| Add the Smart Car to the List of Electric Cars for 2010 |
| Written by Philip Proefrock | ||
| Friday, 25 July 2008 | ||
|
As an all-electric vehicle, the battery Smart would have a more limited range than a plug-in hybrid such as a Prius or the proposed Chevy Volt. But as a commuter car, the Smart is well suited for limited-range city driving, so the combination may be an appealing one. A preliminary fleet of 100 battery-powered Smart cars has been testing in London since last December. Daimler is also weighing whether to sell or lease the batteries. By leasing them, the initial cost of purchasing the vehicle would be lower, but the operating cost would be higher. On the other hand, being able to swap out first generation nickel metal hydride battery packs (which should have a range of about 65 miles) with lighter weight, higher power, lithium ion batteries to extend the vehicle's range should appeal to those who want to get an electric car now, but also want to be able to take advantage of technological upgrades that come as more battery powered vehicles reach the streets. Others have pointed out that Smart is just coming into the US this year, so the battery powered Smart might well be something only available in European markets. Even if it doesn't come to the US, 2010 is still looking to be a watershed year for electric vehicles. Via SustainableBusiness.com, Ecomodder, and Autobloggreen ; Photo via joeshlabotnik
Comments
(5)
These cars are useless and expensive
written by kerry bradshaw , July 25, 2008
Count me in.
written by Maccabees , July 25, 2008
Yes, battery powered EV's don't have great range; but then again, I don't need it and don't care about it. Neither do thousands and thousands of other drivers. I am sick of being robbed at the gas station.
Battery powered EV's alone are not the answer. No one technology will be "the answer". The cars Chevy, Ford and GM have produced for the last umpteen years certainly aren't the answer either. The BEV will be an option that will sell when it is reasonably priced. The simplicity of BEV design and long-term (relatively) maintenance free life will be welcome by many. The battery technology will get better, but people that have run EV's for years seem to have gotten by some how. See just one example below. http://www.gazette.net/stories/072408/laurnew121127_32361.shtml Energy independence is vital to our national wellbeing. We can't afford another war for oil. This one hasn't worked out so well.
...
written by bill , July 25, 2008
Daimler is not planning to get out of producing petroleum power cars. They are getting out of producing gasoline powered cars. Some of their cars will still be able to use diesel.
...
written by Jay Hankins , July 25, 2008
mopar 318 big block needs new car for trade for smart car i'd trade my vintage mopar engine for a cruisen start car then they would find a way to run my old motor off hydrogen gas created off a solar panel just be my luck.
American Markets
written by The Food Monster , July 25, 2008
http://thefoodmonsterblog.blogspot.com
I would think, Los Angeles and New York would be the perfect market for something like this. Most people who would buy one, would also have another car for longer trips. | ||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Science, technology gadgets and...baby seals. We're in a bit of an eco-mess, but we've got the brains to lick any problem. And that's why EcoGeek.org publishes up to ten stories daily about innovations that are saving the planet.
And if that sounds interesting to you, then congratulations, you're an EcoGeek.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
impractical technology and laugh at how they will appeal to that small group of people who are convinced that one must suffer in order to be
a good Earth-citizen. The sheer ignorance out there about electric propulsion is incredible to behioold, although it certainly shouldn't be surprising - 80% still believe that we have been visited by aliens, or that the JFK assassination was a conspiracy. You can't explain stupid.
Instead of mindlessly cheerleading every electrically propelled vehicle, the environmental community should demonstrate some seldom seen logic, else we'll end up with another 30 year nuclear power moratorium, ushering in global warming way too soon. Or another wind power fiasco, where California energy officials became outraged that someone would point out that during the recent blackouts California's massive fleet of windmills were producing zero power.
The simple facts are that battery-only electrics are oxymorons so long as batteries are expensive and are not quickly rechargeable. Nor do they demonstrate ANY significant advantage over plug-ins with 40 mile or more electric driving ranges,
either in terms of gasoline avoidance or emission avoidance. There is the real possibility that plug-ins will actually do better at avoiding both,
although the differences are trivial in either case. The battery-only electric without a practical battery is an impractical car. No one can own just one car if one of them is a battery-only EV. That side effect expense, which battery-only advocates carefully avoid mentioning,makes battery-onlies far more expensive. And when was the last time you read an article shilling these vehicles that mentioned the crucial issues of battery costs and battery lifespans? I note that this article mentions neither.