Myth? Oh really??? Myth driver!

[Christopher Jordan]

Interesting Forbes article:
The Myth Of The Electric Car - Forbes.com

[MazdaMatt]

That article, and moreso some of its responses, are very angering. The problem isn't that it isn't possible, the problem is that the majority of america has been TOLD it isn't possible. I told my father that I wanted to do an electric conversion and he said "if it was possible, the big car companies would have done it already"... that made me really angry. Especially considering they HAVE done it, they just crushed the damn things!

[MetroMPG]

You know, this article didn't push my buttons. I'm also extremely cynical of automaker's claims, like the author.

And from the perspective of the current consumer mindset and component costs, I can't disagree with his thesis:

"There still are three obvious problems with the dream of an electric car. Range. Recharging time. Battery cost."

I know well all the arguments against these points. But the average consumer will compare BEV's to ICE vehicles, and the BEVs will come up short in their eyes.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

moreso some of its responses, are very angering

Haha. Yup. I didn't even bother reading past the first couple - always the same FUD. Ignorance is bliss!

[MazdaMatt]

I'm sure you know all too well the arguments, but here's my point:
Range - I drive more than 100 miles less than 20x/yr I drive 50km 5 times/wk. I would like my primary car to use no gas 5x52 days/yr and I'd like my second vehicle to have an ICE. How many homes in your neighborhood have only 1 car? How many multi-vehicle homes have ALL vehicles travelling greater than 100 miles in the same day more than one time per year?
Cost - What cost? A new motor, exhaust, gas tank and cooling system in a car would cost a LOT more than an electric drive system that fits my needs.
Recharging time - see point#1... i just don't need to go >100miles in a day and a second vehicle would be just fine for those rare days.

This one got me laughing, actually... The author said that the cost of setting up a charging infrastructure would be massively inhibitive! Really? So running electricity all over the country would be a difficult thing to do?... so... where do you plug in the computer you used to type that article, jackass?

[MetroMPG]

Yes, that infrastructure point raised my eyebrows. But it's so obviously wrong, I was generous and gave him a pass on it: I assumed he was talking about stations that could deliver that supposed holy grail of a full pack recharge in a couple of minutes, comparable to a gas fill-up.

[MPaulHolmes]

"And the range is tied to the number of batteries. E-car believers think a 40-mile range is enough, but who would pay $30,000 for a car with a 40-mile range?"

(from the retard article)

Friggen retard. A better question is: Who would want to pay $1500 for a 40 mile range freeway capable EV? Retard. Come over to my house and get one, dork. I just finished the first motor controller test at low voltage and it works just fine for $300. dork. Matt and us are going to make an AC version too, and a cheap charger is on its way. I don't like old stupid people. Regular old people are fine, as long as they don't smell too much like moth balls.

[dcb]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I know well all the arguments against these points. But the average consumer will compare BEV's to ICE vehicles, and the BEVs will come up short in their eyes.

I was making the same ICE arguments in RC land for a long time, that power, weight, cost, range were all in favor of the ICE.

But going around smelling like nitromethane (inconvenience) and trying to get your motor to start was enough to really swing lots of people to go electric, and the costs have been coming down ever since.

I don't know what the automotive analogy is exactly, but it may offer a glimmer of hope anyway.

[captainslug]

Automakers will never be willing to make BEVs because they realized a long time ago that they're not as profitable over the lifespan of the vehicle. Primarily because there are so few parts that will need replacing or servicing by technicians.

[MPaulHolmes]

But what about that motor post that spins?? (the only moving part) That might get worn out some day! hahaha! And motor posts are real costly these days, especially if they are made out of metal.