Wal-Mart electric smart?

[Mitspowered]

I haven't seen anyone else post this link even though I had expected someone would have.

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/artic...topart=hybrids

Anyone want a 35K electric smart? I wonder what type of batteries they're using?

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by Mitspowered

Anyone want a $35K electric smart?

In another thread i mentioned that that's almost $20,000 more than a gas smart. At $4 per gallon that would buy 5,000 gallons of gas, would take five years of driving at 40,000 miles per year to break even. Not for me, but your mileage may vary. Gas is looking pretty cheap right now!

Of course with $35,000 I could buy two gas smarts and the change would get me around for at least a year.

[eqwalker]

Well said.

[Rail Baron]

I think the difference is even greater than that. Wouldn't you have to consider the cost of the electricity to recharge the batteries? I know that can vary depending on where you live, but it seems to me that the cost of the electricity over several years would not be insignificant.

Originally Posted by spdickey

In another thread i mentioned that that's almost $20,000 more than a gas smart. At $4 per gallon that would buy 5,000 gallons of gas, would take five years of driving at 40,000 miles per year to break even. Not for me, but your mileage may vary. Gas is looking pretty cheap right now!

Of course with $35,000 I could buy two gas smarts and the change would get me around for at least a year.

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by Rail Baron

I think the difference is even greater than that. Wouldn't you have to consider the cost of the electricity to recharge the batteries? I know that can vary depending on where you live, but it seems to me that the cost of the electricity over several years would not be insignificant.

I pay $335 a month for electricity, there is no way I would ever buy an electric car!

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by CruisingAZ

I pay $335 a month for electricity, there is no way I would ever buy an electric car!

You put one hell of a lot of miles on the EV. Rule of thumb to compare EV operating cost to ICE is:

2-3cents per mile for EV @ 12 cents/kwhr rate.(At 3 cents/mile, that's 11, 166 miles in one month)

12-15 cents per mile for ICE powered vehicle, 30 mpg avg at $3.00/gal.

Hybrid Technologies did the conversion on the Walmart Smart that sold back in November and the battery pack is Lithium Ion.