Most automakers are quickly developing electric vehicles to comply with upcoming federal regulations, but Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen warns the United States government is “falling in love” with electric vehicles decades before they will become a viable option.
De Nysschen has never been one to mince words when it comes to electric vehicles – having called the Chevrolet Volt a “car for idiots” – but the German executive is adamant the United States government is pushing electric vehicles well before their technology is financially viable.
“The 50 percent or so price increase that the Volt represents over a similar gasoline car cannot be offset through the savings from reduced fuel compensation,” de Nysschen told The Detroit News. “The only way to offset the extreme premium is through taxpayer-funded subsidies.”
He added: “Paying customers to drive your cars is not sustainable.”
Although de Nysschen understands why “political leaders have fallen in love with hybrids and electrics”, he doesn’t expect widespread sales of EVs for about 20 years. Instead of leaning heavily on automakers to produce electric vehicles, de Nysschen believes the U.S. government should allow the market to decide what technologies are produced.
Not surprisingly, de Nysschen is a strong proponent of diesel-powered vehicles. However, despite being the self-proclaimed “world’s biggest diesel advocate”, diesel-powered vehicles make a strong case in the short-term for the U.S. market. According to de Nysschen’s figures, if a third of the cars in the U.S. ran on diesel, it would save 1.5 million barrels of oil per day – the same amount we import from Saudi Arabia daily.
Audi plans to produce its first electric vehicle — based on the e-tron concept — in 2012.
