----- Original Message -----
From: Seth Murray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 12:59 AM
Subject: Re: Cross country charging challenge/Opinion
> Hi Everyone -
>
> I need to comment on this whole cross country EV drive thing,
> especially the battery swap idea. I am not attacking anyone, just have
> a few thoughts. They are my opinions.
>
> I think it is great to make a point - that EVs are practical. However,
> I feel that if in order to make this practicality statement by driving
> across the country, you need to rely on support vehicles (especially if
> you are burning oil in them), what point are you making? I thought
> about this some when my Dad and I were participating in the Tour de Sol
> this year - people were amazed to discover that my we did not have a
> chase or support vehicle to carry our gear and tools (we did end up
> needing a tow after our accident, but that is beside the point). We
> went into the Tour with the purpose of demonstrating to the public the
> practicality of a simple, home-converted EV in relatively short-range
> applications. If we had to carry all our gear in an F-350 pickup truck
> following behind us getting 10 mpgs, what was the point? If our
> electric truck could not reliably carry two people and their gear
> without a support truck for a week of driving city to city, less that
> 80 miles between, what does that prove to anybody?? I know this is not
> exactly the same case as the cross country trip, but it is very
> similar. I agree on proving the practicality of EVs, but honestly I
> don't think EVs are practical as a cross-country car. Your average
> American wants to get in their car and drive, not have to plan out
> specific stops along the way, calling ahead to make sure they have
> 14-50s at each location. I'm not saying driving cross country in an EV
> wouldn't be cool, or prove *something,* but I just can't see flying the
> EV flag with your support vehicles out of sight a few miles back. My
> two cents worth
>
> Seth
>
> Hi All;
Seth has a buncha good points! I feel that way; ifyur gunna run
trans-con, yur it. WHY bring a support vehicle? Yur car is reliable 'enuf to
actuall stay running, why shouldn't it be up to a long trip? I feel, that I
could climb aboard my Rabbit, with my "Little Blue Box" 240 volt charger, if
I could find 240 along the way, and be ON my way. When I'd show up on the
left coast would be grounds for speculation. I DO have a handy homemade
towbar, which I think I would stow aboard, just in case something DID break.
I am comfortable with the car's reliability, no problem there. If I were
retired, had plenty of time, could be a fun trip. Meet interesting people
along the way. Hell! Yul have plenty of time<g>!
I remember on the Clean Air Car Race of 1971, charging in a small town
in NM. The reporter from the local paper, a kid, like myself, back then,
saying, "You have the right car, but you're in the wrong race!" By then, it
didn't take much to get a rounds of "Right" "He's got a point" among our
ground crews.
But, all things considered; it would be fun meeting guyz from the list
as ya went, sorta like I did a few months ago.
Seeya
Bob plugging along trip
> --
> QUESTION INTERNAL COMBUSTION
>
> My electric truck page, with lots of photos and a 25 page conversion
> journal. Check it out!
> http://users.wpi.edu/~sethm/ (no more popups!)
>
> My EV Album page
> http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/387.html
>
