Topic: Most forward thinking hybrid?

[Triple Bob]

Anyone know why there has been no EV Smart? Seems the perfect size to be made into one.

[EV Dan]

Anyone know why there has been no EV Smart? Seems the perfect size to be made into one.

Both BMW and Merc electrics seem to be still in vapourware R&D stage, being mules for future electric models.
Ford on the other hand is making a serious bet on the EVs:
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/09/03/ford-extends-driving-range-of-focus-electric-with-new-battery/

P.S. Good to see them use active battery warming/ cooling which Leaf lacks.

[wing]

The prius engine will also kick in if you floor it.

[Ice]

Anyone know why there has been no EV Smart? Seems the perfect size to be made into one.

It might be too small to package the battery, electric motors and not compromise the already short on space vehicle.

Wait a year or two and see what's on the market. By then the Nissan Leaf will have been around for a bit and there should be an electric Focus available sometime by 2012 if things pan out. The Focus we can claim to have some Canadian credit as the tech is being developed jointly with Magna and Ford. Somewhere between 50km-100km electric... but electric only. Or there is the PHEV Prius or the Volt but we've talked about those already

I think the electric Focus sounds like it'll be a good option. Prototypes already exist... driven around on Jay Leno's show for a while even.

[Ex-airbalancer]

 Prius will have a huge premium over an equivalent ICE car

I really do not think it will that much since a kit is only 2-3 gs now
http://www.enginer.us/
http://www.emileage.ca/

I would rather have Hybrid compared to a total electric car
20 km would do in town and get me on the Hiway with a A Prius PHEV then I could go another 800 km on a tank of gas
But a 100 km EV will do in town , but would not get me to the closes next town and back
So no Costco trips  or trips to some doctors

It really depends on were you live or what your job is

[Triple Bob]

As I said though AB, I have another car that can do longer journeys, so an EV car doesn't need to be a compromise.

[bikenut]

just thought i'd mention this about hybrids , my brother has owned 2 ford escape hybrids , malibu hybrid and a ford fusion hybrid -- he has now just ordered a fusion sel NON hybrid , i asked him why he no longer likes hybrids , he said  poor resale

[tortoise]

Were it not for our winters I'd say an e-bike or scooter.

[Triple Bob]

Were it not for our stupid drivers I'd say an e-bike or scooter.

EFA 

I need something that can fit four people in.

[tortoise]

[Ex-airbalancer]

As I said though AB, I have another car that can do longer journeys, so an EV car doesn't need to be a compromise.

So would you need 3 cars then, an EV for around town, and 2 gas cars
Yesterday, I was working in Kingston, 300km aound trip and my wife had to go into Richmond Hill probably 240 km round trip
 I do not want to plan my life  by the range of my cars

[Triple Bob]

Why would I need 3 cars? One gas one for my wife who has a long commute, one EV one for my short commute. And at the weekends we would use the gas one for longer journeys. I can't see a situation where we would both need to drive further than say 80km at the same time.

[Ex-airbalancer]

You have 2 kids,
Once they get in football, each on different teams
They each will have tournaments in different cities at oppose end of the province 

[The Mighty Duck]

As I said though AB, I have another car that can do longer journeys, so an EV car doesn't need to be a compromise.

So would you need 3 cars then, an EV for around town, and 2 gas cars
Yesterday, I was working in Kingston, 300km aound trip and my wife had to go into Richmond Hill probably 240 km round trip
 I do not want to plan my life  by the range of my cars

Extending that logic, we should all be driving Ford F350s just in case we ever need to haul a horse trailer.

Buy the car(s) that suit your needs 95% of the time, and when a unique situation comes up that other 5% of the time, rent/borrow a car. As Bob says, it's likely not very often that you and your partner are both making long road trips in different directions at the same time. And if it only happens occasionally, well, if costs 1¢/kilometre to drive an EV vs. 9¢/kilometre to drive an ICE vehicle, that $1600 in savings will pay for a rental a day or two out of the year...

(Assuming you're gasoline car gets 8L/100km and you drive an average of 20 000km/year).

[Ex-airbalancer]

As I said though AB, I have another car that can do longer journeys, so an EV car doesn't need to be a compromise.

So would you need 3 cars then, an EV for around town, and 2 gas cars
Yesterday, I was working in Kingston, 300km aound trip and my wife had to go into Richmond Hill probably 240 km round trip
 I do not want to plan my life  by the range of my cars

Extending that logic, we should all be driving Ford F350s just in case we ever need to haul a horse trailer.

Buy the car(s) that suit your needs 95% of the time, and when a unique situation comes up that other 5% of the time, rent/borrow a car. As Bob says, it's likely not very often that you and your partner are both making long road trips in different directions at the same time. And if it only happens occasionally, well, if costs 1¢/kilometre to drive an EV vs. 9¢/kilometre to drive an ICE vehicle, that $1600 in savings will pay for a rental a day or two out of the year...

(Assuming you're gasoline car gets 8L/100km and you drive an average of 20 000km/year).

Have a GMC for that

My wife and I go to different parts of the province a lot

[Triple Bob]

As I said though AB, I have another car that can do longer journeys, so an EV car doesn't need to be a compromise.

So would you need 3 cars then, an EV for around town, and 2 gas cars
Yesterday, I was working in Kingston, 300km aound trip and my wife had to go into Richmond Hill probably 240 km round trip
 I do not want to plan my life  by the range of my cars

Extending that logic, we should all be driving Ford F350s just in case we ever need to haul a horse trailer.

Buy the car(s) that suit your needs 95% of the time, and when a unique situation comes up that other 5% of the time, rent/borrow a car. As Bob says, it's likely not very often that you and your partner are both making long road trips in different directions at the same time. And if it only happens occasionally, well, if costs 1¢/kilometre to drive an EV vs. 9¢/kilometre to drive an ICE vehicle, that $1600 in savings will pay for a rental a day or two out of the year...

(Assuming you're gasoline car gets 8L/100km and you drive an average of 20 000km/year).

Perfectly said.

And that's the reason why I don't get why everyone rags on EV cars, they constantly bring up the , "well it won't go 300km!" argument.  Well most people's commutes are very short, that's when they make sense.  I'd guesstimate 85% of commuters travel less than 85km per day.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

And that's the reason why I don't get why everyone rags on EV cars, they constantly bring up the , "well it won't go 300km!" argument.  Well most people's commutes are very short, that's when they make sense.  I'd guesstimate 85% of commuters travel less than 85km per day.

Exactamundo!

[Ex-airbalancer]

Each to their own opinion, a lot depends on your lifestyle and area that you live in 

There is a link to more cars

http://www.plugincars.com/cars

[ArticSteve]

Prius Plugin.  However, battery range still not adequate.  Double it and it's a game changer.

[Triple Bob]

Prius Plugin.  However, battery range still not adequate.  Double it and it's a game changer.

Adequate for what? AB or a normal person?