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http://www.wrightspeed.com/tec...

Tesla co-founder. Perhaps they are working together? ...

frequent-stop drive cycles

[Emphasis mine] - this is not a replacement for the hundred million trucks we see hauling goods world-wide.

Electric (and LNG, etc.) is already a proven applications for urban, stop & go style, short-haul trucking. (Not that Phase2: More Customers, is a bad thing...)

http://www.wrightspeed.com/tec...

Tesla co-founder. Perhaps they are working together? I don't know why Tesla would try to recreate what their co-founder is already doing -- why not work with them? Old grudges? Planning on merging and the deal fell flat?

Although cheaper helps, there are still numerous disadvantages to electrics (range anxiety, ability to recharge cross-country, cold weather conditions, etc.) that aren't up to parity with ICs.

Even if Teslas were $10,000, they'd still be unsuitable for a large portion of drivers. Until infrastructure problems get addressed, or manufacturers get a clue and start incorporating range extenders (I so long for a series hybrid), electrics will be on the fringes of the market.

Although when these guys:

http://wrightspeed.com/

start to retrofit autos, that could mark the critical mass to finally push electrics mainstream.

That's very insightful of you, you know.

I'm still waiting for the Ariel-Atom-based Wrightspeed X1.

Many of these are more-or-less performance oriented vehicles. . .

Tesla Roadster: http://www.teslamotors.com/

Tango: http://www.commutercars.com/

UEV Spyder: http://www.universalelectricvehicle.com/spyder.htm l

Wrightspeed X1: http://www.wrightspeed.com/x1.html

ZAP-X: http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560

Silence: http://www.silenceinc.ca/accueilEN.htm

VentureOne: http://www.venturevehicles.com/

Phoenix SUT & SUV: http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/

The Wrightspeed X1 goes from 0-60mph in 3.07 secs... Not much faster but certainly a cooler looking car. Not to mention that the X1 HAS turn signals..

More info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrightspeed_X1 and http://www.wrightspeed.com/x1.html

Since the range is a problem... manufacturers haven't been working on performance-oriented electric vehicles.

Why, sure they have! The only issue is that, because of the range problems, they're only working on vehicles competing in the "rich-guy's occasionally-driven toy" market (i.e., the market populated by exotics like the Lotus Elise and Enzo Ferrari -- not stuff suitable for daily driving, like the Corvette). Here are some examples:

• AC Propulsion Tzero
• Wrightspeed X1 (based on the Ariel Atom)
• Tesla Roadster (based on the Lotus Elise) [note: the company website has no useful information]
• Venturi Fetish [warning: Flash]

Or this one: Wrightspeed X1 The LiX is interesting.. putting solar panels on it is just for show.. you might get enough power from those panels to run the turn signal. The wierd thing about the LiX is.. there are a lot of news articles about it.. but no one seems to have any real info beond some fluf specs.. I've seen the X1 in person, it FLIES.