Electric Cars

**notengonacho1** · 09-25-2012, 07:56 AM

I cant wait until nuclear fusion is developed. Then we'll all be driving electric cars

**CyPlainsDrifter** · 09-25-2012, 08:22 AM

Bottom ine is, with CHEAP natural gas, the future of nuclear, solar and wind are all suffering. Cheap NG is good for the consumer potentially, but it is going to delay and possibly kill other projects because they are not close to profitable with the seemingly endless supply of cheap NG. Maybe people should be looking at CNG cars more..... I know there is some movement in Calif, but not hearing much more about it elsewhere.

**snowcraig2.0** · 09-25-2012, 08:26 AM

We have a existing fuel efficient technology. It's called the diesel engine.

Why we still use gas at all baffles me.

**notengonacho1** · 09-25-2012, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by CyPlainsDrifter

Bottom ine is, with CHEAP natural gas, the future of nuclear, solar and wind are all suffering. Cheap NG is good for the consumer potentially, but it is going to delay and possibly kill other projects because they are not close to profitable with the seemingly endless supply of cheap NG. Maybe people should be looking at CNG cars more..... I know there is some movement in Calif, but not hearing much more about it elsewhere.

It's getting big in Oklahoma. With the combination of Chesapeake Energy and T Boone , there are CNG stations and cars popping up in the Tulsa and OKC area. It is the better option right now. It's the cleanest fossil fuel there is, it's cheap, and the technology for cng cars and stations are not much different from gasoline. Also, it's possible that you would be able to fill up in your garage using the homes existing gas lines. Would just need to buy a compressor.

**Cyclones_R_GR8** · 09-25-2012, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by dmclone

I will tell you that electric motorcycles have come a long way in the last few years. Just within a couple of years you've seen mileage go for 20-30 miles to over 100 and speeds nearing 85mph. All that for about 13k. Of course to get Americans to buy it they'll have to put 150 decibel noise makers on it.

Those would be fine for in town driving but nothing for cross country traveling. When I take a trip I typically ride 400-800 miles each day.

**alarson** · 09-25-2012, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

I'll believe this when i see them wearing a helmet.

**VeloClone** · 09-25-2012, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by JY07

didn't realize they were doing that today... looks like des moines should get a charging station within a year or two

The new Hy-Vee in Urbandale already has a couple of electric car charging stations. I've seen them (generally with non-electric cars parked in front of them) with my own two gas guzzling eyes.

Urbandale Hy-Vee – Urbandale, IA | Electric Car Stations

**Wesley** · 09-25-2012, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

We have a existing fuel efficient technology. It's called the diesel engine.

Why we still use gas at all baffles me.

Because diesel fuel is no longer cheap...ask the truckers.

**Boxerdaddy** · 09-25-2012, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

The new Hy-Vee in Urbandale already has a couple of electric car charging stations. I've seen them (generally with non-electric cars parked in front of them) with my own two gas guzzling eyes.

Urbandale Hy-Vee – Urbandale, IA | Electric Car Stations

I think he was talking about the Tesla Supercharger stations. Supercharger | Tesla Motors
Yes they have electric vehicle stations all over the city. I know some of the libraries have them...and also the newer Kum & Go stores for starters. But these are different.

And just a side note...this is free. Tesla has said that these will fill you up for free always. Once they get these rolled out across the interstates...you get 3 hours of driving and then rest for 30 and so on and so on. So it may take you a little longer than driving a gas powered vehicle but you will have spent $0 while getting there (cheetos and Mt. Dew extra of course)

Another short article about the Supercharger stations: http://mashable.com/2012/09/25/tesla-superchargers/

**notengonacho1** · 09-25-2012, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Boxerdaddy

I think he was talking about the Tesla Supercharger stations. Supercharger | Tesla Motors
Yes they have electric vehicle stations all over the city. I know some of the libraries have them...and also the newer Kum & Go stores for starters. But these are different.

And just a side note...this is free. Tesla has said that these will fill you up for free always. Once they get these rolled out across the interstates...you get 3 hours of driving and then rest for 30 and so on and so on. So it may take you a little longer than driving a gas powered vehicle but you will have spent $0 while getting there (cheetos and Mt. Dew extra of course)

Another short article about the Supercharger stations: http://mashable.com/2012/09/25/tesla-superchargers/

Does Tesla pay for the electricity? Just saw on engadget earlier today that they might put them at rest areas as well

**HFCS** · 09-25-2012, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Boxerdaddy

I think he was talking about the Tesla Supercharger stations. Supercharger | Tesla Motors
Yes they have electric vehicle stations all over the city. I know some of the libraries have them...and also the newer Kum & Go stores for starters. But these are different.

And just a side note...this is free. Tesla has said that these will fill you up for free always. Once they get these rolled out across the interstates...you get 3 hours of driving and then rest for 30 and so on and so on. So it may take you a little longer than driving a gas powered vehicle but you will have spent $0 while getting there (cheetos and Mt. Dew extra of course)

Another short article about the Supercharger stations: http://mashable.com/2012/09/25/tesla-superchargers/

I've had my chips on Tesla as the one that succeeds for a while now. They understand that it needs to be cool, stylish, exciting, and performance driven in order to overcome inaccurate preconceived notions that an electric vehicle has to be a go cart. Their design and style sense is miles beyond other American car companies. Of course their disadvantage is that they are a tiny company compared to the majors.

The overall strategy of a world class sports car followed up by a sleek high performance sedan is perfect. They can't be strutting a Prius Plug in or a Volt out there, they have to be cool and fast to succeed and so far they are. It's still an uphill battle but it's hard to imagine them doing better than they have so far.

**Boxerdaddy** · 09-25-2012, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by notengonacho1

Does Tesla pay for the electricity? Just saw on engadget earlier today that they might put them at rest areas as well

Solar powered. And by their calculations they produce more than they dish out to the cars so they will be actually sending some back to the grid.

**Wesley** · 09-25-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by notengonacho1

Does Tesla pay for the electricity? Just saw on engadget earlier today that they might put them at rest areas as well

I thought the stations took a charge card when not for a specific company.

**notengonacho1** · 09-25-2012, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Boxerdaddy

Solar powered. And by their calculations they produce more than they dish out to the cars so they will be actually sending some back to the grid.

Ah, nice. That makes sense.

**ThatllDoCy** · 09-25-2012, 01:21 PM

Once the infrastructure is up these cars will be very popular. Right now you are paying the price for being an early adopter with increased cost due to the manufacturing infrastructure for these cars being efficient yet. Once the parts are being manufactured more widely the cost will come down drastically, also plants will be redesigned to more efficiently produce them.

It will be interesting over the next 100 years how it plays out, but it will take a long long time as the gas powered engine is highly effective and cheap. If Gas goes up drastically in cost that will definitely expedite the change.