Why I Drive a Car and Questions about Electric Cars
For me, having a car is about independence and safety. It allows me to go wherever I want, whenever I want, without having to worry about thing like: does the bus goes there, what is the schedule, do I have the physical energy (I have a disability), do I have the time (the bus often takes 3 times longer than the car), how safe do I feel in that part of the city at that time of day (I'm female), will I need to transport something heavy?
However, sometimes I decide to take the bus because I don't have the mental energy to drive the car but I do have the physical energy to take the bus (and I know it's better environmentally to take the bus). I just wish there were other alternatives.
I've heard 'people' say that if everyone had an electric car and they all plugged them in, it would cause a black out. But what do I know? I never know how to find out what's true and what isn't.
If Who Killed the Electric Car is true, does that mean that we are trying to reinvent a wheel that Chrysler already has the plans for?
Since 'open source' has worked for many internet products, and co-ops have worked for housing etc in Canada, I often wonder if either of those models could work for transportation systems.
Comments
Dori, I can't answer your
Dori,
I can't answer your questions on electric cars but I'll throw in my two cents on your comments re: transit.
It's hard to argue with the convenience of a car; indeed, having limited access to one is a great thing. Car-sharing schemes like the Cooperative Auto Network or short-term rental services like Zipcar can be a great alternative if you don't find yourself driving a lot and live in Vancouver. For me, the real question would lie in whether you find yourself needing to use it all the time, or if you find yourself having to travel alone all the time. Maybe you have neighbours who also need to go to the supermarket for the week and you can hop along with them? I will agree that living more sustainably requires a heck of a lot more planning, communication, and negotiation with other people. On the bright side of that, maybe that means that you get to spend more time with other people rather than driving alone.
With regards to questions of safety, I am female also but albeit a younger one, and I guess I've lived in Vancouver long enough to feel safe in its neighbourhoods. I find I can be much more weary of Burnaby and New West now that I've moved here. Just my own experience - you haven't specified why or where you're going, so I'll leave that.
The bus often does take longer, but I find that the reduced stress from being able to just sit back, maybe observe some people around me, or get some reading or knitting done, makes a huge difference in my life. If I had to spend that time half-concentrating on the road, listening to the radio and looking for parking, I'd probably feel unengaged and stalled in the head a lot, which is only an experience I contrast because I do occasionally drive and mostly take the bus.
My mother also has a slight physical impairment and drives everywhere, so I understand where you're coming from. That said, on Canada day we drove to the Skytrain station, parked and took the train downtown so that we could avoid the hassle of parking. She's lived in Vancouver almost 20 years and hadn't taken the Skytrain in all that time, though she's taken trains in other cities. If your disability is severe enough, maybe the HandyDART is an option? (I have no experience with this so I can't go into any more detail than this, but I do know it's door-to-door service for some with disabilities).
I know someone who works with electric cars for a living so I'll see if he can stop by and answer your other questions.
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The info from Guy Daunce y
The info from Guy Daunce y on electric cars is, imho, optimistic. In real life, Jan Engstrom and Dave Kronsteen, two Vancouver tekkies who have built electric cars with their own hands, discovered that one battery back (replacement cost: $1,700) lasted only 1,000 kms. before the pack was unusable.
The poster on Discover Vancouver Forum who sez his tractor STARTER battery lasted 20 years was lucky that his battery wasn't some cheap offshore junk. Yes, there are long-lasting batteries (Dynasty brand is the ONLY one that the medical lab test showed no degradation after 1,000 cycles) but the Dynasty brand is not sold in Vancouver. Also, starter batteries are not the same as the deep-cycle ones that are used for powering electric cars and pickups.
I would agree that we need all-electric (not hybrids) cars in Vancouver, but the affordable electric vehicle is the Revived Battery Pickup, the world's cheapest car, at 30 cents a day including cost of battery replacement, running around quietly right here in Vancouver.
The big car companies according to Ralph Nader cannot be relied on to make us consumers a good electric car. Therefore, it will be up to individuals like us to buy used ones ($1000 sometimes) or make one (cost $20K). Surf for: EV DIARY REVIVED BATTERY ELECTRIC PICKUP
If you're in Vancouver, check out the electric vehicle videos in LiveVideo.com
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Hi I believe that most, if
Hi I believe that most, if not all, your questions and concerns about electric cars can be found in the webpages and videos for WORLD'S FIRST REVIVED BATTERY ELECTRIC PICKUP. There are two days' worth of reading and surfing. This is a complicated story. Note that this Revived Battery vehicle is probably the world's cheapest truck vehicle to operate - 30 cents a day - check out the Shared Vision photo and text, also on the Internet.
Here's a teaser..
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1029643&fr=yfp-t-104
"Anybody Can Make Energy" is what we demonstrate in a fun way to kids from 6 to 60