What would convince you to buy an electric car?

[lazydays]

I was thinking this morning about the price of gas, how it keeps going up, and how it will most likely keep going up. So if I was going to buy an electric car what would I need?

First, I don't think I could handle any of the current crop of electric cars. I love my Solara convertible and that's what I want to drive. So I suppose I would need something comparable or use a conversion kit.

Second, it gets freaking cold here in the winter so I'd need a heater. I don't understand why the electric cars use electric heaters and drain the batteries so fast. I think back to the horse and buggy days when they had little gas heaters built in. I think that's a better way to go.

Third, it gets freaking hot in the summer so I'd need a real a/c. No way around that!

Last, I think I would need a 200 mile range. My current car has about a 325-350 mile range so I'm willing to go less but I'd still need the ability to drive to seattle for shopping etc.

So that's my wish list. I don't think I can get any of the items on my criteria so electric isn't an option right now but I'm hopeful technology will continue to improve.

ps. my back hurts and I'm on pain killers so if I don't make complete sense cut me some slack. :-)

[Grace62]

you live in western Washington and you think it's "freaking cold" and "freaking hot???"

That gave me a smile....

Like you I'd love an electric car too. I rented one in Vancouver and loved the quiet ride. I'd expect them to get significantly better over the coming decade.

[Rolando]

As a second car, it only needs to be within shooting distance of the regular model! Don't usually drive more than 40 miles a day, so that isn't an issue. Real AC definitely, although If I'm alone, I usually have the windows down as long as below 98 degrees.

[cbelt3]

A revolutionary breakthrough in energy storage. Electric only cars can't store enough juice for most American's uses. They're 'city commuters' only, and if you're that urban, you're probably using mass transit anyway. Right now the most portable and efficient way to store energy in a moving vehicle uses internal combustion of a flammable fluid.

It's all about energy density. The energy density of a battery is far lower on a pound for pound basis when compared to a tank of gasoline.

[DP]

cbelt3 wrote:
A revolutionary breakthrough in energy storage. Electric only cars can't store enough juice for most American's uses. They're 'city commuters' only, and if you're that urban, you're probably using mass transit anyway. Right now the most portable and efficient way to store energy in a moving vehicle uses internal combustion of a flammable fluid.

It's all about energy density. The energy density of a battery is far lower on a pound for pound basis when compared to a tank of gasoline.

What cbelt said. Need 300-400 miles on a charge and that's driving with the things on we need like AC and a good heater. And affordable, of course. The biggest problem tho is pollution. In many parts of the country you put more pollution in the air by charging an electric car than burning gasoline.

[Mac1337]

The only vehicle using "alternative" energy source that has been accepted by consumers seems to be the Prius. It is not electric but is as close as you can get and still be practical.

[mattkime]

>>A revolutionary breakthrough in energy storage. Electric only cars can't store enough juice for most American's uses.

I think thats a bit of an exaggeration. A shift in thinking might be sufficient.

How many people buy trucks because they're definitely going to need to haul something someday? People worry about distance the same way.

I think one of the biggest selling points of an electric car is not needing to stop for gas.

[Black]

1) A physical change that would make it no longer possible for me to bike and walk to/from public transportation, coupled with
2) A continued real need to get somewhere, and
3) advances in electricity production that would give me some peace of mind that the juice I was using was not causing widespread environmental devastation and health risks.

[freeradical]

My local library has an electric car charging station. I've never seen anyone using it.

[Grateful11]

I think our Prius is about as close to ideal as "we" can get right now.
It gets great mileage, we like the way it drives and rides. We've
put 14.6K miles on it in 2 years and the computer says we're getting
49.9mpg.