GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Car Talk > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: What would convince you to buy an electric car	Post a Reply Back to Topics

DerekS Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,751 Points:685,025 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 13, 2012 6:01:16 PM Ignore DerekS Report Abuse I like the looks of the new Ford Focus Electric. The Nissan Leaf is ugly. However, I'm not about to buy a Ford electric car because it cost $40,000 and I wouldn't use it that much. I figure that I'll use it 6,000 miles a year for in-town driving and still need a second car. If I have a second car then I'm spending about $65,000 on cars, $40k + $25k. That is too much. I don't use that much gas, maybe 400 gallons a year.

DerekS

Champion Author
Seattle

Posts:3,751
Points:685,025
Joined:Mar 2008

Message Posted: Jun 13, 2012 6:01:16 PM

Ignore DerekS Report Abuse

I like the looks of the new Ford Focus Electric. The Nissan Leaf is ugly. However, I'm not about to buy a Ford electric car because it cost $40,000 and I wouldn't use it that much. I figure that I'll use it 6,000 miles a year for in-town driving and still need a second car.

If I have a second car then I'm spending about $65,000 on cars, $40k + $25k. That is too much. I don't use that much gas, maybe 400 gallons a year.

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

eccerr0r All-Star Author Fort Collins Posts:991 Points:595,490 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 4:42:21 PM Ignore eccerr0r Report Abuse Still "price". They are just not cost effective at this point.
jorobins538 Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,732 Points:638,320 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 9:03:22 AM Ignore jorobins538 Report Abuse getting a really good raise.
psm80134 Champion Author Denver Posts:2,625 Points:541,095 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 8:21:31 AM Ignore psm80134 Report Abuse Before I seriously considered an electric vehicle, the price would have to come down to be on a par with traditional, internal combustion powered vehicles, and they'd need find a way to make the range on a full charge closer to what you can get on a full tank of gas.
wlotocky All-Star Author Florida Posts:810 Points:205,135 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 5:39:35 AM Ignore wlotocky Report Abuse my mother-in-law!
fkftdoc Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,907 Points:583,275 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 5:38:55 AM Ignore fkftdoc Report Abuse no
Hemiramrules Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:91,438 Points:2,401,295 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 5:32:41 AM Ignore Hemiramrules Report Abuse Maybe if it can go well over 200 miles, the price is lower & it can pull my boat.....so I quess never!
kishoreCA Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,123 Points:393,870 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jun 16, 2012 9:16:41 PM Ignore kishoreCA Report Abuse nothing but if i get a lottery. or a free car.
RamDRW Veteran Author New Jersey Posts:305 Points:128,100 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jun 16, 2012 8:07:36 PM Ignore RamDRW Report Abuse No other engine exists.
Timberline Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,505 Points:763,505 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jun 16, 2012 9:02:34 AM Ignore Timberline Report Abuse Range and the ability to drive around on mountain roads.
EdPG Champion Author Boston Posts:12,188 Points:2,669,960 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jun 16, 2012 5:06:47 AM Ignore EdPG Report Abuse very low price
DasAuto92 Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,449 Points:175,645 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 7:21:17 PM Ignore DasAuto92 Report Abuse Nothing.You could try but its in 1 ear & out the other.But i'm patient listener,so the floor is yours. [Edited by: DasAuto92 at 6/15/2012 10:22:11 PM EST]
randdtso Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,035 Points:261,065 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 7:07:18 AM Ignore randdtso Report Abuse Equivalent cost and range to a gasoline or diesel car.
AlienBug All-Star Author Connecticut Posts:732 Points:218,035 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 6:40:50 AM Ignore AlienBug Report Abuse I would need about 250 miles range OR sufficient quick charging stations. Also the price would have to be such that the "break even" point is about two years or less.
Titanic1985 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:6,274 Points:359,295 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 6:09:47 AM Ignore Titanic1985 Report Abuse Good Morning DerekS. As I stated on other Topics of this subject, I wrote my college thesis in 1968 on the electric car using 90 references as it was a research-type document. Many of the problems back then, except the lead acid batteries, are the same as now. Today, however, the price of the vehicles are beyond my means and some of the problems have wandered from the technical world to the political realm (e.g. incentive programs, the green movement, etc.). I just bought a new Chevrolet Sonic 2LT Hatchback three weeks ago today. It cost under $20,000, gets decent gasoline mileage, is comfortable and safe, so maybe when I'm in the market again, I take another gander at the electric car. The technology needs to improve and the price needs to come down. These were the same concerns in 1968 when I wrote my thesis. Take care :-) .
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:13,510 Points:2,395,980 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 5:54:41 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse I have one car and there is no way I can justify the expense of buying and maintaining two cars so I could only justify buying an electric car if it could do essentually everything my current car does for me. This means a range of greater than 150 miles on a charge and a purchase premium less than $5000 (about what I would spend on gas).
probedude2 Champion Author Akron Posts:12,553 Points:2,380,205 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 10:43:26 PM Ignore probedude2 Report Abuse If Al Gore delivered one to my doorstep, then just maybe
Dennis783 Champion Author Des Moines Posts:13,599 Points:2,704,860 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 6:38:50 AM Ignore Dennis783 Report Abuse reasonable initial price, range of at least 500 miles, and some sense that the battery life and replacement cost will be reasonable
DDubyu Champion Author Ventura Posts:19,790 Points:3,169,295 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 6:38:21 AM Ignore DDubyu Report Abuse A 300 to 400 mile range, 10 minute recharge, and prices comparable to gas engine cars. That shouldn't be asking for too much.
kxy4fw Champion Author Denver Posts:1,226 Points:275,355 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 6:27:24 AM Ignore kxy4fw Report Abuse greater distance between charges and more charging stations
dakine Champion Author Orange County Posts:19,600 Points:3,591,875 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 6:07:51 AM Ignore dakine Report Abuse Need to have convenient recharging stations around before I would buy an all electric vehicle.
tagorgia Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,027 Points:2,816,295 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 6:07:01 AM Ignore tagorgia Report Abuse Nothing, I drive trucks and sports cars.
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:14,977 Points:1,877,640 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 5:49:16 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse Not anytime soon. Since Obama's electric plan is being enacted by the EPA. "Electric rates under my plan will necessarily skyrocket".
BT1288 Champion Author Lincoln Posts:22,107 Points:1,424,360 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jun 14, 2012 5:32:40 AM Ignore BT1288 Report Abuse When gasoline runs out.
wlotocky All-Star Author Florida Posts:810 Points:205,135 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jun 13, 2012 8:04:08 PM Ignore wlotocky Report Abuse price
PatAZ Champion Author Tucson Posts:9,249 Points:122,380 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jun 13, 2012 7:49:41 PM Ignore PatAZ Report Abuse Convince me now? Nothing unless they gave me one.
NYTEFLYT All-Star Author New York Posts:842 Points:325,120 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jun 13, 2012 6:27:38 PM Ignore NYTEFLYT Report Abuse Obviously the cost of the vehicle is holding back a lot of buyers (me included.) Extended range is important as well as recharging station availability. It's happening though.