The only thing holding back EV's (not technology)

[Magluvin]

Well Im not looking to build one to go 200 mpc at first. If I spend $50 a week in gas at $3 a gal to go to work, an electric conv. would save me about $2000 a year. These days thats not chump change. I can conv. my fiero to do 50-60 mpc for under $10000 and it will pay for itself in 5 years. How long and how much will it take to pay off that Prius? And then still buying gas for it when it just may be $5 or more a gal. And who knows, One of these guys/gals here at OU just may come up with a way to charge our cars for free. Maybe.  =]
Magluvin

[d3adp00l]

sorry but you'll have to buy more batteries before that 5 years, and you need to calc the cost of electricity.

They have done all this math, and they do not want it working out in our benefit.

when someone comes up with a new produce whats the first question they want to answer? Its not how much did it cost to make, its how much will this save people over its life, and how much can I get of that from them .

[d3adp00l]

200 lbs electric motor

100 lbs cu x 3.00 = 300.00
100 lbs steel x .55 = 55.00

sub total               355.00
manufacturing        355.00
sub total               810.00
profit and over head 350.00

total reasonable motor price    1160.00

this is on a manufacturing scale, not a 1 off custom build.

the same motor using aluminum could be

50 lbs of al         x 1.9 = 95.00
100 lbs of steel           = 55.00
                                  150.00

900.00 for a motor on a production scale.

until someone is willing to do that, there isn't much hope.

batteries lead acid - .95 per lbs x 800lbs = 760.00
                                          760.00 x 2 = 1520
                                           2100.00 total price.

actual price for batteries of equal power = 3500.00

Its this simple. If I make something for 100 bucks, and sell it to a distributor that sells it for 150.00 who sells it to a wholesaler, who sells it for 225.00 who sell it to a resaler who sells it for 335.00 so what am I really getting for my money? SCREWED

[Magluvin]

Well I dont know where you get your info but the electric motor is way more efficient than a gas engine, of which the gas engine is at best 30%, STILL.
And if your getting your batteries from Walmart then you may be changing your batteries a few times before 5 years are up.  But at $25 a pop, maybe they are not so bad.  But Im going for 8 yr bat life, and that is ave. depending on how they are taken care of. Some have gotten over 100,000 mi. on a set of NIMH and still goin.
Not many people realize how much they spend on gas for the year.
Are you the only super skeptic on EV's here?
Is there anyone that is for them?

Mags

[ewitte]

It costs either $2k or $4k to upgrade a PRIUS with LiFe-P04 and it does not even look that hard to do.  Currently studying my vue greenline for upgrades starting in 2-3 years.

4kw = 20 miles = (for me) $0.54
1/3 gallon (60mpg) @ $2.15 = $0.71

So there is a slight savings.  However thats at pretty low gas prices.  At $4 per gal 1/3 gallon costs $1.33.  Unlress you keep recharging throughout the day while at work thats about $5/mo or $23.70/mo @ $4 per gallon.  It will take 14 years even at $4/gal to pay back the $4000 cost of installing the batteries.  Although a true electric vehicle will have 800+lbs of ICE related components removed and can probably go 30-40 miles off the same charge.  The Tesla is rated for $0.40 for the same distance but it also had a much greater battery bank that is a lot heavier.