amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

choleblack · 09-19-2006, 12:36 AM

We have a yearly car show here. Yesterday amongst the hot rods & Bel Aires I found my dream car. The Henney Kilowatt!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henney_Kilowatt

Of course this leads into a tirade about why, if in 1960, we could make a fully electric car that would travel up to 60 miles on 1 charge, we are all still driving gas guzzleing monsters today!

The Henney I saw is one of the few still driven even! I've never had a car-gasam before until now!

The sad thing is that in doing more research I came upon some really disturbing information about moder car makers DESTROYING electric vehicles after their lease periods are up. I can't put into words how angry that makes me.

Chole

HumbleLitMama · 09-19-2006, 12:55 AM

Did you really see it in person? How cool!

I love electric cars! I wanted one, but I couldn't afford it.

I realllly wish this car was available when I bought mine (I guess I'll have to trade mine in for it eventually). It's a hybrid, but inexpensive and soooo cool:
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...?ModelName=Fit
Edited to add: Did anyone notice the mileage? I almost get that with my Scion! I didn't even realize.

This is an interesting article/documentary:
Who killed the Electric Car?

maryalene · 09-19-2006, 05:16 PM

Very cool looking car! I wanted to go see the electric car documentary but it was only showing at a little indie theater in town for one night. However, I have to say that while I am all for alternative energies, 60 miles doesn't get you very far nowadays. I wish they would come up with some meaningful alternative to gas though.

choleblack · 09-19-2006, 06:10 PM

that's 60 miles 40 years ago with regular car batteries. Think about what we could do using the high powered ion lithium batteries that we have these days. Plus for me 60 miles is about what I do in a full week. The only place I wouldn't be able to go on 1 charge is my mothers (75 miles one way).

& yes I did see it in person. I saw it from the back & wondered "why are there 3 batteries in the back of that car?" then thought "OMG is that..." Ran around the front to see the 4 other batteries where the engine should be. I plotzed! It's owned locally too!

Chole

maryalene · 09-19-2006, 06:26 PM

That's true. I would hope that they would be able to increase the distance with today's technology. My commute is 55 miles one way so I'd need something with a longer charge. I think the ethanol blends are a first step, but it seems like we should be able to come up with something much better given all the advances nowadays.