Categories: Science & Technology, Technology

So much for the age of electric vehicles

There remains little practical reason to buy one

by Chris Sorensen on Monday, March 28, 2011 5:42pm - 3 Comments

Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images

With oil prices above US$100 a barrel, it might seem like the age of the electric vehicle has finally dawned. But there remains little practical reason to buy one. Recently, some drivers of Nissan’s electric Leaf reported suddenly running out of juice despite gauges that suggested miles of motoring left on the battery.

Meanwhile, testers at Consumer Reports magazine suggested GM’s plug-in hybrid Volt can cost more to drive than Toyota’s hybrid Prius, despite being twice the price. There have also been complaints over Volt’s uneven cabin heating in cold temperatures and the strain it puts on the battery. Another big issue: finding a plug. Bill Ford, chairman of Ford Motor Co., has noted that most cars prior to the Model T were also electric. “This isn’t a new technology,” he said, adding that drivers of early electric vehicles had few places to charge them. And more than 100 years later? “We have the same issue.”

Tags: chevrolet, consumer reports, electric cars, green energy, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius, volt

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LeafOwner

So much for the age of researched journalism.

Just in case you need a little education, the Volt isn't an electric car. It is a car with an electric motor and a gas engine, otherwise knows as a plug in hybrid. The Nissan Leaf is an electric car. Electric cars are designed for COMMUTING and 100 miles is plenty for almost everyone who commutes to work. We charge our Leaf overnight in the garage when rates are low usually in 2 to 4 hours because we never run the battery to zero. At $.065 per kWr we get the equivalent of a gallon of gas for about 30 cents. Maybe you should keep your day job pumping gas and keep Limbaughs' opinion to yourself.

http://twitter.com/stevenson211 @stevenson211

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dave

I have an alternative scenario for this electric car scepticism.
Lets pretend the electric car has been around for over 150 years and that oil giant haven’t tried to destroyed it by buying all the patents and concept cars.
Lets pretend gasoline powered car would appear on the market for the first time. People would ask questions like: how is it powered?
Car Company: -Its powered from a chemical process that dilute oil into gasoline.
Consumer: – Where does that oil come from?
Car Company: -From unstable middle-east regions and highly polluted tar sands from Canada.
Consumer: – Is it dangerous?
Car Company: Oh no, there’s only a few million barrels of oil spilled in the ocean each year and there are some rumours that a few rivers of Alberta are spoiled. But eh, it’s the economy right?
Consumer: -So how is this gasoline car compare to my good old electric?
Car Company: – Well instead of being silent, gas motor cars constantly produce this ultra loud noise. Instead of producing absolutely no emission, this gas motor will emit tons of Co2 each year which will cause smog and health difficulties. Instead of costing an average of 5$ for every 100km it will cost about 10 to 15$ at today’s price. You’ll also have to pay a visit to your dealership every now and then for oil changes and other gas motor related parts that we perpetually make money over.
Consumer: – Well I’m not sure if I want to make the swich…
Car Company: – why not it’s a good deal for us.