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Alternatives to Cars?
H0NGK0NGPH00EY asks: "I hate cars. -- Why in the heck am I lugging a giant steel box with me everywhere I go, and paying through the nose to make it go? Well, the main reason is because there aren't any affordable, viable alternatives. Are there?"
"I drive about 18 miles to work, mostly pseudo-highway (60mph, two-lane
road with two stop lights on the way). Too far to bike, or I would--during the summer months, at least. I would get a motorcycle, but in my mind, it's only better than a car on one count, it's size. It still uses gasoline, is dirty, noisy, and has too many moving parts. Plus they don't protect me from the weather.
I've looked into small, commuter electric vehicles. And I've come up largely empty-handed. Here's what I have found:
Corbin Motors' 'Sparrow'
As you may know, Corbin produced about 300 of these beauties before one of their largest investors called in his money, and forced them into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There were a number of technical problems, and due to their scarcity they're a bit hard to come by now. Besides, who would want to spend $7,000 + on an un-supported vehicle?
Cree's 'SAM'
Basically the same as the Sparrow, but not available yet. The company has been around since 1996(!), and has just recently basically 're-started.' Who knows when, if ever, they'll have a marketable product, especially in the USA.
Commuter Cars' 'Tango'
A local guy with a dream. And a dang fine looking vehicle. But alas, also not in production in any real way, and only currently available in a $85,000 kit. He talks about a $20,000 mass-marketed version, but I'll believe it when I see it...
Nevco's 'Gizmo'
Finally one that appears to actually be available. But at $12,000 it's a little steep for me, especially seating only one and only getting up to 45mph, with a 45 mile range.
So, has anyone here had any better luck?"
I've looked into small, commuter electric vehicles. And I've come up largely empty-handed. Here's what I have found:
Corbin Motors' 'Sparrow'
As you may know, Corbin produced about 300 of these beauties before one of their largest investors called in his money, and forced them into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There were a number of technical problems, and due to their scarcity they're a bit hard to come by now. Besides, who would want to spend $7,000 + on an un-supported vehicle?
Cree's 'SAM'
Basically the same as the Sparrow, but not available yet. The company has been around since 1996(!), and has just recently basically 're-started.' Who knows when, if ever, they'll have a marketable product, especially in the USA.
Commuter Cars' 'Tango'
A local guy with a dream. And a dang fine looking vehicle. But alas, also not in production in any real way, and only currently available in a $85,000 kit. He talks about a $20,000 mass-marketed version, but I'll believe it when I see it...
Nevco's 'Gizmo'
Finally one that appears to actually be available. But at $12,000 it's a little steep for me, especially seating only one and only getting up to 45mph, with a 45 mile range.
So, has anyone here had any better luck?"
The problem arises from having to take a highway, car alternatives are unfortunatly generaly not up to car speeds. If you could find an alternate route with a slower speed limit i would suggest this. After a while 18 miles will be nothing on a recumbant, and a covered one like that reduces drag (you can fly on those things) and protects you from the rain.
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
This site has some pretty good info on electric-assisted bicycles, though it gets into a bit of silly rhetoric: Electric Bikes Northwest
Hmm, good call. It was mainly because I admire the visual style of the PT Cruiser. Of course, I also know that no one who may buy me gifts (family or friends) is going to buy me a $20,000 car, so it was mainly up there as a joke.
:^)
But, since you mentioned it, I have changed it.
Do not read this sig.
The reason for using electric vehicles right now is not that they consume less energy, it's that they pollute less at the location where they are used. That's important because cities have real air quality problems, and that's a reason why so many cities use electric vehicles.
In the long term, electric or hydrogen powered vehicles also have the potential advantage that whatever CO2 is generated during energy production can be sequestered away, rather than being released into the atmosphere. Also, once you have switched to electric or hydrogen, you have a much wider choice of energy sources (e.g., solar becomes an option; it isn't if you burn gasoline).
I don't know where you live, but I work in downtown Charlotte (NC) and before that worked in downtown Tampa (FL). Both of those had no viable living anywhere close to it, unless you either had over $400,000 to spend on a "luxury condo" or wanted to live somewhere where your safety might be in jeopordy.
Random Musings
A few responses to the comments so far:
... depending on how your electricity is generated.
... Stop whining because it's not everything a car is and do something to make things better.
:)
"What are bicycles and public transportation, Alex?"
As I stated in the submission, bicycles aren't really an option. Not only the distance, but I live in the Seattle area, so there are a number of rather daunting hills along my 18 mile commute. As far as public transportation goes, I have looked into that, but commuting from Kenmore to Monroe by bus would take over an hour, and require three bus changes. There just aren't any routes that run directly between the two.
The biggest problem with commuter electric vehicles is that most of them consume more energy per mile than an economy car with one occupant.
As stated above, I live in Seattle, so the majority of our electricity comes from the dams. Almost certainly cleaner than burning a gallon of gas every 30 miles.
You can buy an older, used car for $3,000-5,000. If you learn to work on them yourself, you can save money on repairs and maintainence.
I already have an older used car, that I only paid $2000 for six years ago. And, I already do work on it myself. The point isn't just the cost, but the waste of space and fuel. Even though I get 30mpg, it still feels like a waste.
suck it up and get a motorcycle.
First, who's whining? Second, I'm not prepared to take the risks associated with a motorcycle. Too many drivers are blind to them, and here in Seattle, the weather is not very friendly to motorcycles for much of the year. Believe me, there are tempting aspects of motorcycles, but they don't hold enough advantages over my cheap clunker car to woo me to them.
Then why, do you have as the #1 thing on your 'wish list' on your website, a Chrysler PT Cruiser?
See above. Good point, and I have changed it. (^_^)
Yes, rideshare. Carpool, vanpool, bus, train, SOMETHING where there is another driver.
I'm actually working on that. Working way out in sticks, most people at my small company (less than 2 dozen employees) come from different directions than me, or work different hours than me. One person comes from my direction, and we're working out a plan to carpool at least a few days a week, even though we usually work different hours than each other.
Basically I'm saying.. move to a better place, heck you might even make some money in real estate in the process
Hmm, not likely, considering two factors: 1) I don't own a house. 2) I'm only paying $250 a month for the two-bedroom I'm at now. Again, given that I'm living in the greater Seattle area, moving would be an incredibly foolish financial decision.
Do not read this sig.
I started riding motorcycle 'bout 3 years ago. My first one was a BMW F650GS. Gave me about 4.2 liters / 100km (even with heay riding, maxing the speedo out at 160km/h). Dirty? Comes standard with a catalytic converter. Only dirty part was that chain, that needed to be lubed regularly. Noisy? Not really. Heck, in Europe even the Harleys are silent :-). Cold? Mind you, Johannesburg's winters may be not as harsh as other places, rarely goes below 0C, but those heated handlebars come in quite handy from May to Sept. The great thing: it's a real rush hour beater. My commute is about 40 km, and in Johannesburg's insane traffic, it still takes me no more than 45-50 minutes.
Then again, feet have proven quite sufficient for thousands of years :-p
Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
Water Turbines flood areas.
From where I'm sitting right now, I can see two hydro plants that generate a sizable fraction of the city's power. Between the two of them, they've flooded maybe an acre of land. Wonderful thing, waterfalls.
"They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.