Re: electric car dieing?

[Eric Hegstrom <ehegstrom@domain.elided>]

Yea I read somewhere that the you california guys were getting a better
deal. I talked with Saturn dealer in Tucson who was handling them and it
was over six and possibly seven-fifty for the open lease here. Then of
course there was an extra charge for the hookups for fast charging at
home (I have a charging station less than 2 blocks from my house). I
really wanted one because my commute is relatively short. 

Well worry not. The whole battery thing is its achilles heal. Soon
enough the hybrids and the fuel cells will be out. The great advantage
is that you just fill them up when you need to. No long charging waits.
Small fuel cells are going to be a big busines (I truly believe).
Companies are even working on small ones for your laptop so you can just
top off the tank at the airport giftshop. 

Peace,
Eric

Tom Harais wrote:
> 
> Eric:
> 
> GM was leasing the EV1 around here and down in LA too. I saw a $299 or
> $399/month figure in the ad in the paper, for a 36 month lease. That being
> a "pure" lease. They want it back at the end of 36 months, no questions
> asked. You had to pay to install the 220V charging system at your house.
> 
> And, I still wasn't impressed. As much as I am a great candidate for one of
> these cars as I commute 80 mile round trip every day; I work in a municipal
> tranist operation; we've added "charging stations" to all our newer
> facilities in anticipation of electric vehicles, it jus isn't cost
> effective. I could drive my Scout for about the same cost/mile every day,
> and I'll still own it at the end of 36 months.
> 
> I was disappointed.
> 
> The reason they want it back of course, is as the article said, that is
> about when the specialized batteries are expected to go and thier
> replacemetnt will cost thousands if not ten thousand, and that pretty much
> makes the whole thing a useless mess.
> 
> Tom H. (who wishes electric cars were all they claim they are)

-- 
Eric Hegstrom                          .~.
Senior Software Engineer               /V\  
Sonoran Scanners, Inc.                // \\          L I N U X
ehegstrom@domain.elided        /(   )\  >don't fear the penguin<
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