Electric vehicles

[ciddyguy]

I know there is a lot of excitement for electric vehicles, especially the new EV plug ins from Nissan and Chevy, and the new EV 500 from Fiat coming soon as well with the thought of finally not having to deal with gas every  night, all well and good but there ARE some things we all need to look at before we jump onto the plug in bandwagon and that is the ability to actually plug in one of these things and the potential costs to actually charge one of these puppies - especially if you just plug it in via a normal 120V socket overnight, let alone through a special adapter that allows for speedier charging, using either a special 220-240V outlet to do this. And there is the increased load to the electrical grid across this nation, which could cause additional pollution elsewhere, such as at a coal powered power plant - and let's not forget the actual cost of electricity we pay to use it, it all adds up.

The problem is where you have to park your vehicle and is there a convenient outlet nearby? If you own your own house and have a garage, then yes, as usually most garages have at least one standard outlet handy but if you want to have speedier charging, a 220-240V outlet, typically not. What if you have to park on the street or live in an apartment or condo? How are you going to charge these things then?

It's easy to get caught up in being green, but it also pays heed to look at the ENTIRE picture and see if something like an EV is really the right thing for you right now.

In my case, I live in an apt, an older building not fitted for charging and have to park on the street, again, no charging stations available (here in the US, the infrastructure just isn't there yet) so EV's are out for me for that reason alone so the only other alternative to a strictly petrol based car is the hybrid, such as the Prius (or 500 hybrid) instead but to be honest, I'm a bit of a motorhead and  appreciate a good internal combustion engine and am not willing to totally eliminate that just yet. Besides, a hybrid gives me the range I would want since it would be my main vehicle and I want to be able to take it on extended trips every now and then and that leaves EV's out of the picture, at least right now for that reason.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem being more environmentally responsible but let's be realistic here when it comes to what you CAN do and for many of us who can walk, live in a city with a walkable neighborhood with stores and shops nearby, at least we can leave our cars at home when we can and simply not drive them as often is being one way.

and from what I've read on the potential Fiat hybrid designs, new smaller batteries and the 900cc TwinAir could make for the most compact hybrid drive train yet as EVERYTHING would fit under the hood in the engine bay, something the current batch of hybrids can't do.

So, what say you all?

[Fiat500USA]

I had the chance to drive an electric car at the NY Auto show, I think it was a Mitsubishi, and it was different. Very quiet. I'm not sold on them, though.  I love the sound of a well tuned engine, you know, the intake and exhaust, etc., (think Ferrari, or 500 Abarth, etc.).  One day, I might have to change my tune.

 For the first time ever a hybrid interests me, the Fiat 500 Hybrid, that is.  

I really like the Diesel for an optional engine or take the 100hp TwinAir if that became the standard engine. That's my bit for ecology.

[ciddyguy]

I am totally with you on the 100 TwinAir but right now with only the 1.4L 4 available, just reducing how often one drives, say to and from work can help wonders and just reserve our driving for other ventures such as for errands further out etc or for that drive out to the curvy stretches of road that often beckon us drivers.

That said, I agree that eventually the electric vehicle or hydrogen or whatever will be the way we will all have to move towards but right now, for a lot of us, the EV is simply not practical for day to day use.

[Vlad92]

I have a deposit down on a Nissan Leaf through their reservation program.  Unfortunately the car is not coming to my area until fall/winter 2011.  While I was very excited at first as time goes on I'm starting to have my doubts if the Leaf is the right car for me.  The intent was for the Leaf to be my daily driver (about 30 minutes round trip daily), but I'm concerned about the car not being practical (especially in the winter).  There are days I pull out of the garage in the morning and it is -10 degrees.  I could just see being stranded at the side of the road with power running out and no heat (and my 2 kids in the back).  Not good....  now as a second car I would go for it... but the Leaf doesn't sound like a very "fun" second car compared to the 500.  I'd get the Fiat EV, but then I'd have to give up the Prima.  So I'm thinking right now buying my Genesis when the lease runs out, getting the Prima as a second car, and still having my wife's Pilot for when the blizzards hit.

[txdesign]

With a home office and a total annual mileage that never exceeds 5-6K miles an EV would be perfect for me. However, as another poster mentioned, I also love the sound of a well tuned engine running through the rev range and I would have to think long and hard about making that choice.

[Fiat500USA]

I was thinking about that drive in the Mitsu I had. It was very different. It didn't feel like driving a car, but an appliance that moved. In its defense it was a limited test drive and I suppose I could get used to it. It was also very easy to drive, but not involving.

If the car was more interesting, that would have helped. I'll admit to a reluctance to giving up on the internal combustion engine.

I still think there's life left in the old Otto cycle.

[sketch]

Fiat500USA wrote

I was thinking about that drive in the Mitsu I had. It was very different. It didn't feel like driving a car, but an appliance with moved.

To be fair, I'd say that the majority of cars on the market drive more like appliances than cars.  The only real difference in feeling is the lack of sound and of distinct gears in the transmission.

In reply to ciddyguy's post, I mean, of course an EV won't work for everyone.  Not everyone has a garage or an outlet, and some people have commutes that are longer than the range of an EV.  There are a lot of people who do fit the criteria, though, and the EV is for them.

[Fiat500USA]

sketch wrote

Fiat500USA wrote

I was thinking about that drive in the Mitsu I had. It was very different. It didn't feel like driving a car, but an appliance that moved.

To be fair, I'd say that the majority of cars on the market drive more like appliances than cars.  The only real difference in feeling is the lack of sound and of distinct gears in the transmission.

That is true, many cars do drive like appliances. It is something I could probably get used to, and if my driving conditions were more suitable, I would be more enthusiastic about electric.  I'll have to keep an open mind on the subject.

I'm sure I'll get an education on the technology in the next year;)

[Gavin]

6 mile commute each way. Drive 90% of the time alone. Solar panels on the roof and we have 310 sunny days a year up here at over 5000 feet elevation. An electric Fiat 500 would be PERFECT for me. No gas EVER. Free electricity from the sun. NO POLLUTION. No Saudi oil.

For me it is about more than just pollution and climate change---though those are important...especially with me having two kids and now a grandkid on the way. But it is also about independence...about not buying oil from people who hate us. About using the sun and wind and hydro as much as possible. Hell we should be using tides and thermal and other natural energies too. Oil, gas is just dirty and limited anyways. It's the freaking 21 century, lets act like it. I want my flying car. But an electric Fiat 500 will do till then.

:)

Gavin

[Fiat500USA]

Hi Gavin,

Very well put. Got me thinking.  I love the 21 century thing:

Gavin wrote

...It's the freaking 21 century, lets act like it. I want my flying car. But an electric Fiat 500 will do till then. :)