Vaporware and failed EV companies

[bigmoose]

The Aptera lane change vids that are still out appear to be the successful lane change after they tuned the suspension. Anyone able to still find the failed lane change video?

I still think we need a "4 wheeled" motorcycle class for light vehicles. We are pushing the 3 wheeled design past limits so that we can use the accepted risk profile of a motorcycle driver in a three wheeled "car" that carries "motorcycle risk" to the end user. I say, let this be in two classes of 4 wheeled "cars" also. The Neighborhood Urban Vehicle class is too slow when limited to 35 MPH.

[oatnet]

The Neighborhood Urban Vehicle class is too slow when limited to 35 MPH.

I agree. I am not aware of the NUV class - here in Califhorny we have NEV, which is limited to 30mph and 3000lb loaded, which is not enough to do local errands - I can't do my 3.1 mile commute to work in one because my company is located on a 45mph. I think 45mph is where it needs to be, but 1,800 lb to force them to be small. If we could build a class like that, and break our transportation perceptions into local vs highway needs, the electric car would finally have a niche to grow in. EVs would be a lot cheaper if we aren't trying to force them out of what they do well, by making them into a long-range gas-guzzler replacement.

-JD

[dnmun]

forcing them to be electric imitations of gas guzzlers, this is the heart of the failure to adapt.

how did we get to the point where we can only ride or drive what the guvment thinks is what we should use?

not only that, the 'real world avoidance' maneuver is totally unreal.

i find that drivers do not avoid. they do not maneuver their vehicle to avoid an accident or strike an obstruction. they just drive over it. that is why they all drive the big vehicles to begin with.

for those people to be the reason we have to give up the right to ride an electric bike at normal speeds and to drive the vehicle we would like without being harassed by guvment edicts is criminal.

it is like letting the religious hate mongering fanatics determine what we can drink, smoke or have sex with have total control over our freedom of being and expression.

this is where ebikes rock, and EVs are so out there, so progressive, avante guarde as they say.

but like with any technology, it has to be supported so the education of all the new people about how batteries and motors and controllers and the individual parts all work is so important. this is where the sphere has to be. to be the 'hot rod' magazine inspiration for all the kids who will eventually 'get it', and the framework for the formation of their ideas of what can be done, either for maxo gonzo speed or ebent efficiency and velo aerodynamics.

electric, but plug in hybrids for a long time until the cost of fuel makes our current transportation system ineffective. those people on planes now i know will be on CNG diesel electric trains later, and taking their personal electric vehicle with them for local travel, and it will be an electric bike imo, or it would have to be shared EVs and ebikes with local nodes in the metropolis, like the zip car now, shared usage of the capital equipment among groups, organized and authenticated by google apps that will watch the equipment users and of course, keep track of them real time so that the risk of the closer social interaction is mitigated through the formation of this new level of community, kinda like the facebook stuff that gave us the arab spring.

[Toshi]

I want an EV that meets modern ICE car safety standards. I don't want my wife driving around town astride a Bug-E, for instance.

(For myself I'm ok with the risk of bicycle or motorcycle commuting, though. Call me a chauvinist.)

[bigmoose]

My NUV is your NEV! oops...

[oatnet]

I want an EV that meets modern ICE car safety standards. I don't want my wife driving around town astride a Bug-E, for instance.

(For myself I'm ok with the risk of bicycle or motorcycle commuting, though. Call me a chauvinist.)

I know this is simply never going to happen - but if everyone was suddenly driving a Bug-E, instead of 3 ton SUV's, would you feel more comfortable about it?

-JD

[Toshi]

I want an EV that meets modern ICE car safety standards. I don't want my wife driving around town astride a Bug-E, for instance.

(For myself I'm ok with the risk of bicycle or motorcycle commuting, though. Call me a chauvinist.)

I know this is simply never going to happen - but if everyone was suddenly driving a Bug-E, instead of 3 ton SUV's, would you feel more comfortable about it?

-JD

Not unless buses and semis were banished, too.

[fizzit]

Not unless buses and semis were banished, too.

Buses and semis cause very few accidents. I think if you are going to worry about safety, you should be worried about the other drivers that aren't being paid to drive, didn't get trained to drive their vehicle, and don't have their job on the line.
I also figure that there will be separate lanes for large vehicles like semis once vehicles become smaller.

[Toshi]

American Electric Kurrent NEV. Current status: My impression is that American Electric went bankrupt in 2007. Their press materials on getkurrent.com all date from then, and a dealer reputed to carry them makes no mention of them whatsoever. Furthermore, this forum post, in which the poster was selling a Kurrent, definitely refers to them in the past tense:

The third vehicle is the former American Electric Vehicle Company's "Kurrent". This vehicle is limited. There were only several hundred Kurrents manufactured by AEVCO.

[Toshi]

Audi A1 E-Tron. Current status: Vaporware, although an R8 E-Tron, plaything for the rich, is still reportedly undergoing testing and development.

A1 and A2 E-Tron models officially canceled: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Searc ... ctric-car2

The A3 E-Tron lives on as a test program vehicle, though? Strange.

[Jason27]

it's sad to see so many electric vehicle and g reen technology companies fail. I think it's due to unrealistic demand expectations. market factors play a role. everyone is broke right now and cant afford expensive green technology.

I'm looking at the electric bike market in particular. there is some demand but tons of competition and options for the individual consumer. take me for example, I built my own electric bike rather than buying one from a company like many on this forum have.. in all honesty I don't see how ebike companies can be profitable.