I don't really want to argue gas vs electric here - but you do raise some interesting points.
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Originally Posted by nmgolfer
-People in houses can harvest their own electricity from their rooftops and in most states utilities are required to purchase/credit them for it at attractive rates.
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This is true, but solar panels are priced at about $2 a watt. To get sufficient charging capacity, you would need about 34kwh of daily capacity, about a 4KW system - $8000 in solar panels, plus storage batteries, unless you are home all day to charge. Amortizes in about ten years.
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Originally Posted by nmgolfer
-Electric motors are virtually maintenance free ... extremely reliable and very efficient. Internal combustion engines are incredibly complex with many points of failure and wear.
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True enough. Electric motors don't wear out like ICEs do, but that doesn't prevent rust or wear on tires, suspension, bearings, body, and so forth.
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Originally Posted by nmgolfer
The leaf / volt etc. are expensive now. But the price will come down once the technology is ubiquitous. Aside from the battery, there is no reason why a leaf should cost more than your metro.
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Sorry. Metro cost $200 to buy, and I have $1000 in it for a complete overhaul. Show me an electric car for that price and I'm all over it.
Used? You betcha.
Buying a new car doesn't save money OR save the planet. It may help the economy, though.
Maybe I can buy a used Leaf in a few years. It'll probably need a new battery pack........