Three Different views on the Same CARB Meeting

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(Pro EV).....

[As POSTed on the Internet EV List BB Down Loaded from aol News Search. POSTed for public EV informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]

Environmentalists and entrepreneurs hail electric vehicle battery report
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 1995--A panel of battery experts told the California Air Resources Board today that battery developers have made `impressive progress` in developing batteries to power smog-free electric vehicles.

`This battery audit, demanded by the auto industry, just proved the success of the 1998 zero emissions vehicle rule,` said Joe Caves of the Environmental Policy Network. The panelist reported that the `fundamental technology has advanced remarkably over the past five years,` and that the `mandate has been the critical factor` in driving progress.

The panel said that cars powered by advanced lead-acid batteries will be available for large scale commercial production in 1997 and 1998. `It is only because of the zero-emission vehicle rule that lead-acid battery cars are now viable,` said Michelle Robinson of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

`Giving in to the auto and oil industry demands now would only postpone technological progress, slow infrastructure development, and dry up investment.`

In addition the panel said that a new generation of advanced battery technology (i.e. lithium ion, nickel, metal, hydride) could be available for large scale commercial production in five years. Pilot projects could begin in two to three years with large demonstrations.

The panel said lifecycle costs for advanced batteries are attractive, even in small quantity production, because of the longer lifecycle and lower cost of fuel and maintenance.

Battery entrepreneurs were happy with the report. `The automakers demanded this audit, they got it and now they have to live with it,` said Bill Van Amburg of CALSTART, a public-private consortium promoting development of advanced transportation technology. --30--ahc/sf.. pc/jr
CONTACT: Environmental Policy Network Joe Caves, 916/558-1516 or Union of Concerned Scientists Michelle Robinson, 510/843-1872 or Anderson, Abernathy & Mitchel Maureen Anderson, 415/546-6656 AP-NY-10-11-95 1707EDT
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(Con-EV)

[As POSTed on the Internet EV List BB Down Loaded from aol News Search. POSTed for public EV informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 1995--Battery technology is the critical factor in developing electric vehicles that can meet the needs of a broad consumer market, said electric vehicle experts from Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA), at briefings in Sacramento, Calif., and Los Angeles this week.

``We have made a lot of progress in advanced batteries, but still have some major obstacles in terms of cost and making it practical in real driving situations,'' said John Wallace, director of electric vehicles for Ford. ``The battery might work in the laboratory, but we need real-world conditions.''

Officials from each of the American automakers and AAMA, the trade association whose members are Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, delivered a status report at a media briefing in Sacramento Tuesday and in testimony Wednesday at a California Air Resources Board (CARB) workshop in Los Angeles.

A preliminary report from a battery audit team appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson and CARB Chairman John Dunlap was expected to be released at the workshop.

``What General Motors is trying to do is make a business out of electric vehicles,'' said Frank Schweibold, GM's director of electric vehicles. ``These batteries are good, but they're not great.

``This technology with its associated low vehicle range and high life cycle cost will only satisfy a limited number of EV purchasers, and will not come close to satisfying a 2 percent industry requirement.''

In 1990, CARB created a mandate that requires 2 percent of the cars offered for sale in California in 1998 to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). To date, only electric vehicles meet this requirement. The mandate increases to 5 percent ZEVs in 2001, and 10 percent ZEVs in 2003 and subsequent years.

``Chrysler has been in the market for batteries for more than a year,'' said Bob Davis, executive engineer, electric vehicle external affairs, vehicle engineering, Chrysler.

``Despite the optimistic claims we hear to the contrary on the availability of advanced batteries, when it comes down to signing a purchase order that specifies quantities, delivery deadlines and prices, the only manufacturers willing to sign deals for 1998 are offering lead-acid technology.''

The auto industry has undertaken enormous EV research and developmental programs, but the battery remains a major obstacle to development of a commercially viable EV. Automakers, together with battery manufacturers and the U.S. government, are working to develop a battery with longer life, better range and lower cost.

Current-technology batteries require replacement every two to three years and cost up to $6,000 each.

``It's becoming more clear all the time that the ZEV mandate doesn't make sense. You can't mandate a technological breakthrough,'' said Dr. Richard Klimisch, vice president of engineering, for the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. ``

``We're less than 2 years away from start of production and there's no chance of a battery breakthrough in '98.'' Joint research conducted by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) is being pursued by Chrysler, Ford and GM, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute.

While lead-acid batteries will be used in the first EVs, USABC views nickel metal hydride batteries as the most promising for meeting mid- term goals and lithium-based batteries for long-term goals. --30--TJM/la* DON/la
CONTACT: Cerrell Associates Kathleen Ashby/John Cuneo, 213/466-3445 ---
Automakers say electric-vehicle battery technology progressing, but not ready for ``prime time'' Business/Automotive Editors and Environmental Writers
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(Nutral EV, By Andrea Orr)

LOS ANGELES (Reuter) - California, responding to a new study on electric car battery technology, indicated Wednesday that it might have to change its controversial rule requiring the sale of electric vehicles by 1998.

``The evidence seems to indicate that advanced batteries aren't going to be ready by 1998,'' said Dan Pellissier, a spokesman for California's Environmental Protection Agency, which plays a central role in drafting clean air policy.

Current California rules requires the seven biggest automakers doing business in the state to offer 2 percent of their new fleets as electric vehicles, or a total of about 20,000, in 1998.

That mandate has come under fire as limited driving range and high cost make widespread sales of electric vehicles look problematic. The state has increasingly hedged its commitment to the electric car rule.

But the comments made Wednesday were the clearest sign yet that California may drop the rule that has spawned a wave of research into advanced battery technology and served as a model for several eastern states seeking remedies for their own pollution problems.

``It seems there probably is cause to look hard at what adjustments need to be made to make the programme successful,'' said Pellissier. ``I wouldn't use the word 'likely' but I would say the possibilities (of changing the mandate) are stronger now than they were prior to receiving the audit results.''

The audit Pellissier referred to was conducted by a four-member panel of scientists appointed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The panel told a CARB workshop Wednesday that electric car battery technology was progressing quickly, but not quickly enough to make mass production commercially feasible by 1998.

The panel, which is not affiliated with the car industry or other interest groups, said mass production of electric cars meeting consumer performance demands likely would not possible before the year 2000, at the earliest.

Better batteries are seen as a key to building electric vehicles that will sell. Most electric vehicles are now made using lead acid batteries, which have limitations.

``Lead acid batteries will be available in 1998, but car makers believe that their limited driving range will restrict those vehicles to a market share less than the objectives stated in the current regulation,'' said Dr. Fritz Kalhammer, vice president at the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., and a member of the four-person panel.

Kalhammer, who stressed the panel's conclusions were preliminary, said it appeared advanced batteries could be available in large volumes ``early next century.''

One of the main problems with lead acid batteries is their limited driving range of less than 100 miles per charge.

Major car makers said the conclusions of the expert panel validated their position that the rule is not technologically feasible.

``They pretty much said what we've been saying all along,'' said Ford Motor Co. spokesman Bill George. ``The mandate is forcing people to focus on the lead acid battery and our fear is if you bring an inferior product to market it will taint consumer acceptance of the product.''

Kalhammer and other panellists, though, were by no means rebuking the California mandate.

``Overall, the picture is very favourable,'' said Kalhammer, who produced a list of advanced batteries, such as nickel metal hydride, sodium sulphur and lithium ion, that overcome many performance problems of lead acid. He said these advanced systems were still too costly to produce by the thousands but could be ready for mass production in 2000 or 2001.

``Developers of advanced batteries certainly believe (California's zero emission vehicle) rule is one if not the major factor stimulating investment,'' Kalhammer said.

Pellissier also stressed that any change to the 1998 rule would leave on track a longer term policy of introducing electric cars as part of a broad plan to bring the state into compliance with federal clean air rules by 1998.

``Air quality is our No. 1 goal and we need to keep our eye on that ball and have electric cars on the road to protect public health and the environment.''
Reut 19:29 10-11-95
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