Volkswagen Bets Big On Electric Cars, Plans 30 Models By 2025 (usatoday.com)

An anonymous reader writes: German automaker Volkswagen plans to deliver 30 electric plug-in models by 2025. The new plan comes in the wake of a devastating emissions scandal that cast doubt on the future of its once-beloved diesel cars. It also exposes the immense challenges that the company will face internally. Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller suggested that Volkswagen Group, whose brands include Audi and Porsche, will "significantly" reduce the number of models it makes and will slash almost $9 billion in spending annually to bolster the bottom line.

Comments

Re:For those who still want diesel

[twotacocombo]

That's not the only problem.

Not to mention places like Los Angeles, where our infrastructure is shit, power rates keep climbing, and we have multiple brown/blackouts during the summer months just from A/C usage alone. They're talking up to two weeks of blackouts this summer due to the Aliso Canyon fiasco. Just what we all need, electric cars that we can't charge because the power's out, and can't afford to charge because we've already got second mortgages just to keep the house cool when it's 110 outside. Electric cars are a great idea, but some places just aren't prepared for a massive influx of them.

Re:For those who still want diesel

[ShanghaiBill]

They're talking up to two weeks of blackouts this summer due to the Aliso Canyon fiasco.

Obvious solution: Charge your car at night, when the ACs are mostly off, and there is plenty of cheap base load power.

I have an electric car, and it is preprogrammed to start charging at 2am.

Re:Well that solves one problem

[mspohr]

Just... wrong.
Even if you get all of your electricity from dirty coal (like Colorado), it is still cleaner to drive an electric vehicle than a 35 mpg gas car because coal fired power plants are much more efficient than gas or diesel car engines and electric cars are much more efficient in using that electricity.
Plus, as we retire dirty coal plants, electric cars get even cleaner.
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-ve...