I live in the heart of the midwest - and can't seem to find any EV experts in my neighborhood. I'm about as EV-illiterate as they come. However, most of the time I don't drive very often or very far - mostly around town. Naturally these short runs eat up gas mileage. I'm thinking a small EV would be perfect. However, I could be wrong? Some questions...
Can I get an inexpensive car just for this purpose? No hwy driving and I don't care about looks - though 4 passenger is a must.
If I don't drive for a few days, is the charge wasted (does it loose charge rapidly)
What would be the best way to find a local EV for sale, and a mechanic, or maybe someone to do a conversion?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Full Version: Electric Vehicles
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Energy Independence, Environment, Science and Technology > Energy, Environment, Science and Technology Issues Archive
Toyota has the best reviews on hybrid cars... E-Camry is coming in 2006,
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/01/toyota_to_manuf.html
for now it is Prius which is a subcompact...
http://www.toyota.com/prius/index.html
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/01/toyota_to_manuf.html
for now it is Prius which is a subcompact...
http://www.toyota.com/prius/index.html
QUOTE(treehugger @ Feb 11 2005, 03:34 PM)
...However, most of the time I don't drive very often or very far - mostly around town....
Well, even though it's environmentally INcorrect for me to say this, you should probably keep what you have.
Assuming you get 15 mpg, gas costs 2.25, you drive 10,000 miles a year:
Gas costs you 1,500
Insurance costs you 700
Maintenance costs you 300
Total is 2,500
A new car will DEPRECIATE that much in the first 6 months.
Conclusion: Unless you drive 25,000 to 50,000 miles a year, the cost of fuel doesn't yet justify a trade in.
Unless, of course, you WANT an EV
Wow, I wish I still had my old used Honda Civic from collge, it got the same or better gas mileage than the current hybrids... that's what depresses me about hybrids, I don't think they are good enough yet.
Actually, I'm not looking to buy new. I've seen used EVs for sale for $3000, but I've also heard a conversion costs $7000.... I don't know much, but to me that says the $3000 used vehicle probably needs some major work? I'm not talking body work, I don't much care about that, I mean battery work or something. But even so, I'm guessing it will still cost less than $7000 even after the work.
Insurance does bother me for a second vehicle, but I could probably get away with liability only.
On the other hand, the cost and pollution factors do concern me, would I just be trading bad for bad? Though I'm considering solar panels... that may be a way off unless I learn more about those too. Then I could purchase clean, but I'd really rather see clean energy for myself with solar panels or something.
Actually, I'm not looking to buy new. I've seen used EVs for sale for $3000, but I've also heard a conversion costs $7000.... I don't know much, but to me that says the $3000 used vehicle probably needs some major work? I'm not talking body work, I don't much care about that, I mean battery work or something. But even so, I'm guessing it will still cost less than $7000 even after the work.
Insurance does bother me for a second vehicle, but I could probably get away with liability only.
On the other hand, the cost and pollution factors do concern me, would I just be trading bad for bad? Though I'm considering solar panels... that may be a way off unless I learn more about those too. Then I could purchase clean, but I'd really rather see clean energy for myself with solar panels or something.
One thing you really should consider is the availability of a mechanic qualified to work on an EV. Your neighborhood greasemonkey isn't very likely to have the necessary knowledge and tooling. You're stuck with expensive dealer mechanics, expensive parts and if there is no dealer close enough, really long tows.
Also, see here for some of the other considerations.
Also, see here for some of the other considerations.
QUOTE(treehugger @ Feb 11 2005, 04:34 PM)
I live in the heart of the midwest - and can't seem to find any EV experts in my neighborhood. I'm about as EV-illiterate as they come. However, most of the time I don't drive very often or very far - mostly around town. Naturally these short runs eat up gas mileage. I'm thinking a small EV would be perfect. However, I could be wrong? Some questions...
Can I get an inexpensive car just for this purpose? No hwy driving and I don't care about looks - though 4 passenger is a must.
If I don't drive for a few days, is the charge wasted (does it loose charge rapidly)
What would be the best way to find a local EV for sale, and a mechanic, or maybe someone to do a conversion?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Can I get an inexpensive car just for this purpose? No hwy driving and I don't care about looks - though 4 passenger is a must.
If I don't drive for a few days, is the charge wasted (does it loose charge rapidly)
What would be the best way to find a local EV for sale, and a mechanic, or maybe someone to do a conversion?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Here is a link to a directory of Electric Vehicle Associations and related services:
Electric Auto Association
Promotes the advancement and widespread adoption of electricity-powered vehicles.
They have chapters all over the country...
The Mid-America EAA is the Kansas/Missouri chapter of the Electric Auto Association
www.maeaa.org
These guys are in California...
www.acpropulsion.com
www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/tzero_home.htm
All electric Tzero
0 to 60 mph 4.07 sec
1/4 mile 13.24 sec at 90 mph
How can the tzero be so fast with 'only' 200 hp?
For a given power to weight ratio, electric vehicles usually acccelerate faster than conventional cars. This is because the peak power rating of an electric vehicle is available over a broad speed range, and there is no time lost to shifting gears. GM's 2950-lb EV1 gets to 60 mph in 8 seconds with only 125 hp. The tzero, with 200 hp and only 2450 lb, gets to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. But the tzero really shines in midrange acceleration - it scoots from 30 to 50 mph in only 1.4 seconds - faster than just about anything on the road. This level of performance is very accessible, with no gears to shift, highly-effective traction control, and virtually no noise other than a light 'squeaking' of the rear tires as they claw for traction.
These cars are not cheap - they are custom made. But, they prove it can be done!
Can someone please explain to me again, why are we still using imported oil?
www.acpropulsion.com
www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/tzero_home.htm
All electric Tzero
0 to 60 mph 4.07 sec
1/4 mile 13.24 sec at 90 mph
How can the tzero be so fast with 'only' 200 hp?
For a given power to weight ratio, electric vehicles usually acccelerate faster than conventional cars. This is because the peak power rating of an electric vehicle is available over a broad speed range, and there is no time lost to shifting gears. GM's 2950-lb EV1 gets to 60 mph in 8 seconds with only 125 hp. The tzero, with 200 hp and only 2450 lb, gets to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. But the tzero really shines in midrange acceleration - it scoots from 30 to 50 mph in only 1.4 seconds - faster than just about anything on the road. This level of performance is very accessible, with no gears to shift, highly-effective traction control, and virtually no noise other than a light 'squeaking' of the rear tires as they claw for traction.
These cars are not cheap - they are custom made. But, they prove it can be done!
Can someone please explain to me again, why are we still using imported oil?
Thank-you for the great links and great advice!
Update..... here is something I found on another site...
Why bother saving Factory EV's when you can convert a VW to electric power
for around $2,000.00. I've been looking at the kit from
http://www.e-volks.com/about.html and the simplicity & logic plus the fact
that this would be a one weekend project makes me think that a simple plan
that could be followed by many people might be more powerful than support
from the big auto manufacturers. Just think if every conversion had a sign
on it saying to hell with big auto manufactruers I built this electric car
for 2k. Ask me how. Once people found out how siimple, practical &
efficient electric is a movement might be started. The VW is great because
here in the west and many other places (where they don't rust) there are
thousands of VW's in driveways collecting dust and guess what. They have no
motors. It is so easy to pop the motor out many owners take out the motor
resolved to fix it and wind up not doing anything because of the DMV saying
these are gross polluters. Many of these cars are in good condition with no
motor. Perfect for EV conversion. I think I could with very little in the
way of tools other than a drill make my own adapter. VW's are light and
shipping back east wouldn't be too bad. They are cute and fun to drive.
There is a huge business providing aftermarket parts for the myriad VW's
still running. Lets start a movement. Lets support something that an
average person can do. The VOLTSWAGEN. For people that want more range,
power or room the kit can be modified to use two motors or a more powerful
motor. A VW bus or transporter could be converted but these are more
valuable as collectables so the price goes up. Backyard mechanics could
turn out 5 of these a week creating jobs and people that didn't want to get
dirty could just buy one. What a great thing to do to take a resource that
is already there, that pollutes and turn it into a useful, and clean
transportation tool.
Update..... here is something I found on another site...
Why bother saving Factory EV's when you can convert a VW to electric power
for around $2,000.00. I've been looking at the kit from
http://www.e-volks.com/about.html and the simplicity & logic plus the fact
that this would be a one weekend project makes me think that a simple plan
that could be followed by many people might be more powerful than support
from the big auto manufacturers. Just think if every conversion had a sign
on it saying to hell with big auto manufactruers I built this electric car
for 2k. Ask me how. Once people found out how siimple, practical &
efficient electric is a movement might be started. The VW is great because
here in the west and many other places (where they don't rust) there are
thousands of VW's in driveways collecting dust and guess what. They have no
motors. It is so easy to pop the motor out many owners take out the motor
resolved to fix it and wind up not doing anything because of the DMV saying
these are gross polluters. Many of these cars are in good condition with no
motor. Perfect for EV conversion. I think I could with very little in the
way of tools other than a drill make my own adapter. VW's are light and
shipping back east wouldn't be too bad. They are cute and fun to drive.
There is a huge business providing aftermarket parts for the myriad VW's
still running. Lets start a movement. Lets support something that an
average person can do. The VOLTSWAGEN. For people that want more range,
power or room the kit can be modified to use two motors or a more powerful
motor. A VW bus or transporter could be converted but these are more
valuable as collectables so the price goes up. Backyard mechanics could
turn out 5 of these a week creating jobs and people that didn't want to get
dirty could just buy one. What a great thing to do to take a resource that
is already there, that pollutes and turn it into a useful, and clean
transportation tool.
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