Little-Acorn
04-28-2009, 02:03 PM
Years ago, auto companies were forced by government to produce a few all-electric cars. They were inefficient, with limited speed and range, and very few people bought or leased them. As soon as the govt mandates went away, the companies stopped making them, and even destroyed the ones they had left.
Now, auto companies are talking about bringing back similar cars. Batteries are improved, but they still can't go very far on a charge. And when the batteries go flat, it takes from half an hour to several hours to recharge them.
And the article makes one frankly astonishing announcement about these new electric cars: If you buy an electric car, you have to also buy a normal gasoline-powered car in addition to it, to get the capability you've had up until now!
And that announcement is made with a straight face.
Only in America...... :lol: :lol:
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/27/MN0B174G40.DTL&type=autos
All-electric cars about to be resurrected
Michael Taylor, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009
The all-electric car, which had a brief heyday less than a decade ago and then went the way of the dodo, killed off by the car companies, is about to make a comeback.
Charged up with lighter, more sophisticated and efficient batteries, and competitively priced with gasoline-driven and hybrid vehicles, the new offers will be marketed and sold primarily as second cars - for running errands, taking kids to school and the like. These silent electric autos will be plugged into home outlets at night and during the day will be able to travel 100 miles or more without stopping for a charge.
Nissan said recently it has developed a mas-market electric car, due out by the end of next year, that will seat five and can have its battery charged to 80 percent of capacity in 26 minutes. It will have all the amenities car buyers want, Nissan says, such as navigation, super stereo and heated seats, and will cost between $20,000 and $30,000.
Now, auto companies are talking about bringing back similar cars. Batteries are improved, but they still can't go very far on a charge. And when the batteries go flat, it takes from half an hour to several hours to recharge them.
And the article makes one frankly astonishing announcement about these new electric cars: If you buy an electric car, you have to also buy a normal gasoline-powered car in addition to it, to get the capability you've had up until now!
And that announcement is made with a straight face.
Only in America...... :lol: :lol:
------------------------------------------
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/27/MN0B174G40.DTL&type=autos
All-electric cars about to be resurrected
Michael Taylor, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009
The all-electric car, which had a brief heyday less than a decade ago and then went the way of the dodo, killed off by the car companies, is about to make a comeback.
Charged up with lighter, more sophisticated and efficient batteries, and competitively priced with gasoline-driven and hybrid vehicles, the new offers will be marketed and sold primarily as second cars - for running errands, taking kids to school and the like. These silent electric autos will be plugged into home outlets at night and during the day will be able to travel 100 miles or more without stopping for a charge.
Nissan said recently it has developed a mas-market electric car, due out by the end of next year, that will seat five and can have its battery charged to 80 percent of capacity in 26 minutes. It will have all the amenities car buyers want, Nissan says, such as navigation, super stereo and heated seats, and will cost between $20,000 and $30,000.