Megan McArdle Doesn’t Heart Electric Cars

Over at the Atlantic, econoblogger Megan McArdle offers deep skepticism about electric cars in general and Chrysler’s now-defunct E.V. program, ENVI, in particular. OK, she has a point about the promotion of ENVI being a cynical play on the part of Chrysler to secure bailout funds pre-bankruptcy. The proof of that is that Fiat, which has taken over a chunk of Chrysler and is now running the company, swiftly axed the ENVI program.

But this bit is a little heavy-handed: She suggests that the enthusiasm around electric cars is “top-notch twaddle.” Au contraire! E.V.s, while not necessarily the magic bullet for all our climate and transportation woes, are going to play a major role in the future of mobility. And while it may take a while for them to displace internal-combustion cars, that day is coming.

Additionally, just because Chrysleriat is killing the ENVI program, that doesn’t mean the company is out of E.V.s. Obviously, CEO Sergio Marchionne doesn’t think the market conditions are favorable right now for Chrysler to be delivering this kind of disruptive tech. Better to concentrate on a product that customers might actually buy in big numbers. This may out Chrysler, and Fiat, at a long-term disadvantage to automakers like Nissan and General Motors, when it comes to E.V.s. But, then again, whatever technology was developed through ENVI will still be available to Chrysleriat when it decides the market for E.V.s has been sufficiently tested. In fact, if you’re inclined to take Chrysler at its word, ENVI is being discontinued as a separate entity, with the technology and development plan absorbed into the main company. Take that with a grain of salt, to be sure. But do take it.