EVs

[Grzrd]

Today Amtrak released a plan for the Northeast Corridor ... The price tag would be $117 billion and the project wouldn't be done until 2040.  Any thoughts?

Regarding Alps' comment to "take an airplane", I'd like to point out ... when gas prices jump back up (not a question of IF but of WHEN), the airlines will feel the pinch much more than the railroads will.

In "AMTRAK/ NEC" thread, two things caught my eye: $117 Billion price tag and the point that gas prices will inevitably rise.  Then, came across this article about EVs: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/man-behind-plan-make-electric-cars-mainstream.php

How much would $117 Billion (or reasonable %age thereof) accomplish with government investment in an electric grid for EVs?  Current $115 Million investment by feds.  Boston Consulting Group predicts 1 in 4 cars sold in 2020 will be EVs, and it is estimated that number of EVs on road in U.S. by 2030 will anywhere from 13 million to 40 million.  Final paragraph in the "paste" talks about impact of demand for oil from China and India on oil prices. IMHO, the impact of the demand from those two countries will be huge.  "Paste" of parts of article:

"The mass production and growing demand for plug-in electric vehicles is a reflection of the public desire to decrease dependence on foreign oil and support the environmental benefits of this new technology. Today, the United States imports 57 percent of its oil or more than nine million barrels a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Much of this oil is imported from the Middle East and other regions of the world where conflict and political instability often threaten supply. Widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles will reduce carbon-based greenhouse gases that heat the atmosphere and cause damaging climate changes.

In addition, more than 20,000 charging stations are being deployed across the country.

The U.S. Department of Energy has provided $115 million to support the installation of charging infrastructure for two different programs. The EV Project is underway in 16 major U.S. cities and will be installing home, workplace and public charging. ChargePoint America is another program that is installing levels I,II and fast charge stations across the country and already has 700 stations. A variety of manufacturers are producing charging infrastructure components for plug-in electric vehicles, including Coulomb Technologies, Eaton Corporation, ECOtality and General Electric... Government incentives are making owning and operating a plug-in electric vehicle more affordable than ever before. Drivers who purchase a plug-in electric in the U.S. may qualify for a federal tax credit up to $7,500. Drivers who purchase a plug-in electric in Washington D.C. and in several other metropolitan areas are eligible to receive a free home charging station through the ChargePoint America program.

Many choices will be available to consumers over the next few years as a variety of PEVs hit the market. By 2012, consumers will be able to choose from 15 different PEVs from such manufacturers as Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and U.S. auto manufacturing start-ups such as Tesla, Coda and Fisker ... 
We will reach beyond the first adopters in our efforts to educate the public. This is why EDTA and its members have created the National Plug-in Vehicle Initiative to serve as a national clearinghouse for timely and accurate information on plug-in electric vehicles.



4. Do you think the US is truly ready for electric cars? How long do you think it will be before EVs represent a significant share of the market, and what more can be done to speed the process up?

Yes. Even the most conservative estimates in a recent Boston Consulting Group study project reflect that more than one quarter of all new cars sold on the consumer market in 2020 (only a decade from now) will be electric drive vehicles. Ten years is the "immediate future" in the vehicle manufacturing, where design, development and production cycles are established for multi-year periods. Inter-industry and inter-governmental collaborations to establish best practices, uniform standards, and incentives will accelerate market acceptance of all types of PEVs and PEV deployment in the U.S.
...

6. If you could, briefly outline how you envision the future of EVs over, say, the next 20 years.



We - and others - see the increasing electrification of the transportation sector over the next two decades. Hybrid, plug-in electric and fuel cell vehicles will all play an increasing role in meeting our national goals for energy security and sustainable transportation. Plug-in electric vehicles will be an important part of the electric revolution.

As battery technology continues to advance, vehicles will provide increased performance at reduced cost, reinforcing the market's embrace of electric drive. In fact, a recent National Research Council report estimates a conservative forecast of 13 million plug-in vehicles on the roads by 2030 is likely, but also says that number could be as high as 40 million with thoughtful policy support. The stimulus funding and consumer incentives for vehicles and infrastructure are exactly the policy support that will help speed adoption in that higher range.

We also believe that other market factors will accelerate the turn toward electric drive. Economic growth and auto sales in China, India and other fast-growing economies will increase global demand for oil. So the forecast is for rising gas prices, which makes the efficiency of electric drive increasing attractive to consumers."

[Duke87]

The issue that still hasn't really been addressed is "where is the electricity going to come from?" If enough people start driving electric cars, this will become a huge problem.

One intriguing idea: solar roads.