[FoxV]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Windmills', 'P')eople love a good conspiracy, but EVs died back because they were introduced at the wrong time. They'll do just fine when the time is right. You can't introduce an austere vehicle during times of plenty and expect lazy, greedy people to suddenly see the light and downgrade the comfort and convenience of their lives.

[Tyler_JC]

How do you make money off those vehicles?

Well for starters, they cost less money to produce. (Assuming we're talking about mass produced EVs, if not, the entire unemployed-repairman story doesn't matter)

So you sell the new EVs at the same price as your old ICE cars, and your profit margin increases.

Profit margins will eventually be forced back down to the original level because of decreasing prices due to competition.

Either way, you've just replaced oil demand with electricity demand and electricity is the easy part of the energy equation. The chemical energy sources are much more difficult to build from non-fossil fuel sources.

We don't need to eliminate all oil consumption overnight. We are starting the transition to hybrid vehicles, eventually leading to plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles.

"Gasoline-Electric Hybrids On Sale Now:
Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
Ford Escape Hybrid
GMC Sierra Hybrid
Honda Accord Hybrid
Honda Civic Hybrid
Lexus GS 450h
Lexus RX 400h
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Saturn Aura Green Line
Saturn Vue Green Line
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Toyota Prius

Scheduled in calendar 2007:
Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid
GMC Yukon Hybrid
Lexus LS 600h
Mazda Tribute Hybrid"

The American car industry has been falling behind and falling apart for years, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without a good job. EVs would revitilize Detroit and put those people back to work.

As for the unemployed repair/service people, they will find new jobs. The consumer will spend a smaller % of his budget on car parts and more money on X. The unemployed will find jobs building/servicing X. Or they will sit around and whine about the lack of jobs.

Sure, 1 in 6 jobs are related to the automobile. But that number includes people at drive-though windows, car washes, etc. Why would those people lose their jobs in an EV world?

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'W')e are starting the transition to hybrid vehicles, eventually leading to plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles.

[Tanada]

First those GM corporation hybrids have almost no range on electricity, their version of hybridization amounts to the abillity to accellerate from a stop up to about 8 mph without engaging too much fossil fuel burning. That small cost/small value hybridization can save you 10% on your fuel costs so it not unwarrented, but it also should not be confused with the Honda/Toyota/Nissan version of hybridization where the electric motors come with substantial battery packs and can consequently offset a lot more of the fossil fuel needs of the vehicle.

Secondly I don't think you realize the scale of the maintenece income to dealerships/parts suppliers for ICE engines. You are taling about several hundred dollars per vehicle per year in lost revenue to the entire supply/dealership system of the automotive manufacturer's. If you want your warrenty honored in every respect without any fighting about it the easiest way is to use an 'authorized shop' to do all your routine maintenece during your warranty period. If you do it yourself or have the lowest cost aftermarket supplier do the maintenece work and you need warranty covered service you might have to jump through hoops to prove the maintainance was done in accordence with manufacturer's requirements. You might even have your warranty claim denied if they find fault with the standards and practices of those who did the routine maintainence.

Four oil changes alone is around a hundred dollars to the dealership. Air filters are more on top, probably twenty to fifty more per year. Other items are on a longer cycle than annually but add amorterized costs for tune ups (spark plugs, wires, fuel filter, transmission filter and change, cooling system flush and fill). All of that is just routine upkeep on an ICE and doesn't count things like tires, brakes, which are common to all cars like two or three tire rotations is good for another hundred or more; or repairs to things like starters and fuel pumps that just wear out and break after a certain number of hours of use. Eventually you will need a new catalytic convertor and exhaust system because they deliberatly make them from planned obsolescence materials instead of aluminum/stainless steels.

A dealership can gross nearly as much from regular upkeep as they do for the sale of a passenger car, SUV's with their higher profit margin are a seperate case but can still earn the dealership a good return on the efforts involved.

Easy to say the workers will move on to other jobs, but who keeps the salesmen working if the dealership looses half its income at the same time? What is the sales persons incentive to sell an EV over a Hybrid when the Hybrid will bring much more after sale income to his employer?

[FoxV]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'W')e don't need to eliminate all oil consumption overnight. We are starting the transition to hybrid vehicles, eventually leading to plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles.

[rdberg1957]

What we may need is a smaller fleet of electric cars--not that many---maybe as taxis. That with a much more extensive transit system with light rail, electric trolley buses and personal rapid transit (helps with last mile in a system). Personal vehicles will be for the few, not the many. Perhaps electric bikes for the many.

[Revi]

Maybe here in Maine we didn't get the memo that we can't make electric cars in the USA. We're making one.

www.sunnev.com

Check out the youtube movie.

It's a Neighborhood electric vehicle, so it will be useful for getting around town and will charge easily on 110 volts. It can be repaired with stuff you can get at the hardware store. It's also really fun.

We are buying a small pickup version with a convertible top in the fall. I think we'll be eco-styling around town by next spring.