[SustainableTompkins] electric cars / battery stations

[Joel and Sarah Gagnon]

I think Tony and Andy are both right. Electricity will be considerably more 
expensive -- perhaps twice what it is currently in real terms. I say that 
in the knowledge that wind is currently competitive without subsidy, so it 
is likely to play a major role. If Tony has to pay 10 cents a mile for 
electricity, that is still equivalent to 30mpg at $3/gallon gasoline. 
Double the cost of gasoline to $6 and you are back to 60mpg equivalent, so 
electricity competes very well. The cost of driving at all, however, will 
also rise greatly. Cars will be used less and gradually lose prominence as 
alternative transportation expands.

Joel

At 11:57 AM 3/21/08 -0400, you wrote:
>Absolutely, when compared to conventional ICE powered cars.  I drive a
>30 hp converted 1981 VW Rabbit (thanks Art Weaver!) that was built in
>response to the 'first' energy crunch.  It is recharged with 100% wind
>power.  Although underpowered by 'normal' standards (climbs Rt 13 east
>out of town at 35 mph minimum), it is a great commuter car and gets
>about 40 miles/charge.  Equivalent to getting about 60 mpg on $3/gal
>gasoline (it costs about 5 cents/mile in electricity).  There are
>certainly questions about range, infrastructure, battery technology,
>national grid issues, and on and on. (I like the idea of standardized
>battery modules which are swapped when 'filling up' at the service
>station.)I am convinced that electric vehicles will play an important
>role in our future.
>Tony Nekut
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org
>[mailto:sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of
>eyegee at twcny.rr.com
>Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 11:37 AM
>To: sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org
>Subject: [SustainableTompkins] electric cars / battery stations
>
>Are electric cars *good* cars?
>
>--Ira
>Ithaca, NY
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