Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

He's procrastinating to avoid doing his taxes. Good to see you Nik.

Good morning mouse... Did you know that mice should not procrastinate, as they can go blind. [:D]

ORIGINAL: Grollub

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

no cake for you. [:)]


anyway isn't a faber when you waste an entire page?

It is, but I didn't have time to be picky [:'(]

Good to see you here again (I think) [:)][;)]

Good morning Per... hope your toes are warm. [;)]

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

ORIGINAL: Grollub

No Fabers here!

[&o][&o][&o]

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

Hi Leo,

All-electrics are coming into their own, at long last. The Tesla-S is a great example of an all-electric vehicle with decent range and great handling. It's received good to excellent reviews and is practical for the driving habits of many (most?) Americans. It has the potential to be a real game changer.

EXCEPT for the fact that it's $80,000. No one (at least not in numbers) can afford it. You get the price tag down below $40,000 and people will start paying attention.

In the meantime, hybrids (gas-electric) are getting 44 (Civic) to 55 (Prius) MPG. American gasoline consumption has been decreasing for several years running now, in spite of what the media portrays.

Most people are pretty smart about it-the all-electrics are beyond the cost:value proposition for most Americans. Heck, most of the hybrids are too: the basic model Honda Civic (38 MPG) versus the Hybrid (44 MPG) isn't worth the $6,000 premium on a dollar cost averaging basis.

Nat Gas passenger vehicles would be really interesting to explore. Honda's had a Civic that runs on NG for some time. Cheap (relatively) clean fuel that has all sorts of range.

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

He's procrastinating to avoid doing his taxes. Good to see you Nik.

Good morning mouse... Did you know that mice should not procrastinate, as they can go blind. [:D]

I was referring to the chicken. Mice can procrastinate just fine.

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

ORIGINAL: Grollub

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

no cake for you. [:)]


anyway isn't a faber when you waste an entire page?

It is, but I didn't have time to be picky [:'(]

Good to see you here again (I think) [:)][;)]

Good morning Per... hope your toes are warm. [;)]

Speaking of toes. How's yours recovering from the stabbing.

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

If they had more charging stations, maybe. The only one I know of is at the local mall. Now, I live in an apartment complex, and there are no power outlets that I know of in the parking area. And even if there were, who would pay for that juice? Also, the Teslas are freakishly expensive. I have seen quite a few of those Fisker things around in more posh areas, but LA being LA, its just a new status thing.

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

Hi Leo,

All-electrics are coming into their own, at long last. The Tesla-S is a great example of an all-electric vehicle with decent range and great handling. It's received good to excellent reviews and is practical for the driving habits of many (most?) Americans. It has the potential to be a real game changer.

EXCEPT for the fact that it's $80,000. No one (at least not in numbers) can afford it. You get the price tag down below $40,000 and people will start paying attention.

In the meantime, hybrids (gas-electric) are getting 44 (Civic) to 55 (Prius) MPG. American gasoline consumption has been decreasing for several years running now, in spite of what the media portrays.

Most people are pretty smart about it-the all-electrics are beyond the cost:value proposition for most Americans. Heck, most of the hybrids are too: the basic model Honda Civic (38 MPG) versus the Hybrid (44 MPG) isn't worth the $6,000 premium on a dollar cost averaging basis.

Nat Gas passenger vehicles would be really interesting to explore. Honda's had a Civic that runs on NG for some time. Cheap (relatively) clean fuel that has all sorts of range.

I keep coming back to the absurdity of US not utilizing NG more. I think I've mentioned before that every single gas station in Moldova sells NG. I was a bit disappointed that it wasnt the case if Europe-proper (I think Torsten said that he has an app to find locations near him) but here in the US I think the number of locations where you can get it can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

Electric Cars are like Hearing aids. Too expensive to afford.

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

Electric Cars are like Hearing aids. Too expensive to afford.

What?

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

I think, quite honestly, that they're a waste of time and effort as they currently stand and here's why. Although they do a decent job of replacing a gasoline engine in most conditions, they are still not economically feasable at present, they're underpowered and, frankly, they're not really dependable in anything other than an urban environment.

Economically, they're over priced and thus outside of most consumer's price range, especially with the economy in it's current situation. When they get to the point that a family of modest means can purchase one for less than $20k dollars, then you have something that will threaten the current fossil fuel dominance.

From the viewpoint of power to weight ratios, they're decent enough for urban or flat-land travel, but travel through any kind of mountainous, hilly or otherwise undulating terrain will drain their reserves and force higher fuel consumption than normal, negating the primary purpose of these vehicles. Further, when compared to the true work-horse of the commercial world, the diesel engine, these little things look like toys. When I see a Catapillar 789 dump or a 992F loader replace it's engine with a hybrid or electric engine, then I'll be truly impressed. Even smaller trucks, such as most of the common semis which are used to transport the vast majority of all the freight moved internally require a massive amount of torque to enable them to perform their jobs efficiently, which is the electric/hybrid's weakness.

Finally, the dependability issue is related to the other two issues in that, Americans being Americans, we'll find a way to put one of these vehicles in an environment which it was never intended to be used in and then wonder why it broke down. In an urban or suburban environment, that's not that big of a deal but if you break down in some parts of the States, it's possible that you could be stranded dozens if not hundreds of miles from help. That's not something that I want to risk just yet, so I'm sticking with the reliable technology which can be repaired or jury-rigged if necessary to get me to where I need to be.

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

Question for our USA Thread brethren:

What do you guys (and your friends and family) think about new breed of electric cars - the Tesla "Model S" in particular with rather long range?

Is this something that can make a dent in today's predominant gas engine community?


Leo "Apollo11"

Hi Leo,

All-electrics are coming into their own, at long last. The Tesla-S is a great example of an all-electric vehicle with decent range and great handling. It's received good to excellent reviews and is practical for the driving habits of many (most?) Americans. It has the potential to be a real game changer.

EXCEPT for the fact that it's $80,000. No one (at least not in numbers) can afford it. You get the price tag down below $40,000 and people will start paying attention.

In the meantime, hybrids (gas-electric) are getting 44 (Civic) to 55 (Prius) MPG. American gasoline consumption has been decreasing for several years running now, in spite of what the media portrays.

Most people are pretty smart about it-the all-electrics are beyond the cost:value proposition for most Americans. Heck, most of the hybrids are too: the basic model Honda Civic (38 MPG) versus the Hybrid (44 MPG) isn't worth the $6,000 premium on a dollar cost averaging basis.

Nat Gas passenger vehicles would be really interesting to explore. Honda's had a Civic that runs on NG for some time. Cheap (relatively) clean fuel that has all sorts of range.

I keep coming back to the absurdity of US not utilizing NG more. I think I've mentioned before that every single gas station in Moldova sells NG. I was a bit disappointed that it wasnt the case if Europe-proper (I think Torsten said that he has an app to find locations near him) but here in the US I think the number of locations where you can get it can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

A large reason why you won't see NG used in vehicle traffic any time soon in the States is economics. Who's going to pay to build the infrastructure to support and fuel them, and how can it be done to still turn a profit? Considering the economic situation that most State governments find themselves in, having them built with State funds is not an option. Federal funds are just as tight, plus you have the Constitutional restrictions in place as well in that regards, so this only leaves private investors, who are mostly heavily invested in the oil industry. Most, if not all, businessmen are not going to intentionally build and strengthen a competing industry that would split their profits, especially if it's in an unproven technology.

The truth is that gasoline and diesel is going to be around for quite some time to come.

...'lectric cars? hate 'em...almost been run over twice in parking lots because i couldn't hear the damn things coming...[:-]

...happiness is your wife's gay cousin coming to stay for a week, being told to make a few changes in the dining and living rooms and given a blank check...[X(]

(ps-gotta admit i'm liking the changes...)

ORIGINAL: Kwik E Mart

...'lectric cars? hate 'em...almost been run over twice in parking lots because i couldn't hear the damn things coming...[:-]

To each his own. [:D][:D][:D]

Hi all,

Thanks for info guys! [:)]


Leo "Apolllo11"

Hi all,

Zssssssss time... [>:][>:][>:]


Leo "Apollo11"

ORIGINAL: Kwik E Mart

...'lectric cars? hate 'em...almost been run over twice in parking lots because i couldn't hear the damn things coming...[:-]

Yeah, that's the other part about those little abominations that I didn't mention. Nothing good is ever that quiet.

ORIGINAL: Kwik E Mart

...happiness is your wife's gay cousin coming to stay for a week, being told to make a few changes in the dining and living rooms and given a blank check...[X(]

(ps-gotta admit i'm liking the changes...)

He handed you the blank check? Was it that bad?