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Malcom Bricklin and Visionary Vehicles latest offering - READ ONLY

16 messages,  Last post on Feb 20, 2008 at 10:33 PM

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#7 of 16 Thanks... by iluvmysephia1

Feb 19, 2008 (10:57 pm)

and I should probably look that up. Anything other than ICE qualifies to me as a real engine from now onwards, gentlemen. This goofy gasoline circus we're all a part of is doomed and it must go. I'm open to new ideas.

#8 of 16 Re: Thanks... [iluvmysephia1] by steve_ HOST

Feb 19, 2008 (11:12 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Feb 19, 2008 10:57 pm)
Here's the Straightline blog about it:
 
World's first air-powered car goes on sale next summer
 

#9 of 16 Re: Thanks... [steve_] by gagrice

Feb 20, 2008 (8:16 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 19, 2008 11:12 pm)
I pictured an air car more like a balloon that you let the air out and you fly around the room till it is deflated
 
Seriously, I think our over regulated society will miss out on many innovative means of transportation that do not use fossil fuel directly. Canada is just as bad as we are. They have blocked the EV being built in their country from being sold. To get all the required safety crappola you need a 3000 lb car. That eliminates many forms of propulsion. I have to wonder if the automakers are not behind many of these regulations.

#10 of 16 Re: Thanks... [gagrice] by scwmcan

Feb 20, 2008 (8:51 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 20, 2008 8:16 am)
I am not sure that Canada isn't worse than the US in some ways for regulations, we are a much smaller market and still have different regulations from the US. Mind you we do seem to get some different cars that you, I think mainly because we seem to buy mare smaller cars that the states. I have to agree that the weight of cars is becoming a problem, my current car (a Mazda 3 sport) weighs as much as my older cars used too (older volvo 140's and 240's) and the same as a slightly larger Volvo V40 (the origial) wagon, and the Mazda is supposed to be a small car, to me it shouldn't weigh more that 2400 lbs, but all the safety gadgets and "luxury" equipmnent push the weight up. I certainly don't mind the safety equipment but the old Volvos weren't exactly unsafe either (though admittedly not necessarily as safe as new cars). Of course there is another problem with electric cars in Canada, the fact that in the winter the batteries will not last as long as in the summer due to the clod weather we have here, severly limiting their range, hopefully someone will figure out a fix for this. for now I will look for my next car to be a diesel though.
Scott

#11 of 16 That air-powered car from India by iluvmysephia1

Feb 20, 2008 (8:25 pm)

looks like it would never pass all of our safety regulations. Here in America we like to make cars, trucks and SUV's so huge that they make huge holes in small cars when they bash in to them. So we have stringent safety laws which, as was already mentioned, require bigger, bulkier rigs to ward off the huge masses of metal in case of an accident. And we keep saying things like "I like that car, but I'd hate to get hit by a humongous SUV in that thing!"
 
So everything gets bigger and bulkier. Oh well. My '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS tops out at 3,032 odd lbs.and really keeps good tracking on the freeway in heavy winds. It's good to be in a larger vehicle.
 
It's kind of scary, though, that the Canadian government is blocking ZENN from selling EV's there. Wow-like you gagrice I wouldn't be surprised, either, if the large established automakers were behind these upstart EV-makers being blocked from selling. How many times have you been in conversation and someone says "Yeah, it sure would be cool if I could put one of those 100 mpg carb's on my car." Oooops, fuel injection is invented after the heat from that idea gets too much.
 
Now, someone will say, "They must have fuel/air mixtures that upon direct injection can capably provide us with 100 mpg cars." And what keeps these things from us? Greed of the automakers. So, of course, an air-compressed vehicle or all-electric vehicle is invented, what do we expect from these guys? Of course they're gonna interject and pay lawmakers to stop these inventions from becoming reality, if even by simple crash tests that are impossible or what have you.
 
Malcolm Bricklin's project will be fun to follow from the driver's seat of my '08 fuel-injected, crash-tested Mitsubishi Lancer GTS! Yes it will! And once a large, law-abiding company like The General or Fo-Mo-Co has developed sufficient technology to make a large profit off of us from their own version of an all-electric or air compressed vehicle then we can all have the privilege of buying one from them. Ain't that right, Buford?

#12 of 16 Re: That air-powered car from India [iluvmysephia1] by gagrice

Feb 20, 2008 (9:16 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Feb 20, 2008 8:25 pm)
I do not disagree even though I am not much on conspiracy theories. Seems odd that the EU has 50% of their cars running on very fuel efficient diesel engines and we have next to NONE.
 
You did leave out the legislators and their appointees that collect the fuel taxes. You get better mileage and they get less cash. With an EV they get NOTHING for road tax. No problem as long as it is only a handful running around. I am sure they are wringing their hands over hybrids that are taking tax dollars right out of their children's mouths.

#13 of 16 Oh, man.... by iluvmysephia1

Feb 20, 2008 (9:41 pm)

don't tell me simple greed and politics are keeping alternative automotive sources from the masses? Say it isn't so!
 
So then, gagrice, do you think the reason the Canadian government is banning ZENN from selling there is because they (Canadian government) can't collect a fuels tax from anyone driving an all-EV? Does seem fairly suspicious, doesn't it? I mean, how harmless of a rig can you get, a 25 mph tops all-EV enclosed 2-door golf cart legal for harmless road situations and selling for $12,000.

#14 of 16 Re: Oh, man.... [iluvmysephia1] by gagrice

Feb 20, 2008 (10:03 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Feb 20, 2008 9:41 pm)
Lets put it this way. They limit the NEV to a top speed of 25 MPH. Then say you cannot drive them on any roads posted over 35 MPH. Then they post most of the surface streets in my area at 40 MPH. There are thousands of retired people in San Diego County. I don't see anyone driving a NEV around town except the bail bondsman that also sells the GEM NEV.
 
Then you look at the price. Nothing much for less than $12k. That is very close to an ICE vehicle with more amenities.
 
I think Canada has safety regs that are like ours. They are not going to let anyone build a mainstream EV and steal tax dollars from them. I think allowing hybrids was a compromise between the tax em till they scream agency and the green wienie agency. The first Prius would never pass the safety requirements. The second generation is not stellar where safety is concerned. It is a compromise.

#15 of 16 Well, then... by iluvmysephia1

Feb 20, 2008 (10:33 pm)

what would stop them from taxing all-EV vehicle owners a yearly all-EV tax of some sort. If it's too high all-EV owners are gonna get pissed off and bag the idea altogether, though. Or, they'd still be happy to be getting out of an ICE car. But the option to go all-EV should still be there for them. That sounds aggravatingly close to a union mentality, having everyone either drive an ICE car or a pukey hybrid like the Toyota Prius. Keep the fuels taxes coming and we'll all eat jelly donuts, drink fine coffee's and everyone will just stay comfortably numb from any progress towards green or less-pollution, even.
 
And by all means, please, Free-us from the Prius!

Messages Page 2 of 2

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