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So it was good timing for earth day.
13 years ago
I bought a new lawnmower. You might be thinking what does that have to do with earthday. Well, it was and electric one that replaces my ancient gas powered one. I've been doing a lot of thinking about combustion engines lately. It has always been sort of a hobby of mine but lately it's really been on my mind. We complain that the electric cars are not good enough so we don't buy them.
Well if we don't buy them where is the incentive for a company to make them more competitive and sell them at cheaper rates? Cars get better every year because the companies are competing for our business. It is the consumer that decides what a company will sell. If we stand up and tell them we want better electric cars now and refuse the crap they make for us currently it will make a difference.
I think if i can find a way the next car i buy will be electric. Even if i have to build the damn thing myself. So when i see the trouble we are in i am not part of it.
So we bought a battery powered electric mower as a way to start.
Happy earthday everyone.
Well if we don't buy them where is the incentive for a company to make them more competitive and sell them at cheaper rates? Cars get better every year because the companies are competing for our business. It is the consumer that decides what a company will sell. If we stand up and tell them we want better electric cars now and refuse the crap they make for us currently it will make a difference.
I think if i can find a way the next car i buy will be electric. Even if i have to build the damn thing myself. So when i see the trouble we are in i am not part of it.
So we bought a battery powered electric mower as a way to start.
Happy earthday everyone.
KuteKittyKatt
~kutekittykatt
I am SERIOUSLY looking into the new electric cars. I go through so much in gas every week commuting to work I hate it! I hate spending the money, and hate adding to the problem. So please, if you do research, or you happen to look into it post a review here for all of us to read and see. Lets start helping the planet one furry at a time ^_^
dotter
~dotter
I think it's mainly a matter of engineering versus cost. On one hand you have Zenn Motors in Montreal; their sub-compact cars were practical and useful with a reasonable projected cost. But they wouldn't go faster than about 60kmh; nice for the neighbourhood, but you couldn't even commute. On the other hand you have Tesla Motors in California; their sports cars are wicked fast and have decent range, but they cost $50,000 and up! 'Way up! Even Chevy's Volt is priced about $32,000 and it only goes 35km before it reverts to hybrid mode.
Thadiuseffingham
~thadiuseffingham
OP
your points are valid but the problem is they are at both ends of the spectrum. From the research i have done you can build one including the cost of the base car for about 8-12 thousand bugs with a rang of 100-150k on a charge. That's three days of driving for me and the equivilant of 30-40 dollars in gas.
dotter
~dotter
That would be practical. Will it make highway speed, though?
Thadiuseffingham
~thadiuseffingham
OP
Sure many of them can outrun combustion vehicles in a drag race. Watch a film called "Who killed the electric car" for some insight.
Lisky
~lisky
Honestly, i think the way to go is to get the diesel/electric hybrids over that are still in the mostly prototype phase. GM and Mercedes have a joint venture going, and they've got a diesel/electric hybrid (which is taking some serious flack for political reasons...) that's getting 100+ MPG in current lab testings.
Thadiuseffingham
~thadiuseffingham
OP
There is all sorts of options but until we "demand them" we won't see them.
olefin
~olefin
Out of curiosity, what brand did you buy? Is it a mower from Solaris? We have one and it runs off a 3 phase motor, quite efficient, low noise, self propelled. Awesomesauce.
Thadiuseffingham
~thadiuseffingham
OP
Ours is a homelite, a brand that I have had several tools from before. It's not self propelled but seems petty good and has great reviews.
