From: ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.energy
Subject: Re: Electric Car summary
Keywords: forget it
Date: 16 Oct 92 18:26:50 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA

In article <1992Oct15.182726.29124@vexcel.com> dean@vexcel.com (Dean Alaska) writes:
>In article <1992Oct15.080450.34@ke4zv.uucp> gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) writes:
>>In article <1992Oct14.154836.2290@vexcel.com> dean@vexcel.com (Dean Alaska) writes:
>>>
>>>It seems that in the near future electric cars (ZEVs) will fit into
>>>niche markets.  The two car family could have 1 ic car and
>>>1 ZEV for taking the kids to school and going to the market.  I
>>>don't think their proponents see them replacing ic cars in the
>>>short-term.  The ZEV law in California gives a boost to research
>>>and helps to define the niche.
>>
>>Of course it pretty much says "screw you" to the *1* car family.
>>Buying a second car for a niche use is an economic hardship for
>>many, and a waste of resources for all.
>>
>>Gary
>
>Where do you get his from?  Nobody will be forced to buy a ZEV so noone
>will be screwed or subjected to unwanted hardships.

Just to echo the point, with amplification ...  My *family* has 4 
vehicles.  My extended family has 6, including Grandma and my wife's
twin & child.  That is, there are 2 *1* car families and 1 *4* car
family in my extended family.  When we are planing trips, we frequently
exchange vehicles to optimise for {range, comfort, cost, load, etc.}

I have two trucks, the other families borrow them when they need a truck.

I have NO large sedan, but Grandma likes them.  We use Grandma's car
when we want to take a medium trip with 4+ folks.

Adding a ZEV option to the extended family fleet would not change
anyones ability to choose a *1* car option.  I would love to replace
my 1980 Honda CIVIC with an electric ZEV (If I can ever get the Honda
to die!  220k miles and going strong... ;-)  since it is almost 
exclusively used for commuting.  The wife's twin also has a 'commute
only' car that could be a ZEV.  We have 3 vehicles in the fleet that
must be long range:  My truck, my 'family car' (wife's Honda wagon),
and Grandma's car.

So, of three families in a single extended family group, two of them
could happily use an electric ZEV *with todays range limits* at no
change of convenience.  One of them is a *1* car family.  The *1*
car family that cannot use a ZEV would continue to be happy with
a large domestic sedan ...

I just don't see how you can claim that buying a car for 'niche use'
is an economic hardship or a waste of resources.  If a person's 
driving style fits that niche, it is no more of a hardship to buy
a ZEV than it is to buy an IC vehicle (assuming equal prices).

(This 'niche use is bad' argument would generalize to the assertion
that all vehicles should be exactly the same and only fit the average
demand/use, since ANY specialization would be a formation of a niche
of some degree; in an absurdum ad reductum argument ... Gee, no good
use for {pickups, vans, station wagons, flatbeds, sub-compacts, ...} )

It isn't a waste of resources for anyone if I buy a vehicle optimized
for my driving style.  I would argue that it is, in fact, a better
use of resources since it IS the optimum match to my needs! 

-- 

E. Michael Smith  ems@apple.COM

'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has
 genius, power and magic in it.'  -  Goethe

I am not responsible nor is anyone else.  Everything is disclaimed.
Newsgroups: sci.energy,talk.environment