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Ineptus Mechanicus posted:You should submit this post to TTAC or something. Consider my incredibly cynical rear end interested in electric cars again. That's very flattering, but since I've already posted it to my Facebook account as well, it's essentially unsaleable.
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Jun 26, 2012 20:25
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Edmunds is long-terming the iMiev, if anyone wants to read up on what they have so far: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/Vehicles/2012-mitsubishi-i-miev/
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Jun 27, 2012 05:00
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nice link.. i didn't know that thing was RWD!
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Jul 1, 2012 18:42
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Wiglaf posted:nice link.. i didn't know that thing was RWD! It's not like RWD conveys it any dynamics benefits.
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Jul 1, 2012 18:51
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EVs run in the top 6 at Pikes Peak! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtK0TfwTApM I was so bummed about Tajima's car retiring in the first mile. He could have taken the top time this year.* http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/08/pikes-peak-ev-catches-fire/ *unlucky situations (Dallenbach) and weather took out all the rest of the fastest competitors
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Aug 16, 2012 08:56
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Blooot posted:EVs run in the top 6 at Pikes Peak!
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Aug 16, 2012 10:42
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So as to not let this thread die: it looks like the Tesla Model S's are being delivered. The reviews I've been able to find have been pretty overwhelmingly positive. http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/11/2012-tesla-model-s-first-drive-review-video/ http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1208_2012_tesla_model_s_test_and_range_verification/viewall.html?ti=v2 I can't find the link at the moment but someone (Motor Trend?) did a drag strip Tesla Model S vs. M5 a week or two ago, and they came in neck and neck. A few reviewers have said the battery weight is low enough that the car corners well for its weight also.
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Nov 1, 2012 17:38
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My boss just a Tesla S delivered at work, sharp car..
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Nov 1, 2012 18:12
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I'm going to reiterate my frustration that a Ford Focus EV costs $40,000. Who in the world would pay $40,000 for a Ford Focus ?
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Nov 1, 2012 20:28
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ijustam posted:Who in the world would pay $40,000 for a Ford Focus ? You can replace that with almost any of these cars. But these are the people that are going to keep the segment moving in the right direction. If the Volt was 10k cheaper I'd have bought one in 2011. Edit: V 
Godholio fucked around with this message at 20:50 on Nov 1, 2012 |
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Nov 1, 2012 20:29
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Godholio posted:If the Volt was 10k cheaper I'd have bought one in 2011. Don't worry - you bought several, you just don't hold the title to them.
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Nov 1, 2012 20:30
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ijustam posted:I'm going to reiterate my frustration that a Ford Focus EV costs $40,000. The same people who take a 7 year note at 18% on a $23,000 Focus.
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Nov 1, 2012 20:36
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ijustam posted:I'm going to reiterate my frustration that a Ford Focus EV costs $40,000.
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Nov 1, 2012 21:02
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Viggen posted:Don't worry - you bought several, you just don't hold the title to them. That set me off laughing.
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Nov 1, 2012 21:51
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Apparently, adding water to a Fisker Karma makes it catch fire and explode, as happened to 11 Karmas parked in Jersey when Sandy hit: http://updates.jalopnik.com/post/34669789863/more-than-a-dozen-fisker-karma-hybrids-caught-fire-and 
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Nov 1, 2012 21:55
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grover posted:Apparently, adding water to a Fisker Karma makes it catch fire and explode, as happened to 11 Karmas parked in Jersey when Sandy hit: Poor battery packs  I hope the cars were submerged considerably under water, or otherwise subject to some huge deluge of water. If they weren't, then, well, it's a bit scary, anywhere where water can cause a short should be sealed/protected/etc.
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Nov 1, 2012 21:58
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movax posted:Poor battery packs I'm not really surprised, though the Karma does have kind of a habit of catching on fire when it's dry, too: http://www.insideline.com/fisker/karma/uncertainty-surrounds-fisker-karma-fire-automaker-contends.html http://www.insideline.com/fisker/karma/2012/second-2012-fisker-karma-fire-under-investigation.html Congrats on the mod position.
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Nov 2, 2012 02:25
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I haven't read much positive about the Fiskers besides their styling.
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Nov 2, 2012 12:27
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I saw a Tesla S recently, and the build quality wasn't up to what I'd heard on the internet. From this angle, it looks fine:  The right hatch gap is a bit wide, but nothing crazy:  What could have happened that the badge is cracked?  Not sure why, but the door handle wasn't fully retracted. 
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Nov 2, 2012 17:07
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Interesting. I can't quite tell from the photo, it almost looks like there's a scuff above the badge, maybe it was hit lightly? Was there a scuff or is that some sort of artifact?
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Nov 2, 2012 17:32
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CharlesM posted:I haven't read much positive about the Fiskers besides their styling.
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Nov 2, 2012 19:06
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The motorized door handles seem to be the early reliability complaint leader on the Tesla.
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Nov 2, 2012 23:11
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On my trip to Pennsylvania last week I saw a Tesla S and a Fisker Karma. Surprising really since the only other high end card I saw the whole trip was a Maserati GranTurismo. I love the looks of the Tesla but the Fisker looks someone stepped on a BMW then hit it with the ugly stick.
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Nov 2, 2012 23:56
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Disgruntled Bovine posted:On my trip to Pennsylvania last week I saw a Tesla S and a Fisker Karma. Surprising really since the only other high end card I saw the whole trip was a Maserati GranTurismo. I love the looks of the Tesla but the Fisker looks someone stepped on a BMW then hit it with the ugly stick. I always thought 'They crossed the genes of a BMW with a fish.'
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Nov 2, 2012 23:58
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Madurai posted:The motorized door handles seem to be the early reliability complaint leader on the Tesla. They cost $1200 each to make. What could go wrong?
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Nov 3, 2012 04:38
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Half an article in the Drive section of the Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/auto-news/free-ev-chargers-installed-along-the-trans-canada-highway/article5520638/ about the installation of a series of EV recharge facilities across the width of Canada, outside of the urban areas. They're not publicizing the locations of these stations until after they complete their 7200 km trip, just in time for Christmas. As publicity stunts go, this seems like a pretty good one.
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Nov 25, 2012 21:40
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ExecuDork posted:Half an article in the Drive section of the Globe and Mail: Where does this free power come from I wonder.
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Nov 25, 2012 22:31
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InterceptorV8 posted:Where does this free power come from I wonder. Free to use. For now a lot of stations are free since the cost of the electricity is tiny and the cost of installation has been covered by industry donations and tax incentives and whatnot.
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Nov 25, 2012 23:15
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My guess is the majority of the facilities that have signed on for this project are associated with other travel-related businesses. Even at 60 or 90 amps, recharge times are going to be a few hours, right? So it makes sense for a motel to get on board early like this, and put a big "FREE ELECTRIC VEHICLE RECHARGE" sign up, right next to the "Free Continental Breakfast" sign. It occurs to me casinos could also be early adopters for these stations. Somebody could work out how much electricity gets spent on the neon sign vs. how much goes into the cars.
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Nov 26, 2012 00:38
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oxbrain posted:Free to use. For now a lot of stations are free since the cost of the electricity is tiny and the cost of installation has been covered by industry donations and tax incentives and whatnot. Plus demand outside of urban areas has to be next to 0. I seriously doubt there are many people doing cross-country trips in EVs (due to charge time vs. travel time - its just not practical) and not many people outside of big cities have them due to range constraints and/or demographics. ExecuDork posted:So it makes sense for a motel to get on board early like this, and put a big "FREE ELECTRIC VEHICLE RECHARGE" sign up, right next to the "Free Continental Breakfast" sign. It occurs to me casinos could also be early adopters for these stations. Not to mention with the power bill either establishment pays due to HVAC alone, the added use from charger stations would be a drop in the bucket.
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Nov 26, 2012 03:32
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Geoj posted:Plus demand outside of urban areas has to be next to 0. I seriously doubt there are many people doing cross-country trips in EVs (due to charge time vs. travel time - its just not practical) and not many people outside of big cities have them due to range constraints and/or demographics. People that are buying EVs right now aren't doing so for money or practicality.
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Nov 26, 2012 11:39
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Geoj posted:Plus demand outside of urban areas has to be next to 0. I seriously doubt there are many people doing cross-country trips in EVs (due to charge time vs. travel time - its just not practical) and not many people outside of big cities have them due to range constraints and/or demographics. I went to a coffee shop on the high street the other day, and their upstairs seating area had to have at least 50x 50w halogen lights in the ceiling. 2.5kW, on upstairs lighting alone, and they probably have them on most days all day long. Suddenly charging stations don't look so expensive.
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Nov 26, 2012 12:09
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Madurai posted:The motorized door handles seem to be the early reliability complaint leader on the Tesla. I really dislike unnecessary complexity like this. If you crash, flip over and catch fire - how will someone outside trying to save you get in? I can understand the need to eliminate parasitic drag, but surely there are simpler and more elegant solutions. But I guess the way to wow the masses is to load it up with gizmos that go  and Star Trek displays.
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Nov 26, 2012 13:59
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Ola posted:If you crash, flip over and catch fire - how will someone outside trying to save you get in? I love the way Mercedes solved this problem with the gullwing doors on the SLS. By using explosive bolts 
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Nov 26, 2012 14:25
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Ola posted:I really dislike unnecessary complexity like this. If you crash, flip over and catch fire - how will someone outside trying to save you get in? I can understand the need to eliminate parasitic drag, but surely there are simpler and more elegant solutions. But I guess the way to wow the masses is to load it up with gizmos that go The Fiat Barchetta, amongst several, managed the same trick for probably less than 1% of the cost: You push the leading end of the handle with your thumb, and the main section pops out for your hand. It's just a pivot and a light spring.
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Nov 26, 2012 21:23
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grover posted:Saw a recent study comparing a Chevy Volt to the similarly sized Chevy Malibu; for the average 12,000/yr commuter, you would have to drive the Volt for 25 years to save any money. Can you find or name the study? I'd like to read it.
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Nov 27, 2012 06:47
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Ola posted:I really dislike unnecessary complexity like this. If you crash, flip over and catch fire - how will someone outside trying to save you get in? I can understand the need to eliminate parasitic drag, but surely there are simpler and more elegant solutions. But I guess the way to wow the masses is to load it up with gizmos that go Is that really a big issue? If you've had a big enough crash to end up upside down and on fire the side windows are hardly likely to have survived intact.
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Nov 27, 2012 11:28
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Denzine posted:Can you find or name the study? I'd like to read it. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/business/energy-environment/for-hybrid-and-electric-cars-to-pay-off-owners-must-wait.html?hp&_r=0 Of the Volt: NYT posted:The Volt, which cost nearly $40,000 before a $7,500 federal tax credit, could take up to 27 years to pay off versus a Chevrolet Cruze, assuming it was regularly driven farther than its battery-only range allows. The payback time could drop to about eight years if gas cost $5 a gallon and the driver remained exclusively on battery power. Now, USED, on the other hand... if Volt prices can come down into the single digits, fuel efficiency costs might look more favorable. grover fucked around with this message at 11:56 on Nov 27, 2012 |
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Nov 27, 2012 11:43
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I know nothing about the Volt, or any other electric or hybrid-electric car. I've never driven one, I've been a passenger in a Prius exactly once (for about 20 minutes), and I've read a few reviews, most of which were positive, especially regarding the Volt. As a car. People seem to like driving the Volt as a car, or as I would probably (snobbishly) call it, a driving appliance. A commuter box with some pleasantries. Comparing only one metric between cars is pointless. A new BMW 3-series costs close to twice what a new Corolla costs, and delivers inferior fuel efficiency in a vehicle that's a little less practical. Are all 3-series purchasers insane, then? The point about people wanting the image associated with driving a vehicle that says "HYBRID" or "ELECTRIC" on it, rather than a strict financial calculation, is dead on. If everybody only bought the car that made the exact most sense, financially, to them at the time of purchase, the world would contain 1 model in each size category, all of which would be painted dull grey.
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Nov 27, 2012 12:18
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2ndclasscitizen posted:Is that really a big issue? If you've had a big enough crash to end up upside down and on fire the side windows are hardly likely to have survived intact. It's a hypothetical example. For every possible death scenario involving jammed doors I can come up with, you can think of something that makes it seem less bad or more bad. The door handles are more complicated and more expensive than they have to be for the sake of novelty. That's bad design.
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Nov 27, 2012 14:00
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