Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Topic started by: Unorthodox on March 31, 2016, 02:54:29 PM

Title: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Unorthodox on March 31, 2016, 02:54:29 PM

Tesla is unveiling a $35000 car...

http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/03/31/tesla-unveil-affordable-model-today/82461890/ (http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/03/31/tesla-unveil-affordable-model-today/82461890/)

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Unorthodox on March 31, 2016, 02:59:10 PM

On one hand, I REALLY like the idea of an electric car, AND my normal habits are really conducive to the electric market. 

However, I have serious reservations on how the batteries will handle the winters here.  Mostly see the cars in California and other fairly consistent weather markets. 
The price has always been an obstacle as well. 

That said, there's 2 charge stations near work now, and I shouldn't even NEED to charge one for the daily drive.  If the 200mile range is accurate on that Tesla car, that's like twice a week charging for me.  (theoretically once, but I'd not trust it down under a half)

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on March 31, 2016, 03:03:52 PM

Yeah - I like the idea of it, and am waiting for the rich and/or spendthrift to work out the bugs in practice and bring the price down.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Unorthodox on March 31, 2016, 03:09:58 PM

I ran an electric (and gas) forklift for YEARS.  Maybe not 100% correlation, but similarities are there.  There's things that would annoy in car form (I preferred the gas lifts), but the maintenance ease alone would more than make up for them.  Which brings up an "Issue" with electric cars...

Car companies make a lot on parts and maintenance.  Electric cars SHOULD have very little.  New brakes, new brushes, and that's about it.  Eventually battery replacement. 

Can they be trusted to not purposely manufacture lower quality to force more frequent maintenance? 

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on March 31, 2016, 03:18:16 PM

Brake usage should be low unless the Tesla is very different than electric I've read about - I understand the generators in the wheels that return power when not accelerating/powered have a lot of drag...

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Unorthodox on March 31, 2016, 04:43:32 PM

Quote from: BUncle on March 31, 2016, 03:18:16 PM

Brake usage should be low unless the Tesla is very different than electric I've read about - I understand the generators in the wheels that return power when not accelerating/powered have a lot of drag...

Forklift versions have brushes in them that wear out (akin to a really advanced wimhurst generator).  I'm assuming there's a similar mechanic in a car, but haven't even tried to read up on it. 

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Dio on March 31, 2016, 04:51:40 PM

I would require additional incentives to purchase luxury items that can pollute the enviroment even more than people do on a daily basis with Carbon Dioxide from fossil fuel emissions.
P.S.A: The people in our country should employ mass transportation, bipedal locomotion, and bicycles as a primary method of transportation because it helps to reduce the carbon emissions from cars and oil manufacturing. ( ;deidre;)

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Rusty Edge on March 31, 2016, 06:51:40 PM

I've considered it in the past. There is certainly use for a local errand runner. I like the idea of it.

I guess I concluded it was a niche vehicle, and we have a two car garage. My wife drives what she wants, and I tend to get the practical all purpose vehicle, for towing, hauling, extra passengers, and winter travel.

We tend to buy new and wear out. We'll re-evaluate when the time comes. My wife has come to realize that the all purpose vehicle is the essential one, but she will probably replace her current car with another luxury or sporty one next time.

I don't know, though. We had an incident while transporting a car battery. Acid isn't exactly safe, and neither are the ones they used in those hoverboards.  We might not be comfortable with the idea of it.

Obviously gasoline isn't safe either, but we haven't had any bad experiences with it in cars.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 04, 2016, 12:16:11 AM

I'd guess gasoline would win a not-safe contest.

But I s'pose all that battery acid is one of those bugs I was talking about getting worked out...

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Dio on April 04, 2016, 01:08:51 AM

I support the concept of electric bicycles that have mini motors to transport people around. I know motorbikes achieve higher levels of fuel efficiency since it has to move an object with a  lower mass than a car.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 04, 2016, 01:13:47 AM

That would be a big marketing problem - people see you on a moped, they figure you're a drunk driver with a suspended license.  -That really IS the only time you see them these days...

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: ColdWizard on April 04, 2016, 07:07:12 PM

Quote from: BUncle on April 04, 2016, 01:13:47 AM

That would be a big marketing problem - people see you on a moped, they figure you're a drunk driver with a suspended license.  -That really IS the only time you see them these days...

Illegal to operate a moped on a dui-related suspended/revoked license in Virginia. Plus you need to be licensed to go faster than 35 mph. In this area most of the moped riders seem to be youthful. I assume they have a need for something outside mass transit or mass transit doesn't suit their limited needs and a car is outside their needs/means.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 05, 2016, 02:17:10 AM

Man, I'm pretty sure suspended license guys are the entire moped market in NC...

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: ColdWizard on April 05, 2016, 06:31:45 AM

Pretty sure they just keep driving here.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Rusty Edge on April 05, 2016, 07:02:57 AM

Quote from: ColdWizard on April 05, 2016, 06:31:45 AM

Pretty sure they just keep driving here.

That happens a lot here, too. Then they die on a railroad crossing, or going the wrong way on the expressway.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: ColdWizard on April 05, 2016, 04:02:57 PM

Saw a car doing that on I-95 once. Very disturbing and yet almost typical for Maryland.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Rusty Edge on April 05, 2016, 07:18:31 PM

"Well, I'm gonna hit that highway,
They call highway 95.
If I never make it, Baby,
You can't say I didn't try!" - George Thorogood, "Delaware Slide"

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 06, 2016, 03:47:49 AM

I understand electrics have some real heft on the acceleration - which would be good urban traffic maneuvering, but might encourage cowboy driving, too...

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Rusty Edge on April 06, 2016, 03:52:46 AM

Yes.

One of the things I don't like about them is that they are so quiet, I don't know if deer and pedestrians can hear them approach.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 06, 2016, 03:55:59 AM

Having walked alongside the occasional road in my time - tires and air displacement make more noise at any speed worth mentioning.  Quiet is almost never ever a bad thing.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Dio on April 06, 2016, 06:06:17 AM

I concur that roadsides remain extremely noisy with any meaningful level of traffic. I should know since I walk on a street in a major residential throughfare during rush hour at least three or four times a week.

Title: Re: Would you buy an electric car?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 06, 2016, 09:14:19 PM

And is the engines you hear as a car overtakes you - or the rushing of air?