Electric Car - Javlon, Getting There
<div class="IPBDescription">Camry sized, 150mile range, $29,500, availible in 2008</div>150-200 mile range
80-85 mph top speed
6 hour recharge
Camry Sized
$29,500 base model - $32,000 fully loaded
125,000 mile battery life
Out in late 2008 (18 months)
Chinese Made, with US Venture Capital
<a href="http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autobloggreen/audiointerviews/Miles_Javlon.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 interview on the specs and launch strategy</a>
<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04/04/afvi-show-miles-automotive-on-the-30-000-javlon-xs500-all-elec/" target="_blank">Article on it.</a>
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Affordable. Practical. Soon. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/javlon3.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/javlon.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/javlon2.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
80-85 mph top speed
6 hour recharge
Camry Sized
$29,500 base model - $32,000 fully loaded
125,000 mile battery life
Out in late 2008 (18 months)
Chinese Made, with US Venture Capital
<a href="http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autobloggreen/audiointerviews/Miles_Javlon.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 interview on the specs and launch strategy</a>
<a href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04/04/afvi-show-miles-automotive-on-the-30-000-javlon-xs500-all-elec/" target="_blank">Article on it.</a>
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Affordable. Practical. Soon. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/javlon3.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/javlon.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/javlon2.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Comments
I keep hoping for hydrogen to go somewhere personally, I want to keep my combustion engine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hydrogen fuel cells are virtually canceled.
<a href="http://ergosphere.blogspot.com/2006/08/europe-passes-death-sentence-on-hype.html" target="_blank">Europe passes death sentence on Hype-drogen</a>
<a href="http://ergosphere.blogspot.com/2005/07/why-hydrogen-is-no-route-to-renewables.html" target="_blank">Why hydrogen is no route to renewables</a>
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Why?
Because they <a href="http://www.greyfalcon.net/hydrogen.png" target="_blank">eat up 3-4x more electricity </a> for the same ammount of electric range.
Hydrogen combustion engines are even worse.
Thats basically the same as compressed natural gas engines, except with even more difficulty, cost, and ultimately carbon emmisions.
Not to mention, the storage issue with hydrogen isn't going to be solved without the use of expensive nanotech.
(And if you're doing expensive nanotech, batteries can do it better)
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Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, and Direct Carbon Fuel Cells are still around.
But neither of those look like their gonna fit the bill for light duty transportation.
(Is being looked at for aircraft auxilary electricity)
Hell, Direct Carbon Fuel Cells are actually "Coal fired fuel cells".
Although incidentally, they run best on bio-charcoal, due to the more regular structure and lack of impurities.
Cool part about those is that they can produce electricity at twice the effeciency of coal fired power plants.
(And 10x the effeciency of liquid biofuels when using the same biomass)
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But I can say this:
Farm grown Ethanol/Butanol/BioDiesel
Hydrogen PEM Fuel Cells
Carbon Capture & Sequestration
All these are mostly hype.
With the one exception of if we come up with a quick growing algae or bacteria to provide our biofuels.
Bio-JetFuel though, <a href="http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/733" target="_blank">I can see where that makes sense</a>.
But only because aircraft are so restricted on requirements for weight, power, and energy density.
Not to mention it makes economic sense without lavish subsidies since jetfuel has such a cost high premium on it.
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Only reason I could see for hydrogen is the insistance on quick recharges.
But given the complete lack of infrastructure, it's not like you're going to get easier refueling than merely plugging your car in when you get home every other day.
Not to mention, in the same time period, there's going to be a car which has virtually double the specs of this car, with a 10 minute recharge for the demanding people.
The glorified golf carts.
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85mph is plenty for the freeway.
I'm pretty sure the acceleration won't suck on this car.
(Given enough juice, electric motors have some amazing acceleration)
And a 75-100 mile round trip driving range covers almost all the driving anyone would do in a single day.
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Sure it's not so good for vacationing, or long trips.
But worst comes to worst with that you rent a car for a relatively small fee.
(Same way that you don't need to personally own a U-Haul truck for every time you move)
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But I have to agree,
This isn't the perfect solution quite yet.
It's not quite as flexible as a Prius.
Which is it's major downside.
All in all, I'm just happy to see something on the road relatively soon, without an insane pricetag.
Something people can point to and say "Yeah we need to develop this further"
And hopefully get us off this biofuel / hydrogen state of denial we got going right now.
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The real solution will be once they slap an gasoline powered electric generator on the car that isn't connected to the drivetrain, and merely makes electricity.
Then you'd have the best of both worlds.
But I'd imagine that would shift the pricepoint.
The car looks like it swallowed a whole bottle of ugly pills - I just couldn't drive it, no matter the enviromental factor.
GreyFlcn, the electric car geekster! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":0" border="0" alt="wow.gif" />
The car looks like it swallowed a whole bottle of ugly pills - I just couldn't drive it, no matter the enviromental factor.
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It looks exactly the same as every other sedan on the market...
My next car will be an electric, methinks.
--Scythe--
But frankly I don't see how it can be *that* ugly.
Looks just like a Camry to me.
And Camry's are the most popular car in the US.
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I guess it's got that inlay across the door.
But thats about it.
<img src="http://www.greyfalcon.net/camry.png" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
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Agreed though the previous pictures were zoomed in too much.
I still wouldn't be caught driving this in broad daylight. As appealing as the energy savings are the manufacturers need to design these to be appealing as well, or they just won't sell in this style-oriented culture.
What you've pointed out is that the Camry is ugly also. Unfortunately most modern day sedans leave little to be desired regarding design.
I still wouldn't be caught driving this in broad daylight. As appealing as the energy savings are the manufacturers need to design these to be appealing as well, or they just won't sell in this style-oriented culture.
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<a href="http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/06/206830.html" target="_blank">Camry is the best selling US car. :O</a> and has been for quite a while.
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For those who DEMAND style though, there's always the <a href="http://greyflcn.blogspot.com/2007/04/swindle-debunk.html" target="_blank">Tesla Roadster</a>.
My point is, if the manufacturers want this electric car to appeal to the public (and remember, this energy savings factor is NOT a given regarding sales) they'll need to design a vehicle that's more appealing to the masses, imho. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
I have Camry's reliability (and am fully aware of it's popularity) PLUS style up the yazoo, so it can be done.
My point is, if the manufacturers want this electric car to appeal to the public (and remember, this energy savings factor is NOT a given regarding sales) they'll need to design a vehicle that's more appealing to the masses, imho. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
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I don't see how a car that looks exactly like the TOP SELLING CAR (sold to the MOST PEOPLE) is somehow not "appealing to the masses." In fact, I would argue it would be impossible to make it any MORE appealing to the public, because it would have to somehow look even more like the #1 selling car than the actual #1 selling car.
<a href="http://www.electriccars.com/main.cfm" target="_blank">electricars</a>
looks teh sex..
I'm too lazy to look but yahoo news revieled some new electric cars and they did look pretty good ther eis on here aat mo on fornt page
<a href="http://www.electriccars.com/main.cfm" target="_blank">electricars</a>
looks teh sex..
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Sounds like somebody had a few too many glasses of ethanol before he started posting.
Asside from glorified golf cars,
This is first electric car to reach down into the price range thats relatively affordable.
That alone is sure to guarantee it some exclusive sales.
--Scythe--
I think the aim of the electric car marketing departments is to take that "crazy-dude wacky-doo" edge of the idea of the electric car in their minds. If people see something that looks like it's straight out of the Jetson's they're not going to take it seriously. Someone looks at that and they think "oh hey, it's a camry" THEN they find out it's an electric and they think "oh hey, it's not so crazy after all!".
--Scythe--
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Rubbish. Take your confangled logic elsewhere!
I don't see how a car that looks exactly like the TOP SELLING CAR (sold to the MOST PEOPLE) is somehow not "appealing to the masses." In fact, I would argue it would be impossible to make it any MORE appealing to the public, because it would have to somehow look even more like the #1 selling car than the actual #1 selling car.
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What I think this will appeal to is the "Hollywood set"... you know, the high profile celebrities that like to make purchases like this to help their campaign for a cleaner enviroment etc.
Then once the public sees that Sheryl Crow bought one of these, they'll think it's in, and therefore be more inclined to ge tone thereselves. In spite of its ugliness.
You also didn't counter Tycho's point Depot.
But the point remains, if you want to venture into unchartered waters ie. the electric automobile you need to have something other than a novelty feature to make it desireable.
Would rather have a hot wife that cheats?
Obviously we can't say much about the reliability of the electric car yet... but it has ALOT less moving parts then a mechanical car, and it costs ALOT less moneys in fuel. I'd say at $30,000 this is getting close to a competitive range...
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Tesla Roadster: $92,000 - $100,000
248 horsepower
130 mph topspeed
200-250 mile range
3.5 hour recharge
2 seats, no trunk
Availible late 2007
<img src="http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/Tesla-Roadster.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Zap-X: $60,000
644 horsepower
155 mph topspeed
350 mile range
10 minute recharge
5 seats + trunk
Availible late 2008
<img src="http://www.insidegreentech.com/ctcfiles/uploaded_images_throug_imce/ZAP-X-Car.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
That's the kind of car that will cause the revolution.
In the other thread you where angry about what they did to a DeLorean... and that's one ugly car. Cars are pretty ugly in general unless you fork over a lot of money.
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Agreed, but classics are allowed to be... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />