Miles EV files for bankruptcy alongside Coda's troubles

As Coda Automotive goes through bankruptcy proceedings, related companies are not escaping the turmoil. Both Lio Energy Systems Holdings and Miles Electric Vehicles asked this week to have their bankruptcy cases jointed administered with Coda's, since they're all tied together.

Miles Automotive is the electric vehicle company that came before Coda. The producer of small, low-speed EVs, Miles announced it was working on a highway-speed EV called the XS500 years before it evolved into the Coda Sedan.

The way all these companies are connected is somewhat convoluted. We know that Miles Rubin was the force behind Miles Automotive, which he started in 2004. Later, in 2009, he co-founded and was for a while chairman of Coda. Reuters says that Lio Energy Systems is a direct subsidiary of Coda Holdings (it was a joint venture with China's Lishen Power Battery). Miles Electric Vehicles is now a direct subsidiary of Lio. Got it? Good, because you can shortly forget it when all these companies go through the bankruptcy grinder in the coming weeks.

At that time, you might need to learn a new name, Fortress Investment Group. Fortress is trying to buy Coda's assets for just $25 million. By the looks of things, this deal will go through.

News Source: Automotive News - sub. req., Global Post

Chrysler Set To Unveil Their Fiat 500 EV Concept

Chrysler Group LLC, the U.S. automaker run by Italy’s Fiat SpA, will debut a battery-powered version of the Fiat 500 subcompact at the Detroit auto show, two people familiar with the matter said.

Chrysler’s decision on whether to put the car into production is unknown, said the people, who declined to be identified because the details aren’t public. Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said last month the company plans to produce about 56,000 electric vehicles annually by 2014, and Chrysler may base its initial model on the Fiat Doblo van.

A Chrysler model based on Fiat’s Lancia Delta hatchback also will be displayed at next month’s show, three people familiar with the matter said last week. The cars signal how Fiat’s designs will be incorporated into Chrysler’s lineup to help end losses after the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based company left bankruptcy.

“It would make perfect sense,” said Michael Robinet, an analyst with CSM Worldwide Inc. in Northville, Michigan. “That would be a natural evolution.”

An electric Fiat 500 gives Chrysler a competitor to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s Mini-E electric car. BMW began leasing a limited run of Mini Cooper plug-in electric cars this year.

Gualberto Ranieri, a Chrysler spokesman, declined to comment. The company isn’t listed on the Web site of the North American International Auto Show as having a news conference planned to discuss either vehicle.

Changed Strategy

Chrysler, under a new five-year business plan, backed off of the strategy set under previous owner Cerberus Capital Management LP to create a full lineup of electric vehicles, the first of which would have been for sale at the end of 2010.

The 500, Turin-based Fiat’s second-most popular vehicle in Europe behind the Panda small hatchback, will go on sale in the U.S. late in 2010 or in January 2011, Marchionne has said. He has said the 500 will be sold as a convertible and as the Abarth performance version in addition to the standard model.

Marchionne said last week the Fiat 500 will be built in Mexico at a plant capable of producing more than 100,000 cars. About half the volume would be exported to South America, he said.

Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler and can raise its stake to 35 percent by achieving certain performance milestones, such as building a fuel-efficient engine in the U.S. The company’s five- year plan calls for having designs from Fiat account for more than half of global sales by 2014.

Fiat rose 7 cents to 10.33 euros at 4:42 p.m. in Milan. The shares have more than doubled this year.

Source: Bloomberg

Another Look at The Miles XS500 Electric Vehicle

The All Electric Miles XS 500



Miles Electric Vehicle Company has been working on a four door all electric sedan which is supposed to make its debut in 2010. It has been called the Javlon, XS500 and now their website names it the Miles Highway Speed Sedan. Whatever you choose to call it, the car promises to be all that.

The Highway Speed Sedan is a quantum leap for Miles as they currently market NEV's (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles), which are limited to top speeds of 25 mph. While these cars are great for running errands, you will tend to avoid busy routes with 35 mph posted limits. If you try to drive the NEV on these streets, you hold up traffic, get honked at and maybe even flipped off! Some states are revising the law to allow these vehicles to travel at speeds up to 35 mph and there is a growing aftermarket for kits that will override the 25 mph limitation. However, the new Highway Speed Sedan is going to solve that problem for you.

The Miles electric vehicle will have top speeds in excess of 80 mph and a range of 120 plus miles. The Miles website also claims a "run time" of 240 minutes, which if accurate, means you could conceivably drive 30 mph for four hours straight. If you live in town and work in town, then the charge should last you almost four days. If you have a 30 or 40 or 50 mile one-way commute, then this car is the one for you. The overwhelming majority of Americans have a commute distance to work of 40 miles or less (round trip). The only limit for this car is when a long drive is needed, greater than 120 miles. This limit is easily overcome with careful planning so that the car can be recharged while eating or at a hotel, etc. Most Americans only travel long distances once or twice a year, so that should not be a factor in deciding to purchase this vehicle. Some options for these long trips include using the family's second car or using a rental car for the trip.

Now for the bad news. The Highway Speed Sedan will be available to consumers at a MSRP of $40,000 to $45,000 depending on options. Most Americans like their options, so I am guessing the majority of these cars will be sold for $45,000. There is good news however. The US Government has already passed legislation that will give a $7500 rebate for the purchase of this car. Some are speculating that Obama will try and increase this subsidy to $10,000 when he is in office. For the sake of fun, let's say we bought the $40,000 model and received a $10,000 rebate. That would mean the car costs $30,000 plus tax. For a four door mid sized sedan, that is still a hefty pricetag, but I truly think it is worth the investment.

The Chevy Volt will retail at almost the exact same price as the Miles car, but the Volt has the advantage of an internal combustion range extender. With the Volt, you never have to worry about range as gasoline stations are ubiquitous. There are other considerations to take into account. An all-electric vehicle has very low maintenance costs and very few moving parts. An internal combustion vehicle has very high maintenance costs and a ton of moving parts. Over the life of the car, you will pay much more for the Volt than the Miles. Oil changes, radiator flushes, tune ups, belts and hoses, etc., etc. You get the picture.

So what do you think? Would you rather have a Volt or a Miles Highway Speed Sedan?

A Breakdown of OEM All-Electric Vehicles (BEV's) Part 2

The last post looked at EV's that had been produced in the past by auto manufacturer's and many of you may have been surprised by the selection. Today, we will examine the current offerings and you will immediately notice there is virtually no selection and really nothing that the common person can use on a daily basis. In other words, there is nothing like the trucks and cars and vans and SUV's that we saw in the last post.

The obvious question is why, or what happened? The answer is as convoluted and obfuscated as the current US tax code. Oil companies and automobile manufacturers have resisted alternate energy vehicles for decades and indeed, have done everything in their power to keep us hooked on petroleum and used to the freedom that a multi-car garage gives.

In the late 90's, California issued a mandate that required any automaker doing business in their state to offer zero emissions vehicles for sale or else they would not be allowed to market their wares. In response, we saw all the vehicles listed in the previous post, but when the mandate was rescinded, all the vehicles went away. One of the reasons the mandate went away is because the auto manufacturers promised fuel cell vehicles would be the norm by now (meaning 2009). Obviously, this never happened and never will happen due to their cost and lack of a Hydrogen infrastructure.

So with that in mind, let's see what we can buy today:

The Myers Motor's NMG

This car began its life as the Corbin Sparrow and then the troubled company was purchased by Dana Myers, moved to Tallmadge, Ohio and renamed the NMG, which stands for no more gas. The NMG is a single seat, all electric vehicle capable of speeds up to 75 mph and a range of 30 miles. The vehicle has three wheels and is registered as a motorcycle. This particular EV is very specific and limited in its functionality, intended to be a personal work commuter and in that role, it is extremely successful. Plan on spending $30 K for a new model.


The ZENN (Zero Emissions, No Noise)

Here we begin a series of Neighberhood Electric Vehicles designed to be "run around" vehicles that are used in gated communities and campgrounds. They have recently been prettied up and can now be driven up to 35 mph in some states and driven on streets with speed limits up to 45 mph. However, most states have a limit of 25 mph for these vehicles and limit them to streets with posted 35 mph limits.

ZENN Motor Company, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada bulds a very nice looking NEV with accoutermnets that today's drivers are accustomed. Power windows, locks, air conditioning, remote keyless entry are the standard for their vehicles. The car is a three door hatchback with much more room than the NMG and is quite comfortable for around town driving. Unfortunately, this is all you can do, drive around town. Driving on 35 mph city streets at a max speed of 25 mpg can also be quite stressful. Try it someday and see what happens. Nevertheless, if the majority of your driving is done in town and your state will let you drive these vehicles at 35 mph, the ZENN may be for you. A software hack allows the ZENN to be driven at speeds greater than 25 mph.

Zap Motor Company

Another all-electric vehicle maker, ZAP has been producing cars for a few years now and specialize in a sedan and pickup truck, named the Xebra. The Xebra Sedan is a three-wheeled, four door model capable of speeds up to 40 mph with a range of approximately 25 miles. Since Zap decided upon the three-wheel design, the car can be registered as a motorcycle and is not limited by the NEV regulations. Unlike the NMG, ZAP utilizes two rear wheels instead of one. Having the two rear wheels also allows for the pickup truck configuration. Once again, you can go green with these vehicles but just don't plan on going far or fast.

Miles Electric Vehicles

Another manufacturer specializing in all-electric NEV's is the Miles Motor company. Their ZX40 series of vehicles are designed with a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 40 to 50 miles. Like the ZENN, its top speed can be modified to 35 or 40 mph, although the driver needs to be cognizant of their State's regulations concerning top speeds for these types of vehicles. The ZX40 series has four wheels and and four doors and is intended to cart the entire family around town. Miles, like most of the others in this list, utilizes Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) lead acid batteries to provide the current for the motor. These batteries are ultra low maintenance and relatively easy to manage when charging.

Global Electric Motorcars (GEM)

Probably the most popular NEV to date, GEM has been cranking out their golf-cart-like vehicles en masse for quite some time. The vehicles are the quintessential gated community vehicle of choice and are built almost exactly like golf carts. They come in many flavors, including two, four and six passenger models. Some even come with an egg shaped roof and side curtains for the adverse weather. The GEM vehicles are ideal for campus transportation and moving VIP's from one building to another. As a commuter vehicle, this electric car does not make much sense.

The Tesla Roadster

Ahh, here is where we get to the fun in today's list. Tesla Motor Cars set out to prove what was possible and show what was missing from the major auto makers, namely a fun, sporty and powerful all-electric vehicle. In case you didn't notice, all the vehicles listed above are small, quirky and with the exception of the NMG, slow. The Tesla Roadster is fast, as in 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds fast and is styled like a real sports car. The Roadster has a range of nearly 250 miles and a wow factor that is off the scale. With the help of Lotus engineers, the car resembles the Elise model and subsequently exudes its sexiness. There are two drawbacks to this vehicle, its $109,000 MSRP and its capacity for two people and little else. Tesla has already announced a four door sedan that will be coming soon, though and offered at an MSRP between $50 and $60 thousand.

Final thoughts:

I have not compiled an exhaustive list of electric vehicles as there are other NEV's like the American Kurrent and the Think Neighbor. I have also omitted the two wheeled variants of electric vehicles like the excellent Vectric scooter and Xtreme lithium ion scooters now available. The purpose of this list was to show the dearth of OEM all-electric vehicles that can be purchased in the automaker showrooms today. Not one major automaker has an EV for sale. This is truly tragic in light of what we had in the past. All is not lost however, as we will have a look at the future of the electric vehicle in the next post.

Introducing the Miles XS500 All Electric Vehicle

The Miles XS500 Electric Sedan



The Miles Company has been working on a four door all electric sedan which is supposed to make its debut in 2010. It has been called the Javlon, XS500 and now their website names it the Miles Highway Speed Sedan. Whatever you choose to call it, the car promises to be all that.

The Highway Speed Sedan is a quantum leap for Miles as they currently market NEV's (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles), which are limited to top speeds of 25 mph. While these cars are great for running errands, you will tend to avoid busy routes with 35 mph posted limits. If you try to drive the NEV on these streets, you hold up traffic, get honked at and maybe even flipped off! Some states are revising the law to allow these vehicles to travel at speeds up to 35 mph and there is a growing aftermarket for kits that will override the 25 mph limitation. However, the new Highway Speed Sedan is going to solve that problem for you.

The Miles electric vehicle will have top speeds in excess of 80 mph and a range of 120 plus miles. The Miles website also claims a "run time" of 240 minutes, which if accurate, means you could conceivably drive 30 mph for four hours straight. If you live in town and work in town, then the charge should last you almost four days. If you have a 30 or 40 or 50 mile one-way commute, then this car is the one for you. The overwhelming majority of Americans have a commute distance to work of 40 miles or less (round trip). The only limit for this car is when a long drive is needed, greater than 120 miles. This limit is easily overcome with careful planning so that the car can be recharged while eating or at a hotel, etc. Most Americans only travel long distances once or twice a year, so that should not be a factor in deciding to purchase this vehicle. Some options for these long trips include using the family's second car or using a rental car for the trip.

Now for the bad news. The Highway Speed Sedan will be available to consumers at a MSRP of $40,000 to $45,000 depending on options. Most Americans like their options, so I am guessing the majority of these cars will be sold for $45,000. There is good news however. The US Government has already passed legislation that will give a $7500 rebate for the purchase of this car. Some are speculating that Obama will try and increase this subsidy to $10,000 when he is in office. For the sake of fun, let's say we bought the $40,000 model and received a $10,000 rebate. That would mean the car costs $30,000 plus tax. For a four door mid sized sedan, that is still a hefty pricetag, but I truly think it is worth the investment.

The Chevy Volt will retail at almost the exact same price as the Miles car, but the Volt has the advantage of an internal combustion range extender. With the Volt, you never have to worry about range as gasoline stations are ubiquitous. There are other considerations to take into account. An all-electric vehicle has very low maintenance costs and very few moving parts. An internal combustion vehicle has very high maintenance costs and a ton of moving parts. Over the life of the car, you will pay much more for the Volt than the Miles. Oil changes, radiator flushes, tune ups, belts and hoses, etc., etc. You get the picture.

So what do you think? Would you rather have a Volt or a Miles Highway Speed Sedan?