Joseph's group is looking at a significant expense to design and build
a high-performance replacement for their EV-1s. They are probably less
sensitive to cost than the average buyer.
It's my understanding that the Tango's price will drop dramatically
as production volume goes up. With low volume, the first few would be
expensive, but a group purchase could, depending on the actual number,
push the price down to levels that attract more buyers.
Hopefully Rick Woodbury will add his thoughts.
Ralph
Christopher Robison writes:
>
> I have a different opinion on this issue, and I'd like to know what folks
> think.
>
> I really think that the Tango, as well as the AC Propulsion drive train (as
> Seth brought up) are *not* a good fit, for this proposal, or for use as an
> example of how electric vehicles are viable alternatives to gasoline powered
> transportation.
>
> Why? Because both ACP and Commuter Cars have developed products which stress a
> single point -- that decent-performing EVs are available only to the Wealthy.
> Both companies are developing technology that they clearly don't really ever
> intend to sell to the masses, only to the Gucci crowd.
>
> In my mind, it is not acceptable to have a four-wheeled vehicle, of *any*
> technology, that is not capable of at least 90mph briefly in a pinch -- and can
> accelerate to that speed from 65, quickly. There may be others on this list
> that disagree, but the masses will not be convinced by a car that tops out at
> 70 with no oomph left. My crappy beat-up old Honda Civic will do 115. I
> generally make no secret of my interest in electric vehicles, and from those to
> whom I proselytize this idea, performance is the major complaint that I hear.
>
> The message we get from the Tango and the Tzero is that it's possible to have
> an EV that's fast enough to convince the masses, but only if you can spare a
> cool $80k+. And most people with that kind of money to spend on a second car
> would probably think an NSX looks nicer with their Armani or Prada.
>
> Does anyone have any arguments/flames/etc to my point of view here? I'd like
> to have a better outlook than this, but it's hard to be optimistic when I know
> the closest I'll get to a car like the Tango is maybe to see one at a
> convention.
>
> --c.r.
>
>
>
>
>
> Quoting Ralph Merwin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>
> >
> > Joseph,
> >
> > The Tango would be a good fit. See http://www.commutercars.com.
> >
> > Ralph
> >
> >
> > Joseph Vaughn-Perling writes:
> > >
> > > Hi folks,
> > >
> > > There is a proposal on another EV list (the EV1-club list) to do a
> > > group build of a high performance EV.
> > > As GM is taking back all their lovely EV1s, there is a fairly significant
> > > population of EV drivers that will need a new car and will want something
> > > with comparable or better performance.
> > >
> > > Since this is a semi-commercial proposal I'd recommend that interested
> > > folks contact either myself off-list or even better, join the discussion
> > > underway on the EV1-Club list.
> > >
> > > EV1-Club list instructions are here (it is relatively little
> > > volume):
> > > http://ev1-club.power.net/listserv.htm
> > >
> > > The goal is to do a limited production run using one of the existing
> > > drivetrains such as AC Propulsion or the like. The hope is that this
> > will
> > > bring down the cost for the group and have a fairly standard model with
> > > similar problems and benefits so that the group can share resources on
> > > use, R&D, etc. The cars would all be built by the same team and would
> > use
> > > an existing autobody shell of some ype yet to be determined.
> > >
> >
> >
>
