Can we resurrect the EV1?

Question

Can we resurrect the EV1?

Answer 1

You can build an electric car yourself (or rather convert a gas car to electric).  Thousands of people have.   Cost ranges from $3000 to $20,000 depending on how sophisticated you want to get.

GM is also reviving the concept with the Chevy Volt.  It fixes the perceived "problem" of running out of batteries, because it has a gas engine onboard that kicks in when the batteries run down.  For most drivers that will be "almost never", because most folks drive well under 40 miles a day except on road trips.  The smaller battery also makes the EV much cheaper and more practical.  The gas engine means you don't have to worry about running out of batteries ever.  If you NEED to drive it 500 miles a day, you can (but it'll cost more is all).  

Figure 2 cents a mile for electricity, then 60-80 mpg once the gas engine comes on.  Even on gas, you'll still have the full performance of an electric hotrod, because the car will borrow from the battery when it needs a momentary shot of power.

This will work, and you'll see many cars in the GM carline converted to this technology.  Figure on a $60,000 Yukon XL (ordinary ones today cost $55,000) that costs 4 cents a mile for electricity, then 25 MPG on cruise.   $40 a month to run your Yukon around town, not bad.

Answer 2

Eventually we HAVE TO.

Good Luck...