wrote in message ...

On Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:10:56 -0700, "Califbill"
wrote:


-----------------------------------------------
That $14k was not that crude, and was fairly reasonable in the time. Just
like a $14k car would be reasonable now. We are not against Technology.
Hell I live in a very nice neighborhood and have a very comfortable
retirement because of Technology. But the government tossing $30,000 of
taxpayer money at Tesla per car is not investing in Tech, that is paying
off
campaign donors. How many other electric vehicles could the 90% buy if you
give a $10,000 subsidy to a Tango or other electric town car. You are
going
to need a Hybrid for any extended trips.

I have been interested in an electric car for 15 years, since I
retired and I don't need a long distance car. I still can't get the
numbers even close and that was getting a kit to convert a car I
already own.
It is the battery. (also the "li-ion"s share of the cost of the
Tesla)
Even using a very mature technology like lead acid, you can't get
close to the price of gasoline, even at $5 a gallon.

When Car and driver ran the numbers on a Volt, they figured out you do
a lot better with a Cruze.
They really need to get the battery cost down before this will make
sense. Until then, electric cars will be a rich man's toy that the tax
payer is subsidizing, much like all of these alternate energy schemes.


--------------------------------------------------
In Europe the small cars of choice are diesel. Both because of the tax
differential on fuel and the fact they get 60-80 miles per gallon in say VW
Jetta TDI. Even the Smart Car in the US is required to be gas and only gets
about 40 mpg.
http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/21...s-teslas-elon/
It is now the $300-500 range. Probably cheaper in Flooded lead acid
batteries, but lots more weight and displacement.