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Hybrid Vehicles Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicle Pros & Cons
1586 messages, Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 4:19 PM
You are in the Electric Vehicles Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 06, 2007 5:45 pm) Really?? Then why do people buy Miatas, S2000's, etc.? Don't tell me there aren't less expensive vehicles that provide greater utility. The fact is that the decision to purchase a vehicle has a huge individual, emotional, non-practical, component. EV's will definitely be a niche vehicle at first. Maybe they'll initially sell 50k units anually, which is a fraction of a percent of total car sales. Nevertheless, there are plenty of models out there that sell less than 50k per year but appear to be financially viable to market and produce. If you don't like EVs then don't buy one. I don't see the fascination with convertibles or huge SUVS yet I'd never say that they shouldn't be produced because obviously there are people with different tastes than me.
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 06, 2007 6:39 pm) So we are not talking about what you can do with the vehicle but how much you enjoy said vehicle. So people will only flock to EV's when their utility (or their personal satisfaction) per dollar is maximized by that EV. Take your Miatas for example. Many people get their utility from them by taking long drives in them. This is something that cannot be done in an EV, so an EV has much less utility to these people. Hence the EV would have much less value to these same people. Since EV's cost more there must be more utility in these cars for them to be accepted. To some that utility is there in the fact that it is supposively more economically friendly or that you are freed from using gas. But that will not be the case with everyone. The fact is that the decision to purchase a vehicle has a huge individual, emotional, non-practical, component. And that is where utility comes into play, utility is often influenced by emotion and varies by individual.
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When I last looked at the Meyers Motors website about a year ago, the price of their NmG EV cycle was around $25000 or about DOUBLE what its original builder, Corbin Motors had been asking only a few years earlier. To my knowledge the Meyers NmG is the only purpose-built EV to which mere mortals can (or could) aspire that one can actually buy today. My mouth fell open when I read that today you can buy that same vehicle for a mere $34,900!!!! A 50% increase in ONE year and 150% over 4-5 years??!!!. For that you get a one person, enclosed, 3 wheel motorcycle with a top speed of 75mph, 0-60 in 12.5s, range of 30mi and 598lbm of AGM pb-acid batteries that last 1-4 years with an on-board, 120vac charger that will recharge in 6-8hours (all per mfr claims). They say that an "advanced" battery option is in the works - I wonder what it will cost then?! Assuming that the 1yr life would correspond to daily use at maximum range, and that the batteries are optima yellow tops (the only AGM battery in that size that I know of), gas for a 25mpg car must reach $5.62/g in order to break even on battery replacement cost ALONE! No matter, the price will surely plummet next year when the market is flooded with 200+ mile range EVs, but of course then we'll all be riding flying pigs. 
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Replying to: daysailer (Nov 08, 2007 3:58 am) My research says that the average commute is much longer than the 12 miles, Meyers is claiming. http://www.myersmotors.com/index.html PS I would buy the Smart ForTwo diesel sold in Canada long before I would consider the NMG from Meyers.
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 08, 2007 6:24 am) http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/xebra-sedan
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Replying to: apeweek (Nov 08, 2007 6:38 am) |
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 06, 2007 7:33 pm) One person may get as much pleasure from never visiting a gas station as the next might get from a long drive in a Miata. Why in the world are we in oregon running out of alt energy to meet the demands of those who want to pay the premium price for renewable? But for now, the EV's available aren't going to cut mass market. GM's Volt which is probably 80%+ EV for most..will...if they can swing it.
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Replying to: reddroverr (Nov 09, 2007 12:51 pm) Spending a few minutes at a gas station to be able to drive more than 100 miles every 5 hours or being limited to a 50 mile radius? To me being limited to a 50 mile radius is far more inconvenient to me.
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 09, 2007 7:46 pm) and to quote your other words... "varies by individual." For some it might be fine for a second car and other postivie utils would outweigh the range limitation. I've already said that I don't think Ev's are ready for the mass masses yet, but with some reduction in battery price and they do become more desirable to more people. Add in some on the road quick charging stations and still more come on board. PHEVs will be the short term direction if they pan out. They will be just as convenient as an ICE. Just one gas shock in price and/or supply and the value of the stable supply of electricity (cost and availability), becomes more of a factor...and even your utils may vary. |
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