subject: Will China Export Reductions Wither Nissan Leaf On The Vine?by Batterylaptoppower.com [print this page] With the roll-out of the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt, 2011 could be a banner year for electric cars. But the current battery technology for EVs requires rare earth metals, and China controls the supply. Recent moves by China to limit the export of rare earth metals could derail the market growth of EVs both to the detriment of the US economy and the environment.
The enthusiasm over the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt, and the anticipation for models from other manufacturers such as Fords Electric Focus and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, shows that a lot of consumers are ready to embrace electric cars. Even at a price tag of $41,000 for the Volt, GM plans to increase production from 10,000 cars in 2011 to 45,000 in 2012. While the era of the internal combustion engine isnt quite over, the interest in EVs in a growing phenomenon.
Widely availability in European auto markets, start-stop generators are still slow in reaching the North American marketplace. Mostly full scale hybrids are the only vehicles on United States motorways that have the capacity to shut down the gasoline engine. The only major exception is the mild hybrid Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura built briefly between 2007 to 2009 featured an optional alternator/generator system. However, in a very recent announcement by Ford Motor Company, an intention to introduce stop/start technology widespread into their vehicle fleet will start in the 2012 year.
Body Panel/Structural Batteries
The biggest downside of EVs for car buyers is the high sticker price. The price of electric cars is driven by the cost of the lithium-ion batteries. Not only is this battery technology is mature and is unlikely to become less expensive, it also relies on rare earth metals. China currently controls 96% of the supply of rare earth metals, and recently announced that it will reduce export quotas for rare earth metals by 35%. Such a move could threaten the fledging EV market.
