Subject: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Alice Date: 13 May 07 - 02:18 PM Any Mudcatters own an electric car? Do you have comments/feedback about your car? I have an advertising client who is the first dealer in this area, called "Eco Auto". Mostly for commuting in town use, I looked over the showroom of the models they carry and read the literature. If you've ever seen the movie, Who Killed The Electric Car, you'd be interested in what is available now. They have a video of the movie running all the time in the showroom - I saw it on PBS a year or so ago. Here's their web site ecoautoinc.com Our state had to pass a new law creating a new motor vehicle category called "Medium Speed Electric Vehicles" for the small in-town commuter cars. |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: kendall Date: 13 May 07 - 02:38 PM How would you like to go head to head with a semi in this hatbox? |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Jean(eanjay) Date: 13 May 07 - 02:38 PM I've got a Smart car but it isn't electric, although a lot of people have joked about me plugging it in at night to recharge it. I love it. Road tax is £40 a year, the petrol lasts for ages, it fits into very small parking spaces, it's amazingly roomy inside, I can fit the shopping in the boot, play music in it etc. etc. My children have grown up so one passenger seat is enough. It's great. |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Big Phil Date: 13 May 07 - 03:14 PM Good luck, if you were involved in an accident in a Smart car you would need it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: JohnInKansas Date: 13 May 07 - 03:57 PM I see the usual ad-speak at the site linked, but nothing that clearly says just what it is. I suspect that digging deeper into the site might provide some information; but the ads are enough to show it unsuitable for my use. I did note that the new Montana law permits operation "at up to 35 mph." That would be an unsafe speed on many local streets in my town, where many posted speed limits are 40 mph and above and are only "loosely observed." Even accepting the adspeak brag that this vehicle can do "90%" of most peoples communting, it's priced comparably to many vehicles that will do 100% of what I need. The separate vehicle for "the other 10%" would be an environmental impact from manufacturing processes at least equal to what operation of the smart car would save, even if I never drove the ten-percenter. The "excess environmental burden" from operating my hundred-percenter 100 percent of the time is less than the manufacturing burden of getting a second vehicle. (although another new vehicle is always nice to have) In my area, one actually can license1 a $6,000 (new) golf cart to do most of the kind of commuting for which this vehicle appears suitable - although I'd concede that the fabric rain shields on the golf cart are a bit less convenient. 1 The licensing isn't really easy, but a few have done it. If it suits your needs, then your effort to be green is commendable. The "commute" in my area is not amenable to using a vehicle of this kind for most people. One hopes that smaller, cleaner, and more efficient vehicles can become more useful, and that will only happen if those who can actually try them out. We'll be very interested in your reports as your personal observations accumulate, and of course in the reports of any others, especially actual users, who may reply here. John |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: dick greenhaus Date: 13 May 07 - 05:33 PM Electric cars don't save energy; they only shift the point-of-energy use to another location. Their main advantage (aside from quiet operation) is that a distribution system for electric power is already in place; their greatest disadvantages are limited battery life and high battery replacement costs. Until we reach a point where we're not burning fossil fuel to generate electricity, the electric car is best thought of as a gimmick. |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: GUEST,MarkS Date: 13 May 07 - 10:50 PM If you really want to reduce to a minimum you fuel costs for short distance commutes, you would do better with a small (500cc or thereabouts) motorcycle or a smaller scooter. Mind you, it might not be suitable for all times of year, but the environmental impact of commuting "x" miles per day (probably most days) on a cycle is much less than doing the same commute in an auto. Mark |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: GUEST,MarkS Date: 13 May 07 - 10:51 PM Oh yes, and if the time you need to devote to your ride is not an issue, best of all would be a standard bycicle. Mark |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Alice Date: 13 May 07 - 11:08 PM Traditionally, our electricity here comes from hydro, not just coal. Click here |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Sorcha Date: 13 May 07 - 11:41 PM There is also solar electricity. I'm not sure I'd want one, even in town. Just too darn dangerous, even at 20 MPH. Besides, most of my 'commutes' are on 2 lane state highways, min. speed 45, max, 65MPH. No way am I driving a 'baby car' in competition with the Big Rigs. |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Alice Date: 14 May 07 - 12:04 AM These cars are meant for tooling around town, like doing deliveries, commuting to the college campus - which here in Bozeman can be done at 35 mph or less. |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: JohnInKansas Date: 14 May 07 - 02:57 AM Knock that speed down to 5 mph and you could have a fleet of about 40 of These. I'm joking of course, but we have one similar that I got for Lin for transport at the festival (for $600). Hers actually gets up to about 7 mph, and I've made a couple of 7 mile round trips with it for shopping. Battery pack is lift-out swap, so two spares and you're good for the 30 miles claimed for the full size vehicles. I would hate to think of you toolin' around on an open scooter in a Montana winter though - and they ain't worth a sh*t in any snow or more than moderate sand and gravel. John |
Subject: RE: BS: Electric Car, Mudcat Owners From: Liz the Squeak Date: 14 May 07 - 04:36 AM Do you really think the oil companies haven't got a hand in keeping the socially aware vehicle under covers? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face... The environment friendly car will only be perfected when we no longer have the resources to power the machines we have now. Mind you, if petrol (gas) cost the same in the US as it does in the UK, then maybe the US might be a bit more enthusiastic about producing a viable and sensible alternative. LTS |