I see both sides to hotbox and mehow's arguements. I am a HUGE proponent of electric vehicles. Everything about them is far superior to the internal combustion engine EXCEPT for the battery. But that's slowly changing. They are quiet, gobs of power that is easily accessible, a huge powerband that allows for a transmissionless car. The T-zero mentioned in the first post basically has no gears to shift.

mehow, your logic is fantastic. Though we must listen to consumers like hotbox. If it's not good enough we must do better. I believe a 200 mile per charge vehicle would do the trick. Plenty of range to zoom around on those odd days where I'm traveling alot. And if want to go on a long trip to Tahoe or San Diego, I'll just swap cars with someone or rent a car. That technology is here today...but not yet affordable for the masses. I think 300+ miles is the holy grail. Most consumers will have an easier time making the shift because it's similar range to a tank of gas on an average car.

My electricity is fully clean. I purchase it for $2-3 more per month. And if you get an electric vehicle it would be better to go on a TOU (time of use) meter. Yes your electric bill would go up but it's been researched that it's still cheaper per mile than gasoline.

And those first buyers aren't going to be so concerned about the price of the vehicle so much as the feeling it gives them. If we were all concerned about return on our money when buying cars then we'd all be driving econoboxes. People buy Priuses primarily because it makes them feel good that they are doing their part to use less oil from unstable countries and polluting less too. To them it makes them feel good like a corvette or hummer makes other buyers feel. Just like when people on this forum modify their cars. Most modifications aren't a good return on investment. It just makes them feel good.

Also realize that though it may take 4-8 hours to recharge a vehicle to full capacity (depending on what outlet you have) you rarely need a full recharge. You may only need a couple of hours to recharge what you depleted that day. Then every day you go off with a full tank of electrons. :D

 

Fact remains that even with a 300 mile range electric vehicles will not dethrone the internal combustion engine. They will stay king until such time that a 300 mile range as well as a quick charge that only takes a matter of a couple of minutes is viable for electric vehicle batteries. Until such time electric vehicles will take a back seat (way in the back) to the internal combustion engine.

 

Fast recharge would take ultracapacitors. A big bonus is that they are cost effective. Scientists are working on the energy density though. Eestor is rumored to have a such an energy dense unit to come out soon. But I'm certainly not holding my breath on the technology or the time line. I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm curious as to what the public opinion is as far as what range would be satisfactory? Would 600 miles and an overnight recharge be okay? Or conversely a 150 mile range with a fast 5 minute fill up be better?

I think hybrids will lead the way though. I wish I had saved it but I saw the slides of a presentation from Toyota on where they are taking the hybrids. You could see that with successive models they are going to increase the size/power of the electric motor and energy storage device and reduce the size of the gas engine. It's rumored that the next Prius will be plug in optional. In that case the technology is really pushing toward a full plug in vehicle.

 

So, does anyone know of ANYONE that actually bought one of these conversions?

 

At the Santa Monica Alternative Auto Show I over heard one of their spokesmen say that they only had a hand-full ordered at the time. So I can't image that there can be any more than a dozen of these (Unfortunately)

 

I did a little more research... it seems that the first one sold about two weeks ago. The buyer? Tom Hanks!