Posted on 09/29/2014 7:29:45 AM PDT by LogicDesigner
Electric cars aren't selling nearly as well as many predicted. Why is that?
Research suggests a host of reasons—including a basic lack of familiarity, a high price tag, misconceptions about the cars—and ineffective government incentives.
Consider the lack of familiarity. In a survey by researchers from Indiana University and the University of Kansas, respondents couldn't correctly answer basic factual questions about plug-in electric vehicles more than 60% of the time. Some 75% of wrong answers underestimated the beneficial aspects of the vehicles.
The survey, the most exhaustive on consumer perceptions of electric cars in recent years, was published in the journal Energy Policy last year, and was based on field work conducted in several U.S. cities in 2011.
Key Differences
Many respondents didn't realize that all-electric cars require less maintenance than gasoline-powered cars. Oil changes aren't necessary, for example, and there are fewer breakable parts. The study also found that people often underestimated the fuel savings electric cars offer.
"The lack of accurate information about electric vehicles certainly [has] contributed to their small adoption," says Rachel Krause, an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Kansas, and a co-author of the study.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I suppose you are also paying "$2500 less" a year for your family's health Insurance?
And you believe that the cost of living has not gone up in the last 7 years!
...if you don't eat and use no energy whatsoever...
And you are much better off today than 7 years ago?
Good luck.
Yes, but let us look at the inputs to the E-Car.
Over on "GreenCarCongress" their is a story about how to generate the electricity for electric cars via Natural Gas and Co-Gen plants or run the CNG in the car itself. The numbers favor the Co-Gen type plants with high thermal efficiency.
Which begs the question, why not go to Nuclear plants Running 24/7, charging at night, and a game changing battery to make it all happen.
Go here for more...
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/09/20140924-onrl.html
The question is will the breakthrough storage device be a Graphene Ultra-Capacitor or the Amy Prieto Battery?
Due you research on Graphene and the Prietro battery. 5 time the range on the Prietro, and Graphene's potential is amazing as well..
Have a Heating / Cooling / Generator Unit at home of which charges your car as well running of CNG which is often piped to your home.
We have been doing this all wrong, you don't go home to plug in your Volt. You should plug your Home into the Volt ( if it could provide the heating and cooling to your home...)
I wouldn't trust that thing just running around town.
And I probably couldn't afford the out of pocket costs for rewiring the house/detached garage for the "charger." Odds are overwhelming that it's NOT a 120v, 20a circuit.
Obama, is that you again? That is so patently absurd, I'm speechless. Just check out every major freeway and highway within 100 miles of San Francisco or LA during ‘commute hours’ any weekday...”
Right, I forgot that everyone lives in San Francisco or L.A. Maybe instead of basing your assertion that it is “patently absurd” on anecdotal evidence, you could look for some actual data on the subject. Oh wait, I already did that for you.
I forgot that everyone lives in Texas where some get free electricity at night, could you provide links to companies that are starting to offer discounted or even free nighttime charging in San Francisco and L.A.?
Nope. Take a look at the Chevy Volt, for example. You can get a new one for $27,500 after the tax rebate. Do a search on autotrader.com for used Volts. Here is my search for 2011 and 2012 Volts in Houston. The average price is $20,804. So the idea that a used electric car is “essentially disposable” is pretty ridiculous. The Volt has an active liquid cooled battery and a carefully limited state of charge range that gives it drastically improved battery life over typical lithium ion batteries. GM has tests Volts with 200,000 miles that have not lost a significant amount of battery capacity.
“2. financing battery is just financing gas.
3. Slooooooow recharge time.”
It takes five seconds to plug it in at night and five seconds to unplug it in the morning. Beats going to the gas station any day.
“4. limited range
5. living on the edge of no charge.”
Maybe. If you go with a pure electric then yes, you can only really use it as a commuter car. If you need to be able to drive further than you should get a hybrid like a Volt. It gives you 40 miles of electric range followed by 340 miles of gasoline range.
“6. gasoline engines work better. distribution works better. science behind it is better.”
Gasoline engines are only 20% to 30% efficient compared to over 90% for electric motors. And electricity is distributed straight to everyone’s homes.
“7. electrocution in the event of an accident.”
First responders get trained on how to handle electric cars nowadays. As far as passengers, there have been no reports of electrocutions, so this is just a wild accusation. If you get into a bad accident and are trapped in your car, you should be far more concerned about gasoline catching on fire.
I forgot that everyone lives in Texas where some get free electricity at night, could you provide links to companies that are starting to offer discounted or even free nighttime charging in San Francisco and L.A.?”
Well, that doesn't really have anything to do with the point I was making with publius911. Regardless, I made it clear that “some places” offer discounted electricity. YMMV.
However, I'll help you out. I'll even google it for you. The first result should point to a PDF with all the gory details of the rate schedule for PG&E's time-of-use plan. For a more general overview, you should visit:
LOL! $0.212 is the night rate, such a deal. Where’s the free offer?
And it has everything to do with it, you pick and choose your points from post to post.
That second link seems to be for business customers. This link is for residential customers with electric vehicles:
http://www.pge.com/en/myhome/environment/whatyoucando/electricdrivevehicles/rateoptions/index.page
I made it clear that the free nights plan I knew of was a Houston plan. I never claimed that you could get it everywhere in the country. People will have to do their own research for what is available in their area. Your mileage may vary.
But hey, I'm feeling helpful. Here is the rate schedule I found for electric vehicle owners:
http://www.pge.com/tariffs/tm2/pdf/ELEC_SCHEDS_EV.pdf
Rate “A” is the one for customers with a single meter in their home. It is a little difficult to sort through all the numbers, but it seems that the nighttime rate is $0.09709 per kWh in the summer and $0.09973 per kWh in the winter. I'm not familiar with electric rates in California, but from what I've heard I'm guessing that is lower than average.
I would have to pay to use public super chargers. That’s why I got the blink card. I would think an electrician could install a 200 amp service for a reasonable price?
Level 3 chargers start at $75,000 now. Regardless the market will eventually decide the fate of EVs.
The study I mentioned was done in 2003.
They did the same thing for the early 40KWH. Hardly anyone want that one, so it would make sense that they discontinued it just went with one battery pack.
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Let me think..the fact that they're electric?
I suspect at least a days worth of labor and parts. If you have to get the power company involved with the project, it would be a lot more.
I drive a Leaf EV. Love it.
It’s not for everyone. It’s a tool for particular range of applications.
85 mile range. That’s fine for most of my driving. Gotta have another car for longer needs. Works out nice for a 2 car family.
Overnight charging. 21 hour for full recharge but rarely run it down that low. Pulls 1400 watts and costs near nothing per month (maybe $25). Just don’t forget to plug it in.
Great handling. Great acceleration. No gears,no shifting (automatic or manual), just goes faster. Can reach 85MPH in a hurry. Very quiet.
No need to hate on EVs, just realize it’s a tool with a range of applications it does well in.
I charge on 120v, pulling same current as 14 light bulbs. Just plug it in an outlet.
It’s for people with a shorter commute. Not everyone drives over 50 miles a day. It’s a tool, use it where applicable.
Maybe the predictions were wrong?
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