Picture a world in which all the cars are electric, and have been for 100 years since their inception. History went from horse and buggy directly to the electric motor vehicle.
Then, one day, some guys invented an engine with internal COMBUSTION. And their design required the carrying of FLAMMABLE FUEL *onboard*.
People converting their electric cars to this system were *not* granted insurance coverage because of the risk of FIRE and *explosion*. The refusal letters spoke of the "inherent risk of carrying combustible liquids near the passenger compartment."
Society too, rejected the concept because of the emissions and pollution. People everywhere scoffed "that crazy invention would require petroleum stations on every street ? adding further risk and aesthetic disfigurement.
Ultimately, the concept fell by the wayside because people realized how * messy* the transport of oil products in ocean vessels could be and would not tolerate the possibility of MASSIVE spills that would endanger plant and animal life - especially aquatic and bird life.
Fortunately, the gas-powered car never really caught on, and our world has been a cleaner, safer, more beautiful place ever since.
The end.
Just imagine..
May 22, 2008 Rating
Capitalism by: Dan Bentler
If you are looking at just the bucks of conversion (up front costs) then you are probably right. However if you drive 40 miles a day getting 20 mpg then at a fuel cost of $2 per gallon your daily operating cost is $8. With electric the fuel cost (electricity to recharge) is let us say $2 bucks a day. So it is like any capital project - the up front costs are paid for by lowered operating costs. There would be other operating cost savings too - lowered maintenance (oil change, filters etc) and lowered repair costs.
The major consideration in my mind is if you are interested and want to do it. If you are the tinker kind of person have the tools and garage to do the work then you are in business. On the other hand if you are a mechanical klutz then stay away from it. There are not enough qualified and competent people to do the installation work and maintenance for you. This is not something that the corner garage can handle.
May 19, 2008 Rating
Too expensive!! by: Anonymous
It appears to me that I could buy a LOT of gasoline for the price of converting one car to electric... about 75,000 miles worth at $4.00/gallon in a car getting 20 MPG. And that's not counting the price of buying the car I intend to convert. Figure in the life of the finished product and it's MUCH cheaper just to continue burning gasoline... whether or not I try to drive less.
Tell me again why this is a good idea? I'll check back when gas is $10/gallon... maybe then it'll look more attractive.
