Getting an electric car soon.

[Nilsen]

We have figured out that over 95% of the driving we do are to places within 15 minutes from the house. The only time we drive further is to the summer house or the cabin so we are going to get an electric car in january/feb All it really needs is room for two adults, two kids and a little boot for the shopping. Was talking to the neighbour and he was thinking about doing the same thing, so we are going to sit down one of these days to see if our driving patterns match so that we may get one and share it.

Are there any new exciting cars comming to the market the next couple of months in terms of newer battery technologies, or are they mainly just refinements of exsisting stuff?

Anyone here own one?

[-aper-]

Mitsubishi iMiEV could be appropriate one:
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/special/ev/index.html

[john9001]

electrical power is the future, just look at how far portable power tools have come in power and battery endurance.

[1701E]

electrical power is the future, just look at how far portable power tools have come in power and battery endurance.

And yet my mouse dies in about a month and a half.  We can see where the priorities lies.

[Nilsen]

My microsoft mouse lasts for about 6 months and i use all the time. Pretty impressive actually.

[soda72]

I would hold off buying until more car manufacturers start building Extended-Range Electric cars like the gm-volt.  If your commute is less than 40 miles a day you will use zero gas.  However if you need to go on a long trip or your commute is slightly over 40 miles it has internal combustible engine that will power the electric motor for extended range.  The internal combustible engine is also capable of running on other fuels besides gasoline. The gm-volt concept car is a win-win situation.  If you believe global warming is man made this car is a step in the right direction since it would produce zero emissions.  If you don't like sending OPEC money this car can help reduce dependency on foreign oil.

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/?seo=goo
2008_Chevy_Fuel_Solutions_Lif estyle
IMG_Electric
Chevy_Volt_FS_General
gm_volt

[zoozoo]

We have an overcast of smug clouds in the area

 

[CAP1]

wonder how much your home electric bill will go up from charging this car though.

you also won;t do much to put out less polution, but rather will simply change the source of it.

[Nilsen]

wonder how much your home electric bill will go up from charging this car though.

you also won;t do much to put out less polution, but rather will simply change the source of it.

Hardly anything compared to buying gas

And to quote mitsubishi motors: "The car emits absolutely no CO2 while operating. Even when taking into account CO2 emissions at the power plants that generate the power needed for charging the car, it emits only 28% of the CO2 of a gasoline minicar."

I have read similar things elsewere.

[CAP1]

Hardly anything compared to buying gas

And to quote mitsubishi motors: "The car emits absolutely no CO2 while operating. Even when taking into account CO2 emissions at the power plants that generate the power needed for charging the car, it emits only 28% of the CO2 of a gasoline minicar."

I have read similar things elsewere.

co2 could be eliminated by not using catalytic converters. we can burn engines clean eough without them now, but as the epa mandates them they're not going anywhere.

 should electric cars become more popular, imagine you, and about 1/2 of your state all plugging in when they get home from work. demand goes up. co2 output will go up.

 imagine in kalifornia where they already have their "rolling brownouts" they'll get worse.

 i'm not trying to say you shouldn't do it, i'm only trying to say that they're not the solution to pollution problems.

<<S>>

[68Wooley]

Yep - electricity is a means of transferring power, not a source of power in itself.

Unless you're sure the source of electricity is more efficient / cleaner than the internal combustion engine its replacing, there's no point. Also, be sure to factor in the impact of creating, using and disposing of the batteries.

[Nilsen]

This is already proven and you can find it plenty of places on the net. An electric engine is far more efficient than the internal combustion engine for this use. Powerplants are (or can be) more efficent, the logistics of moving electricity around vs gas, the heat created at powerplants (fueled by fossile fuels) can be sent to other customers rather than wasted. Up here most of the power is also created by hydro electric plants.

There is no maybe about it. The overall co2 and other harmful gasses would go WAY down if we switched to electric cars. Noise pollution is another factor that is less important yet it is a factor. That is not the reason for us getting one though. They are way cheaper to run, free parking, no toll both fees and you can drive in the public transport lanes. Add insurance cost and subsidies and there is no contest for OUR kind of driving.

Oh and our reports also sais that even if every norwegian switched to electric cars overnight it would only add some 20% strain on the powergrid, and it could handle it with only minor improvments in those areas with the oldest and most strained grids.

[Xasthur]

Nilsen, for the love of god man don't do it! 

I refer you to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W32hStUuFg

 

[Xasthur]

Also, you'll notice that the table is faster off the line here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtGp8Sha_mA

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If you believe global warming is man made not buying this car is a step in the right direction since it would produce 10 that's one zero times the emissions compared to continuing to drive your old beater.  

There, fixed that for ya! 

This is the biggest fallacy of enviromental marketing. The only way to reduce emissions is to stop consuming. Guess what, they won't or can't tell you that.

The development and manufacturing of a hybrid car takes way more resources than you would ever use while driving your old car.