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I would never consider going on a freeway or highway with either of those pictured vehicles. We often take 2,000+ mile road trips, and I prefer to have a little bit of a chance against the 18 wheelers with some power, speed, and metal around me.
Precisely. Tiny vehicles are for commuting and we'd need to repurpose roads to make them safe.
They are much more efficient and convenient than public transit, BTW.
Some people will buy the 80 mpg cheap new vehicles, but like electrics (half of 1%) the percentage will be low and limited mostly to those finding it a novelty or that are environmental activists. They are really only practical for commuting within a city, and then still not nearly as efficient as using public transportation. I would never consider going on a freeway or highway with either of those pictured vehicles. We often take 2,000+ mile road trips, and I prefer to have a little bit of a chance against the 18 wheelers with some power, speed, and metal around me.
I regularly ride motorcycles, so it's way safer than those.
I don't see a huge point. My car gets 50 mpg on the freeway as it is, seats four comfortably, lots of cargo room. That's a lot to give up for an extra 60% in fuel economy in something that would have to be a second car it's just not worth it. I could see it working for some households that already are two-car (or more) to replace one with it but not for one-car households like mine.
I could see it working for some households that already are two-car (or more) to replace one with it but not for one-car households like mine.
The Elio's forte is low purchase cost as well as low cost of ownership. But it is going to have tough time competing with alternatives with gas < $3/gal and our infrastructure designed to favor large vehicles.
If we wanted to get serious about reducing transportation costs we'd need to repurpose our infrastructure to favor very small and efficient vehicles (smaller than an Elio).
Large vehicles would primarily be used for larger groups, long trips, hauling loads, etc. They would not be the thing you'd use for commuting and short trips, and if your household is small it would make more sense to rent one when you needed it, rather than own one and have it taking up space most of the time.
Precisely. Tiny vehicles are for commuting and we'd need to repurpose roads to make them safe.
They are much more efficient and convenient than public transit, BTW.
But be careful, BTUs are not created equal. Private vehicles are almost exclusively fueled by petroleum products, while light rail or subway are electrified, the primary fuel is coal, oil, or natural gas.
But be careful, BTUs are not created equal. Private vehicles are almost exclusively fueled by petroleum products, while light rail or subway are electrified, the primary fuel is coal, oil, or natural gas.
Small urban vehicles could be easily powered electrically as well. They get much simpler when designed for lower speeds and range.
I don't think we need to give up our cars. If we can get our vehicles to EU standards of fuel consumption, we can lower the need for oil by 20%. If, besides that, indeed we offer more electric alternatives to city people, of course not to farm folk or people that live in rural areas, I believe we can end our dependence on foreign oil.
Let me be clear here, I don't want to get rid of "our American way". I do believe that we need to get rid of the influence of the Middle East. No more dependency on oil means no more wars to fight; let them cook in their own problems then.
Do you honestly believe oil is the true reason the USA meddles in the Middle East? Where is the next World War going to be? Most likely in the Middle East.
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