Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
I was pointed at a new model the other day and I thought I'd ask what people here would want from an electric car in terms of mileage, battery etc. before actually posting the link.
Discuss.
Discuss.
What are the wanted performance levels of an electric car?
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Red Stranger
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I want the car to have the same horsepower, and mileage as at least my Ford. I want the battery to last longer than the expected supply of petroleum. And I want the car to use electricity that is cleaning than all those coal that they're burning. Unless you can have all these, I won't be convinced that using electric car is better. Think of all the coal that is being burnt.
EdwardTking
Deity
40 mph cruise
55 mph top
100 mile before recharges
5 year battery life
carry 4
55 mph top
100 mile before recharges
5 year battery life
carry 4
bigdog5994
Lady Day
i just don't want it to look gay
and i want 800hp engine
and i want 800hp engine
That of a carnot engine, obviously. As it is the maximum efficiency that is allowed by a heat engine. 
Performance itself isn't my main concern. Until they can make them the size of a Park Avenue, LeSabre, Concorde, etc with all the power amenities and enough get up and go to equal the V-6s those cars had, I have no interest in an electric car. Oh, and at least 400 miles between charges.
EDIT: Oh, also the re-charge cycle shouldn't take longer than it would take to fill a 17-20 gallon tank with gas.
EDIT: Oh, also the re-charge cycle shouldn't take longer than it would take to fill a 17-20 gallon tank with gas.
The same performance as a combustion engine, which is why they aren't popular IMO.
History_Buff
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Why would you require an electric car to be free from coal fired emissions, when you can't hold your oil fueled car to the same standard? Canada exports more oil to the states than Saudi Arabia does. Most of it comes from Alberta, and here in Alberta, we use a lot of coal fired power to extract that oil. Not saying its a good thing, just telling it like it is.
As for me, I wouldn't mind a mid size electric with a range of ~90kM, for day to day trips.
60% of Americans travel 30 miles or less per day. Commerically, I think we'll see hybrids (already improve acceleration and fuel economy) then plug-in hybrids then plug-ins (in certain states where electricity is most reasonable). Federal Express is already transitioning to hybrid plug-ins.
Electrics (even assuming 50% coal) emit less greenhouse gases than all the other options.
Electrics (even assuming 50% coal) emit less greenhouse gases than all the other options.
History_Buff
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Done.
1/4 mile ~= 400m. 400 m / 15s = 26.66 m/s = 96 km/h.
The Tesla's top speed is stated around 210 km/h, so it shouldn't a problem. And one of the beautiful (and commonly overlooked) things about an electric motor is that it gets maximum torque from rest, so they tear off the line. Plus they make a really cool noise when they do it.
1/4 mile ~= 400m. 400 m / 15s = 26.66 m/s = 96 km/h.
The Tesla's top speed is stated around 210 km/h, so it shouldn't a problem. And one of the beautiful (and commonly overlooked) things about an electric motor is that it gets maximum torque from rest, so they tear off the line. Plus they make a really cool noise when they do it.
bigdog5994
Lady Day
thats not bad looking car id drive it (if i was an A hole), are there any regular looking electric cars? id like to see an electric cadillac
History_Buff
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Not really. One of the downfalls of current electrics is that they have to be on the small side. Most of the weight is already reserved for batteries. But the lack of mechanical parts helps to offset this, as you have more room for people/stuff.
Demand also doesn't really exist anywhere other than the high performance spectrum right now, but that will likely change in the next 5 years. In the mean time I want my Tesla
Demand also doesn't really exist anywhere other than the high performance spectrum right now, but that will likely change in the next 5 years. In the mean time I want my Tesla
But is it as roomy as a Park Avenue or Town Car?
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
You misunderstood his requirement there. The 'quarter mile' is how long it takes a car to go 1320 feet from a dead stop.
That said, I love hybrids (though not electrics, obviously). The Accord hybrid is probably the 'best' Accord model, all things considered (except that it doesn't come in a stick
).EDIT: Of course, if it goes from 0-60 in four seconds, a fifteen second quarter mile is probably well within reach
Still, I think the Tesla is a little OT here. We're talking mass production models . . .
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
I'm not sure about how often a car should need to be recharged, but how long would it take? Because Americans (yes, I assume that 300 million people feel exactly the same way I do, as is my right as an American) like to travel in cars and go across the country on road trips and don't like to have to stop very often and refueling shouldn't take any longer than taking a leak.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
Electrics are marketed as commuter cars. As long as an overnight charge (like your cell phone) let it last for a day of 'normal' use, that's probably all they're shooting for. The electric cross-country tourer is probably a little farther off . . .
Most of the electric technology I've read about are 30 miles so that's why hybrid electrics will likely be the first step. The Prius hybrid gets 50 MPG and the electric hybrid is 75 MPG.
Cheezy the Wiz
Socialist In A Hurry
Manual transmission, and it has to look like a real car. Oh, and fast, I like the sound of a 13 second quarter-mile, too. 
skadistic
Caomhanach
Unless I can make it go faster then stock its not worth the fun.
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