alt.engineering.electrical

"Mike Lamond" < @ > wrote in message
news: $ @bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet. ...
> "daestrom" wrote in message
> news:46d03c07$0$16512$4c368faf@ ...
>>
>> wrote in message
>> news:938vc31erc4qhim7r8frmaotp16re8sbee@ ...
>>> On Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:19:28 -0400, krw wrote:
>>>
>>>>You plan is not going to work real well for cross-country driving. I
>>>>don't feature sitting in a "rest area" for 10 hours waiting for my
>>>>battery to charge, every couple of hours (if you can do that good,
>>>>and you can't). It would play hell on the average MPH.
>>>
>>>
>>> Electric cars are not cross country vehicles but they do make sense
>>> for short trip drivers who only drive 50-100 miles a day.
>>> Golf carts on a golf course are a very good analogy. Electric carts
>>> make sense for golfers who just commute around the course but the
>>> maintenance staff who drive all day and are never sure where they are
>>> going to have to go have gas carts.
>>> You could have an electric as your drive to work or houseperson car
>>> and a regular gas car/truck for trips, hauling your boat or whatever.
>>> Maybe if they gave you a break on the electric car insurance, tags etc
>>> when you have another vehicle it would help the idea.
>>> I know I would like an electric at this stage of my life for local
>>> trips (replacing a Honda) but I am still keeing my F-150.
>>
>> And that's exactly the problem. Since electric are only good for
>> commutes and short trips, having one pretty much means you either 1)
>> Don't take any long trips, ever... or 2) have two vehicles even though
>> you can only drive one at a time.
>>
>> daestrom
>>
> For some people, it may not be as much of a problem as you think. I know
> plenty of two (or more) car families where one car could be a dedicated
> short-range commuter vehicle. It won't be practical for everyone, of
> course.
> Among my co-workers, the EV will probably be the other car since some
> of our work requires 50-100 mile trips to a client's site on top of the
> 10-40 mile commutes.
>

I think most 'two-car families' would end up with three cars under your
scenario. Two electrics for the two adults to drive most days and a third
for longer trips. Heck, to get to a decent book store I have to drive 30
miles each way.

> That's not counting the effect of Central New York winters on battery
> range ...

For that situation, a small alcohol-fueled heater or something makes sense.
Then just an electric fan to defrost the windows. Of course, windshield
wipers would take there toll.... :-)

daestrom