Every commuter knows that the current system of driving alone to and from work in heavy traffic is crazy, yet there hasn't been any real alternative. Until Commuter Cars came along, no one could buy their way out of a traffic jam without climbing on a motorcycle. We're changing all that with the introduction of the two-seat Tango. [Broken External Image]:http://www.commutercars.com/images/tangoManito.jpg For more info: CommuterCars
in a strange way i like it. I wish it could go farther on battery power.. i wonder if it could do a "no arrows" trick though.. if so.. it could go farther.. and if you learn the trick to regenerative breaking like i've learned in the prius.. then you could go even farther. Just don't try to go very far with the a/c on full blast. hehe
Alright. I thought for sure those pictures were manipulated images. Guess I was wrong. It would scare the holy living crap out of me to drive this thing around the hulking SUVs I drive next to on the road. But I suppose it would be fun to drive around town for quick errands. I will still point out that even though the car emits no pollution the creation of the electricity requires, in most cases, the burning of coil, oil, or use of nuclear fuel rods. As Scientific American put it (May, 2004) you have to consider the entire "well to wheel" impact rather than focussing on a single aspect.
I too thought it was the result of some Photoshop effects, until I see the surroundings. Driving this thing on highways is like riding a motorcycle; both are dangerous I guess? I personally would not drive anything smaller than the Smart Fortwo.
if you watch it on the autocross course.. well.. because of the shortness of it.. it doesn't really tip.. just turns
My guess is it carries that 1100lbs of battery very low, beneath the plane of the front and rear axles. That's the only way I could imagine that it achieves stability.
$85K and you still have to put it together. We think we'll wait! However, it does give one with little space the option of a commuter car, except for the price. Even the T100 at $18K in 2007 puts a damper on it. To me, a car that can only carry 2, is only good for very short distance commuting also has to be inexpensive. At least a fair bit less expensive than any 4 passenger car one might buy. There wasn't much in the specs for details, but I don't imagine there is much in the car that couldn't have been built 100 years ago. Basically an electric motor, batteries, a connection to the wheels, seats and a shell. Half as many seats, half the sheet metal, etc. Should be commercially buildable for $6K to $8K. I imagine the economies of scale (low volume production) account for the expected price of the T100. A major mfg wouldn't have to try to recover the cost of development so rapidly - ex: Toyota Prius
Starting to see a lot of Smart for Two cars here on the west coast. My stepdad put a deposit on one a couple of weeks ago and he's number 64 on the waiting list.
Frank, they had one of those Smart cars at a shopping mall last week so had a chance to sit in the thing. Except for the price I probably wouldn't mind having one as long as everyone else around me was driving one too. It was really comfortable even for a guy over 6'. It seems when everyone gets excited about all electric vehicles like the Tango they seem to lose sight of the not too-long-range problem. As China's economy grows and they begin to suck up energy at the rate we westerners/European do the oil/gas reserves will not sustain fuelling power generation plants. I noted in the Vancouver Sun last week that the Chinese are poised to buy up British Columbia coal to fuel their steel mills. If we could harness the ocean tides effectively for energy perhaps then the electric vehicle would make sense. Controlled "cold fusion" or hydrogen fuel cells ??? It's a very complex situation
saw one on the cut in N. Van and we were moving along about 80K and he was keeping right up. Also saw one on Broadway in traffic. The dealer is about 1/4 mile away and they have two on the front line. Electric and hfc cars are a non issue as far as I'm concerned, electric, no range, hfc well what are we using for the feed stock? natrual gas??? whats up with that. Well to road were better off with gasoline. I don't forsee the day when hfc's will be cost effective. And fuel cells aren't without their problems. The wife say's she'd have a smart for two if hybrids weren't already here. Unfortunate that the Chinese will be burning coal as the emissions from that stop at your place first then on to us over here. Hydro electric has for the most part been the best.
I promise to take deep breaths here on the island so as to reduce your pollution. Guess we are lucky that we still have a considerable reserve of hydro capability and at $0.06050/kW.h so far.
