Electric Automobiles

[Llama Gibbz]

I saw this in a recent chevy commercial,i actually like lines on this one.
It actually looks like a modern muscle/sports car.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/932/voltod4.jpg
High resolution image (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Chevrolet-Volt-DC.jpg)

Volt Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt)
Theres also links to articles of other manufactures.

If this was mass produced and affordable with suitable amount of charging stations.
I would really consider getting one,i think its time to move to other forms of transportation.



They had a electric car on limited production,the EV-1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1#EV1_series_hybrid) about a decade ago.
But failed because the small amount of orders weren't profitable.

[Destroyer]

the only reason they are not more affordable is due to political reasons.
http://www.teslamotors.com/
check out that supercar. starts at 100K so simliar price to dodge viper. but costs 2cents per mile. 0-60MPH in under 4 seconds.
only con is top speed is limited to 125MPH

[Scotty]

It depends on what the definition of "affordable" is.

I paid $13,700 for a 2004 Honda Civic, and that's the most I've ever spent on a car. $20,000+ for a hybrid would have been out of my budget.

The EV1 was lease-only, as is Honda's new hydrogen fuel cell car. Lease = Eternal Car Payments. No thank you.

It looks like the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, which, as an extension of existing technology, will probably be available for sale. However, if the cost is $20-$40K, it will be out of reach of ppl like me.

Once they become affordable, the thing that will be tough for me to get used to with a hybrid or electric car is not having a manual transmission. Every car I've owned in the last 20 years has had a manual transmission.

[Phait]

No. Gas n' go baby!

[Superczar]

Car Wars. It was foreseen in the game that cars will go electric as gas becomes harder to buy; then I mount a .50 calibre machine gun to my vehicle, and strap on some steel plating. So I say yes... as long as I can still have some budget for ammo... ;)

[Dave-ros]

I can't drive, so the question is purely academic for me -- but anyone who thinks electric cars are for wussies and that "real men" pollute, deserves to be shot. Jeremy Clarkson, I'm looking at you :tinyted:

[Waiter]

Under the right circumstances, yes. This one NO.

Electrical cars have the benefit that you don't have to rebuild every car to change the source of energy that you use to produce the electrical energy to charge the batteries. The issues are on then other hand charging times and the distance covered with one charge. This car takes over 6 hrs to charge and then goes for 40km. After that, you're back to your combustion engine with an efficiency leak for charging the batteries instead of driving the car directly. Seems pointless.

[Scotty]

It's a step in the right direction, as hybrids already have better fuel economy than gasoline engines due to regenerative braking, and hybrid owners are already modifying their hybrids to run as plug-in hybrids.

I commute about 52 miles a day, but if I could plug in at work, I'd only be using 26 of the 40 mile limit at a time, and a 6 hour recharge would fit into an 8 hour workday.

Public charging stations could be a problem, though: Someone (probably the taxpayers) would get stuck with the initial costs of buying and installing them, even if these costs could ultimately be recovered from the drivers. Safety and theft could also become problems.

[peoplessi]

I can't drive, so the question is purely academic for me -- but anyone who thinks electric cars are for wussies and that "real men" pollute, deserves to be shot. Jeremy Clarkson, I'm looking at you :tinyted:

I am looking at you, they aren't practical. When you drive too fast, it will change to fuel. And when you drive too far, it does it again. And as it has been concluded, it doesn't save the enviroment at all, due higher emissions that come when the car is made. It is obvious that you haven't really looked it in a academical way. Torque is good with electricmotors, but to start they will peak huge currents.

I, for one, think that they are for "wnb" enviromentalist, who think that when they buy this for 40km trips they are saving the nature. When in the contrary they could use public transportations in the cities and go as.

It is not as mature to be in general use, it just isn't.

[Dave-ros]

So again, it comes down to this particular model being a false economy, not the overall idea of electric cars ;)

Dude, where's my atomic-powered car? :p

[Sang]

Yes, when they are as useful as fuel-based cars are now.

[Phait]

I'm not sure the electrical-car is about saving nature, just about reducing dependency on oil. Which in a sense, can have some influence in saving nature, but I'm not sure that's the primary intention.

I'm all for reducing oil dependency, but it likely won't happen without something nasty and apocalyptic. So as I say, gas n' go.

[Sang]

I'm all for reducing oil dependency, but it likely won't happen without something nasty and apocalyptic. So as I say, gas n' go.

That hardly makes sense. It's true that something bad will have to happen for most people to acknowledge the gravity of the situation - But you realize that something IS wrong, yet you'd still pick gas?

[Dave-ros]

You're expecting Phait to be logical?! :p

[Phait]

That hardly makes sense. It's true that something bad will have to happen for most people to acknowledge the gravity of the situation - But you realize that something IS wrong, yet you'd still pick gas?

I'm got 60 more years on this earth, what can I do? I'll be dead and gone either before or by then.

You're expecting Phait to be logical?! :p

Exactly :D

[Sang]

I'm got 60 more years on this earth, what can I do? I'll be dead and gone either before or by then.

That's very selfish but it's exactly how I feel about this thing - I don't really care about it because I'll be dead (I guess) by the time the shit hits the fan.

However if there is a simple way of prolonging the life of Earth I'd be all for it - if electric cars will come to be very useful then I don't see why one shouldn't buy it.

[Mr.Fibbles]

I want my flying hydrogen car!!!! :tinyted:

If enough R&D is spent on electric cars and hybrid cars, there could be some really good breakthroughs which would allow non gasoline cars to become affordable.

[peoplessi]

It has something to with what the biggest oilmakers(Lukoil, Exxon and others) wan't to happen. I don't think a good hydrogen car is their primary interest at the moment. Just look at the size of those companies, they could buy countries if they would wish to do so and the other part willing to sell. And that drives some of the high deciders in numerous countries, some of them are funded by this oilmoney, so it is obvious that things won't change as fast as they could change.

Hydrogen isn't too cost efficient(at least atm) to extract from water either, and transportation is another issue, it must be kept in fluid form - and remembering what that meant for the temperatures we are so far from seeing it in mass use.

Now, the biggest issue would be to concentrate on alternative fuels, as more economic fuel types, biofuels. They could take us through the period until hybrid, electric and hydrogen cars are reality.

Also we need oil in the future as well, but for fuel, not so much hopefully.

[Destroyer]

you know i am really dissipointed in the automotive industry. Cars should of been alot cheaper and better by now. the fact we still burn oil is nuts. we should of been electric or something else 20 years ago.

[Phait]

Cars have gotten cheaper. Look at Kia and Chevy offerings, below $10k.

[Scotty]

you know i am really dissipointed in the automotive industry. Cars should of been alot cheaper and better by now. the fact we still burn oil is nuts. we should of been electric or something else 20 years ago.

I think this has more to do with oil being historically cheap between 1992 and 2005 than anything else.

Until world oil production peaks and oil becomes more expensive with each passing year, I don't think anything will change.

[Destroyer]

you are right about that. but it still sucks. and phait cars are not cheap, considering they have been around for over a 100 years they are still to expensive to buy and maintain.

[Phait]

Well cheap is relative (and I have a weird view of money myself anyway), but seriously - I have seen Chevy and Kia offers BELOW $10,000 - between $8000 - $9000. Compare that to perhaps $18,000 - $20,000 for standard sedan (guess)? Cheap.

[Destroyer]

8000-9000K is not cheap man.
the automotive indutry needs to take a page from the Computer industry.

[Jiminator]

lol, electric cars. right now it costs an arm and a leg to replace a cell phone battery when it inevitably dies, I can imagine how much more pain someone will feel when the battery pack goes kaput.

[thefly]

8000-9000K is not cheap man.
the automotive indutry needs to take a page from the Computer industry.


This just doesn't make any sense. An example of why a lot of people fled this forum to never return.

[Steve]

8000-9000K is not cheap man.


What?! That's BLOODY CHEAP.

[Scotty]

$5.85*40*52=$12168, which makes just about anything too expensive.

I think what was allowed to happen to the cost of property was a bigger sin, though that bubble has finally burst.

[Dave-ros]

What's cheap about 9000K? That's 9 million! Unless we're talking 9 million millionths of a dollar?! :p

[Superczar]

Where the hell do you see new cars from 8-9K? I've seen as low as 12K... :o

[gamejunkie]

I think I'll wait for the electric Harley-Davidson :D

[Phait]

Where the hell do you see new cars from 8-9K? I've seen as low as 12K... :o

Dealer lots. Cant' remember if they were explicitly that years model, but they were at lesat the year before. This was at least a year or more ago. Kia is one of the most affordable auto brands out there.

[gt1750]

Speaking of electric cars, do you guys know Venturi Fétish (http://www.venturi.fr/Venturi-Fetish.html)? It's the first desirable production electric car. It's main letdown is the price (297000€+VAT) but it looks awesome and it's performance figures aren't bad either. Then there is the Tesla Roadster which is going to be cheaper while offering similar performance and even better range.

I'm personally looking farward to the future of electromobiles - electric engines in wheels, energy source in chassis and endless possibilities in body shapes and configuration (GM's concepts showed the path). But I'm going to miss the sound and smell of gas engines :(

[Phait]

They won't be gone in our lifetime.

[gt1750]

Yeah, but you know there are those environmentalistic idots who might want to ban them for good. Just thinking of the EU's insane CO2 limits for automotive companies set for 2012 or 2014 makes me sad and angry at the same time. These eco-dictators fail to realize that personal transport isn't the biggest source of pollution :mad:

[Waiter]

...but A major source?

[Destroyer]

This just doesn't make any sense. An example of why a lot of people fled this forum to never return.

why does that not make sense?
look at the perfromace/quality improvement of compuets within the past 50 years and compare that to the perfromace/quality improvements the auto industry has had.

[Destroyer]

Where the hell do you see new cars from 8-9K? I've seen as low as 12K... :o

thank you. even a small car like a corolla will cost you almost 20 grand after taxes and such, and that car is really small. and by cars being expensive im not just talking about the intial cost. im talking about the 20-50$ to change oil every few months, couple hundred dollors on other maintence every year.
filling up your car for 65$ every few week.
hell by now a luxury car like a S class should cost under 10K and it should not pollute the air. it should be very low maintence. it should fly, and it should get to its destination by it self.

[Phait]

Check more manufacturers.

[Scotty]

8000-9000K is not cheap man.
the automotive indutry needs to take a page from the Computer industry.

I think they were pointing out that you should either have posted $8000-9000 or $8-9K. Even the most expensive cars are only $100-300K. :)

[Superczar]

I remember when trucks used to be cheaper than cars - and were very dependable and rugged, even the cheapest ones now are overblown in the price dept.

[Scotty]

On the subtopic of cheap cars, one cheap car I bought (1995 Geo Metro for $9200) was a piece of crap. After numerous other problems over the years, the door sills started rusting from the inside out after about 8 years, and I traded it in for $200, which meant I paid $9000 of depreciation, almost a total loss.

[Jiminator]

...sigh... all my experiences buying cars leave me with my butt feeling raw...

[Scotty]

I remember when trucks used to be cheaper than cars - and were very dependable and rugged, even the cheapest ones now are overblown in the price dept.Trucks used to be used primarily for work, and didn't have to meet the same safety standards as cars did.

As more ppl used them as passenger vehicles, accidents and deaths increased, lawsuits happened, and safety standards were passed, all of which can push the price higher. And of course, higher demand means that automakers can raise prices and still sell enough units.

[peoplessi]

Trucks used to be used primarily for work, and didn't have to meet the same safety standards as cars did.

As more ppl used them as passenger vehicles, accidents and deaths increased, lawsuits happened, and safety standards were passed, all of which can push the price higher. And of course, higher demand means that automakers can raise prices and still sell enough units.

In what country?

[Scotty]

USA.

Pickup trucks didn't have headrests (which put ppl's heads through the back windshield in a rear-end collision), fuel tanks designed for capacity rather than safety could explode in side-impact collisions, SUVs could roll over in evasive maneuvers, etc.

When used as work vehicles, fewer ppl were driving them, with fewer (if any) passengers, and they were using them for work, not for commuting/shopping/driving the family around/etc. As they became mainstream vehicles, the accidents racked up, there was a lot of news coverage about them, and lawsuits and recalls for the auto manufacturers.

[Waiter]

I think I'll wait for the electric Harley-Davidson :D

It'll probably come with a wide selection of different engine sounds coming from loudspeakers. A bit like digicams simulating the shutter sounds. ;)

[Superczar]

On the subtopic of cheap cars, one cheap car I bought (1995 Geo Metro for $9200) was a piece of crap. After numerous other problems over the years, the door sills started rusting from the inside out after about 8 years, and I traded it in for $200, which meant I paid $9000 of depreciation, almost a total loss.

My dad has 2 of them, you can lift the engine up out of one without any help... :eek: 3 cylinders of fury... :D

[Scotty]

My dad has 2 of them, you can lift the engine up out of one without any help... :eek: 3 cylinders of fury... :D

Whenever I was under the hood, I always wondered if the tranny weighed more than the engine... :eek: :D

It was a light enough car that 3 cylinders was enough to accelerate it decently, I could park it anywhere, and could do U-turns where other cars would need to do a 2 or 3 point turn.

I kinda wish someone made a car like that, except not out of sh!t like the Metro. :)

[Destroyer]

I would really love to own an electric car actually. the instant torque would make it fun. :)

[Phait]

Whoever wanted even cheaper cars (;))... http://www.kansascity.com/438/story/438277.html

[Llama Gibbz]

Whoever wanted even cheaper cars (;))... http://www.kansascity.com/438/story/438277.html

+Fuel efficient
+Cheap
-Ugly
-Death Trap?( Like to see crash test results.)

[IwantMORE]

Yes. Sold my car over a year ago and have decided not to get another one until I can get an electric one. No matter how long it takes.

[Phait]

» http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autoshow_top_homepage/421/The-Future-of-Trucks-is-Now/3;_ylt=AvHgfI8jTMMuj.wTnEDUTtsPN4d4;_ylv=3

A hybrid SUV crossover concept. I like it.

[John]

Ofcourse I'd say yes. How is this even a poll :p