PEWTER REPORT FORUM

"Who Killed the Electric Car" is now on You Tube and Google...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbeylQN8PAc

The YouTube version is 9 parts long.

I know a lot of you missed it when it was in the theaters (indie theaters only) so I'm
excited it's finally online. If you haven't seen it, make sure you check out out. It's
perfect entertainment/education with what we have going on now with oil/gas
prices.

The EV1 was far from perfect but if we had stayed on course with the electric cars,
we might not be in this mess today. My favorite electric car right now is the Tesla
Roadster but at $100K+, I won't be driving it any time soon.

I guarantee you will learn something from watching this film. And I think you'll
enjoy it at the same time. One of my favorite scenes (there are many) is when
a woman shows her electric RAV that is charged at home with her solar energy,
powered home.

Here's the Google Video Version, which plays straight through in one part...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7202740060236675590&q=who+killed+the+electric+car&ei=Z9I0SOO_EYGgqQPDpZGfCQ&hl=en

Comments on the film? Anybody?

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarselectrica.htm

The years 1899 and 1900 were the high point of electric cars in America, as they outsold all other types of cars. Electric vehicles had many advantages over their competitors in the early 1900s. They did not have the vibration, smell, and noise associated with gasoline cars.

After watching the film a number of times ( I have a copy) there is no doubt that most of America's problems lie with the Petroleum industry, automobile industry, and of course the National and State Govt that lack the fortitude to do the Right things for the overall good of the country.

Seriously, would 9/11 even happened had electric cars been pushed into the market place in the 70's?

Until America does not allow the oil industry to completely dictate policy for the US we are in a deep pile of crap.

Of course if you own oil stock or  are at the top of the ladder in the petroleum industry you couldn't be happier as you roll in the $$'s.

http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/tricities/index.ssf/2008/05/gasoline_prices_push_scooter_m.html

It might be a lightweight, but the Flybo is no fly-by-night automobile, Saginaw car salesman Dave LaTarte Sr. says.

The golf-cart sized electric car offers motorists a break from high fuel prices as it zips around town at a top speed of about 40 mph.

Jinan FlyBo Motor Co. of China produces the car, which is controlled by dashboard forward and reverse pushbuttons. It can run 150 miles before requiring a four-hour charge using an ordinary household 25 amp outlet.

A 48-volt electric motor powers the rear-wheel drive FlyBo, which has a 71-inch wheelbase and seats two. It is a bit bare bones on amenities, lacking an air conditioner, for example.

But to budget-conscious motorists, the $13,000 price tag is worth it.

I want me some Flybo!

It's perfect for my 2nd car. We can dump one of our gas guzzlers.

Video of the Flybo.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12/16/video-fly-bo-a-150-mile-range-smart-look-a-like-ev-on-sale

One word two syllables...

Tesla

Welcome to Tampa Gerald "The General" McCoy!

One problem, three numbers, one letter...

100K

But I'd love one!

The old EV-1 was estimated at $35,000.  Of course the price would be greatly reduced with increased production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

Free electricity for everyone

Welcome to Tampa Gerald "The General" McCoy!

i gotta admit...i was skeptical about this documentary but i saw it on hbo a few months ago...not bad.

The thing that surprised me the most was how far back electric cars go in our history. I had no
idea.

Look how fast we went to the moon after JFK set the goal. We could do the same thing with an
affordable, electric car with good miles per charge, if we put our efforts and ingenuity 1000%
into the problem. This is just as important, IMO.

Nice post Joe. I just watched the doc and I gotta say it's quite clear we consistently elect the wrong people to run this country. There are many things that need improvement in the US but the right people have to be in place for any change to occur.

Count me in as someone who would be interested in purchasing an electric car if one was ever mass produced.

I like the Flybo and if my wife and I move to a community that is smaller than LA, (not hard)
we may get one. Or maybe something else will pop up in the next couple of years.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Joe,

You have any links as to the safety of this vehicle? No mention of it, unlike the Smart4two which got a pretty good rating.

bOOm

To the EV1 or the Flybo?