Environment & Energy

cprise

(8,445 posts) Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:05 AM Jul 2013

Think you can’t afford an EV? Think again

http://grist.org/news/think-you-cant-afford-an-ev-think-again/

By Claire Thompson
22 Jul 2013 11:41 PM

It’s easy to see the electric car as a symbol of the kind of offbeat elitism often associated with eco-conscious living — the rich man’s veggie oil-powered VW bus, if you will. But that could change as the industry starts going Model T on EVs, making them more affordable for the masses. Automakers are now offering an array of discount leases and perks that, when combined with government tax incentives, make EV ownership accessible for a much broader segment of the population.

Owning an electric vehicle automatically slashes drivers’ fuel costs by as much as 80 percent. But it’s the up-front cash that presents a barrier to most prospective buyers, not to mention the lack of widespread charging infrastructure. Of course, growing ranks of EV drivers would spur the construction of more charging stations and attract still more electric converts. But with so few choices on the market, none of them wildly affordable, it’s hard to get that cycle started.

Until now. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Bronson Beisel, 46, says he was looking last fall for an alternative to driving his gas-guzzling Ford Expedition sport utility around suburban Atlanta, when he saw a discounted lease offer for an all-electric Nissan Leaf. With $1,000 down, Mr. Beisel says he got a two-year lease for total out-of-pocket payments of $7,009, a deal that reflects a $7,500 federal tax credit.

As a resident of Georgia, Mr. Beisel is also eligible for a $5,000 subsidy from the state government. Now, he says, his out-of-pocket costs for 24 months in the Leaf are just over $2,000. Factor in the $200 a month he reckons he isn’t paying for gasoline to fill up his hulking SUV, and Mr. Beisel says “suddenly the car puts $2,000 in my pocket.”

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Think you can’t afford an EV? Think again (Original Post) cprise Jul 2013 OP

For me, its not a matter of price..... Uben Jul 2013 #1

Death Trap? no... godai Jul 2013 #2

I like small cars, but... OKIsItJustMe Jul 2013 #6

I am just old enough to remember cprise Jul 2013 #3

Funny you mention. wtmusic Jul 2013 #4

I was trying to remember which E/E denizen had reported that one! Nihil Jul 2013 #11

^ U been told. U been showed. Schema Thing Jul 2013 #5

This car was hit in the side, but not at 55 mph Uben Jul 2013 #8

Of course there will not be any survivors in a Caddy hit broadside by a pickup truck wtmusic Jul 2013 #9

Something not being considered... Finishline42 Jul 2013 #7

Not all electric cars are small. tinrobot Jul 2013 #10

Uben

(7,719 posts)

1. For me, its not a matter of price.....

Reply to cprise (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:16 AM

Jul 2013

...it's safety! You get broadsided in one of these, your dead. Had my wife been driving this thing in 2000, she would have been killed instantly. She was broadsided in her Cadillac by a drunk pick-up driver. They both walked away from it with no serious injuries. How could you place the life of your family in one of these death traps? Sorry, but my priorities put safety ahead of fuel conservation or savings.

godai

(2,902 posts)

2. Death Trap? no...

Reply to Uben (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:40 AM

Jul 2013

EVs pass all the crash safety tests, have all airbags etc.

OKIsItJustMe

(19,938 posts)

6. I like small cars, but...

Reply to godai (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:01 PM

Jul 2013

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/tsp_current.aspx

...

Don't compare ratings across vehicle size groups because size and weight influence occupant protection in serious crashes. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Models that earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK are the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories, but this doesn't mean a small car that's a TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK affords more protection than a bigger car that doesn't earn the award.

cprise

(8,445 posts)

3. I am just old enough to remember

Reply to Uben (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:41 AM

Jul 2013

...several people who dissed small cars (regardless of safety ratings) and died in their large, pre-1980s American "classic". Their "sturdiness" and tendency to look better after accidents is a large part of what made them so deadly.

I detect a similar hubris coming from your common-sense assessment. I'm sure a modern Cadillac is far safer than an old one, however the things that make it safer are the features it shares with small modern cars: Reinforcement beams, crumple zones, airbags, ABS, etc.

In any case, all new passenger vehicles are getting lighter because of rising fuel efficiency requirements.

wtmusic

(39,166 posts)

4. Funny you mention.

Reply to Uben (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:53 AM

Jul 2013

While driving our new Leaf my wife was broadsided by a Crown Vic in 2011. She's very much alive - in fact, side air bags deployed and she walked away. The car was totalled, and replaced with the same model.

Nihil

(13,508 posts)

11. I was trying to remember which E/E denizen had reported that one!

Reply to wtmusic (Reply #4)

Fri Jul 26, 2013, 04:48 AM

Jul 2013

I remember you posting it at the time and thinking how that should shut up
some of the anti-"small car" folks ...

Schema Thing

(10,283 posts)

5. ^ U been told. U been showed.

Reply to Uben (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:08 PM

Jul 2013

Uben

(7,719 posts)

8. This car was hit in the side, but not at 55 mph

Reply to Schema Thing (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:05 PM

Jul 2013

It would have been destroyed and anyone driving would likely have died. Nice try, but no dice.

wtmusic

(39,166 posts)

9. Of course there will not be any survivors in a Caddy hit broadside by a pickup truck

Reply to Uben (Reply #8)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:31 PM

Jul 2013

at 55 mph. Whatever you say.

Don't know why you're putting a hit on EVs - the point is that they're as safe or safer than comparable midsize cars.

Finishline42

(1,091 posts)

7. Something not being considered...

Reply to Uben (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 03:16 PM

Jul 2013

IMO, the factors in car crashes:
- road awareness - paying attention to what's going on.
- vehicle quickness - different from speed and coupled with 1st point.
- target size - this is where a small car has an advantage. -

Combining the above factors can allow to avoid being tagged by somebody else - or at least minimize the damage from the other drivers carelessness.

tinrobot

(10,903 posts)

10. Not all electric cars are small.

Reply to Uben (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 09:35 PM

Jul 2013

The RAV4 EV is an SUV, and the Tesla Model S is pretty big as well.

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