When will commercial electric cars start selling in the US?

Question

When will commercial electric cars start selling in the US?

Answer 1

There already are some.  For example, the Tesla Roadster and low-speed short-range EVs like the ZAP Xebra.

http://www.teslamotors.com/

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicle...

Some affordable long-range high-speed EVs will be available starting in about a year, as well.

Available in California in October 2008, the Aptera typ-1e will cost about $27,000 with a top speed of 95 mph and range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Soon thereafter Aptera will introduce the typ-1h, a plug-in hybrid version of the typ-1e with a 40-60 mile range on purely electrical energy, and a range of over 600 miles total when in electric/gas hybrid mode, for around $30,000.  On a 120 mile trip, the typ-1h will get 300 miles per gallon.  The shorter the trip, the higher the efficiency.

http://www.aptera.com/details.php

Available in late 2008 or early 2009, the ZAP Alias will cost $30,000, have a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 100 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Soon thereafter the ZAP-X will be available at a cost of $60,000 with a top speed of 155 mph and a range of 350 miles per charge.

http://zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/el...

Available in late 2008 or early 2009, the Miles Javlon will cost $30,000 with a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 120 miles per charge.

http://www.milesev.com/

Phoenix Motorcars will start selling their SUT to individuals in late 2008 or early 2009.  It will cost $45,000 and have a top speed of 100 mph with a range of 100+ miles per charge.

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/

Answer 2

Right now.

Answer 3

When the USA population begin to understand that they are being run by the petrol barrons of the US, who do not want us to stop using their products and for them to have no income.

They buy up the alternative fuel patents that would work well within petrol and deisel cars and which would be cheap to purchase, just to stop the people from moving away from their products. Car manufactures are also reluctant to move in this direction for fear of offending the more powerful fuel barrons.

Lastly there are a lot of scam merchants trying to sell alternative fuel supliments that do not work very well.

We as a country sow what we reap!

Answer 4

It'll be a while.

One issue not often brought up is the heating and a/c of an electric car.  I hope you are ready to forgo those luxuries.

Answer 5

its being used already but not a lot

http://www.mcev.biz/

Answer 6

Chevrolet is investing literally billions of dollars to produce a commercially viable car.  The concept car is the Volt, but don't expect it to look like that when it comes to market.  You will probably be able to buy a pure electric car in 2010 or 2011.

BTW, look at the Toyota A-BAT concept vehicle, a pickup truck which appears to be based on the Prius.

P.S. People always say, "Well, what do you do when you've driven 200 miles and you're in the middle of the desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and you're out of electricity?"  Well, before you leave, just drive your electric car to a rental place and rent a gas vehicle for $20 per day.

Answer 7

Shortly after Bush is out of office

Answer 8

in a long time

Answer 9

There are already electric cars for sale in the US.  But they are limited in speed and range.  More are expected to be out in the next couple years.

The Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius will probably both be pluggable hybrids in the next 2 years.  And they'll be able to use electric only for up to 40 miles and then start using gas.

Answer 10

I am glad that you are looking for an alternative to petroleum based transport but would urge you to look wider than electric cars.  Public transport, less travel, walking and cycling are also worth considering.

All of these options have a role to play and already do.  But they will truely take off when oil prices rise, as is inevitable.  Already the oil companies are resorting to sources that are more expensive, such as deep sea, arctic and the hugely more expensive and environmentally damaging oil sands.

It would be helpful if the US Government were to start encouraging the more frugal use of non renewable resources, like oil, by heavy taxes on fossil fuels.  The revenue could be used to aleviate poverty and subsidise public transport and the higher prices would provide an incentive to the development of more sustainable transport and simpler lifestyles.  This would facilitate a smooth transition from an oil based economy to one based upon sustainable resources.  The alternative is a transition brought about by economic collapse and I do hope this can be averted by pressure from folk like yourself.

The thing to do is to demonstrate to government that there are votes to be had in sustainable policies by adopting a simpler lifestyle yourself.  Buy less stuff.  Avoid unnecessary travel.  Walk and cycle more.  Use public transport. Insulate your home.  Recycle.  The government believes that economic growth (the recipe for disaster) is the only thing that wins votes but you can prove them wrong.

Best wishes

Answer 11

You can buy them now, but if you mean when will they be widely purchased, I suspect never.  They simply cannot compete with conventionally fueled cars and I see no indication that they will be able to do so in the foreseeable future.

Answer 12

When they don't cost $75,000 for a car the size of a Vespa scooter that only seats two people that weigh no more than 150 lbs. each.

Answer 13

It hit the market over a hundred years ago and it gave the internal and external combustion cars a good run for the money, and what’s really funny the electric cars back then had almost the same range as the electric cars of today. If you look around you can still find them, and with a little work and a little time you’ll have a great running little car and make a lot of new friends.