What is Digg?190 Comments
- Csaliture, on 05/20/2008, -11/+53What about this is sporty? Its fugly, the front looks like a smart car. Which is anything but a sports car. A geo metro can go over 80 mph. That doesnt qualify as a sporty in my book. Not even close.
- spammishking, on 05/20/2008, -3/+31for 20,000 I was expecting something that can go further than 100 miles, and take less then 6 hours to charge, but it's a good start
- Duggan360, on 05/20/2008, -3/+29You call that sporty?
- simpletwist, on 05/20/2008, -1/+24Hmm, this seems like it would be more of a "big city" car, as I can't imagine relying on it if you have to do any amount of consistent long-distance traveling.
- inactive, on 05/20/2008, -9/+30How does it do in a crash though?
- fmaxwell, on 05/20/2008, -2/+22Could we just once have an article about an efficient vehicle in which someone does not start whining about how the vehicle would do in a hypothetical crash? Quick, let's ban bicycling, motorcycling, riding motor scooters, sidewalks next to roads, and any mode of transportation in which the occupant is not encased in something akin to an M1 Abrams tank!
Here's a wild idea: Hang up your cell phone, pay attention to your driving, drive defensively, and avoid accidents. And accept that life has some risks, that you might die in an accident anyway, but that we can't afford to have people driving huge vehicles based on some statistically insignificant chance that they might die in and accident in a smaller one. - BlueSkyfish, on 05/20/2008, -1/+17This might not be the best place to ask, but is there a semi-normal looking electric car out there that's mass produced and under 25k?
- teaguecl, on 05/20/2008, -0/+15Maybe you should investigate the efficiency of power generation. Even with all the losses of transporting electricity through the grid, a coal powered plant is hundreds of times more efficient than a internal combustion engine.
Also the grid can be cleaned up by replacing coal with solar/wind/hydro - while ICE's are always polluting.
So yes, an electric car powered with energy produced by burning coal is not "zero emissions", though it is much less polluting than a gas powered car. However, this is not the fault of the electric car - it's a problem with where your electricity comes from - fmaxwell, on 05/20/2008, -2/+17And then it becomes a car, not a motorcycle, and it has to have airbags, side impact protection, go through NHTSA crash testing, and comply with every other car-related regulation. It would end up quadrupling in weight, leaving you with a vehicle that went 20mph, cost $40,000, and had a range of 30 miles.
- swrostmore, on 05/20/2008, -2/+17No. http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectricca ...
- bodegit, on 05/20/2008, -3/+17Put ANOTHER WHEEL ON IT. I am NOT driving a tricycle.
- ontain, on 05/20/2008, -3/+16probably only slightly better than a motorcycle.
- bodegit, on 05/20/2008, -0/+10Gasoline powered cars have hidden emissions too, bud. Oil needs to be welled, transported, refined, transported, distributed, and shipped across the country in 18 wheelers to your gas stations. What, did you think gas is a magic potion concocted by elves under the pumps?
- Chandon, on 05/20/2008, -5/+14Who cares?
Seriously, there are tradeoffs in engineering. Comparing the crash performance of this thing to a tradition sedan is no more interesting than its cargo capacity or ability to haul a trailer.
It is what it is, and what it is could be damn useful. - fmaxwell, on 05/20/2008, -2/+11You don't require a back seat. With the money you save on gas, you can afford a hotel room.
- BlueSkyfish, on 05/21/2008, -0/+8From the manufacturer's site:
"Your favorite mountain road never felt (or sounded) so sweet as with TRIAC's precise handling breezing through the S-turns. With a focus on keeping your experience safe and enjoyable, Green Vehicles designed the TRIAC with a center of gravity well below that of most automobiles. Additionally, each vehicle is equipped with a structural steel cage, employing the same metal skeleton in race-cars to protect passengers in the event of a collision."
http://www.greenvehicles.com/ - Wargalas, on 05/20/2008, -0/+8Giggity.
- BlueSkyfish, on 05/20/2008, -1/+9For someone like me that lives in the big city and doesn't do more than 40 miles a day, it's perfect. Although as a poor college student, there are two requirements this car doesn't have:
A pricetag under $10,000 (used)
A back seat - jackmon, on 05/20/2008, -4/+11a) Pointless? Most people don't drive 75 miles a day... And even if they do, fine... This vehicle has you covered + 25 miles.
b) Stupid? You can plug it in as soon as you drive home at the end of your 75 mile day (past the gas station while you laugh at all the suckers). Plug it in when you get home and it's fully charged for tomorrow. It's charging from off-peak electricity so it's extremely cheap, and it produces no further emissions.
c) $20k? Ok, I'll give you that one. - fmaxwell, on 05/20/2008, -1/+8From the specifications, it comes standard with a 15" alloy wheel.
- Chandon, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6Nope. Fully-electric cars that are currently in production start at $70,000 or so.
On the other hand, buying a Toyota Prius and having it converted to plug-in hybrid (giving you a ~20 mile pure-electric range) costs around $25k total. - Schmapdi, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6I think in 3-5 years when you can get one of these for 12 grand with double the range they have now you'll really see them start to take off.
- barius, on 05/20/2008, -0/+6Uh...you are aware that the energy in a hydrogen fuel cell also comes from an external source (i.e. the power grid) right? Hydrogen is not an energy source, it is an energy storage mechanism.
- thestrongrope, on 05/20/2008, -5/+11This thing looks pretty cool, especially its profile. I am not always a fan of these three wheel electric vehicles, but I like this one.
- Ryan2845, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7That will never happen until there is a better way to transport goods than by semi truck.
- bwdd, on 05/21/2008, -1/+6Tesla wins in every aspect other than price.
- arniegrape, on 05/20/2008, -0/+5$20,000 huh? We must be working with very different definitions of the word "affordable." The specs look pretty reasonable. I'd drive one despite the tragic looks, just not for $20,000. Under $10k for those specs is affordable.
- usafdave, on 05/20/2008, -1/+6Yeah, that'll get you laid.
- pkulak, on 05/20/2008, -3/+8You guys wine, but 100 miles, 80 mph for 20 grand is a tipping point for a lot of people. Probably myself included.
- diggjcarp, on 05/20/2008, -2/+720K for that toyish trike is reasonable? Me thinks not. 2K is more like it.
- bincoder, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7Not quite as vile looking and expensive as I had expected but I would still rather have the 20kW motor/generator retroed into a 63 Vette or even a mid eighties toyota for that matter, getting style, efficiency, and a cheap pre made body backed up with the usual gasoline engine for those moments where you want real performance and a range of 300 miles.
- bluetytanium, on 05/20/2008, -1/+6Aptera = ~$30,000
Tesla Roadster = $***** ton of money - FrankTheTank17, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4Calling that car sporty is an embarassment to... well, every single car ever made.
- griz, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4I want one for under $15k
If they are $25k you are still better off buying an $8000 used car that gets 40MPG and putting the extra into the gas tank. - JaNkz, on 05/21/2008, -0/+4This thing looks like it would fold like t-shirt in a wreck.
- scotticus, on 05/21/2008, -2/+6Sure thing, tough guy.
It's tough to swerve when you aren't moving, or if someone runs a red light. In a reasonably sized car, you still have a chance of survival. In a Smart Car, you're a puddle.
I fully appreciate that 10 years out, we'll all be driving smart cars, but if the tech industry has taught me anything, it's that early adopters get screwed. - BlueSkyfish, on 05/20/2008, -2/+6Coal power plants are much more efficient than individual combustion engines in cars. There are also many nuclear, wind, and hydroelectric power plants in operation. The city I live in gets a large chunk of its power from a nuclear plant about 50 miles away. Las Vegas gets most of its power from the Hoover dam. There was an article yesterday about a series of 667 wind turbines being constructed in Texas. Even if you don't care about the environment, electricity is much cheaper than gas now, so it would be better for you in the long run.
- breakaway, on 05/20/2008, -1/+5I always down shift when I'm near a Prius. And I have a vehicle which uses carburetors.
- ChileanGoD, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4Actually... the only 3 wheel car that actually won me is the Carver. Hands down. Why don't they make an electric version?
- Blandyman, on 05/21/2008, -1/+5Except a leather suit doesn't pierce shards of metal through your heart and leave you trapped in a flaming inferno of pain and suffering as your last moments of this green Earth are spent yelling "Oh God, why'd I buy this Power Wheels car instead of an Accord or Camry or Prius or anything that doesn't SUCK!" Then your skin bubbles as you're incinerated and you die in the most magnificent ball of fire YouTube has ever seen.
- inactive, on 05/20/2008, -1/+5Combustion engines are on their last decade, it happened with horses, it will happen with combustion created horsepower.
Which is a good thing, I want everyone to own one! - spammishking, on 05/20/2008, -3/+7Tesla > Aptera
http://www.teslamotors.com/
Aptera = top speed for the production model will exceed 85 mph, going from 0-60 in under 10 seconds.
Tesla = 125 mph 0-60 in 3.9 seconds - diggjcarp, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3The Tata Nano gets about 50 mpg and costs $2500. Why don't we see that here in the US? http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamoto ...
- geneticlone, on 05/20/2008, -3/+6Um $20,000 really? Plus where I live there is a good chance of some mom in a Suburban accidently driving over me.
- cha5e, on 05/20/2008, -1/+4Plus, buried in the site it mentions an add-on pack that will increase range by 25%, although that's not available yet.
I'm curious to see a speed vs range graph. In other words...it can go 80mph, and it can go 100 miles, but I bet it can't go 100 miles at 80mph.
My commute is 55 miles each way...I wonder if I could get my company to put a power outlet outside... - gwolf, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4Then this is clearly not for you. That doesn't make it pointless.
- cr42yr1ch, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5If everyone drove a light electric vehicle then no accident, except driving into brick walls, would be dangerous.
- slcseifist, on 05/20/2008, -4/+7That car looks good enough.... for me to poop on.
- wigginz, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5OK, you call any car a "trike" and I will not buy it even if it's the most efficient, fastest machine ever made with wheels.
- gwolf, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3Driving short distances to a from work is what most of us do anyway.
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