[ausev] 40 hp bus +

Fri Dec 19 23:30:10 GMT 2008

Hello people!! I am new to AEAA but I have been following the thread and there seems to be some unresolved anger issues.  lol  

Listen, there is one word that will help us as a people turn the corner in accepting the electric car. INFRASTRUCTURE!!!  Without it we are tethered to our 110 plugs.  One of you said that they would not pay 60k or half that for a electric car.  Not everyone can do what you do to have a car like that.  I'm not!  Nowhere near that smart to build my own.  Another was discussing the volts or was it watts per feet in a cord to do something.  I think it is fantastic that there are people like you around to think of these thing in order to bring about a better place to live, that is the reason you do it, is it not?  Not to car bash the big three, or throw a bumper sticker on your car and wave it as an insult.  

On the consumer, he or she is not interested in realizing any benefit from an EV.  They know it costs only 30 to 50 cents a day to go 50 to 60 miles but they all ask the same thing.  How fast does it go and where can I charge it.  I know that I know that I know that, if we had highway speed electric cars (affordable to the masses) and a charging infrastructure in place they will be all over the cars.  Even with the NEVs and LSVs.  Our society is a matter of convenience.  We do not want to be limited go where we want when we want as fast as we want.  When we have the infrastructure in place then things will change for  the consumer.  

Many people say that they should not give the big three the money to bail them out.  Without them where would we be.  Their failure will not only be the end of the American Auto Industry but also of the Electric Car Industry as well.  No one will trust any manufacturer again.  They might not be doing it right at the moment but we need then NOT to fail.  What will the new slogan be "Baseball, Apple Pie and Toyota????  instead of Chevrolet.  Please build a better mouse trap THEN share with the world because they will beat a path to your door.  Thank you for what you do.

I look forward to your comments.  

Leo
--- On Fri, 12/19/08, Ian Ward <ian.ward at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Ian Ward <ian.ward at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [ausev] 40 hp bus
To: "AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion" <ausev at austinev.org>
Date: Friday, December 19, 2008, 3:23 PM

It would be kind of awkward for me to do that since Ford built my EV...and I work for them, indirectly. 

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 3:07 PM, Jim Watson <osious at gmail.com> wrote:

When I do get an EV on the road I will put a big sign on the back of it that says if the big 3 and big oil will kill electric cars, then people will build there own!! Like this one!!!! We will stop buying gas and we will see who gets scrapped!! hahaha

Jim

P.S. maybe I will get a shity,.. I mean chevy hummer,.. convert it and then put the sign on that and drive it right up to the big three's door step!! 

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 2:50 PM, Ian Ward <ian.ward at gmail.com> wrote:

I was assuming you were comparing the innovation required for vehicles of yesteryear versus those of today. It's a not a fair comparison for millions of reasons. 

I agree with most of what you are saying, but until the industry rallies around EV technology, the economies of scale make EVs impractical and they'll remain in the garages of enthusiasts. The world society is consumer-driven and until consumers can financially realize (as in benefit from) the improved efficiency of EVs, the majority will not be consumers of EVs. It's finally happening now, but the mistake was make 8 years ago when the domestics killed their EV programs. The price of oil dropping won't help keep in the front of consumer minds, but I think we have an incoming executive and congress that will not loose sight of the future consequences of letting that happen again. Because of the poor decisions made by Detroit, Washington will have the power to make it happen - if we hold them to it.

I'm glad you're excited about EVs and I hope you do get one on the road.

- ian 

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 2:03 PM, Jim Watson <osious at gmail.com> wrote:

I wasn't comparing the bus to the steam car, I was just asking where innovation has gone in this country. 100 years ago we were making cars like that Dobel. Here is a site that talks about three cars that were made before the depression that were all alternate fuel vehicles. One was fully electric! (Baker Electric) Why didn't they make it?? Car companies say we don't have the technology to make anything other than gas using vehicles. Jay Leno is the proud owner of all three alternate fuel vehicles that were made before the depression. They are all very cool,.. You should also look at the Jay Leno video clip about the Dobel. It is very inspiring! He says that his Dobel is more sophisticated than any car in his garage. Talk about innovation!!!! He has lots of million dollar sport cars! The funny thing is, the gas cars are the MOST inefficient of all vehicles!!! I have heard that only 20-30% of the gas that you put in your car actualy propels the car
 forward. This non-gas using vehicle stuff is so interesting. I am looking forward to making my own electric car.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/jay_leno_garage/4215940.html?nav=RSS20 

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 12:32 PM, Ian Ward <ian.ward at gmail.com> wrote:

Yeah...who needs a seat belts, anti-lock brakes or a roof! And how many of those did they sell for $20,000 in 1924? That would be like a quarter million dollar car, today. 

Not that I'm defending the big 2.5, but come on! apples to ... cumquat?

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 12:03 PM, Jim Watson <osious at gmail.com> wrote:

I heard about a new bus their making in India. It runs off of a 40 hp gas motor,.... This motor then turns an extremely heavey flywheel up to around 40,000 rpms. They found a way, using composites, to keep the fly wheel from exploding. The bus driver says the bus handles like a Porch. The bus has no brakes,.. hahaha braking actualy restores mechanical power to the flywheel to slow the bus down. cool stuff. 

Has anyone heard about the 1924 Dobel steam car. It weighs 6000 lbs. It has about 1000 ft lbs of torque. It will start up in less than 30 seconds from (cold to moving). top speed 90 mph. It uses 24 gallons of water and a quart of oil every 100 miles or so. At 70 mph the engine is turning 900 rpms!!!! Why can't american car companies be this inovative???? Don't answer that,....

Jim

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