What is Digg?492 Comments
- HarryBauzonia, on 04/24/2008, -7/+123Step one: Kill the nuclear power protesters.
- Step1Mark, on 04/24/2008, -5/+76I thought step one was to cut a hole in a box?
- Amazetbm, on 04/24/2008, -7/+71Now all we need to do is reduce the carbon output at the power plants and we're golden.
- inactive, on 04/24/2008, -6/+69Let's hope the oil companies don't decide to blow up the factory.
- vtbarrera, on 02/03/2009, -0/+57In an era where wind, solar, and alternative energy sources are expanding this is truly a step in the right direction.
- Jynx97, on 04/24/2008, -4/+52If everyone has a car plugged in, there will BE no off-peak hours!
- bstory, on 04/24/2008, -4/+51They will probably get cheaper as time goes by - sweet
- JFallon126, on 04/24/2008, -4/+4365 mph limit? There are some highways where going that slow might be dangerous compared to everyone around you.
- vbullinger, on 04/24/2008, -3/+37Sweet! I may have to get a new car sooner than I thought, as they'll probably just yank these like they did the old electric cars we used to have in America: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-720274006 ...
- Exhibitionist, on 04/24/2008, -1/+32It's coming out next year people. Not this year, but next year. No, you can't get one now. You'll have to wait a bit longer. Just a little bit longer. But it's gonna be soooo worth it. Just remember, you can't have one now. It'll be here "next year"...
- inactive, on 04/24/2008, -2/+32I think they're fine if plugged in overnight, during off-peak hours...
- zm5k, on 04/24/2008, -2/+29Affordable my ass. Read the small print. In addition to all the other costs you don't own the battery. You have to pay 200 Euros (over $300) PER MONTH as a fee.
- tbk123, on 04/24/2008, -6/+31For that price, I'll take 2
- joessandwich, on 04/24/2008, -1/+25Can we please get back the electric cars that DON'T look lame? Since when does supporting electric cars mean that I want an ugly car?
- nder, on 04/24/2008, -0/+22neither are your shoes, socks, nail clippers, etc that enable you to walk everywhere to attempt being environmentally benign.
now, let's talk toilet paper... - h4k0r, on 04/24/2008, -0/+18That thing looks like a total turd. And leasing the battery pack for a "mobility fee". WTF is that all about? This is why electric cars still have not taken off yet. And 25k is not affordable if you look at how much more you can get for so much less. ***** a prius is 22k.
Lets break down how affordable this really is
The car is 25k and most American will need to finance that (ill assume people wont finance the tax on the car)
25,000 over 72 months @5.5% = 408 and some change a month.
Batter Pack Lease, call it 150 a month to be fair
Insurance, call it 75
408+150+75 = 633/month for people who cannot afford to put a down payment on the car. So 633 a month to save 200 a month in gas. And a car that you can only run errands in to boot. It also looks like you have to be under 6' to drive it
Now the economy car
I will use a Scion XD (27mpg city 33 mpg hw, also a PZEV or partial zero emissions vehicle) in the example due the similar shapes of the car
Retail is 15k
15,000 over 72 months @5.5 = 245/month
Gas bill 150 a month
Insurance 75
245+150+75 = 470/month for a larger car that anyone can drive as far as their wallets can take them and they are saving 163 a month over electric.
How affordable is this car, really.
Take the Scion XD - satanatnmtedu, on 04/24/2008, -1/+18$25K is not affordable, especially if you are keeping your SUV for longer trips (like mentioned in the article). I bought a 4 years old Prius for $10,000 - it doesn't have the same limitations as this electric car. And, the number of used Prius's available will be comparable to the production levels for this car.
- inkyblue2, on 04/24/2008, -0/+15don't forget to factor in leasing the battery pack from them for a $100-$300 monthly "mobility fee."
i've brought this up on other sites and people ask for sources (apparently they lack access to google), so here are a few:
http://www.forbes.com/technology/sciences/2008/04/ ...
http://www.auto-it.co.uk/2008/03/does-think-city-a ...
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2 ...
http://motoring.sky.com/news_features/think-city-- ... - KraftDinner101, on 04/24/2008, -1/+16How can people who live in apartment buildings charge their car? I don't see this being an option for them for a long time.
- newznozzl, on 04/24/2008, -0/+14I would be more inclined to get the "Open": http://www.thinkev.com/think/content/view/full/289 (but Wikipedia says it has no plans on putting it into production; wonder why it's listed on their site?).
Top speed is listed at only 62 MPH, which is going to kill it for commuters I would think, at least in the area where I live (65 normal). Which is too bad - I'd love to get something like this that I could do the 10 mile drive to downtown, and then drive on side streets. If I LIVED downtown, then I wouldn't need a car. - inactive, on 04/24/2008, -1/+14There is a very cool electric car dealer in Bozeman, carrying multiple brands (Smart, Zenn, etc.) several of which are under 25k. I am going to give one a try this summer.
- Manny70, on 04/24/2008, -0/+13Nice! One step at a time in the right direction. Getting it available to a large segment of the population will make it financially viable to the manufacturers. More funds for r&d, they'll be perfecting the technology, and clean up all aspects of component parts production in a few years, hopefully. Thanks for sharing, Claybodie.
- alpha94, on 04/24/2008, -0/+13This thing is garbage. I'm planning on getting rid of 2 vehicles and replacing it with the Chevy Volt.
http://gm-volt.com/
Fully electric for 40 miles and then it runs a small motor that only runs to charge the battery to continue running everything else on the battery. This means that you don't have the conventional parts and fluids to replace as you normally would while still having an unlimited range. Fully electric and then in hybrid mode, except this hybrid mode is still battery driven.
The cool thing is that it can charge the battery from 3 types of fuel, bio-diesel, flex fuel or regular 87 octane. - jcastillo81, on 04/24/2008, -1/+13Don't be hatin', people. We gotta start somewhere.
- sustainablogger, on 04/24/2008, -0/+12Even when powered on coal, electric cars are still greener because of engine efficiency. It's still not ideal -- powering them on renewables is a much better solution -- but this is a step forward.
- SilasTomorrow, on 04/24/2008, -1/+13You must be standing in the Hall of Mirrors...
- Wargalas, on 04/24/2008, -0/+12From Zenn's website: It is not approved for highway use.
http://www.zenncars.com/php/08monroney_label.php
They almost had a sale with me. - saintamour, on 04/24/2008, -1/+12This article made me think of The Simpsons...
"I'm an electric car. I can't go very fast and when people see you in me they'll think you're gay."
"ONE OF US. ONE OF US" - tsunamitomi, on 04/24/2008, -0/+11And it only has a range of 35 miles and isn't approved for highway speeds.
- i70CuDa, on 04/24/2008, -1/+12There are companies that will do a full conversion for about 7k. One here in southern california caters to Mercs, porsches, and some other sports cars. the amazing thing is the performance. Since the max power is made at practically 0 RPM, you get excellent 0-60 times. Range is about 120 mi.
- HarryBauzonia, on 04/24/2008, -2/+12A car is useless for me. I need a truck.
The people driving these projects assume everyone lives in cookie-cutter houses near a city ala Edward Scissorhands, and a vehicle is only used for commuting to work and hauling a bag of groceries.
Also, does anyone know if the additional cost of electricity is less than the cost of gasoline? I've never seen that addressed. Electricity sure ain't free. - Cossa, on 04/24/2008, -0/+10RTFA. This car isn't named after Tesla. Tesla is a completely different company.
- wefarrell, on 04/24/2008, -0/+10A coal plant is still way more efficient than an engine so while its not carbon neutral its a hell of an improvement.
http://www.electroauto.com/info/pollmyth.shtml - LXicon, on 04/24/2008, -0/+10check the zite for the "cityZENN" due out next fall using the EEStore ultracapacitors:
80MPH, 250 mile range, recharge in 5 minutes!
http://zenncars.com/ - 1jaxstate1, on 04/24/2008, -9/+19I don't know who defined the word affordable, but it's not 25k for a small car. Once these things start hitting the "used car" lots, then we will see them take off. And with a top speed for 65 mph, this care will be great, as it can also be used as a coffin, when some ***** going 90 runs you off the road.
- kipmartin, on 04/24/2008, -0/+10thats the same noise your mom was making while i shaved her back last night.
- borez, on 04/24/2008, -1/+10Lets hope they don't go the same way as the EV1
- forcedfx, on 04/24/2008, -1/+10Solar panel technology is not currently able to absorb enough power to charge a vehicle with so little surface area. You would need a huge panel on top of your car or let it sit for days to recharge. Ever seen the solar racers in Australia? The entire top of the car is covered in solar panels and those cars weigh next to nothing.
- BrewBeau, on 04/24/2008, -0/+9This article is so short and people still can't read it.
- Logicexe, on 04/24/2008, -0/+9One step at a time my friend. Just because we can't solve every single problem in one step doesn't mean we should just stay where we are.
- nizzy1115, on 04/24/2008, -2/+11No, its money. ***** the environment.
- ryan850, on 04/24/2008, -1/+10I think someone, a president perhaps, just needs to know how to communicate the pros and cons of nuclear. I didn't want nuclear until someone explained both sides to me. Now after more research I'm totally in favor of a regulated nuclear energy program.
- Enderplayer1, on 04/24/2008, -3/+11just get some solar panels then you don't even have to pay for the electricity.
- Harabeck, on 04/24/2008, -1/+9I think he was just saying it could help a little and lower your plugged in time.
- krische, on 04/24/2008, -1/+8What I would like to see implemented is solar panels on the roof. I mean think about it. Usually when you are driving, there is nothing over the car except maybe the occasional bridge, so it could be charging the car while driving. And think if you park it in a lot or the roof of a parking structure. It could sit in the sun all day and charge.
- forcedfx, on 04/24/2008, -0/+7Yes, electricity is a much cheaper option than gas. If you have roommates though it'd be a bitch to charge 3 cars at once along with dividing up the electric bill.
"Well, I only drive 5 miles to work but you drive 20..." etc. - ArachnidDude, on 04/24/2008, -0/+7What an ugly piece of *****. Is there a reason they can't build it bigger?
- Harabeck, on 04/24/2008, -0/+7Maybe, but it helps get us off foreign oil. In the long run that will help our economy and give us a chance to work on the environmental issues.
- Quickdood, on 04/24/2008, -0/+7Very long extension cords... Or apartment buildings could just put outlets next to assigned parking spots and meter them.
- fireman8871, on 04/24/2008, -1/+8The Aptera Typ 1 - $26,000 and gets 300 MPG - http://ApteraForum.com
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