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The biggest problem for city drivers (I'm in San Francisco) is we only need a car that goes about 45 mph, but we can only buy vehicles (electric or ICE) that ar
by blendo 10y ago
The biggest problem for city drivers (I'm in San Francisco) is we only need a car that goes about 45 mph, but we can only buy vehicles (electric or ICE) that are designed for 70-80 mph. They tend to weigh over 3,000 lbs, and a Tesla weighs near 5,000 lbs.
The best we can do right now are "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles", limited in the US to a top speed of only 25mph. Scoot rents one, a Twizy: http://blog.caranddriver.com/in-a-twizy-nissan-renting-electric-renault-twizy-in-san-francisco/ http://blog.caranddriver.com/in-a-twizy-nissan-renting-elect.... They're fun to drive, but VERY rough and crude.
Perhaps we need a class of lightweight vehicles with a top speed just barely insufficient for freeway use? For pedestrian and bike safety, I'd think we need to keep vehicle mass and velocity as low as practical.
- fernly 10y agoOddly enough that is exactly what the linked report says, scroll to exhibit 11 and after: "Findings for the other seven consumer segments indicate near-term unmet demand for more basic mobility solutions (e.g., lower-range, smaller vehicles, less driving utility)."
- nradov 10y agoThat would be such a limited niche that I can't imagine manufacturers could sell enough to achieve economies of scale. The Nissan Leaf is super cheap and only weighs 3400 lbs so what's the problem there? From a pedestrian collision standpoint the motor vehicle weight is irrelevant; it's the speed and vehicle shape which affect injury/death rates.
- cowardlydragon 10y agoelectric bicycle
- kalleboo 10y agoHow about the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Fiat 500e, or the Chevy Spark EV?
- jventura 10y agoI drove one of those Renault Twizy some years ago, and I can say it is not speed-limited by any means. In fact, it has a very good acceleration and top-speed around 100 km/h (at least, as I was afraid of turning it upside down on the highway!)..