4 ms·

I work about six to eight miles from home (depending on the route) in Atlanta. I bike in as often as I can, but I would be all over a cheap electric alternative

by zellyn 8y ago

I work about six to eight miles from home (depending on the route) in Atlanta. I bike in as often as I can, but I would be all over a cheap electric alternative that was rain-proof. I don't see this as a car replacement so much as a bicycle alternative.

Poiesis 8y ago
I commented earlier about buying a used Leaf instead of the car in the article. I just wanted to mention that it's a great bicycle alternative for me too. Used to bike to work before I had four kids going different places.
- manmal 8y ago
  I wonder why those are so cheap in the US. A 4 yo Leaf costs €16k where I live, and that’s considered a bargain actually.
  - taneq 8y ago
    Maybe because the US seems to prefer giant SUVs with more interior space than your lounge room?
  - crowdpleaser 8y ago
    A used leaf doesn't appeal to a lot of people. A lot of used leafs are down to 60-80 miles of usable range, IIRC the average American commutes something like 15 miles each way, missing a charge or adding errands can put someone in a tight spot. And the weather in most American cities is 'extreme' - either winter is very cold (bad for battery range) or hot (bad for battery longevity in the leaf). My old city of minneapolis would have winter lows near -40 degrees C and would hit 38-40 degrees C every summer. That's very demanding for batteries. America doesn't have a lot of charging infrastructure and unless you're a homeowner or live in a luxury apartment or work at a tech company or a company with an i.t competency, it's probably going to be hard to charge regularly. Our cheap gas erodes the cost advantages of electric, you can find priuses (a Toyota hybrid) for $3k in any major city and that's going to give an electric car a serious run for its money in energy costs.
manmal 8y ago
Is the Renault Twizy sold in the US? It doesn’t have window panes, but a roof.
avar 8y ago
Have you considered getting something like a "rain-proof" bicycle like the electric Urban Arrow + rain cover + poncho?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7y5XSXeAFo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7y5XSXeAFo

by zellyn 8y ago

Poiesis 8y ago

I commented earlier about buying a used Leaf instead of the car in the article. I just wanted to mention that it's a great bicycle alternative for me too. Used to bike to work before I had four kids going different places.

manmal 8y ago
I wonder why those are so cheap in the US. A 4 yo Leaf costs €16k where I live, and that’s considered a bargain actually.
- taneq 8y ago
  Maybe because the US seems to prefer giant SUVs with more interior space than your lounge room?
- crowdpleaser 8y ago
  A used leaf doesn't appeal to a lot of people. A lot of used leafs are down to 60-80 miles of usable range, IIRC the average American commutes something like 15 miles each way, missing a charge or adding errands can put someone in a tight spot. And the weather in most American cities is 'extreme' - either winter is very cold (bad for battery range) or hot (bad for battery longevity in the leaf). My old city of minneapolis would have winter lows near -40 degrees C and would hit 38-40 degrees C every summer. That's very demanding for batteries. America doesn't have a lot of charging infrastructure and unless you're a homeowner or live in a luxury apartment or work at a tech company or a company with an i.t competency, it's probably going to be hard to charge regularly. Our cheap gas erodes the cost advantages of electric, you can find priuses (a Toyota hybrid) for $3k in any major city and that's going to give an electric car a serious run for its money in energy costs.

manmal 8y ago

Is the Renault Twizy sold in the US? It doesn’t have window panes, but a roof.

avar 8y ago

Have you considered getting something like a "rain-proof" bicycle like the electric Urban Arrow + rain cover + poncho?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7y5XSXeAFo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7y5XSXeAFo