Posted on 02/04/2013 11:41:37 PM PST by grundle
You nailed it, that's exactly my feelings.
The taxpayers have subsidized companies to design, build and sell not only the finished product but the companies that supply parts for them.
On top of that taxpayers subsidize charging stations and cites, counties, states and the federal government to buy these overpriced vehicles for their fleets.
Let the companies build a product that people will buy with their own money and get tax dollars out of the equation, that's capitalism and that's how this country is supposed to operate.
It is affordable, at least as much so as the equivilent size/performance BMW or Merc.
If you've got the high 6 figures to spend on a luxury performance vehicle a Tesla S costs about the same as a liquid hydrocarbon powered car. There might be the battery replacement down the road, but lower running costs until then pay for that.
Where EV vehicle economics fall down is at the level of the ordinary mass market car.
Nissan declared yesterday that they are abandoning any further R & D & production on electric/battery cars.
Too expensive...too short a range...too long a recharge...and other factors.
I have at three friends who have one or will be getting one.
I saw one pulling into a Financial District parking garage here in Boston a few weeks ago. GORGEOUS lines on that thing. At first glance I mistook it for a Porsche Pan American, but then I did a double-take and realized the rear wasn't as boxy. Wow.
And it made virtually no noise whatsoever, either.
I’m not talking about Mercedes or BMW price .... I drive a Mazda 6. I want to see something other than an egg in a more affordable price range.
There axtually is at least one diesel/electric hybrid car but not in the US. I’ve had it explained to me that diesel is costly, hybrid electric is coatly and so the combination of the two is economically unfeasible as far as the market. While the cost issue is true, there is atleast one as I mentioned. We get short shrift on diesel passenger vehicles and small trucks. Why, I’m not certain but some have said it pertains to refinery infrastructure limiting the amount of diesel fuel that can be made available.
I don’t automatically accept anyone’s rationale. The “green” agenda is clearly a crock that cannot exist outside govenment subsidy and penalizing alternatives. That does not mean, however, that every single thing promoted as being “green” is bad. I don’t care about carbon emissions. I do care about cars, and there are some pretty cool ones that just happen to be electric. For example, Fisker and Tesla.
Wonder what sort of subsidy they received early on? The FCC certainly rearranged the broadcast and communications spectrum to accomodate it.
Are you kidding?
Ya seen the price of a new Porsche, a new Corvette..a Humvee etc, etc? And they take gasoline at 4+ dollars per gallon..
And in a 1/4 mile, the Tesla eats them alive.
Quite a few transit buses use this setup, but again they're bought with taxpayer money. Biggest reason you don't see them is cars in that it's not cost effective. Going from 50mpg (Prius territory) to 70mpg doesn't really save much money, when US ULSD fuel has a significant cost penalty vs gasoline.
20 yrs from now the Porsche and Vette will be worth a lot of money.
And the used Tesla will languish for lack of anyone who can afford a new battery pack.
And in a 1/4 mile, the Tesla eats them alive.
When ya drive one of these, it feels like a rocket, except smoother.
20 years from now a gallon of gas will cost ya 17.99...
Good luck with that...
I can get an Alfa Romeo derived car that gets good mpg for less than $20,000.
http://www.dodge.com/en/2013/dart/
Oooh, “toxic waste,” lol.
Now who’s sounding like a watermelon?
How much will the electriciy cost then?
$100 powers my entire home for a month here.
Not even close....
There are several diesel-electric hybrid cars on the market, in the EU. The one that is regarded as the best at present is a Citroen, bless their weird little hearts. Should’ve known, lol. I hate that they’re no longer sold in the US. Very innovative, not at all afraid to be different and they’re good at it. The worst ones are also French though. Peugeot. Pieces of crap from what I read. Par for the course there, too, lol.
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