Electric car store opens in Texas
A local TV station in Austin covered the opening of Electric Cars of Austin on Thursday. Check out the video. Prominent is the Myers Motors Nmg, which used to be called the Sparrow. This single-seater electric motorcycle can hit 70mph.The old Austin desperado himself, Jerry Jeff Walker, is also interviewed as an electric car enthusiast.
The dealership lot was small but filled with various types of electric vehicles, mostly golf-car sized. Prices ranged from $6,500 up to $15,000. The Nmg was priced at $25,000.
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[Source: KVUE News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony Belding 3:15PM (9/01/2006)
In addition to being very slow to load, the video clip makes you watch a HUMMER commercial before it gets to the news story about electric vehicles. Talk about mixed messages, sheesh. . .
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Phil L. 3:22PM (9/01/2006)
I keep trying to find an electric car that can make sense for me.
My situation is fairly favorable for this sort of thing: I live in a suburban area near two large cities - but I have a short commute (about 5 miles).
But available roads, speed limits and realistic traffic speeds mean that NEV-classified cars are a no-go: 25-35 mph max means I'd be a rolling hazard.
I'd love something like (the late, lamented) Ford Th!nk City. Reasonable range and performance for basic local driving. Too pricey for my budget - though the thought of a bunch of them on the used market in a few years gave me hope.
Options like the Sparrow have some appeal - but single-seat inflexibility means it'd have to be in addition to something more practical for non-commuting duties. But at anywhere near $25000 (or even under $10000), I don't have the kind of budget needed with a stay-at-home wife and 3 kids. While I haven't looked at the details, the insurance and regulatory aspects of EVs that are legally classified as motorcycles could also be a big hurdle.
I regularly shop eBay for the odd Solectria or someone's Escort conversion project. They're either projects for someone with lots of time on their hands, or they want outrageous money. Most of them need new batteries, plus the good ones seem to be on the west coast (add 2500 miles of shipping). Net effect? Too much for my pocketbook.
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Shaky 8:39PM (9/03/2006)
This place is so tiny it's really not newsworthy. I drove past this lot -- there is space enough in their lot for about 5 vehicles at a time. You couldn't pull in yourself if you wanted to. And I'm not sure the point of that weird green Myers Road Hazard, you'd be better off buying 20 scooters for the money, instead. The other vehicles there were extended golf carts.
I like Jerry Jeff much as the next guy, but he's being a bit unrealistic here, not too many people are going to spend money on these things.
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