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Last night I watched "Who killed the electric car?" documentary and it was very interesting indeed!! I only knew the tip of the iceberg previously. And then today on the news, the government is proposing the development of a hybrid car to be built in Australia by 2010. The reporter opened the report with, "Wouldn't it be great if all cars could run on electricity!" and then proceeded to go on with the "lies" of why they are can't. But they can indeed! And scooters too for that matter ... and motorcycles too. Heck, check out youtube and the like and guys are converting anything from Derbis to Harleys to electric powered, zero emission, machines. And its not that expensive (ad that's at an individual level) so a mass produced vehicle shouldn't be any more expensive that the current petrol powered models. So why are electric scooters so expensive? It is a shame that we're wasting time with hybrids and contemplating thefuture possibilities of hydrogen when there is right now, and since the beginning of car manufacturing, a cheaper, healthy, environmentally friendly atlternative! But ... money and power eh! I guess we'll have to wait until we run out of oil before we see all the Car, Bike and Scooter manufacturers make electric models of all their products (again!) ... but by then will the damage to our health and environment have gone too far? Anyway, the documentary is well worth viewing. It'll dispel the common myths of electric vehicles and get you thinking!

I too was up watching crap on the TV last night but it was ABC & they had a former head of OPEC or similar who made the statement now that oil is so expensive it will speed up the development of alternative energy sources. The line that stuck with me was

"The Coal age ended before they ran out of Coal & the oil age will end before we run out of Oil"

The whole thing has got me a bit fired up actually.

 I'm keen on an electric or hybrid scooter. I could actually use a vectrix to commute to work, but at $15,000, I'll burn fossil fuel for a while longer.

If the government starts handing rebates, perhaps I'll consider it. EMC are taking their time on bringing the E-max range to Australia. They are all probably being held captive in a cooler somewhere by the oil tycoons.

 

There shouldn't be a need for rebates. They shouldn't be so expensive (or so ugly)  ... but they are to discourage sales and keep people buying petrol models.

There should be no reason why electric motors cannot be fitted to any chasis type/model (scooter, bike or car).

It's a conspiracy I tells ya! 

The Vectrix is a good scooter, with O.K performance on short commutes, just way too expensive.

I cannot wait till Piaggio bring out an electric Vespa. Sweet. 

 Will the Vespa be a hybrid (And does the rider determine when to change from one mode to the other) or fully electric?

Wouldn't it be great to have the choice of any scooter in electric form! 

Sure is a conspiracy. Even though I'm not a big fan of the Vectrix (for numerous reasons, some of which would be inappropriate to air here), I do believe electric is the way of the future. As you would have seen in the doco, GM scrapped the technology completely. For those that haven't seen it, go and watch it, as it's an unbelievable eye opener.

Trouble is, electric vehicles would turn the entire industry on it's head. Service stations, workshops, spare parts supply (incl Bursons/Repco type outlets), fuels, everything we know really. This is because electric vehicles require so little upkeep. Hence the push toward hydrogen. Even though you could put your lips on the exhaust of a hydrogen vehicle and breathe it in, it is not as friendly as plug in electric. Still has oil in the sump, still requires servicing, still has a piston going up and down, still has spark plugs, engines will need upkeep, will need fueling stations etc etc. And the car makers and the oil companies are not prepared to give this up. And, governments are too afraid to make the change because they fear the industry and jobs and economy will be lost. I believe it will simply change, not be lost.

A good example is forestry in Tasmania. Many people are calling for an end to forestry, and moving to eco tourism- mountain bike and motorcycle tracks through the forest, walks, camping, sightseeing, guided events, rafting, jet boats, fishing etc etc. But because we have never had it here before, and because the chopping down of trees employs a massive number of people in Tas, the is a huge resistance to change. Classic example, on a state level. Fear of change, and ultimately economic losses.

Google the American electric drag racing association, there are some great links and videos to be found there, including a little electric Datsun 1200 that absolutely smokes a Corvette Z06 on the drag strip. Converting cars to electric is becoming more and more popular, and there are some great things going on in little pockets all around the world. It makes for great reading.

Lastly- we always hear catchphrases like 'destroying the environment'. When you really think about it, no amount of global warming, no amount of drought, no amount of nuclear war will ever destroy the environment, it will only serve to destroy US. Look at Chernobyl- nature is thriving there...
 

*** Cam,

Someone get Dozer a rope!  

It's not that bad... 

Curto:

Will the Vespa be a hybrid

 

So far, piaggio have plans on a Hybrid (petrol and electric) MP3. It will use regenerative braking, so it charges as you brake and also as you ride at higher speeds on petrol. I think its release at the end of this year in Europe, so we will probably see it in Australia some time in 2009.

I agree, electric is the future, but for crying out loud, can we get these idiots off the road who are on those shonky e-bikes with the peddles. They cant make up their minds if they are cyclists or motorcyclists. No plate, not road I reckon. 

dozer:

So far, piaggio have plans on a Hybrid (petrol and electric) MP3

Like cars this is the most viable option at the moment. I've ridden a few electric scooters (not the Vectrix though) & wouldn't buy one. They just aren't there yet, EMC have new range that is supposed to be good but then again they say the current stuff is . Keen to ride on of the new ones.

dozer:

*** Cam,

Someone get Dozer a rope!  

 

 

don't get me going about energy saving light bulbs either...

lets take something that has a circuit board, mercury and other carcinogens in it, and tell the world it's better for the environment than that simple, basic steel and glass thing we know as a bulb just because it uses a little less energy when it's in your socket. Forget the fact they they are environmentally costly to make, and forget the fact they are hard to dispose of, so we all just throw them in the bin where they'll end up getting broken and in land fill where they'll leach the toxins out. If we tell the public if they are saving $8 a quarter on their power bill, they will believe the Murray will start flowing again, and the Antarctic will stop melting.

And why do we bother with 12volt downlights too, they still use the same power IF NOT MORE than a 240 volt downlight... 

 

the world's gone mad...

 

and so have I.. 

the scooter shop:

the world's gone mad...

 

and so have I.. 

Yes you have....

 Well tell me people,

If I buy a Jugshiti scooter from China, with the intentions of being less polutive, how do I know the manufacturer of the plastics and metal parts arent having their factories billow smoke into the air, and dumping polution into the rivers in China making the scooter. I see your point Cam, Lithium battery technology and the crap that goes into an electric scooter may just be affecting the environment in a different way. How are we going to dispose these batteries when they are stuffed from usage?