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  • Bruce
  • Member Since Sep 20th, 2006

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Recent Comments:

Swine flu lifts sales of Purell sanitizer, Clorox wipes, other consumer products {Daily Finance}

Nov 5th 2009 12:46PM Both my daughter and I get raging migraines just from smelling Purell when someone else uses it. The H1N1 virus couldn't be worse for us than Purell.

Cheating Husband Busted on Google Street View {Asylum}

Mar 31st 2009 3:06PM All very nice BUT - the pictures are NOT real time. It is quite possible the picture was taken when she and her husband were visiting her friend months ago.

How Magna's ready-made electric car helps Ford, and everyone else {Autoblog Green}

Mar 26th 2009 10:41AM I don't think I would be that specific :)

But I agree with the hatchback/wagon requirement. If the rear seats don't fold and I can't slide up to 10' dimensional lumber in the back and close the hatch/door, I don't buy. At least as shown, the Focus EV mule loses almost all the trunk space. Hopefully the final frame and shell will be specifically designed as an EV and lower the battery pack restoring some cargo area. Actually, they need to do some body redesign to cut the drag and weight so the range can be greater or the space lost to batteries decreased.
And why the massive 12V battery? It only needs to start the computers, not crank a starter motor!!

Who needs a Volt (or other PHEV)? As noted, people who need to drive longer distances between charges than available with the limited range of an EV. Unless the EV is CHEAPER than an equivalent gas car, renting when you need to go on a longer trip is not only a PITA, it would be expensive and limit sales to those who are 'green' even at a higher cost. Relatively few people can or will pay extra for the inconvenience of owning a car that can not do what they need it to do every day of the year. That is why the Prius sells well. It costs the same as cars with similar interior dimensions and amenities. It can carry almost anything (shy of 4x8 sheet goods INSIDE) 500 to 700 miles between gas stations on less than 12 gallons of gas. That can't be said of any other vehicle.

SMART coming to the U.S., Penske to distribute {Autoblog}

Sep 20th 2006 11:39AM The issue I have with the Smart is not what it IS but what it SHOULD be. There is a serious miss in the functionality / performance / mileage equation given available technology. It does not approach, let alone exceed, what is on the road today in ANY area other than city street manueverability due to its length.

Prius and HCH seat 5, weigh almost twice as much and have much more power and cargo space. Both can get 50 MPG (or better). Why is the Smart only capable of 40? A 10 Y/O 3 cyl Geo Metro that seats 4 (OK tight) and has 60% more cargo space can get 50 MPG. The non diesel ForTwo should be getting closer to 80 MPG. Has time stood still in the R&D labs?

Aside from that, IF it were CHEAP, like $10K, it could be a great city car, easy to manuever and parallel park. I take exception to the idea that you can park 2 in a space however. They are 8.2' long. An H2 is 6.7' wide (not including mirrors). They encroach on the travel lane more than enough thank you. Do we REALLY want Smarts sticking out a foot and a half MORE than an H2?? The roads would have to be built / widened with perpendicular or angle parking of Smarts in mind.