In message , Michelle Steiner writes
That's 40 miles on just the initial battery charge; after that, the
>gasoline motor kicks in to recharge the battery, and you'll keep going for
>so long as there is gas in the tank.
If the engine hasn't run for six months how do you know it hasn't seized on you?
I read somewhere it does a monthly self-test start-up. Another question for short commuters who always plug in is old gas. There might be a mode to run the ICE so the the tank can be emptied every year or so to refresh the gas, or a recommendation to not plug in to do the same thing.
You need an Amp, yes!! THE Amp, mfg in Yugoslavia and currently at the cutting edge of electrical technology. The battery will last for a whole week without charge and it is about the size of a pack of cigs....Plus, plus the car will do 100 km/hr sustained all the while towing a large boat.
In message <4c65943e$0$22150$ snipped-for-privacy@news.sonic.net>, SMS snipped-for-privacy@geemail.com writes
The Toyota Prius Plug-in, can do 12.5 miles at 62 mph on battery power. (What Car September 2010)
If your workplace has free charging stations than 12.5 miles would work for a large percentage of the population, especially if at lower speeds the range is greater, which it should be. The average U.S. commute is about 15 miles one way, and takes about 25 minutes, so the average speed is around 36mph.
The key thing is that people don't want to buy an electric car solely for commuting and need another car for longer trips; both the initial cost and the ongoing costs are too high (insurance, maintenance, registration, parking). The mass market vehicle that can be plugged in has to be a plug-in hybrid, or an electric car with a self-contained battery charger like the Volt.
I cant see gas degradation as a pressing issue. With pressure caps and air tight evap systems I'd guess it would take years for the fuel to 'vinegar' up.
Ben
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