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Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-07-2010, 08:40 AM

Those distances aren't that unusual... many U.S. suburbanites (including myself) deal with distances like that regularly. At the moment, I compromise by driving 4 miles to a train station (I chose my home location according to its proximity to the commuter rail and bus lines). If the parking situation changes --as, indeed, it is slated to in the master plan, but that could be 5-50 years from now

--I can take a bus, or ride my bike. A short-distance electric would work for me, and a 100-mile range EV would be more than I need just for standard daily use.

Yes, I could jump in my car--or on my motorcycle, when I had it--and get to the office quicker on most days. But do I really need to shave that much time off of my day? Not really. I am content to take my time, especially if it benefits the environment and uses less oil.

Obviously, access to public trans, terrain in your area, etc, play a factor in personal accessibility... I have taken pains to say that EVs won't be right for everyone, but they will serve for most. It only makes sense: In this internet age, most of us in developed areas need to travel less. As we reach that social stage, it's logical that a vehicle with lesser range will still work for those people.

And as many people originally chose where to live and work according to where personal and public transportation made convenient, as I did--and as those distances increased with the development of the ICE--I expect people to re-evaluate those choices against the realities of EVs, and their impact on other forms of transportation, and act accordingly. Cities and surrounding areas may see some significant changes, if the "daily range" of personal vehicles is seen to change. People may move closer to city and town centers... local town centers will develop closer to more distant suburbs... public trans routes will shift to better accommodate the changing traffic patterns... the idea and location of the "ideal community" will change.

At least, all of these things have happened before. There's little reason to think they won't happen again.

05-07-2010, 08:40 AM	#172
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Those distances aren't that unusual... many U.S. suburbanites (including myself) deal with distances like that regularly. At the moment, I compromise by driving 4 miles to a train station (I chose my home location according to its proximity to the commuter rail and bus lines). If the parking situation changes --as, indeed, it is slated to in the master plan, but that could be 5-50 years from now --I can take a bus, or ride my bike. A short-distance electric would work for me, and a 100-mile range EV would be more than I need just for standard daily use. Yes, I could jump in my car--or on my motorcycle, when I had it--and get to the office quicker on most days. But do I really need to shave that much time off of my day? Not really. I am content to take my time, especially if it benefits the environment and uses less oil. Obviously, access to public trans, terrain in your area, etc, play a factor in personal accessibility... I have taken pains to say that EVs won't be right for everyone, but they will serve for most. It only makes sense: In this internet age, most of us in developed areas need to travel less. As we reach that social stage, it's logical that a vehicle with lesser range will still work for those people. And as many people originally chose where to live and work according to where personal and public transportation made convenient, as I did--and as those distances increased with the development of the ICE--I expect people to re-evaluate those choices against the realities of EVs, and their impact on other forms of transportation, and act accordingly. Cities and surrounding areas may see some significant changes, if the "daily range" of personal vehicles is seen to change. People may move closer to city and town centers... local town centers will develop closer to more distant suburbs... public trans routes will shift to better accommodate the changing traffic patterns... the idea and location of the "ideal community" will change. At least, all of these things have happened before. There's little reason to think they won't happen again.