Try an Electric Drivetrain Instead
One reader sent the following as an opinion about the possible future of the electric car. I thought it worth sharing with you and would like to know what you think.
“I was watching the BBC America news last night and they were interviewing a gentleman who has instead of inventing a new electric car, he has invented an electric drive chain system that he can adapt to your existing vehicle. So instead of buying a new electric car for around $70,000, you just convert your existing car. The cost for this is $25,000.00 and it takes 1 to 2 days.
My thoughts are, why should I go out and buy a new gas or diesel car for $25,000 to $30,000 knowing that one day, gas and diesel will became a thing of the past? I would much rather pay $25,000 to have my Honda Civic upgraded to electric. My Honda is reliable and comfortable and although the engine has done nearly 200,000 miles, the body work is in fantastic condition.
With an electric upgrade, my car could last another 30/40 years, as long as I look after the body. The new drive chain system does 150 miles per charge, so in my situation, I only need to charge it once a week.”
So, again I ask, what are your thoughts?
Tags: electric car, environment
December 12th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Cool; doing a mod on something existing instead of buying new is the way to go in my book. The price for this is still high; quite an investment for most of us, I’d say…
Speaking of cars/recycling, my husband & I were wandering through the yard in Nampa (as we do quite often) & saw what appeared to be a very new, perfectly useable FexEx box truck. My husband, being the truck fanatic, inquired inside & was told that the truck had been in a minor accident -although we could find no evidence- & so FedEx wanted to get rid of it: but that it had to be destroyed, no parts could even be sold because of liability concerns. The liability issue is understandable, but it seems to me like a shameful waste, & according to the office, this sort of thing happens all the time. A perfectly good truck like that could have been happily put to use in my biz & of course, we would have assumed all liability. If nothing else, what a great donation that truck could have been to so many charitable organizations: with great press for FedEx! What a waste for something so useful to be destroyed because of concerns over being sued—am I crazy for thinking there must be a better way???
December 12th, 2008 at 11:03 am
You are right, it is a waste – as are so many other things companies do to protect themselves. Yet our society has caused it with our “need” to place blame on somebody for everything in order to get some kind of compensation. At least with the Fedex thing, there is something good about it – they took it in to be recycled so it will be used again when the steel is made into new steel.
December 12th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Problem is that electric conversions are very expensive and not possible for every make and model of car. And why would you want to do that when there is an really affordable electric car available for just about 11k
December 13th, 2008 at 10:39 am
ALTHOUGH THE PRICE FOR THE ELECTRIC RE-VAMP ON YOUR EXCISTING VEHICLE SEEMS HIGH AT THE MOMENT, I AM SURE WITH MORE PEOPLE WANTING THE CHANGE AS WITH ANYTHING THE PRICE WILL COME DOWN.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
In response to ZAP Zebra – this new electric upgrade is available on every make & model. Plus the new electric cars dont have a very good reputation at the moment.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I am wondering if the conversions have been rated better than some new electric cars?