• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Would you consider an electric car?

Would you consider an electric car

  • Total voters
    26
  • Poll closed .
Shep Dawg

Shep Dawg

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
911
Reaction score
352
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
Considering the fact that 81% of all driving is done within 40 miles from home. Even today's electric cars are capable of 60 miles or more per charge. At a cost of approx $1.90 per charge. Lets assume the cost to buy one was in the $20-$30K range and they were styled as a regular car. Overall maintenance, and performance was comparable to todays cars. Would you be willing to buy one of these cars, even as a 2nd car?
 
Without a doubt. I have no issue with riding an electric car, a hybrid car, a hydrogen car, an ethonol car, a diesel car, whatever works best and meets the qualifications.

I'd want something big enough to take me, my girlfriend, and potentially a few other passangers around in along with some cargo. Smart Cars don't fit this, I need at least a back seat and a bit of trunk space.

I need a little bit of pick up in the engine. Sorry, perhaps I'm a evil spoiled American but I want my car to be able to go 75 or 80 if needed and not feel like its dieing because up here in NOVA it has to be able to do that to go most anywhere. I don't want to have to take a smoke break waiting for it to get from 0 to 60.

I need my energy source easily accessible. That means if its ONLY electrical I'd only consider it if I knew that my home and work would have a plug for it or/and there were stations that I could charge it along the way if necessary. I'd probably prefer something like the Volt, where you can still put gas in to act as an emergency way of charging the battery if you're not near an outlet. I have no care for hydrogen or ethanol or electric or whatever if I have to drive an extra 20 miles just to find a place to fill it up.

I want it to be economical. I understand I'll pay more for better fuel economy, however, if its SO much more expensive that it would take years upon years to recoup it in "savings" its not worth it to me.

Is it nice to possibly do something for the environment? Sure, I have no issues with that at all, actually I like it. But I'm not going to sacrifice large amounts of money, comfort, safety, and convienence simply on that fact alone. However, if those things are relatively close to their more environmentally unfriendly counter part than its something that could potentially tip the scale that little bit.
 
Zyphlin said:
Without a doubt. I have no issue with riding an electric car, a hybrid car, a hydrogen car, an ethonol car, a diesel car, whatever works best and meets the qualifications.

I'd want something big enough to take me, my girlfriend, and potentially a few other passangers around in along with some cargo. Smart Cars don't fit this, I need at least a back seat and a bit of trunk space.

I need a little bit of pick up in the engine. Sorry, perhaps I'm a evil spoiled American but I want my car to be able to go 75 or 80 if needed and not feel like its dieing because up here in NOVA it has to be able to do that to go most anywhere. I don't want to have to take a smoke break waiting for it to get from 0 to 60.

I need my energy source easily accessible. That means if its ONLY electrical I'd only consider it if I knew that my home and work would have a plug for it or/and there were stations that I could charge it along the way if necessary. I'd probably prefer something like the Volt, where you can still put gas in to act as an emergency way of charging the battery if you're not near an outlet. I have no care for hydrogen or ethanol or electric or whatever if I have to drive an extra 20 miles just to find a place to fill it up.

I want it to be economical. I understand I'll pay more for better fuel economy, however, if its SO much more expensive that it would take years upon years to recoup it in "savings" its not worth it to me.

Is it nice to possibly do something for the environment? Sure, I have no issues with that at all, actually I like it. But I'm not going to sacrifice large amounts of money, comfort, safety, and convienence simply on that fact alone. However, if those things are relatively close to their more environmentally unfriendly counter part than its something that could potentially tip the scale that little bit.
Click to expand...

Maybe something like these?
Electric Cars, Green Vehicle :: Phoenix Motorcars, Inc.
 
Very neat, thanks for the link. First very interesting electric truck I've seen. I like the 100 mile range though with not having a backup gas tank akin to the volt this would be forced into a "secondary" vehicle for me unless such "rapid charges" became more frequently installed at gas stations and other such things which would be a downside for this. I also didn't notice a cost on the page which would also be very important.

However, the 100 mile range would make it perfect for me for anything but trips, the 5 to 6 hours of charge time is fine, I like the look, and if they actually have the performance they state this could be a viable thing.

I really wish more would get on the Volt Bandwagon of having the gas tank there as an engine for recharging the battery when absolutely needed.
 
Wow!!! I've ran this poll on other forums with a much hjgher participation.
 
If you want, since its a poll more than posting a specific technological news source, I can move it to "Polls" for you. It'll likely get more play there
 
Only if it wasn't lame looking and slow as hell.
 
I would love to be able to afford an electric car.
 
Ethereal said:
Only if it wasn't lame looking and slow as hell.
Click to expand...

It's got a ****ty warranty also. 3 years 36,000 is like a lease.
I would jump on one but, I put on almost 50 miles a day.
Most cars nowadays have nice warranties.
 
The limited range is a disqualifier for me for a main car because we often drive for our vacation trips. If I'm not making noticeable sacrifices in convinience, performance, and economy then as a second car it might make sense. The range would have to be larger than 60 miles though. I drive that far to go to a ballgame or visit friends sometimes. If we could get up to about 100 mile radius, then it would be more feasible for me.
 
Sure, but only if it operated like a gas-powered car. Most of my driving is *NOT* within a short-distance of home, I do not have time for 8+ hour charges between trips, etc. Until they have an electric system that operates as fast and efficiently as a gas-powered vehicle, count me out of the electric camp.

Granted, they are doing some amazing things with electrics these days, the Tesla folks are making some really nice cars. They still have problems, but they're getting closer.
 
Psychoclown said:
The limited range is a disqualifier for me for a main car because we often drive for our vacation trips. If I'm not making noticeable sacrifices in convinience, performance, and economy then as a second car it might make sense. The range would have to be larger than 60 miles though. I drive that far to go to a ballgame or visit friends sometimes. If we could get up to about 100 mile radius, then it would be more feasible for me.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Where I used to work, I drove about 120 miles a day round trip, five days a week. That makes electric cars impossible right there. This summer, as we do every year, we're going to drive on vacation and go about 300 miles each way. No electric can handle that. When we drive to my wife's parent's house, it's about 80 miles one way. There are so many places that I go that an electric simply cannot with the current technology.
 
Shep Dawg said:
Considering the fact that 81% of all driving is done within 40 miles from home. Even today's electric cars are capable of 60 miles or more per charge. At a cost of approx $1.90 per charge. Lets assume the cost to buy one was in the $20-$30K range and they were styled as a regular car. Overall maintenance, and performance was comparable to todays cars. Would you be willing to buy one of these cars, even as a 2nd car?
Click to expand...

No, its too expensive, doesn't have enough range and since it runs on batteries instead of capacitors you can't expect to get any rapid recharge on it.

I'll stick with dead dinosaurs.
 
Shep Dawg said:
Considering the fact that 81% of all driving is done within 40 miles from home. Even today's electric cars are capable of 60 miles or more per charge. At a cost of approx $1.90 per charge. Lets assume the cost to buy one was in the $20-$30K range and they were styled as a regular car. Overall maintenance, and performance was comparable to todays cars. Would you be willing to buy one of these cars, even as a 2nd car?
Click to expand...

How much coal is burned to produce enough energey for a single charge?

Would a vehical be better off using that coal dyrectly instead of using electricity as a middle-man?

What if we had something more eficiant than coal to feed the care, like some kind of pertolium based liquid?
 
Last edited:
I would do it in a minute. If it was more efficient and cleaner it would be great. Anything that will set us free from the oil that holds us bound today. As long the electric car can get me from point A to point B that is really all that matters.
 
Inferno said:
I would do it in a minute. If it was more efficient and cleaner it would be great. Anything that will set us free from the oil that holds us bound today. As long the electric car can get me from point A to point B that is really all that matters.
Click to expand...

Gas is only a minor part of the oil industry.

Asside from all the products oil produces, I'm still wating to see the electric 747.
 
Ooh. I want that electric truck!

Since I rarely drive more than 50 miles a day, and live at the end of a gravel road that's at the end of a gravel road, and have a regular need to haul crap, it would be perfect for me.

All I need now is money. *sigh*
 
Glinda said:
Ooh. I want that electric truck!

Since I rarely drive more than 50 miles a day, and live at the end of a gravel road that's at the end of a gravel road, and have a regular need to haul crap, it would be perfect for me.

All I need now is money. *sigh*
Click to expand...

Got any carbon off-sets you can sell? People will pay you to not do anything with your land....so...mabey someone will pay you to not drive your car? Just imagin all the polution you will be saving the environement, that's got to be worth something.
 
Glinda said:
Ooh. I want that electric truck!

Since I rarely drive more than 50 miles a day, and live at the end of a gravel road that's at the end of a gravel road, and have a regular need to haul crap, it would be perfect for me.

All I need now is money. *sigh*
Click to expand...

I would need something that would transport my wheel chair though and have all the hand controls. It would be years before they got around to that I am sure.
 
Inferno said:
I would need something that would transport my wheel chair though and have all the hand controls. It would be years before they got around to that I am sure.
Click to expand...

If your range is the same, I'm sure an electric car is just as flexible with hand controls and storage.

Hand controls should be easier on an electric car.
 
Inferno said:
I would need something that would transport my wheel chair though and have all the hand controls. It would be years before they got around to that I am sure.
Click to expand...

Forget the truck, we need to pimp out your wheel chair :mrgreen:
 
Shep Dawg said:
Considering the fact that 81% of all driving is done within 40 miles from home. Even today's electric cars are capable of 60 miles or more per charge. At a cost of approx $1.90 per charge. Lets assume the cost to buy one was in the $20-$30K range and they were styled as a regular car. Overall maintenance, and performance was comparable to todays cars. Would you be willing to buy one of these cars, even as a 2nd car?
Click to expand...

I'd buy one if they weren't super expensive, which they are, and they don't go far enough without needing a charge. As someone said you need electricity to charge them, so how much good are they, really?

The combustion engine is the best, and I don't think anything will ever compete with it. We'll have to change our cities structures, and make everything a lot closer for these types of cars to be worth it.
 
Jerry said:
Got any carbon off-sets you can sell? People will pay you to not do anything with your land....so...mabey someone will pay you to not drive your car? Just imagin all the polution you will be saving the environement, that's got to be worth something.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Someone to pay me to not drive... I like the idea. :)

As for my land, well, I'm a gardening ho. Not only would I not like not being able to cultivate my yard, I'd have to go without all the awesome food it produces.

I've often wondered what my carbon footprint even is. I work three days a week in the city - 25 miles each way - but I drive a big ol' (very well maintained) Silverado. I could take public transit, but I'd have to drive 7.5 miles just to get to a bus stop and my 35 minute drive would turn into 1.5 hours of hell. :(

I drive into town once or twice a week - 8 miles each way.

My all-organic garden feeds me (and the chickens and the neighbors), and sometimes earns me a little pin money. My organic, free-range chickens produce amazing eggs, which I sell to help cover feed costs, but they also poop a LOT. I suppose some of the methane they produce is offset by the fact that I use it for fertilizer... ?

I'd gladly go for a smaller, more eco-friendly vehicle, but my hauling needs just don't make that possible. And, at least a few times every winter the road/weather conditions demand 4WD.
 
Jerry said:
Forget the truck, we need to pimp out your wheel chair :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

Hell yeah. That would be the way to go. Maybe something like the cars from the movie Road Warrior would do on the wheel chair.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom