Electric Cars CAN Be Cool!!

[custosnox]

Remember who you're replying to C..

Oh, I know, the guy that thinks anything other than and old, beat up truck is practical.

[Red Arrow]

Unless, of course, you have one that can go up to 500 miles without a charge, especially with quick charge stations available.  But don't let that stand in your way of thinking that driving gas guzzlers is the best way about it.

Range is definitely an issue for many of us.  As usual, it will be up to the rich and trendy folks to be the first on the block and eventually make it affordable for the rest of us.  Guido, are you considering an electric car?

[custosnox]

Range is definitely an issue for many of us.  As usual, it will be up to the rich and trendy folks to be the first on the block and eventually make it affordable for the rest of us.  Guido, are you considering an electric car?

It takes time.  The cars themselves aren't expensive, the leaf starting at 21k.  You can charge them in your garage over night with a special plug.  For around town driving, you can get 30+ miles for just an hour's charge (quick charge stations are coming). No need to wait for the rich to start making this product popular.  Of course, there will still be some issues to figure out over the next few years, but this is true with any new tech on the market.

[Red Arrow]

It takes time.  The cars themselves aren't expensive, the leaf starting at 21k.  You can charge them in your garage over night with a special plug.  For around town driving, you can get 30+ miles for just an hour's charge (quick charge stations are coming). No need to wait for the rich to start making this product popular.  Of course, there will still be some issues to figure out over the next few years, but this is true with any new tech on the market.

I believe it will take the rich buyers to finance the research to get the range up to where they are as practical as a petroleum fueled car.  Stop, recharge, and go at least 300 miles with only a 10 minute "recharge" time.

If you only need an around town car, yes, they are available now.  Cost?  Rebates skew the cost.

[custosnox]

I believe it will take the rich buyers to finance the research to get the range up to where they are as practical as a petroleum fueled car.  Stop, recharge, and go at least 300 miles with only a 10 minute "recharge" time.

If you only need an around town car, yes, they are available now.  Cost?  Rebates skew the cost.

the charge time I gave, it was for an at home charger. The charge stations are faster, though I don't know the exact times. They have a number of things in the works for faster times.

As far as the cost, Kim thinking that was pre rebate cost, but would have to be sure, but even if it isn't, it wouldn't be a big enough price difference to be considered just for the rich. The Tesla, on the other hand, dues have a pretty big price tag before the rebate, and even after it is outside of the price range of everyone except the better off.

Sent from my galaxy, far far away, with tapatalk

[Red Arrow]

As far as the cost, Kim thinking that was pre rebate cost, but would have to be sure, but even if it isn't, it wouldn't be a big enough price difference to be considered just for the rich.

As low as $21K to $27K after "federal tax savings".  If you don't pay enough taxes, you may not save much.  I am not just thinking of poor people. I am thinking of professionals with a big house mortgage, kids.....

http://www.nissanusa.com/electric-cars/leaf/

[custosnox]

As low as $21K to $27K after "federal tax savings".  If you don't pay enough taxes, you may not save much.  I am not just thinking of poor people. I am thinking of professionals with a big house mortgage, kids.....

http://www.nissanusa.com/electric-cars/leaf/

$28.8K to $34.8K base prices before federal tax savings. Yes, quiet a bit more than the marketing prices, but still not an outrages price.  The Maxima starts at $31k.

[Red Arrow]

$28.8K to $34.8K base prices before federal tax savings. Yes, quiet a bit more than the marketing prices, but still not an outrages price.  The Maxima starts at $31k.

They are getting into BMW territory.  Whoda thunk, a BMW for everyone.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2013/1/128iCoupe/default.aspx?from=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2013/1/128iCoupeRD.aspx&return=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2013/1/128iCoupeRD.aspx

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2014/3/320iSedan/default.aspx?from=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2014/3/320iSedanRD.aspx&return=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2014/3/320iSedanRD.aspx

[heironymouspasparagus]

Yes but in my limited experience, I believe motors designed for transportation are designed for max torque at zero (or at least low) RPM.
A while back I acquired an old Honda CRX and was looking into converting it to electric. The problem was with the charge range. I drive a little under 60 miles RT for work. I couldn't throw enough batteries at it to get it to more than 45 miles on a single charge unless I went to a very expensive battery.
There is some truly amazing battery technology only a few years away. There is currently a company in the final stages of producing a usable ultra capacitor as well.

DC versus AC.  See below - first curve is DC.  AC is second curve, which is more what you would want for electric vehicle.  (18 HP isn't big enough, but that scales up).

https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+motor+torque+curve&client=firefox-a&hs=BM7&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8t4bUuO0NYHB2wXP94C4Aw&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1176&bih=782

[heironymouspasparagus]

Tesla is already doing it.  They have reached the milestone of selling lots of cars to the rich people - 20,000 a year.  Now, they are gonna start on the lower end stuff - 40k for a very nice looking sedan!  I like the styling - may have to buy one.  Plus, they are putting in a system of charges that will give you the 200 mile charge in about half an hour or so....and yes, the wording is right - literally give you the charge.  For the life of the car.  Fill up free forever.

Move the little slider under the map to see where they are going - by 2015.

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger


Or, do a battery swap for a few bucks...done in 90 seconds!  Faster than filling your tank with gas.

http://www.teslamotors.com/batteryswap


And if you are curious - yep, you missed getting in on the ground floor.  The stock has skyrocketed with two profitable quarters in a row.

[custosnox]

They are getting into BMW territory.  Whoda thunk, a BMW for everyone.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2013/1/128iCoupe/default.aspx?from=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2013/1/128iCoupeRD.aspx&return=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2013/1/128iCoupeRD.aspx

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2014/3/320iSedan/default.aspx?from=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2014/3/320iSedanRD.aspx&return=/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2014/3/320iSedanRD.aspx

Or less than a Chevy truck, which seems rampant around here

http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-3500hd-diesel-trucks.html

Or an Avalanche

http://www.chevrolet.com/avalanche-suv-truck.html

[custosnox]

Tesla is already doing it.  They have reached the milestone of selling lots of cars to the rich people - 20,000 a year.  Now, they are gonna start on the lower end stuff - 40k for a very nice looking sedan!  I like the styling - may have to buy one.  Plus, they are putting in a system of charges that will give you the 200 mile charge in about half an hour or so....and yes, the wording is right - literally give you the charge.  For the life of the car.  Fill up free forever.

Move the little slider under the map to see where they are going - by 2015.

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger


Or, do a battery swap for a few bucks...done in 90 seconds!  Faster than filling your tank with gas.

http://www.teslamotors.com/batteryswap


And if you are curious - yep, you missed getting in on the ground floor.  The stock has skyrocketed with two profitable quarters in a row.

I had seen the battery swap tech in a mag a bit back, but last time I was in a Tesla dealership, the sales lady wasn't aware of it, but had told me the cars were already set up for quick and easy removal of the battery for maintenance. Looks like they are really getting this idea moving. I thought I saw a bigger price tag on the Tesla.  Is that the after rebate price that Guido will quibble over? Personally, I want the Roadster, if I was a lawyer or something with money.

[Red Arrow]

I don't remember ever getting a reasonable answer on what it will cost to replace a battery at the end of its life.  With that in mind, I think a battery exchange which operates like grill size propane bottle exchanges might be a good plan.  You own "a battery" but not a specific battery.  The exchange would maintain the batteries as well as keep them charged.

I also see a lot more old  pickup trucks than new ones.  There are a significant number of people with money in the Tulsa Metro Area. Seeing a few thousand new pickups, BMWs, Lexus..... doesn't mean they are really affordable.  I kind of draw the line at low $20K as the upper reaches of what I call affordable.  I also remember buying a new Buick Skylark Sport Coupe in 1981 for less than $9K.  I think the base model was about $6.5K. 

[Red Arrow]

Or less than a Chevy truck, which seems rampant around here
http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-3500hd-diesel-trucks.html
Or an Avalanche
http://www.chevrolet.com/avalanche-suv-truck.html

Of course not everyone buys a 3500 diesel.

Entry level is more like:
Silverado 1500
http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-1500-pickup-truck.html

Don't misunderstand me.  I think electric has a lot of promise.  It's getting closer to reality for the masses but I don't think it's there yet.

[carltonplace]

Exchangeable rechargeable universal batteries seems like a no-brainer to me.