% OK, so with plenty of time to think ... about a lot of things ... as I am killing time waiting (I've used up my allotted bandwidth= slower download), grumbling to myself that many Linux distributions (distros) are getting larger, and larger, not unlike an SUV (loaded full of unwanted junk, when all I want is a ~700Mb/CD sized one). So as to reduce raising anyone's ire yakking 'puffy' trucks http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=puffy&days=0 ... I was thinking along different lines ...
Around town and especially at market parking lots, drivers are opening up their huge SUVs (and yes some affluent fools drive finger-nail-red Humvees), where I can see how much crap they are carrying around with them ... (bear with me here, my idea/approach will be coming ... ). The SUV is being used like a huge gym bag or huge purse, where they have kept putting things in, but have yet to empty out the unneeded/unnecessary stuff/junk. Oh sure, with a family, one needs to carry a diaper bag, stroller, empty bags (CA cities have a law> you bring your own shopping bags), water, and snacks, etc. But what I see looks like they have not taken inventory that the kids have grown up (no need for the diaper bag), the stroller is now rarely used, and those snacks are old, tired and dry (good for the dog if they are not chocolate). This tells me their huge ice vehicle (in this case an SUV), was chosen out of convenience (as well as keeping up with the Jones', meaning 'what the neighbors are driving'). The wa$te of lugging around all that crap is not a concern for them, not even when it co$t$ $100+ to fill their SUV's tank. When I drive through local neighborhoods, I see their beloved SUV has the most prominent parking spot among all the family's vehicles: the side of the two car driveway that is closest to the front door (so as to make it shorter to haul stuff bought from the store & dragged into the house). I figure their garage is not used as a garage, as it is too much of a (lazy) pain for them to park anything in, nor back anything out, and besides the garage is loaded full of more crap (so no car, let alone an SUV, would even fit in there). The kids' cars park in front on the street saving the other driveway parking space for Dad's (puffy) truck when he comes home late from working all day (that is what is paying for the $100+ to fill the SUV tank). Yes, I am assuming a lot from what little I have seen of their lives, but if I am right, that is snap-shot of my local SUV drivers buying and driving habits (buy big, to haul a lot, and walk or do as little as possible). *** My idea/approach (whew, its about time ... ) So, how can this type of SUV buyer be enticed to drive a 50mi e-range SUV pih? - It has to have the same look a feel as the huge ice SUV (it can't look weird, etc.) - It has to have the same cargo and seating capability - It has to have at least a 50 mile Electric-only driving-range, and - It has to have a hands-free, wireless charger (so they do not have think/remember to plug it in), see http://www.plugincars.com/sites/default/files/evatranhubcapcharger.jpg The first thing someone might think is well that is all well and fine, but the SUV pih is going to have to have the same towing and snow ability (meaning bragging rights of the V8 4x4 emblem on the side panel, even though they never tow, nor play in snow). And it has to cost the ~same as the ice versions. The towing & 4x4 is not a problem (it can be done). But how to get the SUV pih purchase price down to the same as an SUV ice? This is where a different kind of state/fed purchase incentive would be useful. The pih rebate for this type of SUV would be higher or enough to make the e-50mi SUV pih purchase price similar to buying an ice version. Perhaps even a buy-down spread over years of ownership (the driver could get a rebate for a couple of years, rather than a lump sum write-off rebate). That would discourage buy just to get the rebate then sell tricks, etc. Included in that rebate, is the cost of the wireless EVSE, and its installation. That smart 6kW wireless EVSE would involve their local utility, where the utility would (transparently) know when the SUV pih is charging, could control how much it gets, when, or if it were to give-back (as in V2G). Making all of this transparent to the driver (so they do not have to do anything), would also encourage sales (they buy it and it saves them money, yay!). On the utility's bill, it would be good (-pr-) for the utility for the driver would see the co$t savings of driving this type of SUV pih (and any kick-back$ from V2G). Later, if this took off, larger pack options could be offered for even more e-range and saving$. As EVangels ponder how to get some movement in the larger plugin vehicle market, so changes on how to get buyers to change from ice to pih, will have to happen. Your corrections & thoughts welcome. % For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/An-SUV-approach-to-selling-plugins-tp4681579.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
