coming sooner than you think: the toyota camry PHEV

[diamondlarry]

or until they can finally manufacture that dylithium crystal engine.

That's what I m waiting for! When Stephen Hawking made his guest appearance on Star Trek, he was taken on a tour of the sets. When they came to the set of the warp drive, it was said that he smiled and said, "I'm working on that." Warp factor 9, engage!

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

or until they can finally manufacture that dylithium crystal engine.

I use dylithium crystals to power my flux capacitor. I don't know if it works however because I don't want to waste the fuel to get up to 88 MPH. But I might possibly try it after I install my invisible aluminum tonneau cover. I have just been waiting for the whale tank to show up on ebay. Nothing yet. :-(

[SVOboy]

if you're really interested in electric commuting, $9k - $12k is competitive with building a good quality dedicated EV conversion that will have a similar range (30-50 miles at city speeds). it doesn't seem too crazy when you look at it that way.

but i suspect the majority will look at it the way you have. most people don't know what an EV costs, so they judge the numbers based on ???

Yeah, I totally agree. I wouldn't go the prius route but how many people are gonna buy a prius, get attached to this, then hear about all electric, and be like ****, I just bought a prius, then be like, but wait, let's do this pack thing.

Custom EVs are really tough except for DIYers (still really tough but we're willing) and shops that specialized in it (do they exist?).

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by krousdb

I have just been waiting for the whale tank to show up on ebay. Nothing yet. :-(

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4615915479

just kidding!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Custom EVs ... shops that specialized in it (do they exist?)

they exist. everything from: you bring in your car and they convert it to your specs ($$$); to purpose-built EVs designed and built from scratch ($$$$$$).

you can even get the british ariel atom in the US as an EV version: http://wrightspeed.com/

[88HF]

What type of batteries are used in these shops? Its interesting the EDrive system uses Nimh, Chevron owns the patents for at least the process to make larger Nimh... Below is a Toyota RAV4 EV owner's youtube channel. I just noticed my IRobot Scooba has a Nimh pack.

This is about EDrive:
http://www.edrivesystems.com/faq.html
http://www.edrivesystems.com/technology.html
http://www.edrivesystems.com/

Youtube channel from Toyota Rav4 EV owner in California:
http://youtube.com/liveoilfree


"Toyota only sold about 300+ Rav4EVs. GM/Chevron sued Toyota, so Toyota had to stop making and selling them. GM/Chevron got about 30 mil from Toyota."


"The breakthrough came in 1982, when Ovshinsky, the self-made alchemist, invented small, powerful batteries made from alloys called nickel metal hydrides. American manufacturers were indifferent, but Japanese electronics giants embraced the technology. Last year 780 million NiMH batteries were made for computers, cell phones and other gadgets, most through licenses on Ovshinsky's patents. In 1988 the PBS science program Nova aired a documentary on Ovshinsky titled Japan's American Genius."