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

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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

People are used to driving their cars long after the empty light turns on – most people could even tell you exactly how many miles they can go before their tank completely runs dry.  The idea of charging up a car instead of filling up is foreign to most people, so it’s natural to be concerned about what happens in an electric car when the juice runs out.

These concerns are understandable, but running out of charge in a CODA is very similar to running out of gas in a gas-engine car.  In both instances there are many warning signs before the car’s wheels stop rolling.

The CODA is engineered to maximize the life of the battery by not fully draining the battery every drive cycle.  However, if you are in a situation where you simply forgot to recharge, the CODA has a system in place to maximize range (miles per charge) as the state of charge (SOC) nears zero.

When the CODA gets to about 15% SOC, a three-stage, orderly reduction of power begins which helps to maximize range and avoid high power draws from the nearly empty battery.  In the first stage, the driver can continue driving at maximum speed (80 mph) but acceleration is limited, meaning the car may feel a bit sluggish when trying to speed up.  In the second stage, acceleration and power are limited, allowing a top speed of ~60 mph.  In the third and final stage, acceleration and power are limited, allowing a top speed of ~35 mph.

With each stage lasting ~5 miles, the driver has ~15 miles to get out of traffic and pull over to safety.  At each stage, the CODA’s telematics and in-dash screen alerts will help to indicate to the driver that they should pull over.  The moral of the story is that drivers should plug-in regularly to avoid this situation, but they do forget there is ample time to find a suitable place to pull off to the side of the road.

In the article, veteran auto industry analyst Maryann Keller said in response to DOE’s announcement, “We’re pouring $1 billion into two companies without a future.  The economics of the industry favors large companies.”

The idea that smaller companies can’t be successful and therefore won’t lead the revolution in alternative transportation is what we take issue with.  Within the past year, two of the three big, domestic auto companies went into bankruptcy and dealer sales tanked.  If that doesn’t say the auto industry needs a fresh breath of air from smaller players with disruptive models that aren’t confined by the bureaucracy of large corporations, then we don’t know what does.

Between rising carbon emission-related environmental degradation, Americans’ anti-oil sentiments, and the lack of alternative options, the market desperately needs innovative, nimble companies, like CODA Automotive, that can move quickly to shift expectations and get electric cars on the market that meet drivers’ needs and are better to the environment.

It’s hard for us to believe that one of the industry giants will do this – especially considering their businesses were founded on and  are still concretely rooted in the production of internal combustion, gas guzzling vehicles.

On a panel, Chairman of Edison Electric Institute Anthony Earley said, “The beauty of electricity is it’s already there … So we’ve kind of got a jump-start” – meaning it’s not a huge infrastructure overhaul to build charging stations.

But when asked about overloading the grid with too many EVs he said, “The last thing you want is millions of electric vehicles plugged in at 5 o’clock on a hot summer afternoon when the grid is already being taxed.

Mr. Earley may have missed the mark, slightly.  The beauty of electricity is not only that it’s already here, but also that it’s available 24 hours a day.  Electric cars can be charged at your home while you sleep using excess electricity in the grid.  While it’s true that electric cars could significantly tax the grid if many are charged within close proximity in the daytime during peak hours, we don’t think most people will do that.  Lower night time electricity rates will be a big incentive for consumers to charge during off-peak hours (between 11 pm and 4 am), and the development and installation of timed meters, like PG&E’s SmartMeter™ will make this convenient.

In fact, according to a 2007 study done by researchers at the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (which assumed all cars, trucks and SUVs were PHEVs across the country),  84% of the additional electricity demand created by plug-in vehicles could be met with the current grid’s off-peak generation, transmission and distribution capacity.