For baby-boomers and older gen-Xers, EV may not surpass 60s- and 70s- muscle-car cool. But for younger consumers, EV is coming of age.
By Melissa Walsh
Is better gas mileage sexy? Will rock songs be written about electric/hybrid propulsion assist? Will teens 20 years from now squeal through the high school parking lot in their 2014 Volt showing off the impressive efficiency and boost of the powertrain. From the perspective of nostalgia and car culture, will electrified vehicles (EV) impress? They're quiet. They expel no nostalgic running-rich exhaust. Can electrification be cool, as in fast-and-furious car-culture cool?
New Product Market
For baby-boomers and older gen-Xers, EV may not surpass 60s- and 70s-era muscle-car cool. But for younger consumers, EV is coming of age. Not only are EV cars and trucks green, they pack a punch in acceleration. High-end models like the Tesla Roadster clock zero to 60 mph under four seconds. Market differentiation will be in style and utility, of course, and also in pragmatics, such as quick charging, range of charge, and bells and whistles that depend on over-the-air software apps and updates.
EV cars and trucks are becoming more diverse and affordable each model year. If local infrastructure supports charging, then consumers of vehicles requiring charging will follow, especially among younger drivers. Despite low gas prices or pending legislative shifts for environmental requirements, the EV market has emerged and will continue to grow and expand.
Car culture lives on, just more cleanly.
The Aftermarket
Derek Markham reported on treehugger.com in December 2015 that Ford is dedicating $4.5 billion for achieving an electrification projection of 40 percent of its vehicles by 2020. So as EV and hybrid vehicles surpass the typical ten-year warranty of the power pack, what will emerge as aftermarket demand for battery conditioning and battery replacement? Battery replacement involves replacing bad cells to rebuild capacity into a module or replacing the entire module. Battery conditioning returns capacity to low-capacity cells, thereby improving/redeeming the energy economy of the vehicle.
EV and hybrid markets across the country are radically diverse. Some markets are heavy in electrification; others are light. Compare the California LA and San Francisco markets to those in the rural Midwest, for example. Aftermarket shops with few EV/hybrid-driving customers may not project a good ROI for supporting power pack aftermarket needs on site. They might choose to outsource battery conditioning and replacement services to a company like The Hybrid Shop, which specializes in aftermarket power pack service. Or even if an aftermarket shop decides to offer these services onsite, they might tap specialists like The Hybrid Shop for remote, webinar, and other support for their technicians.
Is better gas mileage sexy? Will rock songs be written about electric/hybrid propulsion assist? Will teens 20 years from now squeal through the high school parking lot in their 2014 Volt showing off the impressive efficiency and boost of the powertrain. From the perspective of nostalgia and car culture, will electrified vehicles (EV) impress? They're quiet. They expel no nostalgic running-rich exhaust. Can electrification be cool, as in fast-and-furious car-culture cool?
New Product Market
For baby-boomers and older gen-Xers, EV may not surpass 60s- and 70s-era muscle-car cool. But for younger consumers, EV is coming of age. Not only are EV cars and trucks green, they pack a punch in acceleration. High-end models like the Tesla Roadster clock zero to 60 mph under four seconds. Market differentiation will be in style and utility, of course, and also in pragmatics, such as quick charging, range of charge, and bells and whistles that depend on over-the-air software apps and updates.
EV cars and trucks are becoming more diverse and affordable each model year. If local infrastructure supports charging, then consumers of vehicles requiring charging will follow, especially among younger drivers. Despite low gas prices or pending legislative shifts for environmental requirements, the EV market has emerged and will continue to grow and expand.
Car culture lives on, just more cleanly.
The Aftermarket
Derek Markham reported on treehugger.com in December 2015 that Ford is dedicating $4.5 billion for achieving an electrification projection of 40 percent of its vehicles by 2020. So as EV and hybrid vehicles surpass the typical ten-year warranty of the power pack, what will emerge as aftermarket demand for battery conditioning and battery replacement? Battery replacement involves replacing bad cells to rebuild capacity into a module or replacing the entire module. Battery conditioning returns capacity to low-capacity cells, thereby improving/redeeming the energy economy of the vehicle.
EV and hybrid markets across the country are radically diverse. Some markets are heavy in electrification; others are light. Compare the California LA and San Francisco markets to those in the rural Midwest, for example. Aftermarket shops with few EV/hybrid-driving customers may not project a good ROI for supporting power pack aftermarket needs on site. They might choose to outsource battery conditioning and replacement services to a company like The Hybrid Shop, which specializes in aftermarket power pack service. Or even if an aftermarket shop decides to offer these services onsite, they might tap specialists like The Hybrid Shop for remote, webinar, and other support for their technicians.
Vehicle Electrification Lingo
Hybrid – has two power sources – electric and ICE. Applications include Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Hybrid can also mean combining the traditional power source of ICE with not only battery power but solar, wind or water power.
Input power-split – planetary gear distribute power among the engine, motor generator, traction motor, and drivetrain, optimizing propulsion efficiency.
Two-motor system – through the motor generator, the engine supplies energy for the traction motor. The difference between the two-motor system and the input power-split is that planetary gear do not transmit the energy.
Parallel hybrid (P2) – an electric motor and two clutches – one between the engine and electric motor and another between the electric motor and drivetrain.
Regenerative braking – kinetic energy from braking is stored in a power generator and reused by the electric motor for acceleration. This is why hybrid vehicles with regenerative braking get better gas mileage in the city than highway.
Electric Motor Drive Assist – electric motor kicks in to assist the power
train when accelerating onto the expressway or climbing up a hill or coasting gently through a low-speed zone.
Stop-start – the ICE is shut down when the car is stopped; the electric motor runs idle until the accelerator is pressed to trigger an algorithm to wake up ICE.
Mild hybrid – hybrid systems that have more electrified functionality than stop-start, but less than two-motor or P2 systems, such as 48V hybrid systems that integrate a small electric motor into turbocharging application.
Micro hybrid – hybrid systems that apply basic electrification functions, like stop-start, regenerative braking, design for replacing alternator functions.
Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) – an electric motor replaces a conventional alternator. A high-tension belt in the electric motor works bi-directionally to provide power-assist to the engine and to collect regenerative braking energy.
© 2017, Powerplay Communications
Hybrid – has two power sources – electric and ICE. Applications include Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Hybrid can also mean combining the traditional power source of ICE with not only battery power but solar, wind or water power.
Input power-split – planetary gear distribute power among the engine, motor generator, traction motor, and drivetrain, optimizing propulsion efficiency.
Two-motor system – through the motor generator, the engine supplies energy for the traction motor. The difference between the two-motor system and the input power-split is that planetary gear do not transmit the energy.
Parallel hybrid (P2) – an electric motor and two clutches – one between the engine and electric motor and another between the electric motor and drivetrain.
Regenerative braking – kinetic energy from braking is stored in a power generator and reused by the electric motor for acceleration. This is why hybrid vehicles with regenerative braking get better gas mileage in the city than highway.
Electric Motor Drive Assist – electric motor kicks in to assist the power
train when accelerating onto the expressway or climbing up a hill or coasting gently through a low-speed zone.
Stop-start – the ICE is shut down when the car is stopped; the electric motor runs idle until the accelerator is pressed to trigger an algorithm to wake up ICE.
Mild hybrid – hybrid systems that have more electrified functionality than stop-start, but less than two-motor or P2 systems, such as 48V hybrid systems that integrate a small electric motor into turbocharging application.
Micro hybrid – hybrid systems that apply basic electrification functions, like stop-start, regenerative braking, design for replacing alternator functions.
Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) – an electric motor replaces a conventional alternator. A high-tension belt in the electric motor works bi-directionally to provide power-assist to the engine and to collect regenerative braking energy.
© 2017, Powerplay Communications
Will 'Mustang Sally' become 'Prius Patty'?
Little GTO, you’re lookin’ fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tackin’ up now, listen to her whi-i-ine
C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, GTO
With electrification, the song goes:
Little eCVT, you’re conservin’ fuel.
1.8L firing 4-cylinders, 54mpg in the city
Kinetic stoppin’ power, regening it up to sta-a-art
C’mon, plug in the power, buck it up, li’l eCVT
Little GTO, you’re lookin’ fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tackin’ up now, listen to her whi-i-ine
C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, GTO
With electrification, the song goes:
Little eCVT, you’re conservin’ fuel.
1.8L firing 4-cylinders, 54mpg in the city
Kinetic stoppin’ power, regening it up to sta-a-art
C’mon, plug in the power, buck it up, li’l eCVT
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