, but they appear to be waiting for DOE loans to start manufacturing.

Forecasts and Renewable Energy

Accenture forecasts 1.5 million electric vehicles in the United States by 2015. Over 10 million electric vehicles are easily possible by 2020. Single electric utilities have scenarios for charging over one million electric vehicles in their own service area by 2020. With renewable energy investment required of utilities in 30 states, these utilities are most interested in night time charging of electric vehicles with wind, geothermal, and hydropower. Utilities are also implementing smart grids and incentives for off-peak charging.

By 2011 year end, competition will be intense for electric car leadership. The above Top 10 describe our best guess about the market share leaders for delivered plug-in vehicles on the United States roads in 2011, although not necessarily in order of installed market share. Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles with range extended by engines or fuel cells were all considered.

Over 100 competitors will be fighting for U.S. share by 2012. Some may be struggle to get significant share due to the time and cost of safety and other regulatory approvals, delays in funding, unpleasant surprises from a battery, drive system, or component supplier. It’s a tough business. Even Tesla had to add 700 pounds and two years to get the first Roadsters in customers’ hands.

Honda is certain to be on lists by 2012, if not next year, with their new battery-electric and plug-in hybrid announcements. Honda Lithium Battery and Electric Car Report.

250 smart fortwo ED will be put into U.S. tests this year using Tesla battery packs, but smart is currently targeting the 2013 model year for the first commercial electric car. It will start taking consumer and fleet orders in 2012. BMW will acclerate electric plans in a couple of years.

Volkswagen may teach everyone how to extend range by making vehicles light. The concept Up Light weighs just over 1,500 pounds, but we don’t expect U.S. sales in 2011. Zenn might be there with a commercialized EEstor ultracap that has been in stealth mode for 10 years.

China could have several price leaders being delivered to U.S. customers. India might bring us a Maharinda Reva or Nano EV that under prices everyone. Subaru could make bigger U.S. electric plans. Don’t count out the good old United States “can do” entrepreneurs with exciting innovation and venture capital backing. Some think that V-Vehicles or Aptera will be on the list.

What are your favorite electric cars on the list or off the list? What’s your 2011 forecast? Join the dialog. Check back. We will update the list as the market share battle unfolds.

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By John Addison. Publisher of the Clean Fleet Report and conference speaker. (c) Copyright John Addison. Permission to repost up to a 200 word summary if a link is included to the original article at Clean Fleet Report.

29 Responses to “Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011”

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Todd Haskins May 25th, 2010, 10:55 pm

There’s a new electric car manufacturer in the U.S. thats been designing and now building fully electric,DOT approved, highway speed,200 plus miles on a single charge vehicles…and it’s called EMC. The “family” of vehicles includes a 5 or 7 pass. wagon, a 1/4 ton p/u, and a cargo van. They are real…I have driven one, and it is the new class of electrics.
Biff Tidwell June 28th, 2010, 8:23 pm

I DON’T WANT A PLUG-IN !. . . I DON’T WANT A HYBRID! , , , I’M NOT ABOUT TO SUBSTITUTE DEPENDENCE ON OIL FOR DEPENDENCE ON THE GRID! . . . HELLO!!!!!! . . .I WANT A TOTALLY BATTERY POWERED, SOLAR CHARGED VEHICLE THAT GIVES ME ABOUT 100 MILES PER CHARGE. . .AND AS IT SITS IN THE PARKING LOT FOR 8 HOURS A DAY, I WANT SOLAR CELLS TO BRING THE CHARGE BACK UP BY ABOUT 20% OF TOTAL. . . .THIS WILL GET ME THROUGH THE WEEK! . . .AND AS THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN OVER THE WEEKEND, IT WILL FULLY CHARGE! . . .GRATZEL CELLS, THAT WILL WORK EVEN OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT, PLEASE! . . .THE TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE! . . .I’M NOT PAYING $40K OR MORE FOR YOUR IDEA OF AN “ELECTRIC CAR” . . .YOU GOT A CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT! . . .STOP SCREWING AROUND!
Rick July 6th, 2010, 7:19 pm

All talk talk talk about electric cars and no action. We had the technology years ago. I’m disgusted with all the auto makers. Where are the promised EV’s that were going to be on the market in 2010? Are they waiting for the last minute.

I have no interest in hybrids either. They still consume gas. There doesn’t seem to much of a choice for 100% electric. I’ll probably build my own before something reasonable is available. The only one I saw that may be affordable and available is the “Think”. I’ll have to read more about it.
Simon July 17th, 2010, 7:02 pm

Why the heck are the companies that receive funding to build electric cars like tesla only making great cars that are unaffordable! … HELLO, we need a sedan with a 200 mile range, 0-60 in 6-7 seconds, that looks decent with midgrade amenities all for $28 – $38k.
Robert Howell July 19th, 2010, 7:52 am

The GM EV1, the Toyota Rav 4EV, and the Honda EV Plus were designed and rolling on the streets with a 60+ range in the mid 90′s. The movie “Who Killed the Electric Car” covers the testing. The technology has been around for 14 years. Tesla Motors has a life of 240 miles per charge for the consumer that wants a sports coupe. Where is the publics average priced vehicle with the same range with a faster charge? Still raping the American citizens, the ones who pay for the grant money from the government to design and sell these vehicles. It’s disgusting. No wonder so many millions of Americans are sitting at the house on unemployment living off the government. It is hard to dream with shackles on your neck, wrists, and ankles.
Which New Car Has The Best Gas Milieage July 20th, 2010, 6:41 pm

2010 Toyota Prius (48 mpg)

The $28,070 V is equipped with a standard 1.8L, 4-cylinder, engine that achieves 51-mpg in the city and 48-mpg on the highway.
jamie July 31st, 2010, 5:53 pm

electric only last so long it has to have fuel back up or alot of people would be on the side of the road needing an outlet to charge, until they get charging stations atleast , but still even then how long will it take to charge a car , right now its hours so….
wowlfer August 14th, 2010, 11:26 am

Leaf works for me–I’m on the list. As a 3 car family we will swap one of them for the Leaf and use it extensively for in town to work run about. Gas strictly for weekend warrior shopping, family, etc. Hopefully we will cut our gas use by 90%. I expect we will buy some solar power panels to charge the LEAF directly from solar power and bypass our home grid (direct from solar to Leaf). That will make it very cheap in the long run for a city runabout even if it takes a full 14 hours to charge that is fine with us.
Liam August 14th, 2010, 10:02 pm

Wowlfer, now you’re talking! Solar pv installed on the home and a new electric car. for about $45,000 you can buy a new car, and a solar system, never pay for energy again, except maybe a rare long haul car trip!

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Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011

Forecasts and Renewable Energy

29 Responses to “Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011”

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