Comments on: Why don’t they make more electric cars for the sake of the environments? http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/ Automotive Resource and Car Care Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:54:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: just me http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1398 just me Thu, 21 May 2009 06:29:00 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1398 "In 1996, General Motors rolled out its groundbreaking EV-1 electric cars, and customers such as filmmaker Chris Paine began leasing them. But by 2003, the cars were being recalled and most were ultimately demolished. Paine's new film, Who Killed the Electric Car?, examines the factors at play." I believe the cars were demolished due to pressure from big oil companies. It would cut down on profits. Why do you think we have not seen more alliterative fuel cars? The first affordable battery powered cars come from Japan. “In 1996, General Motors rolled out its groundbreaking EV-1 electric cars, and customers such as filmmaker Chris Paine began leasing them. But by 2003, the cars were being recalled and most were ultimately demolished. Paine’s new film, Who Killed the Electric Car?, examines the factors at play.”

I believe the cars were demolished due to pressure from big oil companies. It would cut down on profits. Why do you think we have not seen more alliterative fuel cars? The first affordable battery powered cars come from Japan.

]]> By: Noone N http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1397 Noone N Wed, 20 May 2009 19:07:15 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1397 Because no one would buy them. Because no one would buy them.

]]> By: kittybyebye http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1396 kittybyebye Mon, 18 May 2009 09:18:09 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1396 I know, I completely agree. I mean they talk about it all the time and the environment is dieing and glaciers and blah blah blah. Well, hellooooo.....don't we have a solution that is going to help the environment? Hybrid cars!! So why are they not making it manditory for companies and people to have them and replace the other kinds. I don't know that's why everything is going wrong in America like the war, the VT shootings, environment. They just don't take action. I know, I completely agree. I mean they talk about it all the time and the environment is dieing and glaciers and blah blah blah. Well, hellooooo…..don’t we have a solution that is going to help the environment? Hybrid cars!! So why are they not making it manditory for companies and people to have them and replace the other kinds. I don’t know that’s why everything is going wrong in America like the war, the VT shootings, environment. They just don’t take action.

]]> By: Vivienne http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1395 Vivienne Sat, 16 May 2009 15:23:13 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1395 From what I can tell, it's just that the car companies can't make them for the amount of money that a consumer is willing to pay for them. As much as people complain about companies wanting to make money, a company that isn't viable isn't going to last long to help the planet :) Pure electrics (battery only) are also still range limited - batteries are getting better all the time, but the enormous technology leaps that were anticipated as "right around the corner" 10 or 15 years ago, are still "right around the corner". The energy densities and charge times are improving, but until we get a car with a usable 200mi range on a single charge, and a quick recharge time - oh, and it has to be affordable and last a long time - there just aren't many people who will buy it. Hybrids are a good interim solution, but I don't know if anyone is actually MAKING money on them now, and you do need a sustainable business too... From what I can tell, it’s just that the car companies can’t make them for the amount of money that a consumer is willing to pay for them. As much as people complain about companies wanting to make money, a company that isn’t viable isn’t going to last long to help the planet :)

Pure electrics (battery only) are also still range limited – batteries are getting better all the time, but the enormous technology leaps that were anticipated as “right around the corner” 10 or 15 years ago, are still “right around the corner”. The energy densities and charge times are improving, but until we get a car with a usable 200mi range on a single charge, and a quick recharge time – oh, and it has to be affordable and last a long time – there just aren’t many people who will buy it.

Hybrids are a good interim solution, but I don’t know if anyone is actually MAKING money on them now, and you do need a sustainable business too…

]]> By: Razzle Dazzle http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1394 Razzle Dazzle Wed, 13 May 2009 05:37:18 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1394 For the companies they would lose millions of dollars -- they care more about being rich than saving the environment they live in and depend on Also, there isn't a big enough market - not only would they be sacrificing millions of dollars they wouldn't be gaining it back in sales Hybrid cars are still being majorly improved and are still very expensive -- the average family can't just go out and buy a brand new car just because they feel like it or even because they know it will help the environment fossil fuels are cheaper and already established And regular cars and trucks that aren't feul efficient burn more fossil fuels that release Carbon Dioxide into thee air... The deflected heat of the sun is trapped by the CO2 particles in the air and adds to Global Warming -- the amount of CO2 that we put into the air each year is extremely unnatural and is very bad for our environment It is great to buy gas efficient or electric cars...but if you can't there are many other things you can do such as -Buy used cars instead-- they are cheaper and it takes a lot of fuel in factories to produce new cars... the burning of these fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) increasing global warming - save electricity or switch to alternate energy sources (wind, solar, hydro, etc.) - Many others For the companies they would lose millions of dollars — they care more about being rich than saving the environment they live in and depend on
Also, there isn’t a big enough market – not only would they be sacrificing millions of dollars they wouldn’t be gaining it back in sales
Hybrid cars are still being majorly improved and are still very expensive — the average family can’t just go out and buy a brand new car just because they feel like it or even because they know it will help the environment
fossil fuels are cheaper and already established

And regular cars and trucks that aren’t feul efficient burn more fossil fuels that release Carbon Dioxide into thee air… The deflected heat of the sun is trapped by the CO2 particles in the air and adds to Global Warming — the amount of CO2 that we put into the air each year is extremely unnatural and is very bad for our environment

It is great to buy gas efficient or electric cars…but if you can’t there are many other things you can do such as

-Buy used cars instead– they are cheaper and it takes a lot of fuel in factories to produce new cars… the burning of these fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) increasing global warming

- save electricity or switch to alternate energy sources (wind, solar, hydro, etc.)

- Many others

]]> By: Kami http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1393 Kami Mon, 11 May 2009 21:47:52 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1393 There are limitations to electric cars that buyers are not willing to accept, such as the smaller car size for passengers and the need to recharge the battery periodically. If the public had a larger demand for electric cars the car manufacturers would raise their production, but for now manufacturers are working on producing hybrid cars to overcome the drawbacks of electric cars. Toyota, for instance, has been hard at work designing hybrids that are more eco-friendly and still comfortable and fuel efficent. They are set to release the 2008 Toyota Highlander in the fall. There website also lists information about upcoming concept cars. Here is some information from their site: "The design of the all-new 2008 Toyota Highlander does more than evoke the future; with available Hybrid Synergy Drive®, your mileage is futuristic, too. The all-new 2008 Highlander Hybrid intelligently captures energy otherwise lost by coasting or braking to recharge the battery. Combined with a conventionally powered gas engine, the 2008 Highlander Hybrid will leave other SUVs in its low-emissions dust. Inside, the 2008 Highlander provides available 7-passenger seating with the versatile Center-Stow™ 2nd-row seat. Indulge 6 people in amenities like captain's chairs and a removable 2nd-row console, or modify Center-Stow™ to carry 7. And just as the comfortable interior modifies to your changing life, Toyota Highlander's dynamic, car-like ride adapts to a twisty road. Bigger. Wider. More powerful. And filled with safety innovations that are our hallmark." There are limitations to electric cars that buyers are not willing to accept, such as the smaller car size for passengers and the need to recharge the battery periodically. If the public had a larger demand for electric cars the car manufacturers would raise their production, but for now manufacturers are working on producing hybrid cars to overcome the drawbacks of electric cars. Toyota, for instance, has been hard at work designing hybrids that are more eco-friendly and still comfortable and fuel efficent. They are set to release the 2008 Toyota Highlander in the fall. There website also lists information about upcoming concept cars. Here is some information from their site:

“The design of the all-new 2008 Toyota Highlander does more than evoke the future; with available Hybrid Synergy Drive®, your mileage is futuristic, too. The all-new 2008 Highlander Hybrid intelligently captures energy otherwise lost by coasting or braking to recharge the battery. Combined with a conventionally powered gas engine, the 2008 Highlander Hybrid will leave other SUVs in its low-emissions dust.

Inside, the 2008 Highlander provides available 7-passenger seating with the versatile Center-Stow™ 2nd-row seat. Indulge 6 people in amenities like captain’s chairs and a removable 2nd-row console, or modify Center-Stow™ to carry 7. And just as the comfortable interior modifies to your changing life, Toyota Highlander’s dynamic, car-like ride adapts to a twisty road. Bigger. Wider. More powerful. And filled with safety innovations that are our hallmark.”

]]> By: T A http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1392 T A Sun, 10 May 2009 08:48:28 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1392 I blame the government. Not only do they receive campaign contributions from big oil, but look at how much tax revenue would be lost by moving away from oil. Since governments only suck off of taxpayers and produce nothing, they will ensure that they get their money, even if we destroy the environment and continue to use antiquated technology. They would have to come up with money from other sources. Think about how much tobacco tax revenue has been lost with the new trend toward smoking cessation. (although much of it will be recovered through reduced health care costs) I agree with folks making positive lifestyle changes for themselves and for the environment, but I think politicians feel otherwise. I blame the government. Not only do they receive campaign contributions from big oil, but look at how much tax revenue would be lost by moving away from oil. Since governments only suck off of taxpayers and produce nothing, they will ensure that they get their money, even if we destroy the environment and continue to use antiquated technology. They would have to come up with money from other sources. Think about how much tobacco tax revenue has been lost with the new trend toward smoking cessation. (although much of it will be recovered through reduced health care costs) I agree with folks making positive lifestyle changes for themselves and for the environment, but I think politicians feel otherwise.

]]> By: Drew http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1391 Drew Sat, 09 May 2009 10:13:04 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1391 In capitalist america everyone is fueled by greed (get the pun =) ) also, people are okay with paying these absurd gas prices. therefore, the gas companies (which are invested in car companies) push the continued production of gasoline powered cars, and not the more environment-friendly electric cars. In capitalist america everyone is fueled by greed (get the pun =) ) also, people are okay with paying these absurd gas prices. therefore, the gas companies (which are invested in car companies) push the continued production of gasoline powered cars, and not the more environment-friendly electric cars.

]]> By: Inquiring mind http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1390 Inquiring mind Fri, 08 May 2009 20:54:41 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1390 The answer is two fold really. 1) Why change a system where to cost and parameters are known and demand is relatively inelastic when addressed as a whole? It doesn't cost the auto company but a fraction more to make the same cars and ship them out. Plus the time and effort required to engineer more powerful/efficient electric cars isn't worth the bottom line. Research and development requires money. This means higher prices on the electric cars. That leads to the average consumer making a decision of a high priced electric car or a relatively cheap fuel burner. Which one wins in the end? 3) The only way to get companies to change their ways and go down the path of electric cars is to make federal mandates. As long as petroleum is a billion dollar industry and contributes heavily to politicians' campaign funds their interests will be protected. I hope that shed some light on the subject. The answer is two fold really.
1) Why change a system where to cost and parameters are known and demand is relatively inelastic when addressed as a whole? It doesn’t cost the auto company but a fraction more to make the same cars and ship them out. Plus the time and effort required to engineer more powerful/efficient electric cars isn’t worth the bottom line. Research and development requires money. This means higher prices on the electric cars. That leads to the average consumer making a decision of a high priced electric car or a relatively cheap fuel burner. Which one wins in the end?

3) The only way to get companies to change their ways and go down the path of electric cars is to make federal mandates. As long as petroleum is a billion dollar industry and contributes heavily to politicians’ campaign funds their interests will be protected.

I hope that shed some light on the subject.

]]> By: sandagal http://www.mainspot.net/why-dont-they-make-more-electric-cars-for-the-sake-of-the-environments/comment-page-1/#comment-1389 sandagal Fri, 08 May 2009 02:54:11 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=750#comment-1389 The electric cars are nice, and energy saving for sure.. but they are so expensive to manufacture, and therefore to buy,, that it's just not practical at this point. BUT like most everything else, when the "new" wears off, they will most likely go down on the purchase price... now, wouldn't that be nice for the environment??! The electric cars are nice, and energy saving for sure.. but they are so expensive to manufacture, and therefore to buy,, that it’s just not practical at this point. BUT like most everything else, when the “new” wears off, they will most likely go down on the purchase price… now, wouldn’t that be nice for the environment??!

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