What would convince you to buy an electric car?

[Ted King]

If you live in a region where all or most of the electricity is generated in coal fired plants, then there is probably little to no environmental advantage in having an all-electric car.

[Will Collier]

Probably something like this:

[BernDog]

Ted King wrote:
If you live in a region where all or most of the electricity is generated in coal fired plants, then there is probably little to no environmental advantage in having an all-electric car.

Except the system would already be in place for when that coal power plant is decommissioned (hopefully) in favor of a better alternative. At worst, we're at least trading gasoline for coal, which is 100% domestic. As for efficiencies and pollution potential, not my area of expertise.

[bhaveshp]

When I can get the 200 mile range version of this for $35k. @60k, it's a bit out of reach, but I fully expect to have an equivalent within 5 years.

[bhaveshp]

As the new electric only car-pool stickers have gone into effect in January in California, I'm noticing many Nissan Leafs on the road in Silicon Valley. We have 3-4 charging in the parking lot at work daily.

Of course its nice the employer has electric only parking spots with charge cables at work.

[BernDog]

bhaveshp wrote:
When I can get the 200 mile range version of this for $35k. @60k, it's a bit out of reach, but I fully expect to have an equivalent within 5 years.

You could probably get that exact car in 5 years for that price. (plus the cost of a new battery).

[AllGold]

Even electricity generated from 100% coal on a large scale is more efficient and less polluting than burning gasoline.

Unfortunately, I don't have anything handy to cite on the subject and I don't expect or even want you to take my word for it any more than I want you to take someone's word for it who says otherwise.

[Grace62]

bhaveshp wrote:
When I can get the 200 mile range version of this for $35k. @60k, it's a bit out of reach, but I fully expect to have an equivalent within 5 years.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/05/tes...ilometers/

This guy isn't having trouble finding places to charge up.

[AllGold]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn__9hLJKAk

For me, If I had an electric car, I would like to have some kind of home-generated renewable energy like solar and/or wind, even if it only provided a small portion of my electricity use. The prices on that are currently still too high as are prices for electric cars themselves but will come down in time.

[BernDog]

AllGold wrote:
Even electricity generated from 100% coal on a large scale is more efficient and less polluting than burning gasoline.

Unfortunately, I don't have anything handy to cite on the subject and I don't expect or even want you to take my word for it any more than I want you to take someone's word for it who says otherwise.

My gut tells me that producing power on a large scale has to be more efficient than separate tiny power plants in each vehicle (like we have now). But, I do know there is some power loss in converting all those electrons and moving them long distances, as well as in charging/discharging a battery, so... ?