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It makes a lot of sense from technology, environmental and maintenance standpoints, but unless they can get the price and charging speed down significantly then
by bonestamp2 6y ago
It makes a lot of sense from technology, environmental and maintenance standpoints, but unless they can get the price and charging speed down significantly then fleet owners will continue to choose gasoline vehicles.
Swappable batteries, like they have for electric warehouse forklifts, would likely help solve the charging speed issue... but it adds an infrastructure challenge. Someone like the Postal Service would be a good candidate since they have many "warehouses" where they could station battery chargers/swappers. AMZL, UPS, Fedex, etc would be more difficult since they tend to have fewer warehouses that are further from many of their delivery endpoints. It's not impossible, and they'll likely be forced to go electric at some point, but it will require additional infrastructure.
- mdgrech23 6y agoThere's a little more going here. GM derives 50%+ of it's income from China at this point. In China the wealthy commonly ride around in vans w/ a servant driving. This work is intended for that market.
- bonestamp2 6y ago> This work is intended for that market. I'm sure that market will buy them too, and that market is growing in the US too (mostly NYC and LA) but I don't think that's the intention. The article specifically says, "The GM electric van project is aimed at an important segment of the emerging EV market – commercial delivery vehicles."