I really like your way of thinking Janez, if you (or another european ev friend) need help finding an electric car (french or not) on that side of the world, i can indicate you people to contact.
Philippe, french ev owner, happy to see i'm not so alone... Et si le pot d'échappement sortait au centre du volant ? quel carburant choisiriez-vous ? http://vehiculeselectriques.free.fr ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janez Svetlin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 12:21 AM Subject: EVs and Europe > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> among other wrote: > > >True, for a variety of reasons. The Think may have had a better chance > >in europe, though I don't know why they would fare better than other EV's > >that have been offered there. The issue though is why Ford dropped them > >for the U.S. > > Well, bullshit. I'm from europe (Slovenia to be exact) and neither Think > neither any other EV was offered to me. Neither can I get one factory > made even if I try. > > Only PSA, RENAULT and SKODA at my knowledge have working EV's that can > be bought somewhere - over the hils and far away - in europe. Think is > new but as it seems, history. They *newer* advertised it here. No jumbo > posters, no tv ads, no magazine articles. Nothing. NO COMPANY CAN SELL A > PRODUCT THAT IS NEITHER ADVERTISED NOR AVAILABLE. I did touch it and sit > in it once. Nice car. Small and sufficiently roomy. There did get one > here for "presentations". They couldn't hide it better even if they > tried. I had to *beg to let me see it.* > VW had golf EV and there was some minor advertising about ten years > ago. I believe golf EV production died. PSA EV's are present mainly if > not only in France. Same for Renault. Skoda did seem to produce several > of EV pick-ups, but I believe they sell to fleets only. Citroen > saleswoman didn't know there are such things as electric vehicle. > Renault dealers just looked odd at me asking why on earth would I want > an an electric vehicle. They are slow, expensive high maintenance and > they didn't import any because of low demand. There isn't any EV model > certified for our market yet from renault ant probably won't be because > of the above reasons. So I was told. To summarize: renault EVs are so > crappy that nobody would even think about buying. There is probably > something wrong with me and i should better set myself straight instead > of trying to buy an electric. WELL UNTIL NOW NOT A SINGLE DEALER EVER > TOLD ME THAT THEY WON'T SELL ME THEIR CAR BECAUSE ITS A PIECE OF CRAP! > For a matter of renault i can easily buy used renault 5 (i believe US > knows it as renault lecar) Not a piece of fine technology i tell you. > And even renault 4 (won't even start about it). But EVs are so inferior > that they by all means should decide instead of me i should rather get a > clean diesel or maybe a new eco friendly clio 1.2 gasoline that is -by > the way- wery smart buy. I began to fell like i'm banging my head > against the wall and just mentioned "it ain't very fast is it?." "Well > we do have a 2.0 sport for sportier people..." "Does by any chance get > the same milage?" You can't have it all they told me. > > As for every car this holds true : YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL. EVs have some > limitations, but not so major as they keep telling us. > > I can't drive a fridge home in a MGF but it is stil a nice car. > I can't do 7 sec 0-60 in a skoda pickup but fridge fits nice. > I can't go more then 400 miles in my car if i don't plug it in(to a gas > station) > I can't turn the heat on in a cold morning in a cold ice. > I can't cool the hot car on a hot afternoon because of lack of AC and > some stupid ECU that keeps putting more fuel on fire. > I can't even accelerate fast without making major noise. > I can't fill my car at home. The moment i buy it i'm bound to buy gas at > least every 400 miles. Useless toy without it. > I can't run my car in my garage. Well i can, it is afteral eco friendly! > Why is it i'm feeling dizzy if i do that? > I can't (shouldn't) leave the lights on for more then few minuts when > the engine is off. > > These are all important limitations and I don't see people yell about > it. > > The mayor *percieved* issue about evs is still range. Anything else can > be made better in an EV. It is more advanced concept than ICE on such > level as is ICE against colm/steam. > > Few (extra) words makes a difference. Especially if you're advertising > (one or another way). > > A) It can only go about 60 miles on a charge. It can crawl 10 more. You > must recharge then. It can take several hours. Fast chargers can do it > faster, but they are rear if any. It has AC but the range will suffer. > Often needs watering. 'Watering light' will warn you when to bring it > back to the dealer. > > B) Even errands as distant as 60 miles are no problem to this cute and > safe car. At opportunity you can charge via normal household plug, like > you plug in your hair dryer or your cell phone. If you run by a public > charger, you can do it faster then it takes to have a decent meal. > Imagine your fuel gauge advancing towards F while you eat. It's magic! > The car can be either pleasantly cool or warm when you come back because > air conditioning can be on while plugged-in. If you run out of juice it > will still carry you some needed extra miles. And then you can charge it > all you want! Name one person you know that doesn't have electricity! > Know one? You could let him use your front lights for the evening. They > can stay on for as much as a day and the car can still be driven! This > advanced car doesn't run on electricity solely. Water is the other > thing. Yes water. The first 100 owners to turn on the watering light > will get a free car perfume at your local dealer! We'll make sure your > car gets the prime water it deserves. You can do it yourself if desired. > As it seems self-service is fashionable lately. Short free one afternoon > course will show you how your car prefers it to be done. > > My english is kind of rough, but you must get it! > > To sell EVs, major B type of advertising is needed. As it is to sell > ICEs. Type A won't sell much. Still would be better then today's > nothing. > > Well someone asked about european opinions some time ago and i felt like > typing... > > > Janez Svetlin > > P.S. - There is a strong Bigger is Better in europe also. But some have > small driveways others small garages, some with limited budget and there > is stil some sort of unwritten standard of what is too small, what is > just right, what is big enough, and what wont fit anywhere. There is > also this SUV mania. Luckily NO leaf springs or live axels. Except very > few imported from US. >
