Electric cars a bad idea?

[RickOKC]

Well, I'm all for electric vehicles - more gas for ME! Seriously though, as much as I am a fan of internal combustion, change doesn't scare me so I've also been drooling over the idea of something like a Tesla S sedan ever since I first heard about it. (Wow, that thing is gorgeous!) I think I would enjoy the heck out of something like that every bit as much as I enjoy my VX & my Mustang GT.

I'm a cynic, too, so I wouldn't be surprised to find myself soon paying a more in gasoline taxes ("we have to offset the lost revenue")… and also start paying more in electricity taxes to offset that (thereby subsidizing those with electric cars when I don't yet own one.)

I have to call foul on the Prius vs. Deville comparison. Instead of talking about the weight of a new "eco-warrior" compact car vs. a 13-year-old large sized boat, I think comparing the 2010 Lotus Elise to the 2010 Tesla Roadster is much more fair and illustrates the spirit of the original comment. The Tesla's weight is 2,690 lbs and it is based on the 1,984 lb Lotus. Compare function-to-function fairly and, until technology catches up, which type of vehicle is really the heaviest? 2011 Ford Escape: 3,299 lbs / 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid: 3,669 lbs. Sorry, there may be other vehicles that confirm batteries make 'em heavier or could contradict that - I just picked the first two examples that came to mind.

(source: Edmunds.com; all weights listed above are curb weights)

[Marlin]

I have to call foul on the Prius vs. Deville comparison. Instead of talking about the weight of a new "eco-warrior" compact car vs. a 13-year-old large sized boat, I think comparing the 2010 Lotus Elise to the 2010 Tesla Roadster is much more fair and illustrates the spirit of the original comment. The Tesla's weight is 2,690 lbs and it is based on the 1,984 lb Lotus. Compare function-to-function fairly and, until technology catches up, which type of vehicle is really the heaviest. 2011 Ford Escape: 3,299 lbs / 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid: 3,669 lbs. Sorry, there may be other vehicles that confirm batteries make 'em heavier or could contradict that - I just picked the first two examples that came to mind.

(source: Edmunds.com; all weights listed above are curb weights)

Good point, someone driving an deville is not likely to drop 30k on any vehicle, lot less some tiny electric car. Never thought of that approach...

[pbkid]

I have to call foul on the Prius vs. Deville comparison. Instead of talking about the weight of a new "eco-warrior" compact car vs. a 13-year-old large sized boat, I think comparing the 2010 Lotus Elise to the 2010 Tesla Roadster is much more fair and illustrates the spirit of the original comment. The Tesla's weight is 2,690 lbs and it is based on the 1,984 lb Lotus. Compare function-to-function fairly and, until technology catches up, which type of vehicle is really the heaviest? 2011 Ford Escape: 3,299 lbs / 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid: 3,669 lbs. Sorry, there may be other vehicles that confirm batteries make 'em heavier or could contradict that - I just picked the first two examples that came to mind.

(source: Edmunds.com; all weights listed above are curb weights)

rick-
interesting comparison. and yes, logically your comparison makes sense. I was simply working off chris' statement that there is no road damage difference between a prius and a 'gas guzzling V8'.... so, i was purely comparing vehicles with V8's.....
find me a 'commonly' used V8 vehicle that weighs less than a prius... or even better, my dads CRX (1,600 lb curb) (and he pulls over 42 mpg)

and yes, i completely agree with you, if we can compare any vehicle hybrid vs. conventional.
tahoe hybrid - 7,100 lbs
lotus elise - 2,562 lbs