Does Anyone Have One Of Those Electric Cars?

[bri]

I saw that the Chevy Volt was named American car of the year or something like that. I am not very informed about cars so most of you will probably think I'm a moron, but I don't understand how they work. They said it could go 25 to 50 miles on the charge which isn't very far. So do they like have places at gas stations where you can charge them up? I would be afraid to take it anywhere cause it would die and I would be stranded.

 

[ytsejam]

I would like to have one of these:

http://www.evalbum.com/2447

WAY out of my price range. So I am considering a project like one of these:

http://www.evalbum.com/type/TRCK



I did some research a while back and I think it can be done for about $6k (not including the truck)

 

[jaxhawksfan]

I saw that the Chevy Volt was named American car of the year or something like that. I am not very informed about cars so most of you will probably think I'm a moron, but I don't understand how they work. They said it could go 25 to 50 miles on the charge which isn't very far. So do they like have places at gas stations where you can charge them up? I would be afraid to take it anywhere cause it would die and I would be stranded.

Just another attempt by the powers that be to try to fool people into believing they are serious about lowering gas usage. I'm no expert on electric or hybrid cars either, but batteries are heavy, expensive, and wear out relatively quickly when charged/discharged many times. I won't even go into the disposal of tons of batteries. But to answer your question Bri, they go farther than that on a charge (not so much as to be useful) and yes, you would have to regharge them with any available electrical outlet. The reason they go farther on a charge (about 380 miles)is because they actually have a gas engine in them which is used when the batteries die and that engine runs a generator which charges the batteries. In other words, they are practically useless. In other other words, they are still a hybrid. In other other other words, they are expensive as hell and you would be much better off getting a cheap, fuel efficient gas burning car and spending the difference on gas.



Edit: I guess if your commute is only a few miles down the road then essentially you could be using only battery power.

 

[winos5]

Just another attempt by the powers that be to try to fool people into believing they are serious about lowering gas usage. I'm no expert on electric or hybrid cars either, but batteries are heavy, expensive, and wear out relatively quickly when charged/discharged many times. I won't even go into the disposal of tons of batteries. But to answer your question Bri, they go farther than that on a charge (not so much as to be useful) and yes, you would have to regharge them with any available electrical outlet. The reason they go farther on a charge (about 380 miles)is because they actually have a gas engine in them which is used when the batteries die and that engine runs a generator which charges the batteries. In other words, they are practically useless. In other other words, they are still a hybrid. In other other other words, they are expensive as hell and you would be much better off getting a cheap, fuel efficient gas burning car and spending the difference on gas.

Don't forget the cost of installing the charging system at home and the resulting spike in your utility bills. Just think of all the fossil fuel that will be used to generate the electricity at your local power plant. Also the maintenance costs and repair bills are sure to be exorbitant. As it stands now these types of vehicles are for people with money to burn who want the warm fuzzy feeling they get from "going green".

 

[Tater]

Just another attempt by the powers that be to try to fool people into believing they are serious about lowering gas usage. I'm no expert on electric or hybrid cars either, but batteries are heavy, expensive, and wear out relatively quickly when charged/discharged many times. I won't even go into the disposal of tons of batteries. But to answer your question Bri, they go farther than that on a charge (not so much as to be useful) and yes, you would have to regharge them with any available electrical outlet. The reason they go farther on a charge (about 380 miles)is because they actually have a gas engine in them which is used when the batteries die and that engine runs a generator which charges the batteries. In other words, they are practically useless. In other other words, they are still a hybrid. In other other other words, they are expensive as hell and you would be much better off getting a cheap, fuel efficient gas burning car and spending the difference on gas.

To add to that: Most of the electricity used to charge them is produced by coal burning power plants.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Good points as well guys. Haven't the manufacturers of autos had the capability to make engines/cars that get over 50 mpg for many years now? Why is electricity the new "savior" when they can just make the cars they are capable of making with the fuel economy they are capable of? I have been looking at car ads for a couple weeks now, and it is a shame that they are still producing vehicles that get less than 20 mpg in city driving conditions, if it is true that they have the technology to change that (without being a hybrid)

 

[bri]

Can't they make it where the sun charges them?

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Solar energy is very inefficient. It takes lots of space (in expensive solar panels) to produce a decent charge. If all you are running is a small microchip in a calculator, then you don't need much surface area or wattage. However, if you need to produce any significant amount of electricity then you need larger solar panels.

 

[phranchk]

Solar power is currently not very efficient, but they've gotten over 80% efficiency in the lab and that will soon translate to real world.

As for the batteries, Consumer Reports retested a Toyota Prius with 200k miles on it and it had close to the same fuel efficiency as it did when they first tested it. 49mpg originally and 46mpg at the retest.

Batteries are by no means the answer, but its a small step. Charging them is still cheaper than using fuel. You do end up with the problem of what to do with all these batteries once they are toast. Disposal is not easy or cheap.

 

[sth]

Solar cars are in the experimental stage like this. But I bet soon they will have them too. Of course electric cars aren't efficient it will take time to get them right.

 

[bri]

Do I sound like a pinhead cause I don't already know this stuff?

 

[JOVE23]

Do I sound like a pinhead cause I don't already know this stuff?

Not at all! You're trying to become an informed consumer, there's no shame in that.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Do I sound like a pinhead cause I don't already know this stuff?

Of course not. We can all learn new things each day, that's why being alive is so fun.

 

[chasman]

You go get those electric cars, save the fuel for me.



My LOW HP car is 400hp.

 

[bri]

You go get those electric cars, save the fuel for me.



My LOW HP car is 400hp.

You are getting me all kerfuffled. Is that the kind you have to shift? Cause I can't drive those.

 

[chasman]

You are getting me all kerfuffled. Is that the kind you have to shift? Cause I can't drive those.

One is automatic the other is stick.

 

[Kerfuffle]

You are getting me all kerfuffled. Is that the kind you have to shift? Cause I can't drive those.

Thanks for the plug - glad I could help

 

[jakobeast]

They aren't the answer to pollution by any stretch of the imagination, but if a bunch of assholes drive these cars, it will lower our dependence of oil a bit. That will help everyone out in the long run. Wind, solar, clean coal can all help out. Unfortunately, as was pointed out in another thread, the folks of the US want a clear number 1. So we will never see multiple types of fuel for cars and home.

 

[TSD]

Just another attempt by the powers that be to try to fool people into believing they are serious about lowering gas usage. I'm no expert on electric or hybrid cars either, but batteries are heavy, expensive, and wear out relatively quickly when charged/discharged many times. I won't even go into the disposal of tons of batteries. But to answer your question Bri, they go farther than that on a charge (not so much as to be useful) and yes, you would have to regharge them with any available electrical outlet. The reason they go farther on a charge (about 380 miles)is because they actually have a gas engine in them which is used when the batteries die and that engine runs a generator which charges the batteries. In other words, they are practically useless. In other other words, they are still a hybrid. In other other other words, they are expensive as hell and you would be much better off getting a cheap, fuel efficient gas burning car and spending the difference on gas.



Edit: I guess if your commute is only a few miles down the road then essentially you could be using only battery power.

add to that, depending on the type of driving you normally do the benefit could be minimal. I barely do any city driving, literally, aside from the drive to the highway, which is like a mile to work and less from work, and my once a week grocery trip and meeting friends at a bar, I maybe do 20 miles of "city" driving a week. The Hybrid got the same gas mileage highway, and 45mpg city and 355 is never ever stop and go for me.



Thats why I didnt buy the hybrid Ford Fusion. The Hybrid would have been 15 grand more. Now I plan on keeping this car for about 6 years (2 years past my final payment). Over 6 years I highly, highly, highly doubt I would see that 15 grand back in gas savings. I dont know, but with the improvements on newer cars period, im betting the environmental impact differential is minimal.

 

[bri]

Thanks for the plug - glad I could help

Doesn't kerfuffled mean like confused or discombobulated? It wasn't meant as an insult.