Re: Electric cars quietly gaining acceptance
- From: "Matthew Beasley" <nobody@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:24:54 GMT
I'm all for the electric car. I just lament the lack of credibility because
so many in the field stretch the truth to make their case. I'm no longer
working on EV electronics, but when I did the math of the business and
promoter people drove me nuts. They never made a apples to apples
comparison. Tell the truth and the cause will be better for it in the long
run.
"Sco" <Sco@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%pqJg.4526$yO7.517@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bankrate.com
Electric cars quietly gaining acceptance
Monday August 28, 6:00 am ET
Michael Reade
--snipping a bunch--
and the Roadster will be higher than that, about $80,000.
I thought it was $100,000. What's $20k here or there?
The electric upstart outpaced the competitors, going from zero to 60 mph
in 3 seconds, and reaching the equivalent of 170 mph.
What's the equivalent of 170 MPH? I know this car is impressive and will go
faster than I'm likely to drive, but why the term "equivalent"?
Soon speed demons will be able to get one of their own for around
$100,000.
OK, there's the $100k
Charging into the future
With an initial asking price of more than $100,000, the Tango, Tesla and
other EVs still carry a hefty premium. But when consumers factor in what
they won't be spending on gasoline -- $75,000 to $100,000 over the average
life of their car -- it doesn't seem so pricey anymore.
Who the heck spends $75,000 to $100,000 on gasoline? I think the author
demonstrates his utter lack of basic math capability here.
At 15 MPG, $3 a gallon gasoline will cost 20 cents per mile. $100,000 in
gasoline will go 500,000 miles. I don't think many SUV's do - certainly not
"average". And that's among the worst milage. You can go and commute in a
one ton dually pickup and even then the milage will be better than 10 MPG
for a 300,000 mile "average" life to spend $100,000.
And there are other savings: no tune-ups or oil changes, and no
transmission to repair either. Tesla's 130 mph capability? First gear takes
you to 65 mph and second gets you to top speed.
Oh, there is the 130 MPH. So is 130 MPH "equivalent" to 170 MPH.
I don't own a vehicle that will even do 130, I used to but don't anymore and
I'm no worse off for it. Just why do they stretch the truth?
Now the no maintenance bit: That's huge once the bugs are worked out. A
two speed transmission with jaw clutches (no friction pads to wear out like
a automatic transmission do) can last dang near forever if designed right.
.
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