'Lectric Shelby

[p51]

Double the range and halve the price and I'd buy one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB8xCAY-j0k

 

[rvrtrash]

I get the feeling like we're right on the edge of the technological breakthrough that will make gasoline obsolete. If I could start my own company right now, it would be converting classic and kit cars to electric.

Steve

 

[p51]

I get the feeling like we're right on the edge of the technological breakthrough that will make gasoline obsolete. If I could start my own company right now, it would be converting classic and kit cars to electric.

Steve

A classic Cal Special w/electric motor... I'd buy one :cheesy:

And that carbon fiber composite Shelby Cobra is pretty sweet (when it gets to the right price).

The *only* thing that stands in the way is the battery technology - one that has high energy density (meaning its light but allows enough charge to allow for significant range), can be charged quickly (ideally on the order of the time it takes to fill a gas tank or better), is not toxic when disposed, is safe (doesn't explode or catch fire), and is cost effective. With electric motors, gone are most of the fluids (oils, coolant, gas, etc) and a whole lot of the maintenance. Plus we don't ship all our hard earned $'s over to the middle east.

IMO, best case is 5yrs to economic breakeven w/gasoline engines (and some of the amazing diesels coming out of Germany). More likely 10yrs. Hybrids have a chance to fill the gap; albeit, again some of the diesels are getting as good if not better mpg as the hybrids (from what I understand).

James

 

[di81977]

Check these guys out. They have done a bunch of gas to electric conversions. One was turning a cities fleet of trucks to electric. Another is a vintage Mustang Convertible. They also have a nice inventory of classic cars for sale.

I love visiting them and taking a ride in an electric Porsche Spyder kit car.

http://www.dukesgaragellc.com/

 

[p51]

Check these guys out. They have done a bunch of gas to electric conversions. One was turning a cities fleet of trucks to electric. Another is a vintage Mustang Convertible. They also have a nice inventory of classic cars for sale.

I love visiting them and taking a ride in an electric Porsche Spyder kit car.

http://www.dukesgaragellc.com/

Cool!

In one of the videos one of the principals of the company said that GM killed the electric car because of the loss of resale of replacement parts, etc. IMO there's a lot of truth in that (but its not the only reason). The maintenance of electric cars will likely be about 1/10 that of a gasoline powered car. This kills parts and maintenance recurring revenue streams - and companies *love* recurring revenues. Had GM pursued electric cars we'd have likely had reasonable battery tech by now - probably patented by GM. Instead they were afraid that they would cannibalize their own market. So, instead they allowed someone else to cannibalize a market they were leading in. Now after going bankrupt and being bailed out by you and me (the taxpayer) they are playing catchup.

I love it when guys in garages run circles around large companies - think HP, Apple, Dell, (when they were startups) etc

 

[p51]

The man himself (Carroll) driving an electric Cobra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UqCsLzWRrM