China electric vehicle manufacturer relies on Government support

I've got a lot of attention before a few days U.S. electric vehicles (EV) sensation Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), so it's only fair that I by writing about China's home-made EV superstar BYD-up follow-up (OTC: BYDDF;) HKEx: 1211; Shenzhen: 002594), which recently published quarterly figures, which look quite disappointing. The only things that look like something encouraging in this latest report are the fact that billionaire investor he bought that in 2008 its 10-percent stake in the company to keep Warren Buffett, still, and that BYD is lucrative. But also the gains strong support from Beijing in its programme to promote clean-energy vehicle development.

If I had to describe BYDs recent performances in a single thought, I'd say that pretty good pilot programs set up this company for its EVs but has found it difficult to translate these programs in large companies. In the last three years, BYD has announced a steady sequence of such pilot programs in a variety of markets, from Western Europe, the United States and Latin America, as well as in its home market of China. But with a few rare exceptions, we need to have one of these programs turn you into the major orders that BYD has its EV program long term profitable to make.

Everything, what say we take a closer look of BYDs latest quarterly results, to show its profit largely evaporated in the first three months of the year. The company reported a first quarter net profit of around 12 million Yuan, or just over $2 million, which was 90 per cent compared to the previous year. This is quite a small figure for a company whose Umsatz amounted to nearly 12 billion yuan for the quarter was down a more modest 9 percent.

BYD reported by 98 million Yuan it received Government grants in the quarter which means that it would have almost certainly lost money, without this support. Of course not we can subtract that amount from its total profit directly, but I think it is fair to say that the company help would have reported a loss of 50 million Yuan or more without this Government.

BYD's Hong Kong traded shares fell 2.8 percent before the report came, although some the reason the latest trading session got back on Friday. The stock has over the last year and a half, more than tripling since October 2012 on enthusiasm about the EV program actually collected anything. But I suspect that this latest disappointing result could force investors to recognize the company's electric dreams materialize are not, as hoped, and could a mark the beginning of wider selloff, the stock drop by a third or more in the next few months could see.

BYD is in the difficult position of waiting on the EV business to launch, fruits as its older battery and traditional gas-powered car companies show signs of aging. BYD earlier said it will leave the gas powered car business altogether by 2015 as the future in electric vehicles. The company also announced a major plan a year ago, to raise up to $500 million by issuing new shares in a bid to shore up its cash position.

I mostly excited about BYD everytime wrote it a new EV pilot, as such programs announced, to test the technology before larger orders are a necessary first step for customers. But the fact that we some large orders appropriate means until probably three years later on, that many of these pilot programs were not as smooth as BYD had hoped and maybe the buyer doesn't see how the technology. The not sure bode well for the future of the company, which means that BYD Government support its bottom line for the rest of this year and possibly in 2015 could depend on.

Bottom line: BYD's latest results show his EV sales are not accelerated, as fast as planned and it will support its bottom line depending on Government subsidies for the rest of this year.

This blog was originally released on young's China business blog and was published with permission.

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Listen: Electric vehicle economy - can "Recharge" by the Sun?

In just ten years, hybrids and full electric vehicles (EVs) by quirky cereals have gone transport mobiles to mainstream commuter. A type of electric vehicle offers almost all the major automotive manufacturers and sales are constantly increasing. But are economically sound road EVs of a State-sponsored fad or the future? And rooftop solar is useful as a source of energy for your car?

Have questions for Barry? In the comments to share, and they can be answered in the next episode.
On this week energy renewable energy world show, we explore these issues with our special guest, Pete Levy, founder of IntelliChoice, the automobile inventory software experts. As Pete EV bought, he asked me some basic questions about solar and EVs. After we crunched the numbers became very clear that some slightly cheaper than gas cars, EVs with the economy are still compelling, as gas prices rise and solar power is cheaper. To turn off show this week and to figure out, if one is EV in your near future.

About the energy show

As energy costs consume more and more of our hard-earned dollars, we start really pay attention as a consumer. But we caught up with $5 / gallon gas prices, $200 / month electric bill and $500 heating costs is to resign. There are literally hundreds of products, tricks, and techniques that we can use to dramatically reduce these costs - very cost effective.
The energy show on renewable energy world is a weekly 20 minutes podcast, which offers to reduce tips and advice, your home and energy consumption. Each week we cover subjects that can help reduce your energy bill explain new products and technologies in plain English and cut through the hype, so that you can make intelligent and cost-effective energy decisions.

About your host
Barry Cinnamon is a longtime supporter of renewable energy and is a widely recognized expert solar. In 2001 he founded Akeena solar - she grew to the largest national residential solar installer from the middle of the last decade with more than 10,000 roofing customers coast to coast. He collaborates to create solar Westinghouse Westinghouse in the year 2010, and sold the company in the year 2012.

His pioneering work to reduce costs on the rooftop solar power systems include Andalay, the first solar panel with built-in racking, earthing and cabling; the first UL listed AC solar panel; and the first fully "plug and play" AC solar panel. His current efforts focus on reducing soft costs for solar power systems, cause the system rates against double from Germany, in the United States.
Although Barry may be known for his outstanding work in the solar industry, he has hands-on experience with a variety of energy-saving technologies. He makes residential energy audits since the days of punch cards, one of the first ground source heat pumps in the early 1980s developed and always adheres to the laws of thermodynamics.

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Tesla battery charger for US transcontinental electric vehicle range add

Tesla Motors Inc. is building a network of fast-charging stations, owner of his luxury electric cars drive transcontinental this year with equipment able to repower in 20 to 30 minutes to leave them.
The automaker, which this year has tripled in value, also the number of solar-powered compressor stations is tripling by the end of next month so that model S owners can drive cross country sedan, said Tesla in a statement yesterday. The goal is to increase the size and the benefits of the network, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said in a conference call yesterday.""We are not only geography add, we are the density on well-traveled routes add", musk said. "Will take all of Los Angeles to New York only the compressor network."

Tesla needs a wider network of charging stations to customers through California and the northeastern United States, where it now refuelling spots appeal. Without such stations, Tesla drivers through an estimated 265-mile are limited (426 km) range from a single battery charge.
The first group of new stations, it is added in California; between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas, Dallas; Illinois; and Colorado, the company said. You cost about $300,000, including solar panels, said musk.

"Six months Tesla compressor will most of the major areas of the Metro in the United States and Canada network connection," said Tesla in the statement yesterday.
"Alleviate concerns"

Tesla, based in Palo Alto, California, rose 0.3 per cent to $104,95 at the end of yesterday in New York. Tesla has compared won index 210 percent this year with an increase of 16 percent for the Russell 1000.
Now, owners said nine stations free electricity for model S and the company plans to have stations for "Almost the entire population of the United States and Canada until next year," Tesla in the statement. The electric car manufacturer previous target 100 stations by 2015 happens now "twice as fast as originally planned," musk said on the call.

"I think that more Superchargers helps to relieve range anxiety concerns, so it's probably a sensible use of cash", Ben Schuman, analyst at Pacific Crest securities in Portland, said the prices Tesla sector perform. "It's hard to argue that Tesla owners benefit more charging infrastructure does not."
The announcement by musk, who is Tesla's largest shareholder, follows a series of events this month, put the Tesla of the most financial security since its inception a decade before.

First win
The carmaker first quarter profit followed a top rating from consumer reports for the model S and a stock price surge. Creates an opportunity for $1 billion from the sale of equity and debt capital to increase investor demand and U.S. Department of energy be loan nine years early retirement.

While Tesla in the premium segment car works, there as assets of the company improve, Tom Turrentine said Director of the California Energy Commission plug-in-hybrid & electric vehicle Research Center at the University of California, Davis, certain "Spillover" effect for all plug ins and electric vehicles.
"This makes electric and electric cars cool, gives them some cachet," Turrentine said. "The free network is probably a relatively small cost for Tesla, but it carries a big, positive story."

Charging stations
The carmaker, named after the inventor Nikola Tesla began after the Chargers open Tesla's Web site last year, including six on California highways and three in Connecticut and Delaware.

Currently, it allows a car at home, be repowered in a fraction of the time, provide for 150 miles of driving range in about 30 minutes with current flows at about 400 volts. Fully recharge a model S, price of $69,900, takes up to eight hours with a 240-volt home download system.
With 100 stations, revealed Tesla cross-country highways including Interstate 80, Interstate 90, which runs from Seattle to Boston, from San Francisco to Teaneck, New Jersey, stretches with around 20 stations each if they are placed every 150 miles. Interstate 75, from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the vicinity of lead may be about 12 stations.

At 150 miles per charge a Tesla driver covered the distance of from Los Angeles to New York with intermediate stops at less than 20 charging stations, depending on the route. A driver of a conventional car with a 400 km range could make the drive with only seven tanks of gas.
Chargers everywhere

"Tesla continues to make progress in reducing the anxiety of range anxiety for consumers who hesitate to buy an electric car", said Alec Gutierrez, an Irvine, California - based senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book. "Is built up a network nationwide, consumers can't wait several hours for their vehicles to recharge requires, it is still consumers to purchase a stay at the edge and more mainstream vehicles."
The ability to drive an electric car coast to coast is not so much as standard charger from public to make more ubiquitous said Don Anair, Research Director for the clean vehicles program of the Union of concerned scientists in Berkeley, California.

"Zombie Apocalypse"

"Most people don't go that far from home on a regular basis, but want to know that they not problems with their vehicles under normal circumstances", Anair said.

Use of Tesla's compressor is fitted as standard with high-end versions that have the model S, a 85-kilowatt-hour battery pack and are priced from $79,900. The Chargers can with a 60-kilowatt-hour battery pack as a $2,000 option.

Owner repower installed for free their cars at the stations powered by solar panels and maintained by SolarCity Corp., where musk is also the Chairman and biggest investor.

While not all Superchargers first receive energy from solar panels, this function in the long term is added to musk said yesterday. You batteries store electricity and be completely from the mains of the electrical transmission, also have, he said.

Drivers will use the stations even with "Zombie Apocalypse", he said.

Network charging voltage for the time being this is a novelty for some wealthy model S owners more Turrentine said.

"In reality are many people who use it are people who would normally fly in their personal jets," Turrentine said. "they can now between Palo Alto and L.A. or Las to Vegas and then tweet about it."

Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

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Department of energy invested in materials for vehicle fuel consumption

The Energy Department on August 7 announced that $8 million for seven new projects create it you stronger and lighter materials for the next generation of U.S. vehicles awarded. These projects include the development and validation of modelling tools to higher performance carbon fiber composites and advanced steels, as well as research into new lightweight, to deliver high-strength alloys for energy-efficient vehicles and truck engines.

The projects in Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Washington will help provide additional technologies and innovations, car outside the regulated levels continue to allow manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency. New materials are essential for improving the fuel economy of cars and trucks in maintaining and enhancing the security and performance. Lightweight materials to replace cast iron and traditional steel parts - including advanced steel, magnesium, aluminium and carbon fibre composite materials enables vehicle manufacturers included, additional security features, integrated electronic systems, and emissions control equipment for vehicles without increasing its weight. Lighter materials reduces the fuel consumption of the vehicle.

The new investment support innovation materials in two important areas. The first area has two projects to improve the carbon-fiber composite materials and advanced steel by computer design. For example, the Department invested $6 million new modeling tools to third-generation of high-strength steels ahead. Through this project materials partnership, based in Detroit, Michigan, is United States automotive an additional $2.50 million private investment for the creation of modeling tools for the use of high-strength steels for lighter vehicles use. The second area is far advanced alloy development for automotive and heavy duty engines. Caterpillar Inc., based in nearby Peoria, Illinois, uses an Energy Department Award of $3.40 million and $1.50 million private investment, high-strength, iron-based alloys for higher pressures to develop higher efficiency cylinder and motor. See the press release of Ministry of energy and the complete project list.

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New ARPA-E Projects to Boost Natural Gas Vehicle Technologies

A refuse truck powered by compressed natural gas in Washington state.
Credit: Western Washington Clean Cities

The Energy Department on July 12 announced $30 million in funding for 13 research projects designed to find new ways of harnessing natural gas supplies for cars and trucks. Researchers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin will work on the initiative. The grants are made through the Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). The projects are part of Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy, which aims to engineer lightweight, affordable natural gas tanks for vehicles and develop natural gas compressors that efficiently fuel a natural gas vehicle at home.

Today's natural gas vehicle technologies require tanks that can withstand high pressures. They are often cumbersome, and are either too large or too expensive to be suitable for smaller passenger vehicles. ARPA-E's new projects are focused on removing these barriers, which will help encourage the widespread use of natural gas cars and trucks. For example, REL, Inc. in Calumet, Michigan, will receive $3 million to develop an internal "foam core" for natural gas tanks that allows tanks to be formed into any shape. This will enable higher storage capacity than current carbon fiber tanks at one-third the cost.

The projects will also focus on developing natural gas compressors that make it easier for consumers to re-fuel at home. The Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin will use $4 million to develop an at-home natural gas re-fueling system that compresses gas with a single piston. Unlike current four-piston compressors, these highly integrated single-piston systems will use fewer moving parts, leading to a more reliable, lighter, and cost-effective compressor. See the Energy Department press release and the complete list of projects .

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Ford Focus Electric Vehicle Earns Top EPA Mileage Rating

The Ford Focus Electric has earned a top miles per gallon equivalent rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the automaker said.
Credit: Ford

Ford Motor Company announced on March 2 that its new Focus Electric was U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified as having a city rating of 110 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and a highway rating of 99 MPGe. The Detroit automaker said that its rating makes it the most fuel-efficient five-passenger car in the United States. The car can travel 76 miles on a single charge. The EPA had not officially posted the numbers at the time of the announcement.

Also, Ford said that the Focus Electric has been certified at a combined rating—city and highway—of 105 MPGe. In the latest published EPA ratings, the 2012 Nissan Leaf has a combined rating of 99 MPGe. General Motors’ 2012 Chevrolet Volt, a plug in hybrid electric vehicle (EV), has a combined gas/electricity rating of 60 MPGe.

Ford said that when it adds the new 2013 Ford Fusion to its line, it would be the world's most fuel-efficient gas- and hybrid-powered midsize sedan. See the Ford press release.

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Electric Vehicle and Lithium-ion Battery Investing For Imbeciles

Her 1969 best-seller "the Peter principle" student named Caesare quoted in Laurence Peter and Raymond hull Latin American Innocente, the defendant, "Professor Peter, I am afraid that what I want to know by my studies will be answered." "I do not know if the world is run, by intelligent men who say Americans like you put us on, or from idiots who really mean it." After just the events of recent weeks, think I agree with most of my regular readers that the idiots are steering clear of the ship.
In March of this year, I went at the Geneva Motor Show press day, a chance gave me that up to see cars up close and personal without a struggle of the masses. While I'm generally skeptical when it comes to electric cars, I left Geneva convinced, that which was Fisker karma of the most beautiful car I had ever seen. I promised even my inner geek, I secretly one would for a test drive once that began production. The last remaining mid-October was granted hurdle to the EPO its official fuel economy rating 52 MPGe for the electric field of 32 miles and 20 MPG for gas travels with the 2.0 litre onboard generator powered by.

I was crushed. How could such terrible fuel industry something so gloriously and green review?

The answer, it seems is that when the Karma on a scale it a few hundred pounds more than a Hummer H3 and a few hundred pounds less than a Cadillac Escalade weighs. That's right folks: it's a 5,300 pounds-behemoth, developed ATVM loan guarantees in California with $ 169 million from the Department of energy. While most of the long-term economic benefits from the production of this shocking green monstrosities outsourcing to Finland, at least, that the batteries in the United States from A123 systems (AONE) the car is a $ 23 million investment in Fisker to establish a strategic partnership and the battery supply contract.

If journalists and political experts questioned the appropriateness of the loan guarantee Fisker in question, the DOE says:

"The Fisker loan consists of two parts." In the first part to the Fisker 169 million to support the Fisker Karma developed the tools, equipment and production processes for Fiskers first vehicle, the engineers. The work took place Fisker of U.S. equipment, headquartered in Irvine, California, employs 700 employees and plans to continue setting. While the vehicles even in the Fisker overseas form workshop are mounted, the funding of the Department was used only for the US operations. The money may not be, and was not spent business. "The karma is also an extensive network of hundreds of suppliers in more than a dozen States."

To use to fund specific project jobs in California, while in the long term, jobs in production in Finland is of course create the sophistry taxpayer money. The problematic questions in my mind are:

How many $100,000 Karma must sell Fisker enough profit to 169 million in DOE loan pay back to earn?
A123 must as many battery packs Fisker to sell to, if it wants to recover his 23 million US dollar investment?
Gets just as sexy and expensive the lackluster sales and margins, Motors (TSLA) has carried out from his Roadster Tesla either result even in the remotest possible?
This was clearly a range of offerings from idiots who really mean it negotiated. The most outrageous defense of the penultimate paragraph of that says was part of the DOE:

"Keep in mind that plasma TVs, mobile phones, PCs, and many other common products were fabulously expensive luxury, but quickly became a staple for middle class Americans." "These price declines would be commercial marketing as premium products not have been possible without the scale of the first."

MUMPITZ! I expect that this type of Bafflegab of EVangelicals but not from government officials.

There is no way the electric vehicles always types of cost reductions that we deliver in the information and technology revolution to experience, since the basic scientific completely different. There are to move a 2.65-ton van on the road no Moore's law of physics. There is no Moore's law for electrochemistry. It is no good fairy world production of non-ferrous metals or increase control commodity prices. But discussing science, supply chains and energy instead of rational, reasonable questions we have with the DOE's path-folding mirror

A little over three years ago I started cautioning readers that Ener1 (HEVV.PK) was a disaster in the making. My cautions got more strident when Ener1 made a substantial venture capital investment in Th!nk Motors to strengthen their strategic relationship and retain a battery supply contract that was jeopardized by Th!nk's insolvency. While some readers took my words of caution to heart, many did not. This week they learned that analyzing battery and electric vehicle companies through rose colored glasses is a great way to end up with a stock that's listed on the Pink Sheets. While I generally like to be right, I hate being this right.

I wonder how the DOE feels about that $118.5 million ARRA Battery Manufacturing Grant they gave Ener1 in August of 2009.

My graph for this week is courtesy of Lux Research and appeared in their recent report "Using Partnerships to Stay Afloat in the Electric Vehicle Storm." The graph is particularly instructive because it overlays their forecasts for the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery markets in a single graph.

The yellow lines represent total demand for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications through 2020 using three different oil price scenarios. The blue shaded area represents the total planned production capacity of the global lithium-ion battery industry for the same period. The inescapable conclusions are that (1) without $200 oil, growth in electric vehicle sales will be tepid at best and certainly not robust enough to justify nosebleed market capitalizations for companies like Tesla, and (2) the glut of lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity will be a crushing burden for all but the most efficient and financially sound battery manufacturers.

While Pike Research recently reported that demonstration projects have deployed 538 MW of lithium-ion based storage on the grid, all of the facilities I've read about report power based on a 15 minute discharge. That means the demonstration projects have used about 135 MWh of batteries to date, or less than 1% of the expected annual capacity glut. While grid-based storage may have significant long-term potential, it's not a big enough short-term opportunity to make a difference.

The takeaway for investors who are willing to remove their rose colored glasses is that the industry leaders in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery sectors are run by imbeciles who really mean it and their companies are doomed to underperform the market for years. Molly Ringwald was Pretty in Pink, but it's an ugly color for stock listings

Little more than three years began I warns readers that Ener1 (HEVV.)(PK) was a disaster in the making. More have my notes strident, if Ener1 is a significant venture capital investments in th! NK engines to strengthen their strategic partnership and keep a battery supply contract, which was endangered by th! NK insolvency. While some readers my words of caution to heart began, many do not. They learned this week that the analysis of the battery and electric vehicle is through rose colored glasses a great way to end up with a stock that is listed in the pink sheets. While I generally may be true, I hate this right.

I wonder how the DOE on this $ 118.5 million feels ARRA battery manufacturing grant she gave Ener1 in August 2009.

My chart for this week is courtesy of Lux Research, and appeared in their recent report "using partnerships stay afloat in the electric vehicle storm." The diagram is particularly instructive because it overshadowed their predictions for the electric vehicle and lithium battery markets in a single chart.

The yellow lines represent the demand for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications by 2020 with three different oil price scenarios. Blue shaded part represents the planned production capacity of industry of global lithium ion battery for the same period. The inevitable conclusions are (1) excluding $200 oil, electric vehicle sales are lukewarm at best and certainly not robust enough, to nosebleed market capitalization for companies like Tesla, and (2) the tide of lithium-ion battery, the production capacity is a heavy burden for all but the most efficient and to justify financially sound manufacturer battery.

During Pike research recently reported that demonstration projects, 538 have deployed MW lithium ion-based storage on the grid, all the facilities I, the report on the basis of 15 minutes discharge read about the power. This means that the demonstration projects about 135 MWh batteries to date, or less than 1% of the expected annual capacity used glut have. Grid based storage have long-term potential, is not a large enough short-term way to make a difference.

The food for investors who are ready to remove their rose-coloured glasses is that the industry leader in the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery run by idiots who really mean it and are their businesses to damn, exceed the market for years. Molly Ringwald was pretty in pink, but it's an ugly color for has offers

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