Speaking of cars and how expectations change, check out the book "The
Electric Vehicle --- Technology and Expectations in the Automobile Age".
Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0801871387/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-0316830-8319371
#reader-link
The author (Gijs Mom) looks at EV's historically as being part of 1st gen
(1881-1902), 2nd gen (1902-1925) and "3rd generation and beyond".
It's interesting to look at the history of EVs and how their interest and
periodic demise relates to the times and crises of the day. A lot of
factors play into what technologies get adopted and what gets remaindered to
the steamroller of history. EVs have been remaindered in the past...let's
hope the lessons of the past aren't lost to us now.
One interesting thing in looking back at the 1915 era of EVs is that in many
metropolitan areas there was a surprising array of EV charging
stations/garages. New York, Chicago, Detroit, L.A. and even Portland, Or.
had them. While we hear folks nowadays talking of needing charging "spots"
around town, I don't hear much talk about lobbying for charging garages.
While I wouldn't envision this being like the early EV garages which
included trained staff and charger infrastructure, we should consider
getting city leaders to begin thinking of getting parking garages set up
with an array of charging parking spaces. It's not enough to just have
on-street charging.
-Myles Twete, Portland, Or.
-----Original Message-----
From:
[email protected] [mailto:
[email protected]] On Behalf
Of David Roden
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 4:46 PM
To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List
Subject: Re: [EVDL] Tesla Motors article in Wall Street Journal 10-16-2007
On 17 Oct 2007 at 14:53, Joseph T. wrote:
> The Rav4 EV,
> however, was very slooow. 0-60 in like 15 seconds or something. The
> motor is just 67 hp. What was Toyota thinking making this great car
> this slow?
My, how expectations have changed. In 1975, most auto writers called the
then-new VW Rabbit "quick." It went from 0 to 60 in about 12 seconds.
Not to start another iteration of this old argument, but I'm not convinced
that this is any kind of black mark on the RAV4-EV. I think that most
people are perhaps a bit spoiled by having enormous amounts of energy
onboard their vehicles (in 20 gallon gas tanks). This allows their vehicles
to have more torque on tap than they really need - unless they carry heavy
loads and/or drive in hilly regions.
I realize that merging onto expressways can be tough in some cities, but
I've found that it can be handled in slower EVs (and slower ICEs) with good
planning and patience. Brute force - mashing the pedal - is not the only
way, just the quickest (and sometimes the most hazardous).
I also realize that some people are quite literally afraid of being "run
over" and will say that their cities are different. That may be true.
However, I'm not too bothered by the music of singing car horns behind me.
I don't have anything to prove. IMO, if the folks behind me on the ramp
have to wait a few extra seconds, then that'll just teach them a little
patience too. ;-)
An EV that does 0-60 in 15 seconds would be more than peppy enough for me,
and probably for more people than you might think.
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EVDL Administrator
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