Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles

[JAK]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080618/AUTOS_zenn_080618/20080618?s_name=Autos

http://www.tczenncars.com/ZENN_Specs.html
245 mpg equivalent
25 mph speed
35 mile range

[chrisser]

I have about a 10 mile (one way) commute, and I could do it all on city streets.

But the 25mph max speed is a deal breaker. 80% of the streets are 35mph.

[flatwater]

chrisser , A couple cans of black spay paint and you could have that speed limit changed in no time down to 25mph.
Flatwater

[walls0stone]

at a local park were I donate my time, we did have some road cars that came with turn signals, safty belts and all, they told us they would do 39 MPH and were ok for the road. needed a licence and all to drive them.

[DavidOH]

........I am just so unimpressed. * :-/
Needed is 35mph 25 mi range. In city most trips.
55 mph 100 mi range for commute.

I am still waiting for something better to be devoloped.

Now heres something close:
http://www.teslamotors.com/
http://www.zapworld.com/

....if they can be had for under $20,000 ..........maybe

[JAK]

Well it's like this.
At $4.00 per gallon it seems some people still want performance.
We'll see what happens at $8.00 per gallon.

Personally I don't mind 25mph top speed.
Gotta wonder about hills though ???

[walls0stone]

what do we do with all the batteries? Those cars can't go forever. the preus has $5,000 in batteries

[JAK]

This thing has fewer batteries than the Prius, and is considerably cheaper. The real answer isn't electric vehicles, its low weight low powered neighbourhood vehicles. It just so happens that in that class of vehicle plug in electric vehicles becomes competitive with a similarly low powered light weight internal combustion powered vehicle.

I would like a 1/4 ton pickup with a small efficient 25 hp engine. Diesel maybe. Why not?

[walls0stone]

so what do we do with the smaller batteries?

[flatwater]

Why not a three wheeled motor bike that has a cover for bad days run by the same small diesel?
Flatwater

[walls0stone]

have you seen the artic cat convertion? snowmobile with wheels... street leagle and all

[JAK]

so what do we do with the smaller batteries?
Not sure I understand the question.

[walls0stone]

when a battery has had it, you gota do somthing with them.. the process to make, and dispose of them is very costic. My point for all the electric car people who want to cut down on emition in the air, is that the battries can be just as bad..and expencive.

with all the NIMBY types in the world.. what will they say when the factory is built to make more batteries.

[JAK]

Got it. You have a good point there.

These particular neighbourhood electric vehicles aren't so bad.

This on the other hand, is utter nonsense...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOl_1S10jTk

[DavidOH]

Yes, Tesla has the best performance, but at about $110,000
it's years away from an affordable electric car.

http://www.teslamotors.com/

The "best" I have seen has a balance of batteries and capisitors. It is still out of the price range of most gasoline powered cars.

[JAK]

Cool truck...

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080715/AUTOS_electric_cars_080716/20080716?s_name=Autos

[ryanmercer]

If I can't do 60+ in it, then I can't drive it to work, unless I want to die.

[JAK]

Hence the term 'Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle'.

[walls0stone]

Yes, Tesla has the best performance, but at about $110,000
it's years away from an affordable electric car.

I think that's half the problem. Things can be done for less, but much like the do-gooder car from toyota. hey cost a mint becose rich, fools who want to save the earth, must pay for it, otherwise it's not worth anything..

but like all teck, wait a year and they will give them away at the bank.

[JAK]

I wish those rich fools that want to save the earth would get it through their thick skulls that if it doesn't make sense economically then it probably isn't doing the earth any good. Functionality and Frugality are the virtues, not electricity, or sex-toy-of-the-month.

[MooseToo]

neighborhood electrics are an excellent idea for those who reside on a golf course -

[JAK]

They would be just fine in summer in a city small enough to be worth living in,
but I doubt you would get very far in a Quebec winter.

[JAK]

A gasoline or diesel powered small pickup of low horsepower wouldn't be too bad either. Electricity isn't the really answer. It's having smaller alternatives and the freedom to excercise them that matters.