Foo - Pure electric cars for sale in Austin...

Until a week or two ago when I was driving to an eatery, I thought pretty much that electric cars were pretty much a novelty (such as the Tesla). Saw an electric car dealership, and am proven wrong:

http://www.shockvalueaustin.com

The cars there looked pretty little, but for an in town runabout, where the mini pickup costs around $12k, it may be something to consider for the commute from one area of town to the other without using a highway. I then checked out the car maker:

http://www.zapworld.com/

They have the little Xebra models imported from China, but surprisingly, they have some electric cars that don't look like ass (IMHO.) No prices on the ZAP-X printed though. :/

Anyone know anything good/bad/ugly about these guys? This is the first time I've heard of an electric car maker, other than the guys making the Tesla. The maker is using loopholes (classifying the small ones as motorcycles, and using only three wheels) to get them street legal in the US, but its better than nothing.

I especially like this one- http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560

:)

I especially like this one- http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560

:)

Nice=)

Nice indeed. Almost too good to be true, but I'll give Lotus the benifit of the doubt.

Fun looking cars.

10 minute battery recharge. Impressive! But I somehow doubt it's good for the batteries. I assume the typical charge is a slow trickle charge?

Fun looking cars.

10 minute battery recharge. Impressive! But I somehow doubt it's good for the batteries. I assume the typical charge is a slow trickle charge?

We're getting closer than you think; Hyudai has had deployments where quick charge capability lowered the time to a half hour and that may even improve, with the V2G (vehicle to grid) programs in place in Austin and San Fran, where the cars will take reserve power at night and then deliver it during the day when the Power Grid needs it the most.

I really think Hybrid vehicles are delaying EVs. EVs will just really get the air clear a great deal faster, especially if China embraces it...

EVs will just really get the air clear a great deal faster, especially if China embraces it...


What about powerplant emmisions? Everything won't make a lot of sense unless we go full nuclear/electric.

I like the baby Lambo frog-thingie.

What about powerplant emmisions? Everything won't make a lot of sense unless we go full nuclear/electric.Small steps/a future, massive use of EVs can contribute to Power Grids all over the world and significantly reduce plant emissions. Talk like that will, unfortunately take our eye off the ball and perpetuate us "stuck" in the cycle of fuel use and emissions.

The first steps are to strongly encourage/require use of EVs in Major Metro Areas and make them part of the V2G programs. I think what Austin is doing is amazing!

Read about it here (http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A477960)

What about powerplant emmisions? Everything won't make a lot of sense unless we go full nuclear/electric.
Generally it's always cleaner and cheaper to have a centralized power source with a relatively high efficiency distribution system compared to distributed emissions/generation systems. That being said, fission, if run responsibly, would be even cleaner.

They're a bit expensive, but every new car is, so meh? I'd go with a home brew EV with maybe 50-75mile range and a small direct drive gasoline motor for cruise on the highway at whatever speed. All EV in the city, and ~50-100mpg on a highway cruise depending on engine/gearing.

http://www.redbugmotors.com/
These are the guys who are selling e-cars on Jekyll Island, Georgia. You see them all over Jekyll and on St. Simons island next door.
They have been using electric cars on Jekyll for a long time. Link (http://www.jekyllislandhistory.com/redbugs.shtml)

I think the Xebra is an interesting vehicle. It would make for a fine town car.

What about powerplant emmisions? Everything won't make a lot of sense unless we go full nuclear/electric.

Here in Austin, we get a lot of our power cheaply from a couple wind farms, so if the populace used electric cars, it would mean a lot less pollution than using the standard engines.

Here in Austin, we get a lot of our power cheaply from a couple wind farms, so if the populace used electric cars, it would mean a lot less pollution than using the standard engines.

What pisses me off to no end is that almost every windmill generator in the world is made in Grand Rapids Michigan by GE, and yet Michigan uses almost no wind energy. We burn coal.:mad:

http://www.redbugmotors.com/
These are the guys who are selling e-cars on Jekyll Island, Georgia. You see them all over Jekyll and on St. Simons island next door.
They have been using electric cars on Jekyll for a long time. Link (http://www.jekyllislandhistory.com/redbugs.shtml)

I think the Xebra is an interesting vehicle. It would make for a fine town car.

I`ll be in Jekyll next week visiting family, I`ll have to check those out.

Kewl - I'll have to drive by and check it out. A lot of folks here have been looking at alternate transportation because of gas cost. I'm seeing a lot more cyclist and scooters/mopeds. If these are as advertised I think they'll be a great solution for a lot of folks.