shoot, you can build an electric motorcycle for less than that..... and probably an electric car as well....
That is a cool looking car. I am glad to start seeing a few smart cars on the road here in the U.S. I used to see these tiny type cars 11 years ago in my travels throughout Europe. Even back then they had some pretty space age looking cars. Abner
The Air Car/Power Plant How about supplementing your cities electricity needs using the energy generated by rush hour traffic. "Power collecting system by vehicle traffic. The objective of this system is to produce electricity at low cost and in a non polluting way. It was invented by Nelson Gonzáles Acosta, native to the Dominican Republic. The process to produce electricity is based on installing a ramp with an angle of around 45 degrees that descends every time a vehicle drives over it. As the ramp comes down a system of plates is activated that compresses the leftover air and impels it towards a tank where it is collected. The compressed air is then lead towards the deposit through a system of pipes. Once the air is stored, it is injected towards a pneumatic turbine which puts a belt in motion that is connected with a generator. This is where the electricity is produced and distributed to the network." http://www.theaircar.com/air-cars/energy-storage.html
Looks great until you get crushed by the person driving the Hummer or Suburban who's drinking a coffee while combing their hair and text-messaging their friend;
[ humour ] I see you have met that driver too! At least the fool spilled his piping hot McDonald's coffee on his testicles and shan't be having any children. There is a God after all! [ /humour ]
Wel, OK so I went and found my own link. Here's something silly that you could buy. http://visforvoltage.org/forum-topic/motorcycles-and-large-scooters/1009-venture-one-electric-hybrid-motorcycle
If you want to build an electric ninja get this book. http://www.evdeals.com/BidwellSecrets.htm You can also join this list serve for more info on electric motorcycles, I left the list, but the guys on there really know their stuff Electricmotorcycles.net and for cars join this list. http://www.austinev.org/
So yesterday General Motors "accidentally" posted photos and information on the forthcoming Chevy Volt on the internet for 12 minutes, before it was taken down. I rather like the concept: a pure electric with an on-board small internal combustion engine that doesn't power the car, but only recharges the batteries as needed. Now I'll have to figure out if I can forgive GM for taking away the pure electric EV-1 that I drove and loved for four years.
mini cooper... http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/the_hybrid_mini.php this would be fun to drive....
Smart Cars are 3 cylinders car (2 passengers), Suzuki used to make those 3 cylinders car back in 1985 for about $5k to 6k and were bigger than the smart car(4 passengers and space for stuff). I used to owe one and loved it, but them move and sold it ( I had it for 6 years) , the sad thing that Suzuki stop making these 3 cylinders, I hope one day they bring it back with a cheaper tag than the Smart Cars.
This is cool for going around the neighborhood and if you work near by without going in the highway, I wonder if this will be consider a motorcycle than a car, hence in Florida if fall in the category of a motorcycle you would not need insurance in the thing(Bad and good).
In my neighborhood there are lots of people using ATVs for farmwork. A nice little ATV can do all sorts of things. I watched one guy mow his whole pasture with an ATV pulling a 6 foot mower. Maybe more versatile than a tractor (depending). My point? The link I posted was for a vehicle that's a kind of mini-car/motorcycle. Probably it's the worst of both worlds. How about an ATV for around town? What kind of mileage does an ATV get?
Avis had these for rent in Whitier, AK http://www.jehmpowersports.com/blazer250.html They looked realy cool.
Hi Michael - I just found this story: http://www.therawfeed.com/2008/09/honda-to-sell-hybrid-motorcyles-within.html