Neighborhood Electric Car, Page 2
Seems like there's a new neighborhood electric car built every minute! As I discover new companies making excellent NEVs, I'll put them on the website; and for ease of reading and faster loading, I'll split the pages into manageable chunks; ) The Kurrent (American Electric)
Cute, classy, inspired. This electric European mini-car gets more than 30 miles on a charge (the manufacturer claims 35-40 miles, but I feel skeptical; )! Regenerative braking, 48v system, solid construction. More and more dealers are offering these excellent little cars, and the executives of American Electric are auto industry vets.
More...Gem Electric Cars
These are the most well-known of the true neighborhood electric cars. They are made by Daimler-Chrysler, and have been in continuous production for at least ten years.For people who worry that they might buy an electric car and then find it's been ORPHANED by a company that goes out of business... ...this company isn't likely to disappear soon! (Anyway, there's no need to worry about that with ANY of these vehicles. For one thing, because they're electric, they're practically maintenance-free......and for another, if you should find that a part needs replacing, there is an extensive network of very nice, very enthusiastic people with vast resources and creativity who can help you get your pet electric car back on the road using whatever is readily available. Electric owners are a different breed, and you will quickly find yourself becoming part of the extended family.) Back to GEMs.; )They sit up high, like a little minivan. This will make you feel more visible to the cars around you than if you were in a low-slung model, and also improves visibility for you, too. If you like a lot of choices in car design, sitting up a little higher off the ground, and having a well-known car company behind you... ...this might be the neighborhood for you.;)
IT cars
Okay, I have no idea why they call these ITs. They are really cute little (four passenger!) sedans, made in Canada, by Dynasty cars. They are true neighborhood electric cars, meaning they go 25 mph, have four wheels, and weigh less than 2500 pounds.
These are really designed to be just like regular cars. If you like the echo...you'll like this miniature electric version, too.
Read more about ITs by clicking here.
There are two schools of thought in electric car design, apparently...One designer wants to do something really different, because they CAN. Electric cars are so different from gasmobiles that you can just let your imagination be your guide, as long as your imagination leans towards light and aerodynamic. Another designer wants to give people something comfortable and familiar, so they design their electric car to resemble the gas-chugger it's supposed to replace, in order to appeal to the more conservative buyers. (Guess which school the IT belongs to?) Miles Automotive
This is a new kid on the block, and carried by only a few dealerships nationwide...but look for lots more of them as time goes on.
It's a converted Japanese (Daihatsu) Kei car imported from China, which means it's a regular (but very small!) car that meets American highway safety standards, rather than being a "golf cart on steroids", as some of the NEVs have been unflatteringly described; )I've done a little research on these, which you can read
here.
Better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.
Return from page 2 to page 1, Neighborhood Electric Cars
|
