Investing in the Electric Car

kriss_boy

I've read a lot about both all-electric and hybrid cars for some time now and I've notice also that a few big names such as google, sony and bosch have invested substantially in these markets in recent years/months.

I have a few questions though as I cant seem to find access to which companies I should consider investing in.

My first question is whether or not its feasible to invest as little as £200/300. Or are there fees that make a larger investment of, say, £1000 more viable.

Secondly, a few of the companies Ive found to be involved in the industry dont seem to have shares available? Is this simply because not all companies offer shares as they dont need investment or is because they only offer them from time to time when they do need money?

It would be good to find 3/4 companies within the industry and invest £500 in each over the next year or so.

Lokolo

Search for Tesla Motors.

I love their cars and want to get Model S, shame I can't afford it though!

However they are US based so international trading costs, which could mean you £500 gets a loss quite quickly.

jimjames

How about alternative energy or green funds. Check out their holdings as it will be far more economical to buy than shares at those kind of amounts.

cepheus

Nuclear Powered Cars

Sounds like a good runaround, for a terrorist!

IronWolf

Most of the big name car manufacturers have these in the pipeline, but be warned that electric cars dont necessarily mean big money for the companies. Look at airlines, initially the industry took off (pardon the pun) but most of the companies involved earned peanuts due to fierce competition and went bankrupt eventually.

Lokolo

IronWolf wrote: »

Most of the big name car manufacturers have these in the pipeline, but be warned that electric cars dont necessarily mean big money for the companies. Look at airlines, initially the industry took off (pardon the pun) but most of the companies involved earned peanuts due to fierce competition and went bankrupt eventually.

Yep and according to my own research (so take it with a pinch of salt), a lot of them are doing it for the marketing aspect and the fact they then have a lower carbon range (so less tax I believe?)

Tesla have also received a lot of US Government grant, this was just to get a real push to start. Next year they will be releasing their Model S and this will decide whether they will succeed or just completely fail.

Loughton_Monkey

1. Investing in 'alternative energy' is a very valid consideration. Natural resources are being heavily depleted at too greater rate.

2. Despite that, electric cars are simply a 'knee-jerk' reaction to the 'myth' of Global Warming rather than trying to save natural resources. Electric cars use far more natural resources per mile than pure petrol/diesel. This will always remain a fact [in my humble opinion]. All they do is keep the 'pollution' at the power station and not the city centre.

3. Once the 'fad' is over, electric cars will cease to exist and become white elephants.

4. Trying to 'leverage' this [almost certainly] temporary opportunity may or may not be a good strategy, but will fail since if any real 'money' is to be made from electric cars, it will only be made by Ford, GM, Toyota, Hyundai etc. So you have to invest in the whole car company. Is this wise?

5. Hence, if there's a 'trick', it would surround finding a company that is likely to succeed in developing, say, revolutionary new battery technology, and not a car company.

jimjames

Black Rock New Energy trust is one such investment, performance so far hasn't been great but you know what they say about past performance..:)

cepheus

Post 7 YAAAAAAWN Forgot Murdoch still runs Fox News doesn't he?

darkpool

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Electric cars use far more natural resources per mile than pure petrol/diesel. This will always remain a fact [in my humble opinion]. All they do is keep the 'pollution' at the power station and not the city centre.
in the whole car company. Is this wise?

electric cars can at least use power generated by green sources.

even if the power stations use oil etc to generate electricity the pollution should be less as power stations are more efficient than a car engine. with electric cars the batteries can be charged during braking etc. electric cars use no power when coasting etc.

if electric cars become mainstream they are likely to be charged at night - meaning power stations will be able to make money round the clock........

Loughton_Monkey

darkpool wrote: »

even if the power stations use oil etc to generate electricity the pollution should be less as power stations are more efficient than a car engine. .....

There may be some truth in that.

But surely you realise that the best batteries in the world are in the order of 2% efficient????

I suspect the further loss from battery to actual wheel-power is an even further overhead. But 1 unit of battery power requires 50 units of power produced at the power station.

As for the 'green energy' argument, so-called 'green' energy is very limited and very short supply. I'm aware there are very few 'sockets' for electric cars. How many of them have two sockets, one marked 'ordinary' and the other marked 'green'? Or did National Grid just duplicate their entire UK infrastructure while I was asleep?