Posted on 12/04/2008 11:56:23 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Now that automakers are all busy gearing up to make electric vehicles, consumers should be getting a choice of roomy, speedy, gasoline-free models that charge up at a standard 110-volt socket.
So when will those cars roll out of factories so plentifully that prices drop to what ordinary people can afford?
That was the question at the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference and exhibition in Washington this week, and on Capitol Hill as well, as the Big Three automakers made a pitch for aid. The recession, the credit crunch and the dominance of oil-driven transportation will make it difficult.
However, automakers see the future more gas price spikes, diminishing oil resources, the need to cut carbon dioxide to prevent climate catastrophe. They also see an incoming president, Barack Obama, who as a senator co-sponsored a plan to give tax credits for electric vehicles and now calls for 1 million plug-in, hybrid, made-in-America cars that get up to 150 miles per gallon.
As part of their pitch to Congress, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors promised to push ahead with electric vehicles, even though theyre money-losers now. Ford this week, for the first time, announced details of what it has in the works for electric-drive vehicles, including a battery-electric van slated for commercial fleet use in 2010 and a battery-electric sedan in 2011.
Japan is going electric, too. Mitsubishi, for example, plans to launch its small iMiEV electric car next summer and test it in California, Europe and in New Zealand. Nissan plans a Real Car with a 100-mile range that it promises will meet all highway safety tests and offer all the hot gizmos such as GPS and heated seats.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
The Big Three shouldn’t be gearing up for electric cars; they should be gearing up for bankruptcy.
oh we also need more electricity. a lot of it comes from coal.
That's where you're wrong, my friend. It comes out of the wall.
Not to mention the personal spaceship, the jetpack, and free healthcare in popsicle form.
Imagine a solar storm during rush-hour...
Sears Wishbook!!!
While Obama gears up to eliminate power sources.
Get prepared to pay road taxes on your heating bill. Or AC. or lighting. Cause without gas revenues the taxes have to come from some place. Or more tickets for going 2mph over the limit.
I am looking to replace my car very soon. I am looking at getting a Toyota or Honda. After so many disasters with American cars, I am through. They need to make decent cars and then they might be able to sell them again.
No one will be excited about their new electric car when they figure out what happens when they forget to plug the piece of junk in overnight. Plug-in hybrids make more sense, as they can still make use of the convenience of gasoline, while possibly saving on fuel costs (assuming that the increased purchase price can be recouped).
Interesting. The company is based out of India. Looks like they know how to make a decent car too. I wonder why Detroit can’t.
At 1.8kw max coming from a 120 vac wall socket it would
take 2-3 days to charge.
Didn't you get the memo?
Obama wants to raise the CAFE standard to 45 mpg. I say make it 1000 mpg. Problem solved.
It's just like the Minimum Wage. Make it $100 an hour and everybody's rich.
See how easy that is?
and turkeys come from supermarkets unless they are executed by Alaskan governors.
What year Civic, what config, and what are you getting by way of mileage?
Also, the EPA test is just a guideline against a standardized test to give people some benchmark as to what to expect from a car. A lot depends on driving habits, patterns, use, and other individual factors. For example, I drive fast, but usually manage to better the EPA numbers. My friend drives about as fast and can never seem to be able to match the EPA numbers... on the same exact car I was driving 10 minutes before!
It’s only supposed to get 26mpg. Spend a lot of time idling in traffic?
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