Barbara - the oil/gas dependency is a huge factor, and most definitely it will remain on most political agendas for the foreseeable future. Energy management and planning falls into the bucket of long-term change, not just for building infrastructure but for changing consumer habits.
I think that once manufacturers can find a way to produce cheaper Lithium Ion batteries, bringing down the cost of EV's, we will start seeing more of these vehicles on the road. There will always be some segments of the country that will not be able to buy these vehicles due to significant daily travels, but once they become affordable, sales will pick up.
"Although plenty of early adopters have bought new EV models that came out in 2011, the prices -- ranging from $30,000 to $96,000 -- are still way too high for the mass consumer market, Gartner said. According to a recent Pike survey, the pricing sweet spot for converting potential buyers into plug-in EV owners is $23,750"
Jennifer, ya it seems that the pricing is too high for Ev and not affordable to majority of the mass. I think, when they moves to the mass production mode the cost may come down with cost to cost model and work to cost model.
It's significant that a lot of activity in cleantech is happening in areas where (I suspect) there hasn't been a massive buildup of infrastructure. I think one of the barriers in the US will be the dismantling of a system built on oil and gas. This topic came up during the campaigning in the NH Republican primary (surprise--oil lobbies were there!) and the US dependence on oil isn't expected to abate significantly in the next 10 years. There is too much at stake in maintaining the status quo. I hope I'm wrong
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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