Electric Smart being offered - Page 6 - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

homeslice · 06-04-2009, 02:19 AM

If they only get less then 100 miles and it takes 8 hours to charge, they can keep it. I often do 90 mile drives in a day just to visit 1 person.

Woody14619 · 06-04-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeslice

If they only get less then 100 miles and it takes 8 hours to charge, they can keep it. I often do 90 mile drives in a day just to visit 1 person.

Then you're not going to get a pure electric for a long time. Most EVs are never going to get more than 100 miles a charge. The percentage of people that need that much travel time per day is too small to make up for the huge bost in cost for packs that large. Eventually there may be an option for it, but it's going to take a major campaign and consumer demand for that to happen.

Eventually this won't be an issue as the new battery technology rolls out and charging stations start to pop up. The newest battery technology can charge to about 80% in under 10 minutes. This makes having electric filling stations at a gas stations or fast food places much more likely, and will help extend the limitations on pure electrics.

Electrics are not for everyone, but most people really aren't putting 50 or 60 miles a day on their car, yet alone 100. For the majority of the US, electric is a great option, myself included. For the rest of you there are hybrids like the Volt or high efficiency gas cars.

homeslice · 06-04-2009, 02:41 PM

Various family members and friends live in the next county and I can easily rack up 90-100 miles in a day driving around.

Man, that's a buzz kill... but hopefully they will come out with aftermarket kits where people will cover their entire vehicles with some kind of solar cells that will charge the car while you sit at stop lights and when your car is parked. Anything is better than nothing. Maybe in 5 to 10 more years things will get better.

I guess for now I will have to look for a used passion or cabriolet next year.

wrumbarger · 06-05-2009, 07:06 AM

IF you are driving an all electric vehicle and need more range than normal?

Your stated range is 90 miles and you know you are going to drive 50 to visit a friend and then 50 to return = 100 miles.

Then you do what is called "opportunity charging"

You drive the 50 miles to visit your friend, and when you get there, you plug in and recharge while you visit.

Even if you don't get a full recharge, you will add some range.

Ditto when you go to work every day. Plug in while you are at work, and then you have a full charge when you leave.

Basically, whenever you park an Electric Vehicle, you should look around for a recharge? Most shopping malls, parking garages, and restaurants are more than willing to provide a charge while you are using their facilities (the longer you stay plugged in, the more $$$ you could spend?)

homeslice · 06-05-2009, 12:58 PM

Then my friends will all start saying, "Man, every time you come here to visit, you cost me money!" I will end up being a mooch. Sometimes I will not be there long enough to get a decent charge.

I need those solar cells wrapped on the car to help give it a boost as well. Somebody needs to make a solar wrap for this car.

SuperGeek · 06-05-2009, 10:09 PM

Then don't buy it. Simple.

Look, a particular car's not for everyone. You didn't buy a Hummer, or a Harley, or a Kia. You chose based on your own needs. If you need to drive 90 miles one way on a regular basis, plan to use a liquid fuel - they're the most energy dense and will be that way for several decades. But if you're like 90% of America and drive 20-40 miles to work and various errands 5 days a week, an EV could save you 80% on energy costs.