Fisker vs Tesla: Two Very Different Paradigms

I was surprised to learn that the long-awaited Fisker Karma is now priced around $100,000 US – almost double the initial estimate. Why the disparity? Henrik Fisker is a car guy, with almost two decades of experience in the industry. And he’s hired car guys, from production to distribution. While both Tesla and Fisker have received government loans to support the production of alternative powered automobiles, they are very different animals. Tesla is a true Silicon Valley tech company, and its success is more the rule than the exception; whereas Fisker is an automobile company, populated with auto industry leadership who think and act like car manufacturers. Which is perplexing when it is Tesla that has been primarily on budget with its roadster and model S, if not on schedule. True, the Tesla and Karma use state of the art electric power technology, but the fundamental components of each car don’t significantly deviate from their gasoline counterparts. The Roadster is cleverly based upon the chassis of the Lotus Elise. The Model S I’m not privy to. Fisker uses tier one suppliers like GM for its engine and various other components, such as the electric power-train made by Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies. Perhaps the X factor is that Tesla is accustomed to creating new products based upon new technology, and that business model is not new to them. Whatever the reason, I’m hoping that both companies will see success, because Americans need alternatives, even if they don’t fully realize that yet. But my money is on Tesla. Their core competency is clearly the electric power train – the primary value prop and secret sauce of any electric car. This will allow them to partner and license in order to reach scale on their investment.

Adios Aptera?

Autoweek online has speculated that Aptera is about to close its doors because the long-time troubled EV maker is returning customer deposits. Autoweek is about a year behind everyone elso on this prediction, as the unusual EV architecture and rumored leadership issues have plagued Aptera early in its history. Unlike Tesla, Fisker, Toyata, et al, Aptera choose a design that maximizes range at highway speeds and ignored conventional wisdom that EV technology currently favors city use – i.e., short range practicality.

Autoweek story here: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110815/GREEN/110819932

Bill Gates Dismisses Grassroots Conservation?

BusinessGreen.com reported that during Wired’s recent Business Conference in New York City, Bill Gates dismissed in-home conservation technologies as insufficient to solve the world’s energy problems. Which seems odd, given that Microsoft has an in-home sustainable solution business called Hohm. The sensible and measured response related to a macro solution is not any one renewable energy source, but leveraging new forms of energy production with conservation. More importantly, conservation has been democratized – i.e., anyone can participate and immediately implement – whereas energy production requires enormous orchestration with government and private interests. Then there’s the technology development issue. Perhaps the founder of the company that brought us Vista and the Zune should speak more carefully.

“If you’re interested in cuteness, the stuff in the home is the place to go. If you’re interested in solving the world’s energy problems, it’s things like big [solar projects] in the desert,” Gates told the audience. “You have to help the rest of the world get energy at a very reasonable price to get anywhere.”

Now, I appreciate what Gates has done with his foundation, but given that he’s considered a thought leader, I’m hopeful that he’ll be fair and thoughtful with the most immediate and available solutions to our energy needs.

Perhaps this explains the poor performance of Microsoft’s energy products. It seems that they’re weak in most specific verticals, such as energy and health care. Maybe it’s because the overall strategy relies upon a poor understanding of how the world uses energy, not necessarily how it creates it.

More here: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2047375/gates-warns-cute-green-technology-solve-global-energy-crisis

Crunchgear Test of Prius PHEV

‘Great blog entry on Kyle Thibaut’s test of the Prius PHEV.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/04/12/autotech-video-review-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrid/

FedEx a Thought Leader, Perhaps by Necessity; the Mother of ….

FedEx and its Chairman have been authentic advocates of the use of electricity for transportation where it makes sense. FedEx launched this educational vid recently:

http://blog.fedex.designcdt.com/shift

Necessity breeds innovation, and an innovative company like FedEx – it’s the mother of all start-ups – must reduce its dependence on oil to avoid wide swings in operating costs; and resulting prices to its customers.

Coda Raises Almost Enough to be Viable

According to GreenTechMedia, Coda has raised $76 million in a fourth round of funding for its decade-old, retrofitted EV, third world country, three box sedan. That’s not a lot, and speaks volumes about how competitive the product will be compared to some heavy players already in the EV space. In addition, it now has a new CEO, formerly of Goldman Sachs. I’m rooting for these guys, as they are just down the road, and hopeful that they have hired good operators with transportation and manufacturing experience from companies other than GM and Chrysler. But as a realist, I don’t see a happy ending here.

Coda. We’re Here to Stay. Really.

Coda is at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week touting its car as more feature rich than the Nissan Leaf. Yes, don’t laugh. Apparently the fact that the Coda has a trunk and bigger battery capacity is a value proposition thought by Coda to appeal to someone. The problem that a car this small doesn’t have a hatchback – and associated practicality – clearly eluded the non-car guys at Coda.  They’re looking for money as well – we didn’t see that coming. On the upside, at least from a consumer perspective, they are eschewing traditional dealerships (like Tesla) for galleries (like Tesla), although I suspect this has more to do with an inability to register the franchise and attract dealers with such a limited product line – errrr, car.

The deathwatch continues. Fingers crossed…..

More here: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/coda-we-have-a-bigger-battery-trunk-than-nissan/

Coda to Replace CEO Sometime with Someone

Coda, the distribution company that intends on buying electric vehicles in China and rebranding them “Coda” announced that it’s turn-a-round/founder CEO has resigned. Now, I’ve written in the past that although electric vehicles are generally a good movement, Coda appears to be about a bunch of guys who see a financial upside by introducing any electric car to the US, despite the fact that the “Coda” is a decade-old Japanese design that’s been retrofitted to run electric for the US market. Made up of mostly money guys, this company’s future is limited to a government bailout or loan. I hope that they prove me – and many others – wrong. Stay tuned, and Greentech article here: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/ceo-abruptly-resigns-from-electric-car-maker-coda/

BMW. The Ultimate Hourly Driving Machine

BMW has announced that it will start renting its entire model line up, including M series cars, by the hour from its BMW Welt location in Munich. This is seminal, and entirely consistent with BMW’s mission of providing its customers mobility rather than delivering them an automotive product. Kudos to BMW. The story is here:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1697737/bmw-on-demand-zipcar-for-the-luxury-set

Politics for MacAullif are Simply Electric

Former Clinton fund-raiser and Hillary 2008 Chair has turned green, purchasing the Hong Kong based electric car manufacturer MyCar (photo below). When you think about it, a key component in successful EV ventures is entirely political, with significant funds – loans, tax credits, rebates, etc… – available from Federal and state governments to both manufacturers and consumers. And of course, significant funds are needed to bridge the gap between the cost of conventional vehicles and EVs in order to make these ventures viable.

Bloomberg story here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-07/terry-mcauliffe-pursues-a-new-shade-of-green-with-mycar-project.html