Posted on 09/10/2019 7:40:42 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
And unlike the fabulously-engineered Porsche and the standard-carrying Teslas, this electric car has genuine world-changing potential.
...we concluded that the impressive little car was at least as disruptive as anything Tesla has done... At the time, we heard whispers that Renault's best cost engineers were turning their attention to an electric version of the Kwid and now that it's been announced it's clear that the breakthrough we were hoping for is actually real.
Well, they've done it. With 100 miles of reasonably real-world range for under $9,000, Renault has accomplished something that Tesla will likely never be able to achieve and taken what may well be the most important next step for EV adoption. While the affluent West quibbles about lap times for six-figure vehicles, this modest little Renault is making sure that the millions of first-time car buyers in developing markets around the world ...
(Excerpt) Read more at thedrive.com ...
“It is over 100 miles avoiding Downtown I-10.”
I-10’shoukdnget better now that they are widening the Loop 101 south of HWY 60 and they are about to open the new Loop 202 extension south of South Sountain from the I-10 to the I-10 north of Lavine. It should relieve congestion for about maybe three years.
I don’t understand why the car manufacturers don’t make the batteries interchangeable. You need juice,you stop at a battery station and quicko chango. The one problem is storing enough batteries on site. That’s the advantage of gasoline. You store it underground.
Battery powered cars should be required to recharge ONLY with electricity generated by solar or wind.
Don’t laugh. Nissan could borrow a lot of Renault’s EV technology and then suddenly surprise us with an EV version of the new 2020 Nissan Versa sedan within the next few years.
For what it’s worth:
Many mechanics and even Zastava factory workers agree that the “best” Yugos ever were built between 1988 and early 1991. Quality control was good; high standards were set in terms of plastic quality, seat cloth, and “a well screwed together” interior. Paint and antirust coatings were also well done during that period, evidenced by many cars still showing no signs of rust, tears in the seats, or major engine issues after more than 20 years.
1989 was considered a “golden year” for Yugos because almost 200,000 were built that year, and many can still be seen on the road today. Also, cars were usually branded Yugo instead of Zastava during that period, because the company was taking pride in the (at the time) good sales and reputation established in the export markets, especially in the United States.
In 1990, a batch of 450 cars with automatic transmissions and air conditioning was shipped to the United States. With political problems starting in 1991, quality dropped significantly, coming to such low standards such as plastic parts of the dashboard not fitting correctly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugo#1988%E2%80%931991
The US model will be a crossover:
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2020-volkswagen-i-d-crozz-preview/
I was going to write that electric cars actually cause more pollution because of electric grid line losses but your picture is so much simpler at getting the point across.
OTOH if equipped with an NG generator or Tesla power wall, there might be pony in there somewhere!
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have water-fueled cars. By that, I mean hydropower. Got a lot of it up here.
Looks nice and sounds like the EV will cost right at 2X what the gasoline version now made does. Of course THOSE wouldn’t be allowed to come into the US.
Just keep those coal plants humming to charge all those batteries in these “zero emissions” vehicles.
My round trip commute never exceeds 70 miles.
And “under $9,000” makes such a platform viable as a second car for just this purpose.
But the thought of an electric car makes me puke. It’s an emotional reaction that I have no control over.
I’d rather buy a used Civic or Tercel with 60,000 miles on it and get 42mpg. Then I can put any vehicle I wish in the garage.
But hey, that’s just me.
That’s what we need; a bunch of little coal-fired cars that wants go 100 miles.
Electric? No thanks...not in *this* lifetime.
A pizza place where I worked used 10 year old Vega wagons for deliveries. Biggest rattle traps I’ve ever driven.
If any company could make an electric car unreliable it would be Renault.
Without Lucas Industries involved?
Electric cars have no souls, and are driven by people without souls.
So much depends on the vehicle you drive?
Usually, all related to the make appendage of the driver.
That falls under "hydrogen fusion"
hydro, wind, and photovoltaic are all essentially "solar".
Like the internal combustion engine the state of the art has not really ramped up in 100 years.
Very true.
And fun watching EVs evolve.
As the technology becomes closer to viable, others can smell the money.
“under $9,000, Renault has accomplished something that Tesla will likely never be able to achieve”
They could, but won’t stoop so low.
A Tesla 3 is very nice basic model for ~$35,000, with ~300 mile range and lots of features (panoramic sunroof, driver assistance, etc). Thru could certainly make a 100-mile car with minimum features for somewhere close to $10,000 but then they’d wreck their brand & subsequent sales.
I had a Leaf for 2 years. Loved it. Naysayers don’t know what they’re missing.
You can get a used 50,000 mile Leaf for $6000. Maintenance is very low. Gas savings alone make it a great runabout, commuter, or teen’s car. Not for everyone, but great fire many.
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