The Coming Battle among Electric Vehicles

In "Charging Ahead with Electric Cars" (http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2008/11/18/charging-ahead-with-electric-cars), Marc Gunther pinpoints the importance of the present moment for the electric vehicle industry. There are a wide range of car models and production strategies under development, from Better Place's alliance with Renault-Nissan to GM's Chevy Volt and the numerous start-ups such as Tesla, Think, Fisker, and ZENN.

The results or terms of the present debate over a bailout for the Big 3 in the US will significantly shape where electrical vehicles go down the line. If the US is left with a void by the fall of the larger companies, smaller start-ups or foreign companies may fill the space. On the other hand, the US government, which has been blasting GM for its short-sightedness, could attempt more stringent guidelines to require EV or plug-in hybrid development as a bridge technology.

In any case, these various models will be competing for public support, which should help to educate the public on the importance of switching to renewable energy for automobiles. The battle among publicity campaigns should be epic, and with some foresighted support from the US government, these companies will be able to offer customers the tax-breaks and other credits necessary to introduce this vital EV technology for the future.