Online Chat with EDTA President Brian Wynne: Transcript

Electric Drive: Milestones on the Road to “Overnight Success”
    
Does it seem that suddenly everyone is talking about electric vehicles? Well, that’s because they are. But it’s not a sudden development in the automotive world. At the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), our members have been pushing technology boundaries, building business models and busting myths for a long time. Electric drive is not a fad; in fact, we’ve been at this for 20 years. And, of course, some of the earliest successful automobiles were electric!    

But there is good reason why this is suddenly getting lots more attention. Not only has there been a wave of exciting vehicle announcements from manufacturers (check out a list of electric vehicle announcements on our website), the federal government just invested $2.4 billion in electric drive vehicle and component manufacturers, battery suppliers, infrastructure providers, and training facilities.  This reflects a national recognition that electrification of transportation can help us achieve our energy, environment and economic goals. It also reflects how far the industry has already come.  We are prepared to leverage the investment and take electric drive into the mainstream.  

When hybrid technology breakthroughs made commercially viable grid-connected vehicles a possibility, EDTA hosted the first plug-in hybrid vehicle workshop in 2003--for an overflow crowd.  In the short time since then, electric drive has come a long way, with the major automakers (and many start ups) developing and testing electric drive vehicles.  Companies are going about the challenge in different ways: some are focusing on battery electric vehicles, several are moving on plug-in hybrids, and others are working on battery electrics with range extenders. Many manufacturers continue to work diligently on fuel cell vehicles.  This demonstrates the flexibility of electric drive technology, and the innovative spirit which is needed to address the myriad of consumer tastes, and the variety of commercial vehicles in the fleet.

We all know that it has been a roller coaster of a year for the automotive industry, with the recession hurting every aspect of the value chain, from parts suppliers to consumers.  But the industry has weathered economic and technology setbacks before and we are positioned to come out on top of this one. Vehicle electrification is not just a national policy goal; it is the foundation of our members’ business strategies. It is not just vehicle manufacturers that are bringing innovation to this game. Electric utility companies and component manufacturers are also investing time and treasure toward a common objective.  

EDTA has been a steady voice for 20 years.  Today’s unprecedented attention and investment might seem like an overnight success story, but this industry’s success has been years in the making. More to the point, we will be at this well into the future.

Brian Wynne

Brian didn't get to answer all of the questions that were submitted during the live web chat. He's answered some additional questions here:

Q. With more than 200 major oil discoveries this year, what happens if Big Oil keeps a lid on prices? Can electric vehicles really take off under these conditions?

A. As long as we are dependent on oil, no matter its source or price, we are vulnerable. In other words, it’s not the cost of oil that matters; it is the cost of our dependence. Let’s face it, the United States has some worthy competition for oil in developing countries worldwide, and I don’t think anyone will be able to keep a lid on prices for any extended amount of time.  But, you are correct that higher oil prices make electric vehicles more competitive.

Another way to overcome the initial cost hurdles is to provide tax incentives for purchasers – the incentive makes the cars more accessible and helps producers reach economies of scale, which will bring costs down across the board.  Another cost advantage of electric vehicles is that not only can you save money on fuel (gas vs. electricity) but you will save money on overall vehicle ownership—electric vehicles have very few moving parts, no belts, hoses, filters, oil changes, etc, so they require less maintenance. 

I also see the environmental advantages of EVs becoming an increasingly important element if consumer purchasing decisions. 

Q. Can you provide the name and/or link to the EPRI study on emissions?

A. You can link to the report here: http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=223132&mode=2

Q. Isn't it true there really is no national grid since some states (like Texas) have their on independent grid? Why do politicians keep acting like there is a cohesive grid when there is no such thing?

A. The grid is a tremendous national resource.  I think we do have a cohesive grid as far as consumers are concerned.  We want the power to work no matter where we live. While the grid may look or operate differently in different parts of the nation, the task of fueling your car and paying for it needs to be seamless no matter your location. But your question rightly hits on the larger point of 3000+ utilities in the country working together for a common goal. It’s a formidable undertaking.

Q. How do modern batteries perform in colder climates - Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, etc.?

A. So far, so good. Automakers and battery makers have been performing cold-weather testing on battery electrics, hybrids and fuel cell electric vehicles for some time.  Climate can certainly have an affect on performance, but automaker are working to ensure that the plug-in and other electric drive vehicles that become available to you and me will meet the very stringent requirements that we expect from our cars—including operating in extreme temperatures.

Q. Please share about EDTA's best hope for policy outcomes in Copenhagen and with the current Energy Bill. What benefits are you seeing from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act directly to EV's now?

A. I’d like to see sustainable transportation as a goal of all nations.  With or without an international agreement or a national cap and trade program, we need to be moving toward cleaner, more efficient options for moving people and goods.  

Some limited energy legislation may move in the session, but as you know, Congress has a really dense and complicated agenda for the fall.

In the meantime, the ARRA bill is already moving the electric drive industry forward. Loans and grants for advanced vehicle and component manufacturing are being awarded. Federal stimulus funds are also being used for federal, state and regional efforts to acquire electric drive vehicles and infrastructure. 

Q. Do you think the $400 million is sufficient for infrastructure to inspire mass production of all-electrics from US OEMs?

A. The funding you refer to was awarded for purchase of plug in hybrids and electric vehicles for demonstrations, as well as charging infrastructure and workforce training. Advanced manufacturing funds included $25 billion in loans and $2 billion in battery manufacturing grants. These funds are a critical additional to an enormous public and private sector undertaking. We are not there yet and further investment will be needed on both sides to reach mainstream commercial penetration in the near term.  
 
Q. What fleet applications do you think will be best suited for BEV/Plug-in vehicles?

A. Several! While the duty cycle of the vehicle and the optimum battery range will vary across fleets, one example is in the use of medium and heavy duty battery electric and plug-in hybrid trucks in delivery fleets.  Check out how two EDTA members, Dueco and Smith Electric, are equipping fleets with battery and plug-in hybrid trucks. And, look for Ford’s battery electric Transit Connect Van in 2010. Electric vehicles are a good bet for delivery fleets, because the vehicles run a daily, predictable route and return to the garage to get recharged overnight.  Fleet managers can take the biggest variable out of their budget planning: the cost of fuel.  Also, electric vehicles require less maintenance, which is another plus for fleet operators.

Q. Why would you choose an acronym for your group that is the same as for the well known chemical ethylenediaminetetraacetate?

A. Actually, that happened before I joined EDTA.  Our association has a storied 20 year history. We were founded in 1989 as the Electric Transportation Coalition, and in the early 1990s, our identity and focus grew into a trade association—the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas (EVAA). In 2003, our Board and members rightly decided that “electric vehicle” was a bit limiting considering the diversity of technologies and vehicles that we represent—battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell.  Thus, the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) was born. I hope that many people aren’t mistaking us for toiling in the chemical industry, or for the Educational Theatre Association (also an “EDTA”) in Ohio! 

Q. The Chevrolet Volt is listed on your site as a BEV (battery electric vehicle.).  In fact, it is an EREV, an extended range electric vehicle, with a small gas engine which turns a generator to extend range once the battery is depleted.  Will you update your website?

A. As we explain  “how electric drive works” to policy makers, media and the general public, sometimes the explanation of how battery electrics, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cells operate can get a bit long. In EREV’s, the propulsion of the vehicle is provided exclusively electricity, whether it is grid or fuel generated, so we had put it in that larger category of BEVs.  With EREV’s announced for production, our website has been updated to include this clarification for them.