I Want A EV or Plug-In Hybred Now Dammit!

I second that emotion. Sucks only having the one EV now.

 

All that work into hybrids and you expect them to just release EVs? nah. that's gasoline engine parts profit and battery profit.

I do agree that this should happen. I smile any time i see a Rav4 ev cruising around Palo Alto. It seems that the few Rav4 EVs left are in that area.

I'm sure it will eventually happen once again. I guess you could wait in line with Telsa. hehe.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Jan 14 2007, 01:23 PM) [snapback]375565[/snapback]</div>

Nah. There are several hundred of them on the road still. A few in Palo Alto. About 30 of them in Vacaville, more in Sacramento. And the most are in the LA area.

If you guys are serious about this, do what I do and find the sales manager at your local favorite auto dealership. Tell him or her that you aren't spending money on a car until you can plug it in. The first time it is done, they'll think you're crazy and won't understand what you're saying. After they hear it five more times, they just might start to wonder if maybe they could make more money if they build the cars we wanted.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jan 14 2007, 09:40 PM) [snapback]375666[/snapback]</div>

The thing you have to keep in mind is the EV is a different business model than what we have now. It has fewer moving parts, so won't need repairs as often. GM won't make money on parts. Dealers won't make money on labor.

This may be easier for companies like Toyota to stomach. I sold our Camry after about 6 years and only had $400 in repairs.

There seem to be some independent companies working on EVs and this may be what is needed to get the auto manufacturers to do something.

 

edit-vehicle sold

 

I want one too. But I think we'll all have to wait until 2009 when battery patents expire.
NiMH batteries larger than the Prius are protected by a patent owned by Chevron. When that expires, I think we'll see an explosion of PHEV's and EVs. I just don't think Lithion battery costs will come down enough to compete with the NiMh that the EV 1 used.

 

I'd buy one ev immediately and one plug in Prius (assuming it could run my house in a blackout) immediately if they were offered. There's low hanging ripe fruit just hanging there and no one to harvest. (The movie "Imagine a day without Mexicans" keeps running thru my mind, where the harvest is left to fall and rot).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doug @ Jan 14 2007, 04:03 PM) [snapback]375526[/snapback]</div>

Toyota once made EV cars too. That's what darrell has. Toyota may not have "smushed" them, but they did stop making and selling them. So I guess Toyota sucks too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Jan 15 2007, 12:15 PM) [snapback]375914[/snapback]</div>

Ford and Chevy offered EV trucks (the RangerEV and S-10e). You can find them online (there's a ranger ev on ebay now). There's even a place that specializes in reconditioning and selling S-10e's. Expect $15-20k for these trucks with updated batteries, less on original batteries. They are highway speed capable with a max range of 50/60 miles a charge. Both have batteries below the bed, so full truckbed space is available--- one nice thing over most diy conversions, where batteries frequently take storage space.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Jan 15 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]375914[/snapback]</div>

Marlin, Marlin, Marlin. I obviously know where you're going here. We should cut GM some slack because other companies did the same thing they did.... But the fact is, NO other company went as far as GM did to piss of their EV customers. GM spent more money in law suits and anti-EV PR than they spent on the program itself! Yes, the other companies stopped their programs when they didn't have to keep building the cars. But it was GM that stopped the mandate, and it was GM that took all the cars off the road and crushed 'em. Toyota didn't do that. Toyota also sold the vehilces, where GM never would.

Some similarities, but NOT the logical leap of saying that Toyota must suck if you say GM sucks. They suck in different ways, I agree. But you cannot paint the two companies with the same brush in regard to their handling of the EV programs. Can we let that one slide, or, if you're interested, we can discuss the specific differences so you understand them better.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roguenode @ Jan 16 2007, 03:54 PM) [snapback]376519[/snapback]</div>

If you ever find yourself with the choice, get the S10. It is the same running gear as the EV1, and while GM crushed all the EV1's "for consumer safety" they let some of the trucks out into the wilds. We don't know why GM has put customers in harm's way like this, but they did. Only a few out there though, so they can be tough to find. The S10 is a better product than the Ranger.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doug @ Jan 14 2007, 02:03 PM) [snapback]375526[/snapback]</div>

Me, too, dammit! :angry: Please?

 

edit-vehicle sold

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darwood @ Jan 15 2007, 10:49 AM) [snapback]375822[/snapback]</div>

Interesting about the Chevron patent.

Speculation: Maybe this is part of the reason that the next Prius model year is 2009?

More speculation: Maybe this is part of the reason that Toyota's current public stance is against a PHEV?

I want a plug-in, too!

All the best,
Matthew

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darwood @ Jan 15 2007, 07:49 AM) [snapback]375822[/snapback]</div>

The patents covers batteries EXACTLY the size of the one in the Prius. The pattent prohibits use of these large format cells in vehicles that are mainly propelled by battery. The Prius, a gasoline car, does not violate that agreement.

I actually DO think that Li-Ion will be the battery used except in the cheaper vehicles. Li-Ion has many advantages, and the prices are dropping every day. At their most expensive, they were still cheaper than any fuel cell option... and look how bad the auto makers pretend that they want to build those!

 

I just read last night that a plug in Prius may be available in 2008. Anyone else hear this?

 

We've been hearing it for a year or so. All indications are that it will NOT be a plug-in however. Could it have been? Yup. Will it be? Probably not.

 

I called that company that has a plug in converter for the Prius and they're not selling them yet. I think the company was called Coastal Tech. When they do start selling them, the mod will be very cost prohibitive. It would be nice if Toyota would come out with this option for subsequent installation. I would pay for it, if reasonable. Mostly, I drive my car 10 miles one way to work. This would be a great mod for someone like me. I'd get electric for my entire commute.

Next summer I'm considering riding my bike. I'd avoid having to go to the gym to do my cardio and I'd save the environment a bit. I'm scared as I've been run over when riding my bike in 1997 and had a fractured back and head contusion but I think I'm going to get back on the horse.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(toyotablackbox @ Jan 17 2007, 05:27 AM) [snapback]377055[/snapback]</div>

That's nice in theory but I'm a chick. And, although I'm very mechanically inclined, I wouldn't know how to transition a conventional engine to electrical. How long ago did you do this conversion, how reliable are the kits so far as performance and where would you get this thing serviced?

I'll be checking out the websites and bookmarking them for future. My neighbor is a mechanic and may be able to assist. Could one convert a Prius with these kits?