Here’s what some of the world’s most ambitious EV movements are up to—and, in terms of carbon monoxide outputs and oil consumption, what they’re up against.

KEY:

–CO2 emissions as nation: annually, measured in million metric tons (“adjusted average,” as calculated by averaging the CO2 emissions of the top-20 CO2-emitting nations: 1,142 million metric tons)

–CO2 emissions per capita: annually, measured in metric tons (“adjusted average,” as calculated by averaging CO2 emissions per capita of the top-20 non-island, economically diverse nations: 13.05 metric tons per capita)

– Oil consumption: number of barrels, per day

CHINA

The Chinese now buy more new cars every year than Americans, and it’s showing: China is the global leader in CO2 emissions. China is also on track to become a world leader in EV technology, and in the promotion and creation of electric vehicles. The government recently announced generous subsidies for the purchase of hybrid or electric vehicles, with financial incentives ranging from $7,400 to $8,900. There should be plenty of products to choose from, as dozens of Chinese automotive companies are currently at work on battery-run vehicles. Indeed, CODA’s joint-venture partner is China-based manufacturer Lishen Power Battery.

CO2 emissions as nation: 6,113.27  (above adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 4.65 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption:  8.2 million

DENMARK

Denmark thinks a lot about its air—witness the many Danish cyclists always enjoying the breeze, and the country’s world dominance in generating power via wind. The Danish are determined for that sky to remain clear: Denmark’s Dong Energy utility and California-based, EV-services company Better Place together have secured over $100 million to bring the Danes a comprehensive electric-car charging network by 2011.

CO2 emissions as nation: 53.89 (below adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 9.91 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption:  166,500

FRANCE

When it comes to electric vehicles, France went its own direction as early as the 1990s, installing hundreds of charging stations in anticipation of a big EV movement. That turned out to be a false start. But the country’s enthusiasm for battery-powered transportation hasn’t waned, and France again is paving its own path. Earlier this year, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that his government will turn a distant French territory into a test bed for electric vehicles. Réunion Island, which has approximately 700,000 inhabitants and sits in the Indian Ocean, will receive a small fleet of pilot electric vehicles. They’ll frequently be charged from renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic panels.

CO2 emissions as nation: 380.89  (below adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 6.24 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 1.9 million

ISRAEL

Israel is tailor-made for EVs: The country produces virtually no oil, and is small enough to be easily traversed in commuter-type electric vehicles. Earlier this year, Israeli service-station company Dor Alon Energy and California’s Better Place contracted for Better Place to install its battery-swapping stations alongside Dor Alon gas pumps. Better Place believes that EV drivers of the future may sometimes opt to change out discharged batteries for fresh ones—in a quick procedure that’s not entirely unlike a NASCAR pit stop—at dedicated “switch stations.” Better Place estimates that approximately 100 switch stations will be operating in Israel by early 2011.

CO2 emissions as nation: 65.77 (below adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 9.98 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 231,000

JAPAN

Tiny but car-happy Japan, which is the world’s third thirstiest consumer of oil, already hosts over one thousand road-going EVs. The Japanese Ministry of Economy has pledged over $135 million to install charging stations throughout the country this year, and California’s Better Place recently tested the performance of a pilot, battery-swapping station that was dedicated exclusively to servicing electric Tokyo taxis.

CO2 emissions as nation: 1,235.97 (above adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 10 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 4.4 million

NORWAY

The kingdom of Norway has plenty of electricity, courtesy of mountainous terrain that funnels rushing water through the country’s hydroelectric plants. So it’s no surprise that the government of Oslo, the nation’s capital—and its largest city—wants to steer its people into cars that can use some of that juice. Among the 179 recharging stations around the city (with approximately 500 more to come) is a parking lot where electric vehicles park and recharge for free. Own a gas vehicle? You can park nearby for about $8 per hour. Oslo already allows EVs use of its commuter lanes, and exempts them from tolls and annual car registration fees.

CO2 emissions as nation: 49.34 (below adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 8.62 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 204,000

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea is poised to deliver a jolt: The country’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy will soon invest nearly $350 million for R & D costs related to developing advanced EV batteries and similar technologies. The Ministry also pledged that Korean car companies would capture 10 percent of global EV sales by 2015, and that EVs would make up 10 percent of all domestic small-vehicle sales by 2020.

CO2 emissions as nation: 470.61 (below adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 9.83 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 2.2 million

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK once prided itself on being known as an oil producer. No more. For the last ten years its production has slowed, while the country’s thirst for oil remains great. England’s hope? To quickly put no less than 100,000 EVs on its roads. Both public and private sector funds will be tapped for the $88 million required to install 25,000 charging points throughout London. Another 1,300 such charging stations are already in the works across the northeast stretches of the country.

CO2 emissions as nation: 554.02 (below adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 9.37 (below adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 1.7 million

UNITED STATES

You’d think that America, which only trails China in terms of national CO2 emissions, and is far and away the world’s number one consumer of oil, would be highly motivated to glug less at the pump. It is. In 2009, the federal government pledged $2.4 billion in grant money to boost the budgets of nearly 50 EV component manufacturers across the country. Bills currently making their way through congress propose up to $10,000 in tax credit for buyers of electric vehicles, and that billions of additional dollars be made available to further advance electric vehicle technology. Meanwhile a number of homegrown battery makers and infrastructure providers are already working away to make the term “EV” a household word.

CO2 emissions as nation: 5,759.21 (above adjusted average)

CO2 emissions per capita: 19 (above adjusted average)

Oil consumption: 18.7 million

——————————————————————————-

SOURCES (verified 8/2010)

CO2 emissions (latest available/comparable):

Per nation: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/SeriesDetail.aspx?srid=749&crid= (2006)

Per capita: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC (2006)

Oil consumption (latest available): http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/index.cfm (2009)

China

–China becomes the global leader in new car sales: www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/08/china-us-car-sales-overtakes

–China global leader in CO2 emissions: www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/each-countrys-share-of-co2.html (2006)

–China on track to become a leader in EV creation/promotion:

p. 158-159 and p. 163, “Electrification Roadmap” available from the Electrification Coalition:

www.electrificationcoalition.org/

–Government subsidies for EV purchases:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-06/01/c_13327814.htm and

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/china-to-start-pilot-program-providing-subsidies-for-electric-cars-and-hybrids/

and

–p. 159, “Electrification Roadmap” available from the Electrification Coalition:

www.electrificationcoalition.org/

Denmark

–Denmark a world leader in generating wind power:

www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1881646,00.html

–Dong Energy/Better Place collaboration:

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/in-denmark-ambitious-plan-for-electric-cars/

France

–French charging stations in the 1990s:

http://carbonnation.info/2009/02/20/deja-vu-as-france-plans-national-ev-charging-network-again/

and

http://etecmc10.vub.ac.be/etecphp/publications/EVS18infravdb.pdf

and

www.iaei.org/magazine/?p=938

–Nicolas Sarkozy announcement:

www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/01/19/462212.html

and

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/19/french-president-sarkozy-signs-letter-of-intent-for-electric-veh?icid=sphere_searchsphere_news

–Reunion Island information:

www.reunionisland.net/Reunion-Island-Highlights.aspx

Israel

–According to Israel’s Ministry of National Infrastructures, Israel produced 43 barrels of oil per day in 2008: www.mni.gov.il/mni/en-US/NaturalResources/OilandgasExploration/Oil+and+Gas+Production+in+Israel.htm

–Israel is 290 miles long by 85 miles wide at its widest point: www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/Israel+in+Brief/ISRAEL+IN+BRIEF.htm

–Dor Alon and Better Place strike deal: www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/hbc_better-place-signs-charging-station-deal-dor-alon-gas-stations-will-set-up-charging-stations-for-el-759360.html

–100 Switch stations in Israel by next year:

www.greenprophet.com/2010/02/14/17425/better-place-test-facility-israel/

Japan

–Japan’s oil consumption: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/index.cfm

–1,000 EVs on the roads: www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62E15L20100315

–Japanese Ministry of Economy pledges $135 million: http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/20/japanese-ministry-of-economy-wants-hybrids-and-electrics-to-acco/

–Better Place swapping station for Tokyo taxis: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/better-place-opens-battery-swap-station-in-tokyo-for-90-day-taxi-trial/

Norway

–Norway’s hydroelectric might:

www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4230770,00.html

and

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02278/versiunea_text/norway.html

and

www.pavilion.co.uk/dwakefield/curriculum/ks4/letts/hydro.htm

–Oslo and EVs: www.newsinenglish.no/2010/06/23/oslo-aims-to-be-electric-car-capital/

South Korea

–South Korea’s investments/aspirations for electric vehicles:

http://autos.globaltimes.cn/world/2010-03/513799.html

and

www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2250984/south-korea-revs-plan-mass

United Kingdom

–UK’s diminished oil production: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_data.cfm?fips=UK

–100,000 EVs on roads: www.london.gov.uk/electricvehicles/

–25,000 charging stations: www.london.gov.uk/electricvehicles/charging/

–€69 million/$88 million cash outlay: http://urbact.eu/en/header-main/news-and-events/view-one/urbact-news/?entryId=4942

–1,300 charging stations: www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=22929

United States

–U.S. emissions: www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/each-countrys-share-of-co2.html

and

http://photos.mongabay.com/09/forecast_co2_line.jpg

–U.S. oil consumption:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_data.cfm?fips=US

–$2.4 billion pledged to 48 companies: www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/24-Billion-in-Grants-to-Accelerate-the-Manufacturing-and-Deployment-of-the-Next-Generation-of-US-Batteries-and-Electric-Vehicles

–Current bills in congress: www.electrificationcoalition.org/media/Bill-Summaries.pdf

–Domestic EV battery/component makers: www1.eere.energy.gov/recovery/pdfs/battery_awardee_list.pdf

Here’s some data that will—forgive us—shock you. The battery-powered CODA travels up to 120 miles¹ between charges, but research shows that you may seldom go that far. Many of us frequently drive significantly fewer miles at a stretch, which means if you were driving an electric vehicle, you might be hard pressed to notice what you’re paying at the plug. And you’d soon forget all about spending a lot of money for oil.

Studies show that nearly half of all Americans drive 20 miles or less per weekday, and over two-thirds of us drive 20 miles or less on weekend days. A CODA driver trying to figure out those minimal demands on an electricity bill—as we have in the chart below—would come to the conclusion that driving an EV can be nearly as inexpensive as turning on the lights.

Electricity rate based on national average of 11.3 cents per kilowatt hour (2008).

———-

Destination: Work

Distance (roundtrip): 20 miles

Electricity required to recharge CODA: 7.5 kilowatt hours (kWh)

Cost: $0.85

Household equivalent:

Less than the sum of powering your kitchen appliances on a typical day: Refrigerator 5.8 kWh; microwave 1.1 kWh; dishwasher 2.4 kWh (9.3 kWh total)

———-

Destination: Work

Distance (roundtrip): 10 miles

Electricity required to recharge CODA: 3.75 kWh

Cost: $0.42

Household equivalent:

Watching your plasma TV every night for a couple weeks (.336 kWh/day x 14 days = 4.704 kWh)

———-

Destination: Shopping

Distance (roundtrip): 14 miles

Electricity required to recharge CODA: 5.25 kWh

Cost: $0.59

Household equivalent:

Drying one big load of laundry (5kWh)

———-

Destination: Taking your kids to school

Distance (roundtrip): 12 miles

Electricity required to recharge CODA: 4.5 kWh

Cost: $0.51

Household equivalent:

Working on your computer at home for nearly a week (1.18 kWh/day x 4 days = 4.72 kWh)

———-

Destination: Friend’s house

Distance (roundtrip): 22 miles

Electricity required to recharge CODA: 8.27 kWh

Cost: $0.93

Household equivalent:

Cooling your house with  an air conditioner for one warm day: :  7.73 kWh

————————————————————-

SOURCES:

—America consuming nearly 19 million barrels daily

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/country/country_energy_data.cfm?fips=US

—Approximately $3,600 spent annually on gasoline: p. 9, “Electrification Roadmap,” available from the Electrification Coalition:

www.electrificationcoalition.org/

—Statistics indicating that nearly half of all Americans drive 20 miles or less per weekday/nearly three-quarters of us drive 20 miles or less on weekend days: p. 123, “Electrification Roadmap,” available from the Electrification Coalition:

www.electrificationcoalition.org/

—2008 national average electricity rate:

www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_factors_affecting_prices

—Destinations and distances based loosely on National Household Travel Survey Summary of Travel Trends (2001); p. 15/table 5:

http://nhts.ornl.gov/2001/pub/STT.pdf

—“Household equivalent” figures: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10040 and www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-356-2.htm (for personal computer). Air conditioner data from www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/recs2001/enduse2001/enduse2001.html–although Update: The 2005 stat on average A/C usage in the U.S.: 2,822 kWh/year, or 7.73 kWh/day.

—Other supporting sources:

US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Omnibus Household Survey (2003): www.bts.gov/publications/omnistats/volume_03_issue_04/html/figure_02.html

1. Follow us (@CODAautomotive) on Twitter

2. Tweet your own Earth Day pledge, and be sure to include @codaauto

3. Pick up your t-shirt and sign CODA’s pledge wall at the Santa Monica Earth Day on the Promenade event between 10 am and 7 pm this Saturday.

Event Details:  CODA Automotive will be on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade (booth #3, entrance off of Wilshire Blvd) from 10 am to 7 pm this Saturday showing the CODA, the all-electric car from the all-electric car company.

Today is different.  Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” blasting out of a quadraphonic eight-track stereo no longer contends with the music of Thrush mufflers.  The Cleveland garage has given way to the Apple garage, and we believe in time, the CODA garage.  We have become globalized, technology-driven, and constantly connected.  Nevertheless, American garage innovation remains, stronger than ever.   By this I mean that small teams of highly-creative, can-do people who are passionate about what they design and build and are willing and able to compete, anywhere, anytime and with anyone still thrive.  This is exemplified by the approaching battery electric vehicle era and by our company, CODA Automotive.

Using 21^st century, American garage innovation, CODA plans to bring to market the first safe, affordable, and useful all-electric sedan.  How do we do this in an industry of tremendous scale with a fixed asset business model that, for over a century, has been focused on gas combustion engines?  How do we create something that is human-sized, progressive and adaptable? We do it by structuring our business model to focus on efficiency and innovation rather than bureaucracy and antiquated processes.

At CODA, we’ve focused our energy and capital on the battery system, the key enabling technology.  We have a bureaucracy of one, me, making timing, cost and performance decisions.  We have a relatively small, internal team of experienced, decisive automotive and battery engineers who require project transparency to enable cross-functional contribution and involvement.  Our internal team works seamlessly to incorporate global technology partners during the design and manufacturing processes, while still maintaining control of the battery system intellectual property.   We use a global supply chain and assembly to control costs and reduce capital expenditures, which allow CODA to be flexible, dynamic and quick to market.  We then couple that with great branding, marketing and company culture.  In a nutshell, that is the CODA garage model.

While our model is global, our core electric drive and battery system engineering partners and suppliers are based primarily in California and Michigan, and the CODA chassis has been fully tested and safety engineered by CODA and a supporting group of US engineering partners.   Thus, the core engineering and technology of the CODA is all-American.   However, without our global partners, we couldn’t do what we’re doing by 2010.  For instance, CODA and our battery system partner, Lishen Power Battery, co-own a China-based joint venture manufacturing facility, enabling us to combine the most advanced battery technology with low cost volume manufacturing. By accelerating adoption of electric cars through the large-scale production of affordable, automotive-grade battery systems, this JV is good for both the US and China.  We share common engineering mindsets and values with all our partners and find our collaborative model to be immensely stimulating and productive.

As technology entrepreneurs who believe small and focused is a way of life, we can’t exist and succeed without being smartly interdependent and collaborative with our US and international partners.  American garage innovation is alive and well and CODA is working to reconnect that innovation with balanced development and jobs.  We believe working on a global level to accelerate adoption of needed clean energy and transportation technology while building new industries and jobs in the US and other countries is truly the biggest win-win.   The result will be even cooler than the music of a big block, open chamber rat motor screaming from a ’66 Chevelle.

-Kevin

Long term, this announcement means we will be able to mass manufacture CODA’s battery system to help other companies join the electrification movement. And finally, it means we can move forward with our plans to develop battery systems for utilities looking to store renewable energy.

To wrap-up, I want to add some color on our partnership with Lishen. As one of the top Lithium-ion battery producers in the world, Lishen makes the battery cells for some of the top electronics companies, like Apple, Motorola, Samsung, Vodaphone and others. We partnered with Lishen for a few reasons, but the decision really came down to chemistry (no pun intended). What we found in Lishen was a partner ready and willing to work collaboratively with CODA engineers to quickly bring a transformational product to market. And together, we’ve done something neither could do alone: create a disruptive technology that will catalyze a movement to forever change the transportation and renewable energy sectors.

Off to work.

-Kevin