would you buy a electric car

[renovation]

or a hybrid half gas and half electric.
i know for my driving they just dont go far enough yet a charge .and what i understand the repair costs are for them right now im passing .
not sure if this is true but i understand if you should need to replace the battery in electric car your talking $5000 to $6000 or more .im sure in time those prices will come down . but im not one to be on the hope it drops line when i need a new battery pack.
also the driving range of a electric car right now wouldn't work for me .my luck i be in traffic and have to change routes and need a Black & Decker power pack to get to a charging stand and it be dead when i went to use it. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41W89F2VJDL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[mcs328]

I would if I had access to an outlet but I don't since I live in a condo.

[Daedalus]

My commute is only 3.5 miles each way, so I would buy one if it actually saved me good money. I don't know about the longevity of batteries in full-electric cars, but for the Prius hybrid I think the battery is supposed to last 100k. If that's true, a $6000 replacement charge is reasonable. That's 6 cents per mile. The tires on my sedan cost that much. Gas costs me 12 cents per mile now, so probably about break-even with an electric car when you include charging costs. But if gas is $4/gallon or higher the difference over time would make it worth it.

[Chgoman]

On the Prius the Batteries are warrantied for 100K miles. There have been numberous reports of people going well over 200K miles and not needing to replace the batteries. I have 90K on mine and the batteries are just as strong now as they were when it was new, so I'm not worried.

[Airencracken]

Too late. :D

[Cubsfan]

Sure, my commute is only about a mile. If it had a range of 200 miles on a charge, then it would fulfill everything I need. If it was less than that, then I'd need to have a reasonable avenue to rent a car when I needed to go that far.

[johnnymk]

No way, Jose

[cheapie]

Sure, my commute is only about a mile. If it had a range of 200 miles on a charge, then it would fulfill everything I need. If it was less than that, then I'd need to have a reasonable avenue to rent a car when I needed to go that far.

dude...please tell me you don't drive to work!

[Cubsfan]

dude...please tell me you don't drive to work!

Not most of the time. Snow on the ground or some reason to drive then I'll drive, but most of the time I ride my bike. About a mile to work, 1/2 mile to grocery store, 1 mile to gym, etc.. I ride my bike a lot in the summer :)

[cheapie]

the battery question is what is really limiting hybrid/electric car adoption. it's certainly one of the top two issues doing the same for the commercial vehicle industry.

[attgig]

There's talk about places that have charging stations at work.
There's also talk about places where they have battery replacement stations, kinda like a propane tank exchange type thing.


I think I would love to have a full electric car, but would worry on road trips that I take.
I think in the end, there has to be some sort of refilling infrastructure in hotel garages, parking garages (plug in ports for small fee), or battery replacement stations.

that will make it more feasible, and I would be able to do what I do without worry.

[Cubsfan]

There's talk about places that have charging stations at work.
There's also talk about places where they have battery replacement stations, kinda like a propane tank exchange type thing.


I think I would love to have a full electric car, but would worry on road trips that I take.
I think in the end, there has to be some sort of refilling infrastructure in hotel garages, parking garages (plug in ports for small fee), or battery replacement stations.

that will make it more feasible, and I would be able to do what I do without worry.

Well, in colder areas some of this already exists. After being in relatively mild Colorado for so long, I'm always a little surprised when I go home and see power outlets next to parking spots in hotels.

[Markel]

I think in the end, there has to be some sort of refilling infrastructure in hotel garages, parking garages
I remember a number of years ago when my work sent me to Winnipeg in February. Most business parking lots and even many commercial ones had outlets sticking up at the front of every parking space where you could plug in your block heater.

[johnnymk]

I believe that rapid charging takes it's toll on batteries. And even if rapid charging could do the job, the current would have to be powerful, and the plug/cable would be rather large.

I am just guessing at this, because I am aware of the requirements for arc welding.

And changing a whole bank of batteries at a charging station is probably out of the question. Who would invest in the infrastructure? The batteries would have to be quick disconnect and very accessible. Who would lug these batteries in and out of the vehicle?

The price, the range and other questions of battery powered vehicles make this idea a pipe dream, especially in this recessionary economy.

[InfiniteNothing]

I think most people would charge over night or while they shopped or something rather than rapid charging. You definitely would have to change your habits.

[Maarchk]

dude...please tell me you don't drive to work!

I'd rather have him drive 1 mile instead of 30 miles. :) I mean yes, the awesomeness is that he walk or bike. I live 4 miles away and i rotate between biking and driving. Depends if i can wake up on time, if i have to wear a suit and other things. And yes i know it's best to bike for many reasons, but some times you just can't. Maybe he lives in the snow and it's uphill both ways... :)

[attgig]

I was reading about Chrysler's push towards all electric. It definitely has me intrigued.

they're plan is to offer every car they have in their fleet as an electric version. they claim they'll keep it cost effective. And while theirs is all electric, they'll also have a small gas engine to recharge the electric motor (combustion engine never touches the wheels). I could definitely dig that over a plug in.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/15/autos/chrysler_envi/?postversion=2008121512

[attgig]

I remember a number of years ago when my work sent me to Winnipeg in February. Most business parking lots and even many commercial ones had outlets sticking up at the front of every parking space where you could plug in your block heater.


yeah, seems like cold places (ie colorado, canada) has that already available. other warmer places don't because the cars don't need the plug in heater.

[cheapie]

I was reading about Chrysler's push towards all electric. It definitely has me intrigued.

they're plan is to offer every car they have in their fleet as an electric version. they claim they'll keep it cost effective. And while theirs is all electric, they'll also have a small gas engine to recharge the electric motor (combustion engine never touches the wheels). I could definitely dig that over a plug in.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/15/autos/chrysler_envi/?postversion=2008121512

yup. a series hybrid. gets rid of most of the range problems with all-electric stuff. my company is doing the same thing with hydraulic refuse vehicles.