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Running out of juice: Bay Area electric car dealerships close [San Fran]
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 2/26/10 | Janis Mara

Posted on 02/28/2010 10:02:37 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom

Marc Korchin thought he had found his mission in life: to benefit the environment and save his fellow Bay Area residents money by selling zero-emission all-electric cars. Two years later, after burning through his life savings, he was forced to close his Berkeley dealership.

And Korchin is not alone. The Bay Area's independent electric car dealerships are in perilous shape, even as electric cars are being hailed as the next big thing by major auto manufacturers.

A number of dealerships, including Zap of Concord, Davis Electric Cars in Davis and EcoMotors in Santa Rosa, appear to have closed within the last two years or so. Ethical Approach Electric Vehicle Center of San Jose has given up selling electric cars and switched to electric off-road vehicles. ELV Motors, in Santa Clara, now markets electric bikes and motor scooters

The phenomenon extends to dealers of conventional brands who offer electric cars on the side. Anthony Batarse, head of the otherwise-thriving Lloyd Wise dealership in Oakland, purchased 10 electric cars in 2008, sold only three and ceased selling the cars. Alameda's O'Connell Electric, the electric division of successful dealership O'Connell Volvo, is barely surviving, said owner Mike O'Connell.

"From the beginning, they were doomed," said Will Beckett, vice president of the Central Coast chapter of the Electric Auto Association. "You can't take them on the freeway. That's why Marc Korchin and his ilk went out of business," said Ed Thorpe, past president of the East Bay chapter of the Electric Auto Association.

"People would come to my dealership and they would see what the car would and wouldn't do," said Korchin. "I'd say, 'Don't you want to help save the planet?'

They'd say, 'Let someone else save the planet. I want something with good speed.' "

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: automakers; car; climatechange; economy; electric; electriccars; energy; globalwarming; loser; notreadyforprimetime; vehicle
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To: chris37
, what would happen to the driver of such a "vehicle" if it was hit by an 18 wheeler? Are we going to have little electric 18 wheelers on the road now too so that the sissy cars don't make red road paint out of their drivers?

My son drives a big rig - what would happen?

Grease spot...not to mention, danger of getting sucked in when passing.

An aside: During the blizzards in DC, the Traitor in Chief was 'grounded' - couldn't take the helicopter and was confined to travel by car. BUT the limo couldn't handle the snow - so he had to ride in a SUV.

DUH!

He should have been handed a pair aof snowshoes

41 posted on 02/28/2010 11:27:24 AM PST by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: chris37

I could put it in the back of my Dodge Ram for a spare if they would put a handle on the top so I could lift it out then put it back when done with it.


42 posted on 02/28/2010 11:27:59 AM PST by bikerman (Buck Farack)
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To: maine-iac7

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! at least that lib moonbat car dealer was brought to reality by losing his money, rather than mine. hahahahahahahahaha!


43 posted on 02/28/2010 11:29:27 AM PST by hal ogen
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To: maine-iac7
Ah, this post made me smile :)

I can completely understand your reaction though. When I see these "cars" on the road, I must take measures to prevent myself from doing this...

44 posted on 02/28/2010 11:29:48 AM PST by chris37
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To: dools007
I wonder what San Franciscans think generates the juice to make the vehicle move.

That's easy. The wall socket.

45 posted on 02/28/2010 11:31:01 AM PST by Erasmus (Armageddon sentimental over you.)
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To: maine-iac7

I completely forgot about the issue of being sucked in or even pushed aside by passing 18 wheelers. There is no way on this earth I would get in one of those tin foil coffins...


46 posted on 02/28/2010 11:32:31 AM PST by chris37
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To: bikerman

That is a really funny mental picture :D


47 posted on 02/28/2010 11:33:33 AM PST by chris37
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To: hoosierham

$35,000 for a twike http://www.twike.us


48 posted on 02/28/2010 11:34:03 AM PST by EVO X
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

“’Let someone else save the planet. I want something with good speed.’”

Another great bumper sticker or t shirt slogan.


49 posted on 02/28/2010 11:35:14 AM PST by HereInTheHeartland (The End of an Error - 01/20/2013)
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To: Nuc1

Thanks, it drives as good as it looks. ;)


50 posted on 02/28/2010 11:37:16 AM PST by blackie
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To: chris37

LOLOLOL


51 posted on 02/28/2010 11:39:56 AM PST by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

The Tooth Fairy will take care of everything and save the planet,,it’s settled science. Any 6 yr. old can tell you that.


52 posted on 02/28/2010 11:40:34 AM PST by Waco (Wanna buy an FBI file,,,See Hillary, she's got 900 of them.)
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To: troy McClure
Drawback was ZAP Motors Inc sucked.

I noticed that also. Still have a Zap-imported Italian electric motor scooter, which is great in itself, but early on Zap never did reply to a single one of my queries about technical issues. Finally figured them out on my own. The company went through the BK and relocation and who knows what else and I never did bother with them afterward. Also, I had to go to the Italian manufacturer to get an MSO -- that really sucked.

53 posted on 02/28/2010 11:43:07 AM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: chris37

I don’t think the enviromental wackos will be happy until we’re all “driving” Fred Flinstone-mobiles — powered by our feet! Yabadaba doo!


54 posted on 02/28/2010 11:49:28 AM PST by bethtopaz (www.rapturealert.com)
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To: steve86

Zap Motors was a joke.

The Zap trucks were selling themselves after a test drive.

They were perfect for Newport Beach/Balboa Island.

I had more orders than all their dealers combind and still coudln’t get any more than the first two I bought.

I even sent a photo with twenty deposit checks for $2000 each, and still they would not get me anymore trucks.

I just sent the checks back after wating more than six months for more ZAP Trucks.


55 posted on 02/28/2010 11:52:20 AM PST by troy McClure
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Link in headline didn’t work. This oon does:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14480193?source=rss


56 posted on 02/28/2010 11:55:18 AM PST by preacher (A government which robs from Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

And here folks we have the essence of liberalism: “Controls and constraints on thee but not on me’’! And to think, I used to be one of ‘’them’’.


57 posted on 02/28/2010 11:56:27 AM PST by John-Irish ("Shame of him who thinks of it''.)
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To: bethtopaz

I will drive a sled pulled by environmentalists before I use my feet to power my vehicle!

Mush!


58 posted on 02/28/2010 11:58:11 AM PST by chris37
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To: chris37

Sissy nothing! Any kind of front-end impact, even at low speed in this thing and you’re dead.


59 posted on 02/28/2010 11:58:26 AM PST by John-Irish ("Shame of him who thinks of it''.)
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To: blackie

You go girl! God Bless America!


60 posted on 02/28/2010 12:00:01 PM PST by John-Irish ("Shame of him who thinks of it''.)
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