Quote:
Originally Posted by yvanleterrible
Aaaah! my pet subject. I've been wanting an EV since 1973, I've driven a few in 2001 that have all been destroyed by their manufacturers, and there are still no decent affordable EVs as of today. Who's responsible? THE OIL SUCKERS. 
They want us to drive their stupid hybrids, what a load a crock they are.
Even that idiotic pluggable Chevy Volt, I mean the thing weighs over 3000 pounds, totally irrational!
If you want good info go to the evcast.com . I'm listening all their 200 podcasts as I work.
It's physically impossible unless you have a power plant in your backyard, and a 3000amp charger. The best you can do is 15 mins for an 80% charge.
BTW I finally found the EV I want, and it's a bloody Ford! I still can't believe it! It's a small van fer my work and it will be available summer 2010. The Ford Transit Connect. It's made and sold in Europe and will be available in America starting this summer as a two liter petrol guzzler and next year with pure EV, hybrid and gas options. |
Actually, Yvan, we have a Honda Civic hybrid that we've had for over 6 years now. My husband originally bought it so he could drive the HOV lanes here in Virginia
, but, as gas prices went up and up, we realized how fortuitous the purchase really was. Now my kids use it in their commute to college everyday. It has over 100,000 miles and has only needed a small amount of servicing and they only fill it up once a week (they have about an hour drive to school and an hour back home). A hybrid isn't perfect, but it is a move in the right direction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
The one I want is pictured a page back. Unfortunately, I understand the company was bought out (or maybe just rebranded themselves), and is now about to declare bankruptcy. Dammit!
Unlike you, Yvan, I just need a small vehicle for 80-90% of my driving needs, that is, to and from work (or, in my case, the MARC train parking lot), and light shopping around town. If we save the gas-drinker for things like longer-distance trips, and carrying large loads, we could leave that car parked for months at a time. |
We have a Honda mini-van that spends the week in the garage and only comes out when the whole family is going somewhere together.
It gets fairly good gas mileage for such a large vehicle, but it is over kill for me to drive my little one back and forth to elementary school and my trips to the grocery store.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
<SNIP>
Another waay overdue item: All lawn mowers--in fact, all powered lawn implements--should be cordless electrics by now (and waiting for their ultracapacitor batteries).
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I thought you were going to say a lawn mower that does the work for you!
I know that is definitely something my husband would like to see.
I think one of the most anticipated technological breakthroughs and one that would truly impact every aspect of our lives is a new energy source to replace the antiquated batteries we use. We've made some improvements in batteries in the last few years, but they really only are modifications. We need a new source that provides longer life with less weight.