Hang around, until I invent a car that runs on "STUPID".

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

my wife would like it, she has the Excursion to use on the highway. I just dont like the idea of the batteries and the high voltage if there is an accident. A well placed hit could be minor damage and send deadly current through the body, geesh not me.

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

Just curious-has anyone seen much about battery failures in the hybrids? A cursory search didn't reveal much other than there haven't been many thus far. I suspect the computer control probably keep the charging levels in the optimum range rather than full-discharge to full-charge. Obviously a full-electric doesn't have charge-on-the-go capability but I wonder if the control technology has advanced to the point where battery-life won't be a huge issue.

It looks like salvaged Prius batteries are about $1000 and new are about $2200. Not a pleasant bill but not really staggering either. I wonder what kinds of routine maintenance costs on a full-electric are?

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I don't know, it will be interesting to see how they hold up over the longer term. I also assume they will get cheaper over time.

It would beinteresting to see the total cost over say the first 5 years to maybe 10 years. I think the batteries for the Prius were over $3,600 when they first came out. I also see a scale of economy, and a price reduction as production is advanced and ironed out.
A few things in electrics favor would be less fluid changes, or possibly none. Maybe not a hug savings. I think electric motors would last longer. The cost of electric wattage/charging would need to be factored. Also, it will be interesting in any improvements for batteries. In the R/C hobbies, there are LiFe or A123 batteries, and Enolope a NiMH battery. The LiFe is a bit heavier than LiPos or Lions, but I think are safer. Also, they are a bit heavier.
I do see electric cars as a nitche for now. Still, 100 miles would make a good comuter car. I would say 2nd car, or a car in a 2 or more car family. I also think the cold affect gas and diesel motors, so it might be even in that category.
I still like the concept of the Chevy Volt. Also, they could pop in any combination of engine to generate electricity or a fuel cell (GM was big on those) and Hydrogen (GM also big on that), or just an electric motor.
Tom

If the goal is to save money, why not get one of those nifty micro bus/truck/car things that are plying the roads? I see them all over OK, some are 4x4, all are Asian. Get stupendous fuel mileage. I know, som emight say they are not safe in crashes, but neither is a motorcycle. This, at least, offers a modicum of safety over and above a two wheeler, plus all weather capability. You can get into one for under 10k AND you dont have to plug the damned thing in like some children's toy. (PS: don't tell anyone, but it is most likely more green, since it burns gasoline, rather than consuming energy from a coal burning powerplant)

Do you mean like those Daihatsu Hijets?


If they were street legal I could get by with one. But there'd be no way in hell my kids would ever get anywhere near it while driving on the road!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

they are legal in Oklahoma

CT tries, and generally succeeds, to take the fun out of everything motorvehicular.

They see a lot of farm and site-use up here but we can't register them for road use.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

lol, CA and CT!




More seriously, a friend has a Smart ForTwo, and has been saying hes going to trade it in on a Nissan Leaf.





His commute is about 4 miles roundtrip, so it wouldnt be too bad.






I have a Q... Is this going to have an electric heater?

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Yes. Everything is electric - HVAC, power steering and brake boosters, etc.

Yeah, that sounds like trouble.




The concept is cool, the numbers are cool, but it is going to take a computer, or 10 to manage and control all those electric systems. Just imagine a bad battery and the problems that it might have frying computers if the battery pack malfuntions.


I like the idea of a Hybrid better!

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I do think it's an interesting little car. Not exactly my style although not as fugly as a Prius. Granted our infrastructure isn't ideal for mass electric car ownership at this point in time but you've got to have a starting point.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Diesel hybrid? Maybe.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

They will start selling pretty quick when fuel gets to $6+ a gallon like the rest of the world pays.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)