was just helping my sister buy a versa at the nissan dealership. Currently you can lease a leaf for 199 a month with 2k down, and it will cost anywhere from 1 to 3 k to install the charging station (depending on brand and electrician's cost) at your home. I thought this was a great deal, but i did find out that how they get that lease price is by "loaning" you the 8250 tax credit that the fed government is offering upon purchase of an EV. This kind of lessened my yearning for the leaf; it also lacks lowend torque (so did the versa, and really, so does every >25 MPG vehicle) and isn't the most comfortable car in the world for me. It costs me about 6 bucks worth of gas currently to commute to work, and it would cost approx 3 to charge/run the leaf. That means about an $800 gas savings per year for me (hopefully more when i finish my solar panel investment).
I will say that with those prices it really makes me think about going for it I just wish I could know if they will offer the same style lease in 2 years to do it again lol.
***now if only I wasn't so underwater on my VW :fp: ***
8/29/00*5/2/03*7/2/03*7/3/03*7/11/03*9/28/04*5/24/06*6/28/08*5/15/10*5/17/10* 10/16/13*10/25/13* 4/28/16*4/28/16*8/5/16*8/7/16 EV 6/15/11 Brad 10/27/02
was just helping my sister buy a versa at the nissan dealership. Currently you can lease a leaf for 199 a month with 2k down, and it will cost anywhere from 1 to 3 k to install the charging station (depending on brand and electrician's cost) at your home. I thought this was a great deal, but i did find out that how they get that lease price is by "loaning" you the 8250 tax credit that the fed government is offering upon purchase of an EV. This kind of lessened my yearning for the leaf; it also lacks lowend torque (so did the versa, and really, so does every >25 MPG vehicle) and isn't the most comfortable car in the world for me. It costs me about 6 bucks worth of gas currently to commute to work, and it would cost approx 3 to charge/run the leaf. That means about an $800 gas savings per year for me (hopefully more when i finish my solar panel investment).
I will say that with those prices it really makes me think about going for it I just wish I could know if they will offer the same style lease in 2 years to do it again lol.
***now if only I wasn't so underwater on my VW :fp: ***
that is not even factoring the environmental benefits! ... my next car is definitely gonna be electric ... my car is 8 years old but only has 90,000 kms ... most of which is driving it up to lake superior and back ... by that time - i'm sure there will be a lot more options ... i'm still gonna want a hatchback of some kind ...
that is not even factoring the environmental benefits! ... my next car is definitely gonna be electric ... my car is 8 years old but only has 90,000 kms ... most of which is driving it up to lake superior and back ... by that time - i'm sure there will be a lot more options ... i'm still gonna want a hatchback of some kind ...
The environmental impact is a huge selling point for me too. But if I can't afford it, it becomes a moot point. I am really hoping I can within the next 18 months though for sure.
8/29/00*5/2/03*7/2/03*7/3/03*7/11/03*9/28/04*5/24/06*6/28/08*5/15/10*5/17/10* 10/16/13*10/25/13* 4/28/16*4/28/16*8/5/16*8/7/16 EV 6/15/11 Brad 10/27/02
Do electric cars have the ability to support a high powered sound system? Just wondering if a 100 amp pull would be possible.
Also, I was wondering what happens when you live in extreme weather conditions? A really cold environment would take a heater. Electric heater?
Places that are really hot. Air conditioning?
The reality is that electric cars are way too expensive. Not even going to think about it and my girlfriend and I are in the 10%. Just saying. We feel poor.
Do electric cars have the ability to support a high powered sound system? Just wondering if a 100 amp pull would be possible.
Also, I was wondering what happens when you live in extreme weather conditions? A really cold environment would take a heater. Electric heater?
Places that are really hot. Air conditioning?
The reality is that electric cars are way too expensive. Not even going to think about it and my girlfriend and I are in the 10%. Just saying. We feel poor.
haha ... you can have all that ... but it's all gonna eat into your power consumption ... i posted a link about some test drives some reviewers did on the tesla ... dc to boston in january ... not extreme cold but winter nonetheless ...
they are expensive now but so was a model t when it came out ...
6.3-litre V12 engine with 789 horsepower married to a 160-hp electric motor. The combination is good for a full 949 hp and 663 pound-feet of torque, and Ferrari says the LaFerrari can punch to 100 km/h in under three seconds. Keep your foot planted and 200 km/h (124 mph) will click by in a scant seven seconds, while top speed sits at a lofty 330 km/h (205 mph).
6.3-litre V12 engine with 789 horsepower married to a 160-hp electric motor. The combination is good for a full 949 hp and 663 pound-feet of torque, and Ferrari says the LaFerrari can punch to 100 km/h in under three seconds. Keep your foot planted and 200 km/h (124 mph) will click by in a scant seven seconds, while top speed sits at a lofty 330 km/h (205 mph).
Henrik Fisker is resigning from the electric automaker that bears his name, according to the company and several media reports early Wednesday afternoon.
The U.K. magazine Autocar said it received a company statement that its executive chairman had resigned due to "several major disagreements that Henrik Fisker has with the Fisker Automotive executive management on the business strategy."
Fisker Automotive posted a different and altogether positive statement on its media website later in the day, thanking him for "his service and many contributions as Fisker Automotive has progressed from start-up to a fully fledged global automotive company."
The company did not comment or elaborate on what those "major disagreements" were.
"The company has a strong and experienced management team, and its strategy has not changed," the statement said. "Mr. Fisker’s departure is not expected to impact the company’s pursuit of strategic partnerships and financing to support Fisker Automotive’s continued progress as a pioneer of low-emission hybrid electric powertrain technology."
Fisker, in an October interview with MSN Autos, said he wanted the company to build plug-in hybrids for major automakers and had been in talks with at least three brands. However, since February, Fisker Automotive has been trying to sell the majority of the company, including considering a $350 million bid from Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Co. that would give it an 85 percent stake.
Fisker, a Finnish coachbuilder who began modifying Mercedes and BMW models in California, founded Fisker Automotive in 2007 and was the company's chief designer for the $103,000 Karma, an exotic, plug-in hybrid sedan built with General Motors components. With Fisker gone, it is not certain how product development would continue without his influence.
In February 2012, Fisker stepped down as CEO to become executive chairman soon after a congressional hearing blasted the company for its lackluster fuel-economy ratings and the Energy Department froze the remainder of a $529 million loan. Tom LaSorda from Chrysler took over, only to step down in August shortly before the company’s second recall, which involved a string of battery failures and engine-compartment fires. Tony Posawatz, who led the Chevrolet Volt development team, is still the current CEO.
So far, Fisker has built and delivered 1,500 Karma sedans in the U.S. and Europe and set up a network of 79 dealerships. Fisker hasn't built any cars since July, when problems at its battery supplier, A123 Systems, forced that company to go bankrupt and delay shipments. Fisker's next car, the smaller Atlantic, is due for production this year, but its manufacturing plant in Delaware is still idle.
According to Fisker himself, a third, sub-$40,000 model below the Atlantic is on the table.
really ... electric is the way to go ... forget about the service component of this article (obviously, these cars are not cheap so it is to be somewhat expected) - it's the notion that your car DOESN'T NEED service! ... no oil changes, no spark plugs, fuel filters, etc. ...
Tesla Motors has announced today that they're beefing up their already very solid warranty and services offerings for the Model S electric car (which apparently has been selling very well). Elon Musk, the company's CEO, has written a very good blog post explaining all the changes, so rather than paraphrase him, here's choice excerpts:
A fleet of top-of-the line loaners that you can even buy
The best way to experience service is, of course, not to experience service. If your car does need service, then it should be swapped with a car that is ideally better in some or many ways. To this end, Tesla is building a fleet of top of the line Model S loaners. These will not be our basic model – they will be state of the art with all the best features and options.
Nor will this eventually become an aging fleet of overused cars. The loaners will be available for immediate purchase at a price that is lower by 1% per month of age and $1 per mile. If you like the service loaner more than your other car, you can just keep it. This ensures that the service fleet is constantly refreshed and gives customers the best optionality.
For an added bit of fun, customers in most markets will have the choice of taking home one of our Tesla Roadster sports cars when their car is in for service. Few experiences are more sublime than driving a beautiful electric sports car on a road along the ocean or through a forest with the top down on a summer day and hearing only the sounds of nature.
They even offer - at no extra cost - a valet servie that will go pick up your car and replace it with the loaner, and then swap it back when service is completed. Now that's thinking of the customer!
This is a very different approach from many other car-makers who will loan you one of their least expensive base models. If it can attract more people to electric cars and make life easier for people, why not.
Making the annual service optional
Gas and diesel vehicles have accustomed people to annual services, but EVs are different and Tesla wants to highlight that and increase flexibility for its customers:
Unlike gasoline cars, an electric car doesn’t need oil changes, fuel filters, spark plugs, smog checks, etc., which are only needed if the mode of locomotion involves burning oil derived products. For an electric car, you don’t even need to replace the brake pads, because most of the braking energy is regeneratively captured by the motor and returned to the battery.
As such, we are comfortable making the annual checkup entirely optional. There is still value to having Tesla look at the car once a year for things like tire alignment, to address a few things here & there and perform any hardware upgrades – our goal is not just to fix things, but to make the car better than it was. However, even if you never bring in the car, your warranty is still valid.
Bullet proof unconditional battery warranty
Last but not least is the beefed up battery warranty:
The battery pack in your car is obviously very important and expensive to replace. In developing the Model S, we took great care to ensure that the battery would protect itself, always retaining a few percent of energy. If something goes wrong, it is therefore our fault, not yours.
Except in the cases of a collision, opening of the battery pack by non-Tesla personnel or intentional abuse (lighting the pack on fire with a blowtorch is not covered!), all damage is covered by warranty, including improper maintenance or unintentionally leaving the pack at a low state of charge for years on end. The battery will be replaced at no cost by a factory reconditioned unit with an energy capacity equal to or better than the original pack before the failure occurred.
The intent is to provide complete peace of mind about owning your Model S even if you never read or followed the instructions in the manual.
That's it. Isn't it refreshing to have company do things like this? It's pretty rare
Nailed It? Why BMW’s New i3 May Be the Most Popular Electric Car Yet
By Brad Tuttle @bradrtuttleJuly 30, 201312 Comments
On Monday, BMW streamed video of the world premiere of the company’s first mass-production electric car. The i3 is a funky-looking four-seater that Wired is calling “the most innovative thing to come out of Munich in a decade.”
Here are a few of the reasons why it’s so innovative — and why it may prove to be more practical and appealing than its battery-powered peers:
Extended driving range. The fact that a typical electric vehicle (EV) can only be driven 75 miles to 80 miles (120 km to 130 km) before requiring a recharge — which takes up a lot more time than a gas-station pit stop — is a deal breaker for many consumers. Using electric power, the BMW i3 can be driven out 80 miles (130 km), perhaps 100 miles (160 km). That’s fine for many commuters, but insufficient for longer journeys.
Extending the driving range of the i3 is as simple as purchasing the optional two-cylinder, 34-horsepower rear engine that runs on gasoline — and that basically doubles the vehicle’s range. BMW is also expected to give i3 owners access to gas-powered loaner cars during the days when they need a vehicle with longer driving range — on, say, a weekend road trip.
It’s not too-too expensive. One of the most common arguments against EVs is that the math doesn’t add up: whatever money you’d save on gas is negated by the premium you pay compared with a traditional gas-powered car. Prices have already dropped significantly on electric cars, with abundant cheap lease deals and thousands of dollars slashed off the sticker prices of the Ford Focus EV, Nissan Leaf and others.
In the U.S., the BMW i3 will start at $41,350, or $45,200 for the version with the backup gasoline engine, before factoring in federal and state rebates and tax incentives. That’s not cheap, but it’s less expensive than what many anticipated for an electric-powered BMW. It’s also a lot less pricey than the Tesla Model S, the premium that has already set the standard for electric cars — and that starts at around $70,000.
This is no glorified golf cart. The i3 has a 170-horsepower engine and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and goes 0 to 60 m.p.h. (97 km/h) in seven seconds. That’s not particularly fast, but quite peppy by EV standards; the Nissan Leaf does 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds.
Fast charging. The vehicle can be fully recharged with a 220-volt charger in three hours, and BMW says a special fast-charging system can get the i3 fully juiced up in just 30 minutes.
It will supposedly be profitable. While Tesla is said to be making money on sales of its cars, for the time being the typical EV is a money loser. It’s been reported that Fiat, for instance, loses about $10,000 on each 500e that’s sold.
But BMW certainly doesn’t plan on its EVs losing money. The Wall Street Journal quoted BMW global sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson declaring on Monday that the i3 “would be profitable from Day One on each vehicle it made.”
Why couldn't/shouldn't the employee pay for their own electricity though? Companies could provide the means/access so it's done during work hours, but put it on the employees to drop their own dime on it, so to speak.
Or even subsidize it, as so many larger companies do their in-house cafeterias...though the benefits might be somewhat less tangible from an employer's perspective.
Why couldn't/shouldn't the employee pay for their own electricity though? Companies could provide the means/access so it's done during work hours, but put it on the employees to drop their own dime on it, so to speak.
Or even subsidize it, as so many larger companies do their in-house cafeterias...though the benefits might be somewhat less tangible from an employer's perspective.
you guys do know this is like $5-$6 at high electricity rates right? ... it's no different than offering parking for a car ...
as long as it has more than one power source, it is a hybrid. To me and every other car guy I know. (not just one power source but how one source has the abillity work with the other etc)
-
as long as it has more than one power source, it is a hybrid. To me and every other car guy I know. (not just one power source but how one source has the abillity work with the other etc)
-
??
what do you mean by power source? ... it's all electric ..
Yes, except for the turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine producing 164 kW (220 hp) and 300 N·m (220 lbf·ft) of torque sitting in the rear.
Of course that may of changed for the production model. I'm not sure,
Also the link I posted months back was for the i8, it now links to the i3.
co-worker owns a volt ... generally lives in a smaller town here in ontario but commutes often to toronto and other towns ... in the 4 months since he's owned the car ... in driving 10,000 km ...
this is his costs/usage:
$366 on gas (premium)
$72 electricity
and his oil usage is at 84% remaining ...
and this is high because he has done a lot of long distance driving ...
co-worker owns a volt ... generally lives in a smaller town here in ontario but commutes often to toronto and other towns ... in the 4 months since he's owned the car ... in driving 10,000 km ...
this is his costs/usage:
$366 on gas (premium)
$72 electricity
and his oil usage is at 84% remaining ...
and this is high because he has done a lot of long distance driving ...
The electric car is/will always be out of reach for the majority of us here in North America or for most of the world ... just to expensive in world where the income gap is growing between the rich/middle class/lower middle class and of the course the poor. Just a fringe item ...
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
The electric car is/will always be out of reach for the majority of us here in North America or for most of the world ... just to expensive in world where the income gap is growing between the rich/middle class/lower middle class and of the course the poor. Just a fringe item ...
I doubt you can say "will always be"...some really arent that much more than a Camry. I bet they will come down in price someday..
The electric car is/will always be out of reach for the majority of us here in North America or for most of the world ... just to expensive in world where the income gap is growing between the rich/middle class/lower middle class and of the course the poor. Just a fringe item ...
I doubt you can say "will always be"...some really arent that much more than a Camry. I bet they will come down in price someday..
The sales of electric cars will dramatically increase with the next step up in battery improvement that extends the range to 300 miles plus. The price will drop with the increase in sales as they crank em out at the factories.
Interesting article but as I see it, there are a few problems here. First off all, I don't remember "electric vehicles, or EVs," dominating "U.S. streets in the first decade of the 20th century".
.
You're 120 years old?
They did, actually. But the oil industry was able to stop any research and development and push their own gas-powered cars.
We'd probably have those flying Deloreans by now if they hadn't.
The electric car is/will always be out of reach for the majority of us here in North America or for most of the world ... just to expensive in world where the income gap is growing between the rich/middle class/lower middle class and of the course the poor. Just a fringe item ...
I doubt you can say "will always be"...some really arent that much more than a Camry. I bet they will come down in price someday..
sure they'll come down in price ... but each and every year people's pay is not keeping up with the cost of living.
In the states they may be more affordable, but not here in Canada. Take the Volt for example, in the US its list price is 29000, in Canada it's 42000 and I believe rebates make it about 33000 plus tax ... so 36000-37000 give or take, that's a lot of coinage.
I can go buy a used vehicle thats 5-6 years old for 7000-8000 depending on on the vehicle and mileage ... and thats what more and more people in my neck of the woods will be buying.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Comments
pretty much forever ... you just have to change the battery ... there are significantly way less parts that need repair or replacement ...
I will say that with those prices it really makes me think about going for it I just wish I could know if they will offer the same style lease in 2 years to do it again lol.
***now if only I wasn't so underwater on my VW
that is not even factoring the environmental benefits! ... my next car is definitely gonna be electric ... my car is 8 years old but only has 90,000 kms ... most of which is driving it up to lake superior and back ... by that time - i'm sure there will be a lot more options ... i'm still gonna want a hatchback of some kind ...
The environmental impact is a huge selling point for me too. But if I can't afford it, it becomes a moot point. I am really hoping I can within the next 18 months though for sure.
Also, I was wondering what happens when you live in extreme weather conditions? A really cold environment would take a heater. Electric heater?
Places that are really hot. Air conditioning?
The reality is that electric cars are way too expensive. Not even going to think about it and my girlfriend and I are in the 10%. Just saying. We feel poor.
haha ... you can have all that ... but it's all gonna eat into your power consumption ... i posted a link about some test drives some reviewers did on the tesla ... dc to boston in january ... not extreme cold but winter nonetheless ...
they are expensive now but so was a model t when it came out ...
and just shown. The Next Ferrari.
http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/ferrari-laferrari-geneva-hybrid-supercar/
6.3-litre V12 engine with 789 horsepower married to a 160-hp electric motor. The combination is good for a full 949 hp and 663 pound-feet of torque, and Ferrari says the LaFerrari can punch to 100 km/h in under three seconds. Keep your foot planted and 200 km/h (124 mph) will click by in a scant seven seconds, while top speed sits at a lofty 330 km/h (205 mph).
But... "LaFerrari"?
Oh jeez
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/au ... 81da2f0f88
Henrik Fisker is resigning from the electric automaker that bears his name, according to the company and several media reports early Wednesday afternoon.
The U.K. magazine Autocar said it received a company statement that its executive chairman had resigned due to "several major disagreements that Henrik Fisker has with the Fisker Automotive executive management on the business strategy."
Fisker Automotive posted a different and altogether positive statement on its media website later in the day, thanking him for "his service and many contributions as Fisker Automotive has progressed from start-up to a fully fledged global automotive company."
The company did not comment or elaborate on what those "major disagreements" were.
"The company has a strong and experienced management team, and its strategy has not changed," the statement said. "Mr. Fisker’s departure is not expected to impact the company’s pursuit of strategic partnerships and financing to support Fisker Automotive’s continued progress as a pioneer of low-emission hybrid electric powertrain technology."
Fisker, in an October interview with MSN Autos, said he wanted the company to build plug-in hybrids for major automakers and had been in talks with at least three brands. However, since February, Fisker Automotive has been trying to sell the majority of the company, including considering a $350 million bid from Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Co. that would give it an 85 percent stake.
Fisker, a Finnish coachbuilder who began modifying Mercedes and BMW models in California, founded Fisker Automotive in 2007 and was the company's chief designer for the $103,000 Karma, an exotic, plug-in hybrid sedan built with General Motors components. With Fisker gone, it is not certain how product development would continue without his influence.
In February 2012, Fisker stepped down as CEO to become executive chairman soon after a congressional hearing blasted the company for its lackluster fuel-economy ratings and the Energy Department froze the remainder of a $529 million loan. Tom LaSorda from Chrysler took over, only to step down in August shortly before the company’s second recall, which involved a string of battery failures and engine-compartment fires. Tony Posawatz, who led the Chevrolet Volt development team, is still the current CEO.
So far, Fisker has built and delivered 1,500 Karma sedans in the U.S. and Europe and set up a network of 79 dealerships. Fisker hasn't built any cars since July, when problems at its battery supplier, A123 Systems, forced that company to go bankrupt and delay shipments. Fisker's next car, the smaller Atlantic, is due for production this year, but its manufacturing plant in Delaware is still idle.
According to Fisker himself, a third, sub-$40,000 model below the Atlantic is on the table.
****************************
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/tesla-be ... aners.html
Tesla Motors has announced today that they're beefing up their already very solid warranty and services offerings for the Model S electric car (which apparently has been selling very well). Elon Musk, the company's CEO, has written a very good blog post explaining all the changes, so rather than paraphrase him, here's choice excerpts:
A fleet of top-of-the line loaners that you can even buy
The best way to experience service is, of course, not to experience service. If your car does need service, then it should be swapped with a car that is ideally better in some or many ways. To this end, Tesla is building a fleet of top of the line Model S loaners. These will not be our basic model – they will be state of the art with all the best features and options.
Nor will this eventually become an aging fleet of overused cars. The loaners will be available for immediate purchase at a price that is lower by 1% per month of age and $1 per mile. If you like the service loaner more than your other car, you can just keep it. This ensures that the service fleet is constantly refreshed and gives customers the best optionality.
For an added bit of fun, customers in most markets will have the choice of taking home one of our Tesla Roadster sports cars when their car is in for service. Few experiences are more sublime than driving a beautiful electric sports car on a road along the ocean or through a forest with the top down on a summer day and hearing only the sounds of nature.
They even offer - at no extra cost - a valet servie that will go pick up your car and replace it with the loaner, and then swap it back when service is completed. Now that's thinking of the customer!
This is a very different approach from many other car-makers who will loan you one of their least expensive base models. If it can attract more people to electric cars and make life easier for people, why not.
Making the annual service optional
Gas and diesel vehicles have accustomed people to annual services, but EVs are different and Tesla wants to highlight that and increase flexibility for its customers:
Unlike gasoline cars, an electric car doesn’t need oil changes, fuel filters, spark plugs, smog checks, etc., which are only needed if the mode of locomotion involves burning oil derived products. For an electric car, you don’t even need to replace the brake pads, because most of the braking energy is regeneratively captured by the motor and returned to the battery.
As such, we are comfortable making the annual checkup entirely optional. There is still value to having Tesla look at the car once a year for things like tire alignment, to address a few things here & there and perform any hardware upgrades – our goal is not just to fix things, but to make the car better than it was. However, even if you never bring in the car, your warranty is still valid.
Bullet proof unconditional battery warranty
Last but not least is the beefed up battery warranty:
The battery pack in your car is obviously very important and expensive to replace. In developing the Model S, we took great care to ensure that the battery would protect itself, always retaining a few percent of energy. If something goes wrong, it is therefore our fault, not yours.
Except in the cases of a collision, opening of the battery pack by non-Tesla personnel or intentional abuse (lighting the pack on fire with a blowtorch is not covered!), all damage is covered by warranty, including improper maintenance or unintentionally leaving the pack at a low state of charge for years on end. The battery will be replaced at no cost by a factory reconditioned unit with an energy capacity equal to or better than the original pack before the failure occurred.
The intent is to provide complete peace of mind about owning your Model S even if you never read or followed the instructions in the manual.
That's it. Isn't it refreshing to have company do things like this? It's pretty rare
http://business.time.com/2013/07/30/nai ... c-car-yet/
Nailed It? Why BMW’s New i3 May Be the Most Popular Electric Car Yet
By Brad Tuttle @bradrtuttleJuly 30, 201312 Comments
On Monday, BMW streamed video of the world premiere of the company’s first mass-production electric car. The i3 is a funky-looking four-seater that Wired is calling “the most innovative thing to come out of Munich in a decade.”
Here are a few of the reasons why it’s so innovative — and why it may prove to be more practical and appealing than its battery-powered peers:
Extended driving range. The fact that a typical electric vehicle (EV) can only be driven 75 miles to 80 miles (120 km to 130 km) before requiring a recharge — which takes up a lot more time than a gas-station pit stop — is a deal breaker for many consumers. Using electric power, the BMW i3 can be driven out 80 miles (130 km), perhaps 100 miles (160 km). That’s fine for many commuters, but insufficient for longer journeys.
Extending the driving range of the i3 is as simple as purchasing the optional two-cylinder, 34-horsepower rear engine that runs on gasoline — and that basically doubles the vehicle’s range. BMW is also expected to give i3 owners access to gas-powered loaner cars during the days when they need a vehicle with longer driving range — on, say, a weekend road trip.
It’s not too-too expensive. One of the most common arguments against EVs is that the math doesn’t add up: whatever money you’d save on gas is negated by the premium you pay compared with a traditional gas-powered car. Prices have already dropped significantly on electric cars, with abundant cheap lease deals and thousands of dollars slashed off the sticker prices of the Ford Focus EV, Nissan Leaf and others.
In the U.S., the BMW i3 will start at $41,350, or $45,200 for the version with the backup gasoline engine, before factoring in federal and state rebates and tax incentives. That’s not cheap, but it’s less expensive than what many anticipated for an electric-powered BMW. It’s also a lot less pricey than the Tesla Model S, the premium that has already set the standard for electric cars — and that starts at around $70,000.
This is no glorified golf cart. The i3 has a 170-horsepower engine and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and goes 0 to 60 m.p.h. (97 km/h) in seven seconds. That’s not particularly fast, but quite peppy by EV standards; the Nissan Leaf does 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds.
Fast charging. The vehicle can be fully recharged with a 220-volt charger in three hours, and BMW says a special fast-charging system can get the i3 fully juiced up in just 30 minutes.
It will supposedly be profitable. While Tesla is said to be making money on sales of its cars, for the time being the typical EV is a money loser. It’s been reported that Fiat, for instance, loses about $10,000 on each 500e that’s sold.
But BMW certainly doesn’t plan on its EVs losing money. The Wall Street Journal quoted BMW global sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson declaring on Monday that the i3 “would be profitable from Day One on each vehicle it made.”
Read more: http://business.time.com/2013/07/30/nai ... z2aX6Iojxl
you guys do know this is like $5-$6 at high electricity rates right? ... it's no different than offering parking for a car ...
not a hybrid buddy!
-
??
what do you mean by power source? ... it's all electric ..
Of course that may of changed for the production model. I'm not sure,
Also the link I posted months back was for the i8, it now links to the i3.
then you should be looking at the tesla roadster! ...
this is his costs/usage:
$366 on gas (premium)
$72 electricity
and his oil usage is at 84% remaining ...
and this is high because he has done a lot of long distance driving ...
interesting.
this was cool too: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulleti ... TRE4eb29b5
that's interesting ... the number of charging stations that are popping up is pretty crazy ...
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
I doubt you can say "will always be"...some really arent that much more than a Camry. I bet they will come down in price someday..
The sales of electric cars will dramatically increase with the next step up in battery improvement that extends the range to 300 miles plus. The price will drop with the increase in sales as they crank em out at the factories.
You're 120 years old?
They did, actually. But the oil industry was able to stop any research and development and push their own gas-powered cars.
We'd probably have those flying Deloreans by now if they hadn't.
sure they'll come down in price ... but each and every year people's pay is not keeping up with the cost of living.
In the states they may be more affordable, but not here in Canada. Take the Volt for example, in the US its list price is 29000, in Canada it's 42000 and I believe rebates make it about 33000 plus tax ... so 36000-37000 give or take, that's a lot of coinage.
I can go buy a used vehicle thats 5-6 years old for 7000-8000 depending on on the vehicle and mileage ... and thats what more and more people in my neck of the woods will be buying.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon