There's really some other issues with high voltage battery applications. On AC, you've got a chance to get out as the current reverses. I spent some time with a 32 volt boat, 4 8D's at 100lbs apiece tied together, and you can't believe the arc thrown off by a dropped wrench. My 48 volt golf cart scares me because of that. When we're dealing with 360 to 480 volt DC cars, I'm going to be looking for a wet suit I fit in, and those shoulder high gloves the vet wears, and a welding helmet. I'll still be scared. And I've worked a lot of 480 volt ac hot.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

C'mon you guys -what a you expect for 1.25 million?

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

That is an excellent point. I think I read that the x1 gets about 250 mile per charge which isn't bad at all for the city. Charging on a long trip will be difficult. I wonder how many places will allow you to plug in. It will probably need a gasoline generator which will add to the pollution but not by much. There are a lot of videos on youtube about the Datsun. Maybe the economy is mentioned in one of them.


Lawrenceville, GA

Did you notice there is no comment made about "range" at full charge? I'd like to drive along behind  - in the Porshe - while we take a 500 mile trip with luggage.............................it would probably be boring for all of the stops to "recharge" - but maybe entertaining in a rainstorm!! Hope the wiring's waterproofed a bit.

The 1500 pound rolling weight of the "slot" car is "heavy" dis-advantage to the sporty cars when judging acceleration. If reduced to the same "fighting weight" both of the piston driven cars would have dusted it. Not much of a useful comparison do you think?

The advantage of a roof and doors would be good even for a little electric commuter car. Do they have a real prototype of a road car?

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Here is the Road car i've seen quite a bit about. Very fast and expensive, 1.25 million. Haven't seen it on you tube but I'm sure its there. Sure would be fun to try it.

http://wrightspeed.com/x1.html

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Ted: Yes, "perfected" was not my best terminology pick. Maybe "viable' would have been be more appropriate. A side note, in recent years alternate auto power has been a hot subject in auto magazines. And while I no longer subscribe to Car & Driver, a writer that has been in mho, the most informed & lucid on that subject and some other controversial ones, is Patrick Bedard. His editorials on these controversial subject have been about the best I've read..

Paul

It just seems so weird without the engine noise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsoF1XAaHsY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDHJNG2PngQ




Lawrenceville, GA

There used to be a kit for the old VW Beetles. Motor bolted up to the VW Transaxle. Add a controller for the gas pedal, fill the back seat with lots of batteries (30 years ago), and go. A friend had one of the setups but I lost track of him and it. Always thought that with modern batteries it would be a good runabout in town. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Ted, just thought this might be interesting, some years back while visiting the US we were visiting BILL STROOPES research and development facility, NASCAR workshop  and was given a tour  by himself, just before he passed away months later, he said, have a look at this! you wont see many of these! There was a small white FORD van on a hoist with large cables coming from engine bay and plugged into wall. he told us he was doing r&d on this electric powered van. I dont know if these are buzzing along over there or still being looked at. Regards aussie bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Paul.  You make it sound like internal combustion powered cars have been perfected.  In the private sector, electric vehicles perform at levels far exceeding those that you see being made by the auto manufacturers themselves.  For that matter, the auto manufacturers are concentrating on hybrid technology and not 100% electric powered.  Given time, almost any technology will see improvements if those improvements are warranted.  In the case of electric powered vehicles, there simply has not been the same emphasis to move the technology forward at a very quick pace simply due to the internal combustion engines being the technology of choice during this particular era.  It would be interesting to see what the daily mode of transportation looks like in another century.  Just some early morning ranting.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)