Steve, I already run a conversion, thanks. I also think it would be nice if, say, the Ford Think (a good, useful, well- engineering car in my opinion) was available for sale in Ford showrooms, for perhaps �10k. People might buy them then. Which would be good. Not everyone wants a conversion - perhaps that's a reason you haven't sold your truck.
My point was to back up the original poster that it is a misconception that EVs are ubiquitous in Europe - Only France, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Finland (And Switzerland?) have EVs in any number that I know of (i.e. where they're built in a factory). And only the French and German ones are made by major manufacturers. The price of unleaded petrol is 75p/litre at the moment. so that's $1.17/litre, or $4.43 per US Gallon. Evan. > What about conversions ? Are there people doing conversions in > Europe? what's the price of gas there ( in dollars ) ? When > I heard that the think was $27k I started to understand why > they aren't selling . What I want to know is why I haven't > sold my EV Mazda truck (best conversion I have ever done) for > $10 k if there are all these people out there wanting thinks > and EV-1's. > Reasons to buy a conversion > 1 cheaper that factory (1/2 to 1/3 the price) > 2 available > 3 easy to fix ( not some computer nightmare ) > 4 service available (the guy who made it can fix it ) > 5 they go faster/further ( because a conversion is not tied > down to some safely standard, we can put more batteries in > there and a big ass controller) > 6 could use a Porsche 9/11 body and have a real nice car still > less that $20k (I'll sell my 924 for $10k now) > 7 Be part of a special group of people on the cutting edge of > something so new and exciting (EV madness)you'll want to tell > everyone you meet. > 8 You will make some back yard EV car converter very happy who > will hold your hand through your EV experience (and may give > you a full refunds if you aren't happy). > 9 You just recycled one of the biggest pieces of trash thrown > out today and stopped more from being made. > > Reasons not to buy a commercial EV from a car maker > > 1 coast 2 to 3 times what a conversion cost > 2 not available . can't find them or have to wait/beg ect > 3 Not easy to fix. It will be so complicated that you/they may > not be able to fix them(you have heard the stories) > 4 You will have to take it to were they say to take it for > repair. Leave it as long as they tell you to . Deal with > people who thinks your nuts for buying one (because they won't > own one) > 5 There performance is not what a conversion will give > you /for the money > even at 2 time the price > 6 Pick any model/year gas car then convert it Compared to some > brick (ev-1 was nice looking I will give them that)of a car. > 7 You are nothing special with your factory EV and in the eyes > of the company who sold it to you ,they hope they never see > you again. Do you think if you call them and tell them how > much you liked there car they would care( I love those phone > calls) > 8 Your interest in an EV ,viewed from the bottom(sales man who > wants to sell you a gas car instead) to the top (board > members ) is viewed as a problem. "If you would just buy a > regular car" .No refund here if your not happy. > 9 You didn't recycle one of the biggest pieces of trash made > today . From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 5:11 AM Subject: Re: EVs and Europe > Janez Svetlin wrote: > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> among other wrote: > > >> True, for a variety of reasons. The Think may have had a > >> better chance in europe, though I don't know why they would > >> fare better than other EV's that have been offered there. > >> The issue though is why Ford dropped them for the U.S. > > > > Well, bullshit. I'm from europe (Slovenia to be exact) and > > neither Think neither any other EV was offered to me. Neither > > can I get one factory made even if I try. > > Same here. (UK, in Europe, not that far from France) > > We "almost" got the Think. I enquired about it. You could > lease one, for a lot of money, if you lived in London. You > could lease a Peugeot 205 electrique, but you have to be a > council or electricity company. That's not the same as > available, as far as I'm concerned. > Someone imports Sparrows, but I don't know if they've sold any. > Before these examples? A '70s Enfield? Again, I don't think > they were available for sale to the public. > > We have a very anti-EV media over here, the public have > generally been brainwashed out of considering EVs as practical > for them. > > >
