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Q: Why won't people buy electric cars?
Without a doubt air pollution is a problem in China but the government allows more and more gasoline cars to be sold (800 new cars sold every day in China). Why can't they give people some incentive for people to buy electric cars. Why aren't buses converted to electric? This is insane.
In China, electricity is made with coal-fired power plants. So any electric car in China is in fact a coal-powered car.
Burning gasoline directly in a car is more efficient : roughly 40% of the energy stored by the gasoline will be used to make the engine turn. Electric engines are very efficient, but coal+turbine+alternator+electricity transport+electric engine, overall, it's not as efficient as gasoline.
Then comes the problem of batteries. Replace all cars by electric cars... Lithium batteries ? Not enough lithium on that planet. Lead/Copper/Acid batteries ? Heavy, not efficient enough and polluting.
So that's why you don't see a massive deployment of electric cars.
DrMonkey:
And here's some backup for my claims, with reproducible estimates
http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2011/08/mpg-for-electric-cars/
http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2012/08/battery-performance-deficit-disorder/
At the moment, hybrid cars are the most efficient. Petrol is only used when necessary. Since so many people travel long distances, these cars automatically switch to electric at cursing speeds while charging the batteries at the same time. Until manufacturers find a way to recharge batteries efficiently, electric cars will not catch on. Also, the cost of electric cars makes it prohibitive for large scale production.
Scandinavian:
Hybrids won't help unless you teach people to drive. The constant movement of foot from one pedal to the other means the battery life is bupkiss. Sure it helps a bit.
Also, complete lack of understanding of the concept "maintenance" There are so many cars running here that might look new(ish), but you can hear the engine is not happy anymore. (this can also be attributed to incredibly bad fuel quality)
A simple "Start/Stop" thing being mandatory would help a lot more than trying to promote a couple of wealthy people into buying giant fuel guzzling hybrids.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system Make this mandatory on all new car sales.
louischuahm:
I agree. How do you then educate people who simply don't want to be educated? People here simply haven't got the mentality as far as green energy is concerned. While restricting the number of cars on the road provides a brief respite, in the long run the level of pollution will continue to rise. Also, everything here is government driven. If the government suddenly says electric cars are the best, then all of a sudden you find all the facilities to charge batteries, solar power,, heck, a whole new industry will pop up out of nowhere. I am sure there will be obscene incentives to get businesses to go green. In the end, all the bigger companies will grab the incentives and the whole guanxi thing will start boiling over. Typical.
I suspect the key selling point for electric cars in China will be comfort, people don't care about the environment. And as Mr Monkey says, powering a car with dirty power doesn't make it cleaner.
A problem for China is also. Who pays for the electricity. If you look in some communities in California, there are LOTS of EVs. These are drien by people who live in a house with twin garage, thus their own charger. In China, people might have the same parking sport every day under their building, but e.g. in our community that luxury costs 250000RMB. Building the infrastructure for EVs is a big task.... and right now, isn't clean drinking water more interesting for people.
If there were some forerunners, e.g. a company that would like a green profile, stick some solar panels on the roof and make designated parking spots for EVs to charge proper green power for free. This could be a service to employees with EVs or for fleet cars. But again, the money grabbing mentality means that the decision maker would rather stick more money in his own pocket than do something for the world.
My "comfort theory" is based on the fact that I see lots of cars like Mercedes S400 Hybrid, Lexus CT/LS Hybrids, high end cars for people who like to be transported without too much engine noise.
andy74rc:
Merc S400 Hybrid, Porsche Panamera Hybrid and Lexus LS460Hybrid and such are not actually designed to carry an alternative power source for lowering the emissions. The electric motors are used mainly for enhancing the torque available and increase performance. Like if people here would understand and appreciate the difference.
Besides, i've been reading the results of a survey here about "would you buy an electric car". The most stupid answer was: no, because if I can afford a luxury car, i want to be comfortable. Go figure.
Scandinavian:
my point exactly. Just look at the Porsche 918, perfect example of hybrid technology used to boost fuel efficiency whereas McLaren P1 purely uses it to boost performance and to fill in gaps in gear changes. Erh. Ok bad example, but you are right the point of those cars are not to do with fuel efficiency. However, since there are actually a lot of these big hyrbids on the road and almost no Toyota Prius' it suggests to me that people don't give a crap. Certainly the Prius is in a price segment where a lot of the middle class people could still play and get a practical fuel efficient car.
andy74rc:
@Scando: Top Gear enthusiast? 
I imagine the likely conversation of the average 40-50 y-old mr. Zheng buying a Merc 400H with the salesman:
Salesman: we got the 400 and the 400H. 400H is better.
Mr. Zheng: ah? Sheng ma?
Sales: yes, it's more expensive.
Mr. Zheng: - looking the empty space between him, the mobile and the guy - Hao hao.....
Deal.
andy74rc:
@Scando: Zhuhai track, anytime. I beat Panameras on corners with my mighty Dongfeng 1.6l van. 
Actually a really good thing about China not being flooded with EVs is that the will be no piles of used batteies fromt he cars in the years to come. I doubt there is any recycling infrastructure in place.
A concept like (now defunc) Better Place would be great for China, batteries are rented as a service, the car is owned by the driver. Especially here in the south of China, Battery Swap stations powered by nature (solar and wind) would be awesome. I'd certainly like an EV if it was in fact green (and be a nice conscience building tool while I save up for something German with lots of horses)
Because EV's suck right now. Except the Tesla. And even that is questionable for long-range travel.
Scandinavian:
did Obama say he is sending Hulk Hogan to fight in Syria ?
Because none of them are status symbol. Put a $500,000 pricetag on the Tesla and watch how many Chinese line up to buy one!
