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What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years? - Page 2

post #31 of 51
10/8/08 at 6:14am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay H
I asked what they did with the batteries but he didn't know. Still driving the car today...
I guarantee that Honda arranged to have them recycled. Recycling spent batteries is not a difficult task. The Insight is extremely cool.
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post #32 of 51
10/8/08 at 6:33am
Thread Starter 

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

If Chevy has the first mass-market plug-in hybrid, I think this will be the second time in my life it has "re-invented" the automotive industry. The first being Saturn. Hopefully the Volt will have greater long term impact than the Saturn did.

I really like the idea of only going to the gas station every few months

What then becomes of the gas station business? Is the long term a conversion to quik-charge electric stations? CNG fueling? Plug-n-play fuel cells bought with your super-slushee?
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post #33 of 51
10/8/08 at 12:56pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

A lot of service stations will probably go out of business. By going electric, you eliminate the most complex component of the car: the internal combustion engine. The only "regular maintenance" components left are the transmission (if there is one), the suspension, the brakes, the tires, and the windshield wipers. Everything else related to the internal combustion engine has been eliminated, including oil changes.

Now I must go off and drink my Kool-Aid.
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post #34 of 51
10/8/08 at 1:11pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

If it's built by GM then Service stations don't need to worry, there will be plenty of things to fix that are broken!
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post #35 of 51
10/9/08 at 3:04pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Not to ramp up the "smug alert" (re: South Park), but I have ordered a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Supposed to be here later this month.

What is interesting is that there is pretty much a zero price difference between it and a similarly equipped "normal" Camry.

I thought that was interesting and bodes well for the future.
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post #36 of 51
10/10/08 at 6:01am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott McGillivray
Not to ramp up the "smug alert" (re: South Park), but I have ordered a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Supposed to be here later this month.

What is interesting is that there is pretty much a zero price difference between it and a similarly equipped "normal" Camry.

I thought that was interesting and bodes well for the future.
Congratulations!!!! I'm sure you'll love your new car. A local radio car guy I listen to was discussing this a few months ago; he has and LOVES a Camry Hybrid. He went so far as to say that the quietness and comfort of the Camry Hybrid is better than any Mercedes he has driven (and he's a BIG Mercedes guy). Somebody called him asking about hybrids and gas mileage and his stock answer was "if you're concerned about saving money do the math and see how much the extra you'll pay for a hybrid will justify the better mileage".

Then he mentioned that the Camry hybrid is the exception to the rule. According to Edmunds dot com the base price on the Camry is $21,650. Camry Hybrid base price is $26,150. However, that doesn't tell the whole story. The Camry hybrid comes with an upgraded interior, alloy wheels, etc. The trim level of the least expensive Camry Hybrid is equivalent to the trim level on the upgraded V6 Camry. So, as you wrote, the similarly equipped model carries no price premium!

Camry Hybrid is a very smart car! I wish they had a Station Wagon!
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post #37 of 51
10/10/08 at 9:51am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Francois Caron
A lot of service stations will probably go out of business. By going electric, you eliminate the most complex component of the car: the internal combustion engine. The only "regular maintenance" components left are the transmission (if there is one), the suspension, the brakes, the tires, and the windshield wipers. Everything else related to the internal combustion engine has been eliminated, including oil changes.

Most Americans will not be buying a battery powered Chevy hatchback. Assuming they sell 100,000 Volts® a year AND those people also get rid of all their normal cars it will only offset the gasoline need by .00241% (There are 241,000,000 registered cars in the USA). I don't forsee any abandoned Mobil Gas stations in the next 10 years.

What we can hope for is eventually to have electric roadsters, hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs and light pick-up trucks. This will free-up gasoline & diesel reserves for large trucks, ambulances, cop cars, buses and all the other non-consumer vehicles that the country needs to run smoothly.
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post #38 of 51
10/10/08 at 9:56am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

I agree. The gas stations are in no fear for quite some time.

However, there will, I think, be some interesting changes/challenges coming up in other areas.

For example, at my condo, there are no electric plug-ins for the cars in the parkade. Back in my home town, they were there for block heaters (no need out here in Vancouver). So, when someone gets the 1st electric car in our building, what will be done? Should we ramp up and install plug-ins for all stalls and attach meters to be able to bill the appropriate condo? Will we need a new breaker box for that? Will 15A be enough for these cars? Will our service into our building support dozens of electric cars being charged? What about at work? Will employers be willing to pay to have electric cars being charged?

Just some random thoughts/questions.
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post #39 of 51
10/10/08 at 10:27am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

They have advertised you can plug it into any normal outlet. But 15A? Don't know about that, what if you plug in a vacuum cleaner on the same line. And for cars that park outside in condos, think of all the problems. Neighborhood kids coming by in the middle of the night and unplugging your car. Or people sneaking an extension cable to your box and charging their car on your dollar. Good thing none of this is happening over night.
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post #40 of 51
10/10/08 at 3:10pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
.00241% (There are 241,000,000 registered cars in the USA)
Something wrong with the math there....
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post #41 of 51
10/10/08 at 5:17pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Chan
Something wrong with the math there....
0.04149% maybe? Despite the mistake, it's still an awfully small percentage.

241 million vehicles? Ouch! That's two cars for every three people in the USA including those who don't drive!

As for power outlets in buildings, I believe the Tesla Roadster comes with a fast 220 volt charging station for home charging, along with a separate power cord equipped with a standard North American plug for on-the-road charging. Of course, you still have to wait hours for the batteries to be charged. And if you're on the road, that could be a problem. Electricity is still not as convenient as typical liquid fuels which can be added to a vehicle in a matter of minutes.
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post #42 of 51
10/10/08 at 6:08pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Bob Lutz says you could charge a GM electric car with your Hummer if you like. Now that is progress.
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post #43 of 51
10/11/08 at 7:31am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

There is a new electric "car" company that will be building a assembly factory with in an hours drive from where I live. They are taking reservation down payments. Electric Cars | ZAP Electric Cars | Green Electric Car | Ride The Future
I can see their place in and around town, but I don't think I will be buying one of these anytime soon. Hopefully they will help the local economy out though.
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post #44 of 51
10/13/08 at 7:59am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Israel is actually signed up to do a nationwide "test" of electric cars complete with recharging stations, battery swap centers, etc. The technology is already here, we just need to embrace it.
That said, it will be the oil companies that will ultimately be the strongest force to butt heads with. I saw that Who killed the Electric car? film. GM had a terribly good product, it just so happens that oil companies have more power to influence the state of mind of politicians and people alike. But I think with all these things happening right now, we may yet just skip over them like they're not even there.
Imagine if the EV-1, the Ford Ranger electric, the RAV 4 electric were fully accepted, I bet we would have a bunch of other electric vehicles around to choose from...and we probably won't have this climate problem.
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post #45 of 51
10/14/08 at 8:39am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Samonte
I bet we would have a bunch of other electric vehicles around to choose from...and we probably won't have this climate problem.
Well some scientists argue that the ozone erosion we're enjoying now is the long term effect of what we did 1890-1950. Even if we stopped driving today it could be decades before everything we've pumped into the atmosphere is fully felt on the ground.

Or we could get hit by taxis tomorrow. I'm not losing sleep over the 'global warming' issue, which has made my neck of the woods 'cold & wet' for the last few years (although it gives NYC that Seattle charm I suppose).
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post #46 of 51
10/15/08 at 9:55am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Samonte
That said, it will be the oil companies that will ultimately be the strongest force to butt heads with. I saw that Who killed the Electric car? film. GM had a terribly good product, it just so happens that oil companies have more power to influence the state of mind of politicians and people alike.
I would take the information you gleaned from viewing that "documentary" with a huuuuuge grain of salt if I were you.
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post #47 of 51
10/15/08 at 9:55am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

oops - double post!
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post #48 of 51
11/4/08 at 4:35pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Well, I finally got my new 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. So far it has been very cool to drive. With the navigation system display, it can also show you a graph of your mileage the last 30 min of driving. I swear, just by having that graph there I am really trying to squeeze every bit out of the hybrid system. It tends to make me a slower/safer driver. I dont jackrabbit start (because I want to keep it on electric mode as long as possible) and I dont zip up to stop lights and then brake (because I want to gradually brake and use the system to regenerate as much juice as I can) and I try and keep my speed even.

I know it sounds goofy, but the fact that the car gives you a readout of "Excellent!" on one of the displays if your milage is good just drives me to achieve better mileage!

Best so far on my commute home has been 5.5L/100Km (which is about 43 mpg) which is pretty darn good for a full sized sedan!
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post #49 of 51
11/4/08 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott McGillivray
Well, I finally got my new 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. So far it has been very cool to drive. With the navigation system display, it can also show you a graph of your mileage the last 30 min of driving. I swear, just by having that graph there I am really trying to squeeze every bit out of the hybrid system. It tends to make me a slower/safer driver.
Just don't be too conservative -- coasting at 45mph on the highway and waiting for 10 minutes to make the perfect left turn -- and cause hybrid rage!
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post #50 of 51
11/5/08 at 5:10am

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

Been doing that for years before Hybrids even became popular...

Especially on my bike, makes the track stand a little less long...

jay
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post #51 of 51
11/8/08 at 8:45pm

Re: What do you think, can I buy a plug-in electric car in 5 years?

My dad's averaging 45 mpg (US) on his 05 Prius, and does not drive any differently than he ever has, which could hardly be described as conservatively.

I've seen a couple of the Zap things around here, but only 2--they don't have AC which is an absolute necessity in a city where the temp rises to well over 95 deg F from mid-may to mid-October.
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