Is it Time NOW for your Electric Vehicle?
The Critical Mirror -- published May 26, 2022
By Raj S. Rangarajan
Is it Time NOW for Your Electric Vehicle?
In late April, the curtain dropped on the annual New York Auto Show, a must-see for many Americans during the Easter season. This year’s show was particularly thrilling for many of us after a two-year break.
The hoopla, the festive atmosphere, the shiny, spruced-up beauties with bells and whistles were back. I am talking cars! Also back were elegantly decked-up, model-like PR women, spiffy CEOs with predictable suits, mechanically-minded know-it-alls who waxed eloquently as much about gasoline consumption, halogen headlights and electrics as about computer graphics, tilt-and-telescopic steering and anti-theft immobilizers.
This year’s show focused on electric vehicles. We had at least five companies showing off their EVs. Each had a large track for us to physically experience performance. Venue was the celebrated Jacob Javits Center (named after a former New York Attorney-General) on Twelfth Avenue in Manhattan with its gargantuan expanse of real estate.
Prominent were American Ford GT Mustang, VF 8 (made by Vietnamese manufacturer Vinfast), KIA (Hyundai, South Korea), Nissan (Japanese), and German Volkswagen.
Each auto show, wherever in the world it is held, has a theme. Manufacturers regularly debut “concept” cars every year (i.e., an actual car, a regular prototype – designed and designated as a concept – to showcase to the world new sophisticated styling or updated technology, or perhaps just a juiced-up new battery. The objective: gauging customer reaction for the future). A concept car is not in production yet. An analogy would be a trailer before release of a movie.
Let’s face it: the automobile has been as ubiquitous in our lives as perhaps breathing. We have all been owners or passengers. Whether you love cars or not, whether you are an owner or not, whether you happen to be a car aficionado or not, you cannot avoid them. It has fascinated us for several generations.
Few months ago, American president Joe Biden personally tested the electric Ford-150 mini-truck and gave it a “thumbs up”. Car dealerships and individual gas stations (petrol pumps) are gearing up to build more electric charging stations. This effort to set up stations even in individual hire-rise buildings for vehicle-owners is seen as an incentive to switch to the electric car.
Photos courtesy: Raj S. Rangarajan
With many vehicle manufacturers ditching gasoline (petrol) in favor of battery-operated electrics prudent economies are encouraging their citizens to try to switch to electric vehicles so that carbon footprints on terra firma will hopefully reduce in about 30 to 50 years. Science tell us that a reduced carbon footprint will help the global environment, which today is a major concern. Many countries have been addressing climate change head on including India.
India Connection
The VF 9 VinFast (Vietnamese) made its debut early this year at the Las Vegas auto show, and industry observers were generally appreciative of the styling, dashboard architecture, somewhat impressive luggage space, and interactive touch screen. The parent company started five years ago, and VF 9’s styling is based on Italian design by Pininfarina. Mahindra owns more than 76 percent of the Italian company’s shares.
For the statistics-minded, the all-wheel full-size SUV 400 HP VF 9 will be available in four different configurations and can travel about 370 miles on one electric charge. The smaller VF 8 travels about 300 miles on one electric charge. LED front and rear bars are distinctive, but surprisingly, the car does not display a grill in the front. The unique V’s on wheels catch your attention immediately.
The Kia Niro from Hyundai has always been very popular, and now, it has been rebranded as an EV. Hyundai’s futuristic touch screen, self-driving feature, and the compact crossover has modernish wheels that resemble turbines. Gadgetry in modern cars – whether hybrid or electric – alerts the driver about when to recharging. Side panels are reportedly made with recyclable plastics – a benign nod to folks concerned about carbon emissions.
Some of you may be familiar with the concept of “hypermiling” where the fuel-conscious motorist uses his/her driving skills to maneuver engine efficiency within stated parameters. We are aware that driving in the city has its challenges with constant-stop-and-go acrobatics. Admittedly, engine efficiency is affected favorably when the a/c or heating unit, wiper or headlight is not operational.
For motorists who wish to have both – gasoline-powered and electric – companies such as Lexus, Infinity, Mercedes, Hyundai and others have been selling hybrids in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. In India, in the luxury segment, BMW 7 series, Volvo and Toyota are available as hybrids.
Finally, let’s buckle up for next year’s auto show scheduled for early April during Easter week in 2023.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Author: Raj S Rangarajan is a free-lance journalist based out of New York. He can be contacted at: raj.rangarajan@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment