electric car for commuting

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I would do an EV for short commutes, no problem. But the price would have to be right to fit my budget.

A friend works at a Mitsu dealer just told me Mitsu was pushing their I-Miev EV to employees for $89/month or was it $69/month? 2 year lease, 12000 miles per year, standard lease. I'd FOR SURE do it for $69/month just to try it out.

The Focus Electric would be something I'd try out too but for $300/month? You can get a Volt and have no range anxiety for $259/month, I'd probably be smarter to do that.

 

[fdcg27]

If an electric would suit your commute in all weathers and if you can charge it at work for free, then I'd say you have a no brainer.
Range will suffer if you like heat in the winter and AC in the summer, but if range will still work for you, then why not?
I've seen exactly two Nissan Leafs on the road and also one of the little Mitsubishi electrics.
With my fifty mile each day commute in all seasons, I think I'd find an electric marginal in very cold weather.
If your daily drive will work with an electric, it is something to consider.
Just remember that if you run low on charge, no gas station can help you.

 

[JHZR2]

I hear the electric car theory... My commute is 8-9 miles and pretty ideal. So if I was in the market for a commuter car, and I could get an all electric for roughly the cost of a cheap yet half decent commuter car, say $15-20k, IMO it would be worth it. But this is because electric is so much cheaper than gasoline.

If they started putting road tax and other things on to me, then the story would start to look a bit different I think.

But this is also why IMO PHEVs are the best. Just enough juice to get you a few miles, yet a full fledged high efficiency hybrid car.

A hybrid would be worth it to me just to prevent continued escalating gas costs.

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
what is that contraption shown above the scooter?


I'm not sure what you are talking about?

 

[rjundi]

I think the better alternative are these type of cars coming soon:

http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=6824-en

Basically plug in Honda Accord 10-15 miles then Hybrid. At least it is not hideous looking like a Prius. Too bad this one is loaded to the hilt.

 

[Vikas]

This thing from the MadMax movie
Originally Posted By: Phishin

 

[kb01]

At least on paper, the Mitsubishi MiEV looks interesting.

I live in a state with very low electric rates but very high gasoline prices. In a few years, when an electric car is in the $25k ballpark and can go 75-100 miles on a single charge, I'll be all over it.

 

[Phishin]

That's a Honda Ruckus....that I slightly modified. LOL!!

It's one of the funniest thing to drive that you can imagine....if you like being asked a ton of questions and like gawkers.

50cc's....110 mpg's....44mph top speed....and I snap more people's necks riding through the city than a Ferrari F40.

 

[spackard]

I think I'd be interested in the Accord. It fits my home's limitations.

If an employer had a plug-in station then I could do it with another car; but I have ~45 mile round trip and no way to plug it in at home. I don't have 240 to the detached garage, and it's a teensy garage so I don't park in it anyway.

On the other hand, I had to use handicapped parking stalls for 2 years; I remember all the excuses I heard from people who'd park in those. The people who know it's wrong, don't park in them. So, you're left dealing with the sliver of people who are fine with it. Imagine the people who park in the charging space, leaving you without a charge for the day.

 

[zzyzzx]

Obligatory:

 

[javacontour]

Yes, I think come springtime, my ride to and from the gym will be:

It just doesn't make sense to drive to the gym when I can ride the approximately 4 miles in nice weather.

 

[Scotty1981]

If you have 10k these babies might as well be electric motorcycles with the speeds they reach and since they're bicycles you may not have to title/insure them.

http://www.stealthelectricbikesusa.com/

 

[grndslm]

There's a LARGE number of solutions, but they don't all need to take the oil out of your life...

(1) Take a bicycle, tricyle, folder, recumbent, you name it.... and strap a motor on it. This is a guide I wrote years back when I was learning how to do it myself. I've got a 4-stroke 33cc Robin Subaru motor on a folder now that gets close to 200mpg. Read my lips. 200. Miles. Per. Gallon. For the extra slow, that means with a ONE Gallon can, I am able to ride for 200 miles... and since it's a 4-stroke, I can just fill'er up at any ol' gas station. Unfortunately, this 20" folder has a poor frame choice, and there's one thin aluminum tube that cracked away from the crank bracket. I'll be welding it sooner or later, but the thing has a dual-freewheel setup... and just one gear. So I just go. Tops out at 25 mph, but the 2-stroke could get up to 30 mph... just had to mix oil, which isn't bad at all. I've got a Mitsubishi 33cc motor that I'm going to be putting on a better frame when I get a chance. You can use an electric motor setup if you prefer, but I'm not ready for expensive batteries with limited range & life cycles. Those things are still cheap and impractical, IMHO.

(2) Put a motor on a Swifty One scooter... http://www.swiftyscooters.com/index.php/swifty-one

(3) Put a motor on a pedal plane and take to the skies... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XqNwrVfSx4

(4) Put a motor on a hydrofoil and take it down [and even back UP] the rivers... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaYhyeGxYoA

- OR, if you want to buy the thing already built, and you're stuck on electric. How about...

(5) Ryno's electric-powered one-wheeler... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1YoCfm7nxU

(6) Electric, Self-balancing, HANDS-FREE Unicycle (with seat) - SBU v3... http://focusdesigns.com/media/#videos

(7) Electric, Self-balancing, HANDS-FREE "Wheel" (no seat) for $1800 - SoloWheel... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkCr1KmEXos && http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8soCqO5ok6U

(8) Tilting, 3-wheel electric scooter - Sway Motorsports... http://www.gizmag.com/sway-motorsports-scooter/22117/

(9) The lightest electric vehicle - Boosted Boards... http://www.gizmag.com/boosted-boards-skateboard/24111/

- OR, perhaps you're a purist, like those who post pictures of road bikes. You want to do nothing but eat gas and burn fat?? Here ya go...

(10) Put your ride in the trunk, or ten of them, even. Take one on the plane... http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.p...ding-Bikes-quot

(11) Put your ride in your pocket(s). Freeline Skates or HypnoSkates

 

[Cujet]

There was an interesting study recently, and it claimed that electric vehicles can cost less overall. But, not by much...

I really enjoyed the Tesla model S, that I got to drive. Great fun. That's a "dream car" for me.

I also liked the Chevy Volt. But that's way too much money for a compact car.

 

[Spector]

Son in law has the Volt. His commute is within the charge so all electric however, the visibility is terrible out the rear and just way too expensive even with the credit. he loves it but part of it is he works for a power company and sort of walk the walk issue.

Plus, technology changing every year I am not sure owning one of these is practical, who knows what it will be worth in 3 years when they have one that can go 300 miles on a charge versus his 48, Lease maybe but still too expensive.

 

[Cujet]

I'm currently driving and commuting in an F150 4 door Ecoboost. It gets exactly 20MPG with me at the controls. (can't speed as it's a FREE company truck and my job would be at risk)

20MPG at $4/gal means that the company truck costs me 20 CENTS PER MILE. Not bad!

But, an electric car like the leaf or volt generally costs less than 4 cents per mile (energy costs)

So, I could purchase, insure, maintain and drive a leaf for the same as the gas costs on my current ride. One big problem,,, Aircraft parts won't fit in a leaf.

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/201...to-operate.html

 

[asand1]

Buy a Metro, source an electric forklift motor,and build your own.
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_q...c.2.30ZwhFXNJ_w

 

[PandaBear]

Are you going to save money? probably not. For long distance commute the electric car probably won't hold enough charges to go for your distance round trip. You can't always rely on charger at work. Ours is always full (and we have 7 at each site). You do need a full charge that can cover round trip commute plus wear and tear, and temperature effect.

For short distance commute, you are not paying much for gas anyways so you can save money buying a small car instead.

For medium distance commute, it would be tough to tell depends on the gas price and whether the electric car depreciate much or not. You may get lucky that they don't depreciate much like in California for Prius, or you may if they found a design problem or sell a significantly improved model a few years later for the same price.


Now if your area has the carpool lane waiver for EV and the commute distance is within reach, it is a no brainer, go for it.

 

[VicVinegar]

I actually saw a Focus electric on the highway the other day after leaving work. I've also seen Leafs around. The Thai restaurant I order from uses one for delivery. Probably a good use for one, but I wonder if it is cost-effective in reality. You'd probably have to run it for a long time.

There are a few Volts around too. One in my neighborhood. Not sure where they go with it.

Personally, I have a long commute, so I do believe I did a cost exercise with the Volt a while back to see if the 30-40 miles of electric could save me anything. It had a looong payback. Diesel also wasn't worth it, with the cost of fuel. Even a Prius didn't give me that much compared to a Civic.

 

[morris]

ya if it breaks you just call IBEW.