CNN: Why electric vehicles have stalled

[doug]

Why electric vehicles have stalled - Dec. 4, 2008

Facing technical challenges and a weak market, many of Silicon Valley's electric-car startups are changing direction.

[vfx]

...many of Silicon Valley's electric-car startups are changing direction.

So, Ian=many

[graham]

So, Ian=many

Yeah, I thought the same thing after reading that article. The Wrightspeed is definitely changing direction and the other 3 listed are making minor changes to their products and time schedules, but I wouldn't say that any of them are particularly changing direction.

[doug]

Yeah it's a typical CNN article.

[Chris H.]

Quote:

"In a 180-degree turn from where his company, Wrightspeed, was a year ago, Wright has completely abandoned the concept of bringing an electric car to market. Instead, while he waits for the electric vehicle market to mature, Wright is focusing on a more lucrative venture: Wrightspeed will make and sell electric powertrains - the battery pack, software, and other components that generate power to a vehicle - to existing car and truck manufacturers."

I thought that the drive train and battery pack in the X1 were from ACP, so how does Ian turn selling them into a business, without violating ACP's intellectual property? Has he developed his own technology?

[domenick]

"So far this year, Tesla has received 1,200 orders for its Roadster but shipped only 50"

They had shipped 70 several weeks ago. Not sure what else is wrong with this article but it seems like a headline looking for a story.

[Joseph]

Chris, you're right. ACP does provide the tech for the Wrightspeed X1.

This whole article is just sensationalist reporting.

[vfx]

I thought that the drive train and battery pack in the X1 were from ACP, so how does Ian turn selling them into a business, without violating ACP's intellectual property? Has he developed his own technology?

Another thing I thought too. Maybe he will package and market beter than ACP. Their new website is much better but they need a decent mechanism for selling.

"So far this year, Tesla has received 1,200 orders for its Roadster but shipped only 50"

They are near 100. We are back to the "only" question. When will it be enough? Only 100 have been shipped. 'Only" 200, "only" "500"?

Passing Tucker has to mean something.

[doug]

DailyTech - Electric Car Sales in Freefall; Industry Risks Collapse

Tesla Motors, maker of the all-electric Tesla Roadster, announced a round job cuts last October, and said that plans for a mass-produced high-volume electric car would be "impacted" by the grim sales outlook. Rumors suggested job cuts could be up to half the company's work force, a figure Tesla officially denied.

Grim sales outlook??? I'm pretty sure demand outstrips supply at this point.

[SByer]

They are near 100. We are back to the "only" question. When will it be enough? Only 100 have been shipped. 'Only" 200, "only" "500"?

Selfishly, when I have mine .

But seriously, I think getting to cash flow positive is the next key mark.