http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/11/09/electric-ford-f-150/
The 4WD PML Flightlink F-150 has a range of approximately 100 miles

http://www.sdearthtimes.com:80/et0101/et0101s14.html
reports that aluminum-air fuel cells can extend the range of an electric van from 75 km using lead-acid batteries to 300 km. They note that the fuel cells are over seven times more energy dense by weight and occupy less than one-seventh of the space of commercial lead-acid batteries.
*****

compared to lithium-ion and nickel cadmium batteries, the aluminum-air battery provides an estimated 75 times more energy density plus greater output over a longer battery lifetime.” To date, the Aluminum-Power battery has achieved 800Wh/kg [watt-hours per kilogram] with peak currents of 7 amps recorded. Aluminum-Power scientists believe that 4,000/Wh/kg is theoretically possible

On the ‘death’ of the ICE: agreed with other posters that it won’t go away completely. However, bear in mind that the *vast* majority of drivers drive their cars less than 60 miles a day in the US. The Volt’s 40 is a bit skimpy, but assuming that 60 miles is well within reach, that would be the deciding factor for a lot of people (along with the ultimate cost of the vehicle, obviously). Note that this also makes the case stronger for investing in solar panels for one’s home – there are a lot of novel ways to finance them now compared to even five years ago, and the total cost has dropped quite a bit as well.

On the quality of foreign cars: gregt’s expert opinion on ‘Jap Junkboxes’ not withstanding, I beg to differ. I have only owned Hondas my whole life, I have driven them well north of 250k miles with the only problem being a blown radiator, and my maintenance costs are basically nothing. If that’s junk, then I guess I love junk.

Also the UAW had already made concessions before the “bailout” funds were given..this new contract had starting wages for new hires at $14/hr, plus benefits, 401k, not traditional “pension” I think it takes effect April 2009…and the “bailout” funds have also now taken out the jobs bank. GM/UAW had agreed to shift all the Health Fund responsibilty to the UAW, GM had to pay a huge number of Billions into a fund..but much of the legacy costs were already starting to be dealt with BEFORE the “bailout” even started.

Have you driven in one of the 100 GM Fuel Cell Vehicles being tested on the Road? The are in DC, LA…these have been being tested by all sort of normal folks for the last year…

Take a Positive View…Take a Positive Attitude..

Personally if I could afford to buy a brand new Chevy Suburban LTZ and take to to the wizard of Witchita…and have it made into a BioDiesel Electric like Neil Young (Old Lincoln Continental) and Arnold Swartzeneger (His Jeep Wagoner) did..I would do it in a heartbeat…This guy turned a Hummer into a 50mpg vehicle…BioDiesel…

I would love a 100mpg Chevy Suburban…the Suburban is an outstanding vehicle for a family.

Yes Telsa are cute…but the battery replacement after 100K Miles is somewhere between $19,000 and $24,000. And who will recycle these batteries?

Fisker has a couple of nice sports cars that get up and go…and go quite a ways on All Electric…

I still think Flex Fuel…Ethanol from Garbage is the way to go…can be made for about $1/Gallon here in the US…from OUR Waste…how cool is that..
There are also a bunch of other Ethanol processes that don’t use Corn and food sources…they use basically garbage or left overs from other processes..these are so simple to embrace..

http://www.coskata.com/

Thermal Solar Plants in Neveda Daytime Power Generation, a Plant that was 90 square miles in size would power the US…Geothermal Plants taping into hot springs and even Lava flows….24/7/365 Electricity…Solar on Homes…Fuel Cells at Homes…Wind Generators where they work..

Change all your Bulbs to LED Bulbs ( Cree-Lighting ReInvented, Permlight, go to 1000.bulbs.com and look) or to Dim-able CFL Bulbs…save 70-90% of your lighting bills…our house is completely LED 2700˚K…and just great..

Conservation, New LED Bulb Technology, Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Thermal Solar…these will all take loads off the Grid..

Start using your dollars and brains to make a difference..

Concerning the necessary installed electric power capacity to recharge these EV’s, it needs to be understood that currently most power plants run at around 20% capacity during the wee hours of the night and in fact could run more efficiently if they could operate at a constant power output 24 hours a day. In my electric cooperative there is currently enough reserve capacity to recharge an electric vehicle overnight for every single household. Consequently it will be years if not decades before one single kilowatt of new capacity needs to be installed to handle the recharging of electric vehicles.

When new electricity producing capacity does need to be added, it should be nuclear. One (among many) of the great trajedies of the last election is that BO will likely halt all development of nuclear power. Jimmy Carter did this back in the late 1970′s and put the country 3 decades behind in this industry. The statement that there is only enough uranium for 30 years is blatantly incorrect. In fact with the use of nuclear breeder reactors there would be essentially an infinite supply of fissiable nuclear fuel.

Now with regard to battery technology, there is currently one battery that meets every requirement for EV’s and that is the Altair lithium titanate spinel battery. Here are the characteristics of this battery: 1)proven absolutely safe (cannot blowup or burn), 2)more than 10,000 deep discharge cycles (thus 30 year lifetime, 3)exhibits no memory, 4)wide operating range of temperatures at high effiency(-20F to above 140F, thus doesn’t need coolers or heaters),
5)rapid recharge(10 Minutes, also overnight as well, 6)high power density(thus can deliver power rapidly. As with any new battery technolgy, the cost will drop dramatically with mass production.

This battery is currently being tested in vehicles with more than 100 mile range. Since the average commute is 40 miles RT, EV’s with this battery will satisfy 90% of all commuter trips with plenty of power for accessories,i.e. lights, heating, cooling, etc.

The impression given by GM that the needed battery technolgy is still years away is totally incorrect and has been put forth in my opinion to delay the introduction of EV’s into the market.
That said the EV could truly be the salvation of the US automobile industry if only they would embrace it whole heartedly.

Finally, the idea that the IC engine will disappear any time soon is again false. People will use their SUV’s, campers, pickup trucks, etc. for vacations and long distance trips for decades, but this only accounts for roughly 10% of the driving requirements. The EV combined with nuclear energy can usher in the greatest period of prosperity this nation has ever seen.
Unfortunately, we may have to suffer through 4 years of economic retrenchment until this can be realized.

Concerning the necessary installed electric power capacity to recharge these EV’s, it needs to be understood that currently most power plants run at around 20% capacity during the wee hours of the night and in fact could run more efficiently if they could operate at a constant power output 24 hours a day. In my electric cooperative there is currently enough reserve capacity to recharge an electric vehicle overnight for every single household. Consequently it will be years if not decades before one single kilowatt of new capacity needs to be installed to handle the recharging of electric vehicles.

When new electricity producing capacity does need to be added, it should be nuclear. One (among many) of the great trajedies of the last election is that BO will likely halt all development of nuclear power. Jimmy Carter did this back in the late 1970′s and put the country 3 decades behind in this industry. The statement that there is only enough uranium for 30 years is blatantly incorrect. In fact with the use of nuclear breeder reactors there would be essentially an infinite supply of fissiable nuclear fuel.

Now with regard to battery technology, there is currently one battery that meets every requirement for EV’s and that is the Altair lithium titanate spinel battery. Here are the characteristics of this battery: 1)proven absolutely safe (cannot blowup or burn), 2)more than 10,000 deep discharge cycles (thus 30 year lifetime, 3)exhibits no memory, 4)wide operating range of temperatures at high effiency(-20F to above 140F, thus doesn’t need coolers or heaters).
55)rapid recharge ( 10 Minutes, also overnight as wwell)