While much of the green auto market is focused on gas-electric hybrid vehicles, it's interesting to note the production of all-electric vehicles and the vertical infrastructure they require to become a profitable venture for car companies and the companies that are in support of them.
For example, on a small scale, a Raleigh, N.C.-area McDonald's will be the
first in the nation to feature electric-car-charging stations, according to an AP report. It opens Tuesday. McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD) is using it as a model to see if it's worth doing elsewhere. And as vehicles come to production, more businesses will likely take a stab at the model, and the makers of those charging stations, such as Coulomb Technologies, will have to scale up if consumers start buying.
Of course, Mickey D's will have to do some waiting. There are very few electric cars around but they can count on large companies such as Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:NSANY), which is debuting its first electric car in August. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn recently said he isn't worried about
making sales and plans to make about 100,000 of them a year at a $500 million plant in Tennessee. Of course, that's just the U.S. Nissan plans on
going global and teaming with government's as well as companies to offer post-sale service for the e-cars.
Ford, however, is
waiting until 2011 for an all-electric vehicle to see how the market reacts to its competitors. That could end up being a smart move if consumers don't spend or hinder it by not joining the first-to-mass-market crew. The company is on the hybrid bandwagon, though. Coming in 2010 for Ford are the Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid. Ford said it's in its fifth year producing the world's most fuel-efficient SUV -- the Escape Hybrid. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out. -
Baz HiralalGo to the McDonald's storyFord, Nissan, GM EV strategy
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