I'm seeing a fair number of charging stations with cars plugged in in Scandinavia. Can'lt remember ever seeing one in the USA.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I know they have them along the meritt in CT and I believe on the NJ turnpike.


Sent from an abacus

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I see it on the map but it is not going to be as plentiful as gas stations, hence it will be less convenient. Requires more planning which is why I said it is only good under certain applications where you are more disciplined. Just jump in and jump out, no. I go visit a friend and if I have to stay overnight, someone is going to be paying for my "gas", so to speak when I plug into their outlet.

Also, Service Centers are very sparse so getting work done is going to be interesting if you don't live in the vicinity of one.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I've observed the one just off of the 5 at the 198 in central CA, always a flurry of activity, with Teslas crowded around. Recently saw one somewhere out of state also, maybe St. George Utah? And I think some of our hotels had single chargers. They're out there, both the cars and the charging facilities. Interesting to watch the automotive world expand/evolve.

MV

I have seen one before. Can't remember where but it is supposed to be "for customers only" place.

Interesting to see what happens as to whether it becomes the next Suzuki X90

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Leave a ten spot and you'll be paying for more juice than you actually used.

Not much different than owning a Mercedes in most of the country.

We kinda get it that it's not the perfect vehicle for you.

I think $5 would cover it.

Except I can find an independent to work on it in a pinch.

There is no perfect vehicle. They are all lacking something. Like I said, If I have an outlet at my office building, it might be ok for a salesman who drives to the places he has to go to for the day and park and charge at night. For a personal vehicle, there has to be comparable convenience levels and this certainly isn't it. If it breaks on my salesman, he has his own personal vehicle that he can use at $0.56 a mile out of my pocket. The rest of the time, I can write it off taxes (I think). Probably have to work something out with the building for "gas" money. It is too much money for a general purpose vehicle, at least for me. For a specific purposes, it is a candidate because of the toys.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

The other announcement about the Model 3 is that it will be released as a sedan and a crossover hatch. So the lineup will be the S, the X which is the gullwinged crossover S and the two Model 3.

In future demand for this car, gas prices will be the game changer ,price of the vehicle is fair but gas prices will have to go up to raise the production roof.One pure electric vehicle alternative in doing away with the charging time is a model were the actually battery is changed with one already charged,this is being done with some success in testing but is complicated .A serviced fleet of city vehicles would be a good cost to value look at such a battery replacement station .In putting a charging grid/battery replacement station together I would look to the city leaders ,political types are always look to shake hands with anything that speaks of GREEN.A good start would look at each fairly large city across the U.S. and make a choice out of three cities chosen to win the one green city champion to test this market.The increase in range and worry of getting back home on your limited miles per charge would be eliminated giving the manufacturer a jump on other electric models which will when successfully in place would be offered to the public.Put Politics in the drivers seat so to speak .If its a joint venture between manufacturer ,city leaders ,and the public that voted them into office ,I cant see any way this would lose a vote to push it forward.

At this point, you can afford to throw up a few charging stations. What is going to have to happen is that it will cost more and someone has to pay. Hotels will put up one to sound green and attract customers but those stations are right now, for their customers from what I am reading. More than that, it is going to be a meter to charge. So you have to insert credit card and get sold X units, etc, etc.

Are you talking about our propane tanks where you have a tank exchange and in this case, a battery exchange? That is going to make warranty issues a PITA. I have a 5 yo battery and I send it for exchange. Now you have a brand new car and take my old battery. How will the company warranty it?

City fleet is probably a decent place for such a thing. As I said, It won't matter as much for a city vehicle or like my Vette, a nice summer day vehicle. Without being able to refuel as fast as our cars and as easily, it does make the thing a "one trick pony".

I wouldn't unless you want to risk some issues down the road. I have little faith in getting the political powers involved. Take this good idea and pitch it and we love it. Politicians get involved. Some will say "If you want my vote, you got it, BUT......." and there comes in pork. The other side want's it's pork too and sooner or later, it gets approved with the pork. So you have a good idea saving us a million a year and a bunch of pork costing us who knows what. Let the thing live or die on it's merits. Summoning the devil to do your bidding gets things done fast, I admit. When the devil comes knocking for your soul, it starts to get ugly.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow