This is an interesting way to start a discuusion about the history of EVs.
That most people are now driving ICE vehicles because of a scam similar to Tilley's that happened about 100 years ago is news to me. I doubt that people turned away from EVs because of a Tilley-like scam, but I would like to hear more about this or similar scams. Electrics were popular with urban dwellers who had ready access to electricity for charging and who hated the noise, noxious fumes and cranking a balky engine to start it. They didn't like charging and maintaining a set of batteries and most never really mastered the art of keeping up a set of batteries. Many preferred the higher speed and longer range of the infernal combustion engine. The demise of EVs was hurried along by the availability of cheap gasoline, Henry Ford's Model T, and the electric starter. EVs were in serious decline by 1915 and nearly gone by 1925. The Model T probably was the biggest enemy of the EV. It could go 40-45 mph, twice the speed of most EVs. It was practical for people who didn't have electricity as the majority didn't when the T was introduced in 1909. It weighed about 1200 lbs and could nimbly navigate the hills, bumps, mudholes and deep ruts that were typical of early roads. I've long wondered if automotive history would be radically different if somebody had built and mass produced a cheap electric car to compete effectively with the Model T. Tom Shay ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Vaughn-Perling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 12:49 PM Subject: Re: Tilley's Vehicle/ethics > <soapbox> > In my humble opinion it is bad. Even if folks do the right thing for the > wrong reasons, they will eventually discover the truth. Evidence tends to > point to the truth. We don't want our truth sullied with lies. At the > end all that will be remembered is the lie. > > The reason most folks are driving ICE vehicles today is largely because of > a similar scam perpetrated back at the turn of the last century. > > Back then there were steam cars, gas cars and electric cars. The best > were the electrics, they were the simplest, cleanest, easiest to operate, > and with proper maintainance out-performed all the others. But there was > a company that perpetrated an investment scam and practically cornered the > market on EV companies. The biggest voice for car advocates back then was > the Horseless Carriage magazines, all of which tarred the EV with the > broad brush of the wicked scam artists. This did a lot to sway the > earliest car builders away from the electrics and into the gasoline > engines. > > Tell the truth, the whole truth, and only the truth. Never allow a lie to > serve you, or you risk becomming dependant on that lie. > </soapbox> > > =-=-=-=- > Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 03:29:37 -0700 > From: 1sclunn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Tilley's Vehicle/ethics > > I was hard on this guy back when he came with the I go a secreat i won't > tell but as I said then even if it is a scam at least its showing off a EV > and all that. If sombody buys one and is told he must blead off the > electrons every 50 miles into his house , and the guy drives it everyday > ,and keeps Mr. tilley busy . Is this so bad . If you could start a Lie > that > got people to stop draining there oil in the back yard at take it to the > right place would this be so bad ? > > -- > ' ____ > ~/__|o\__ > =)---'@----- @' > http://www.SoCalEV.com > >
