How do you buy an NEV in America?
October 1, 2009 11:57 AM Subscribe
I live in (urban) St. Louis city and 90% of my driving is 10 miles or less, non-highway. We've got a Honda Fit which satisfies our other needs (road trips, large loads, extra people). My Miata is nearing its end, and I'm shopping for a replacement. I believe I am a good candidate for an NEV (Neighborhood Electrical Vehicle), but I don't know where to start: what criteria I need to look at, the pros and cons of various vehicles, the overall costs, etc. Should I buy an NEV? How?
I've done some online research but it is largely aimed at non-US residents. I believe there used to be a tax break, but it seems to have ended. I don't know where or how to look for dealers. I don't know the legal ins and outs of souping a car up to go faster than 25mph (I'd actually feel safer if they could get to 35 in a pinch). I'm interested in how difficult they are to get fixed, and how often they break down.
In short, I feel like I should get one, but I'm miles (ahem) away from figuring out how to get one.
As an aside, I'm drawn to the models that look and act more like mini-cars than the ones that look and act like golf carts or park ranger carts.
I've done some online research but it is largely aimed at non-US residents. I believe there used to be a tax break, but it seems to have ended. I don't know where or how to look for dealers. I don't know the legal ins and outs of souping a car up to go faster than 25mph (I'd actually feel safer if they could get to 35 in a pinch). I'm interested in how difficult they are to get fixed, and how often they break down.
In short, I feel like I should get one, but I'm miles (ahem) away from figuring out how to get one.
As an aside, I'm drawn to the models that look and act more like mini-cars than the ones that look and act like golf carts or park ranger carts.
I own an electric vespa-style scooter that I use as a NEV. The reason the scooter store I bought from started carrying them is because they need near-zero maintenance. There's no oil to change, no spark plugs to get fouled, etc. Perhaps someday I'll need to add some brake fluid.
The biggest problem with my vehicle is the time it takes to recharge. Well that and crossing the drawbridges when the metal grating is wet, but that's a two-wheel issue that you wouldn't face.
That said, the technologies are new, so when problems happen, the debugging experience is still being built up. When I first drove my bike off the lot, it made it 20 feet before dieing. It took a good month of trial and error to figure out that it wasn't amazingly bad luck with batteries, but rather a bad controller module. They had such a hard time figuring it out because they'd never had to do any work on one up to then. In the year plus since then, it's been perfectly reliable.
posted by nomisxid at 1:03 PM on October 1, 2009
The biggest problem with my vehicle is the time it takes to recharge. Well that and crossing the drawbridges when the metal grating is wet, but that's a two-wheel issue that you wouldn't face.
That said, the technologies are new, so when problems happen, the debugging experience is still being built up. When I first drove my bike off the lot, it made it 20 feet before dieing. It took a good month of trial and error to figure out that it wasn't amazingly bad luck with batteries, but rather a bad controller module. They had such a hard time figuring it out because they'd never had to do any work on one up to then. In the year plus since then, it's been perfectly reliable.
posted by nomisxid at 1:03 PM on October 1, 2009
The most viable option for a NEV is probably be a GEM right now. There are several manufacturers which have EV passenger cars coming out in the next few months/years. For example, Toyota has plans for the FT-EV @ an estimated $20k price point, and GM will sell the Volt for ~$40k. There's quite a few small companies with proposed models - Arcimoto has The Pulse @ $20k, for example - but they will likely not be financially viable companies, especially in this economy. Personally, I'd wait. Being a first adopter of any technology is going to be quite spendy and the first generation of these vehicles will likely not be highly reliable as the kinks get worked out in subsequent generations - look at the Tesla as an example.
posted by torquemaniac at 1:04 PM on October 1, 2009
posted by torquemaniac at 1:04 PM on October 1, 2009
The NEV market is very new and quite a few of the NEVs are the same price as compact cars. Hybrid car development is really taking off and it is backed by major manufacturers who can drive the price of hybrids down. Honda is planning on manufacturing a hybrid Fit in 2010 along with the 2-seat hybrid CR-Z. Nissan will be releasing the all electric Leaf in 2010. The hybrid and electric car market may have many more choices in addition to these in about a year including some electric min cars. The release date for many of these could get pushed back of course. Can the Miata last another year without huge repair costs?
posted by Procloeon at 2:23 PM on October 1, 2009
posted by Procloeon at 2:23 PM on October 1, 2009
The cars the Electric Car Co. (a local company) sells and services sound like they just might be what you're looking for. Their website's not very good, but you can read more here. What they sell is exactly what you described: souped-up Miles cars. They're actually one of only three Miles car service providers in the country, right here in our backyard!
posted by limeonaire at 4:04 PM on October 1, 2009
posted by limeonaire at 4:04 PM on October 1, 2009
I've also seen people driving Smart cars in Clayton and U. City; the Smart Center Creve Coeur carries 'em.
It's awesome, by the way, that you're interested in owning one of these new cars!
posted by limeonaire at 4:07 PM on October 1, 2009
It's awesome, by the way, that you're interested in owning one of these new cars!
posted by limeonaire at 4:07 PM on October 1, 2009
The current Smart cars are not electric, limeonaire (although apparently an electric Smart car is coming soon).
posted by mbrubeck at 4:28 PM on October 1, 2009
posted by mbrubeck at 4:28 PM on October 1, 2009
That's cool; I just figured I'd throw out another option for a nonstandard local-driving car.
posted by limeonaire at 4:37 PM on October 1, 2009
posted by limeonaire at 4:37 PM on October 1, 2009
Response by poster: A few additional thoughts:
a) The Miata, sadly, won't last another year. I pushed it to get it to this year with a few repairs.
b) We need a second car of some sort, so I can't just rely on the Fit for all solutions.
c) I looked into scooters but driving them in winter seemed unsafe, or at least very unpleasant.
d) One of my hopes for an NEV was to get it cheaper than a 'real' car would cost, thus cars like the Volt & other EVs (and the Smart car) at $20k+ aren't being considered.
I'm going to look into this Miles & GEM car. Is there any one out there who owns an NEV in an urban environment?
posted by davebug at 6:47 AM on October 2, 2009
a) The Miata, sadly, won't last another year. I pushed it to get it to this year with a few repairs.
b) We need a second car of some sort, so I can't just rely on the Fit for all solutions.
c) I looked into scooters but driving them in winter seemed unsafe, or at least very unpleasant.
d) One of my hopes for an NEV was to get it cheaper than a 'real' car would cost, thus cars like the Volt & other EVs (and the Smart car) at $20k+ aren't being considered.
I'm going to look into this Miles & GEM car. Is there any one out there who owns an NEV in an urban environment?
posted by davebug at 6:47 AM on October 2, 2009
The husband and I have been mulling over this same question. We've been looking at the ZENN for a little while. There's a dealer here in Houston and we test drove it and it seemed to fit what we need. There's a tax credit for about $3500 I think - not 100% about that figure - but there is a tax credit.
The last time we checked price it was around 13K and that's what is holding us back. So we haven't taken the leap yet. But we did hear the prices have recently gone down so we may go look again.
You should email some of the folks at the Mid-America Electric Auto Association. They're in Kansas City MO but might be able to direct you to dealers near you where you can test drive one and so forth. We have a electric car chapter here and they are a great resource for the most current information.
The Houston Electric Auto Club has a nice set of links for more information as well. Be warned - whenever I talk to the people there - they are so GUNG-HO for electric cars that they really REALLY want me to get one too. They just LOVE them. It's cute and charming geeky pressure - but it's a little pressure nonetheless. Very sweet earnest pressure.
posted by dog food sugar at 9:29 AM on October 2, 2009
The last time we checked price it was around 13K and that's what is holding us back. So we haven't taken the leap yet. But we did hear the prices have recently gone down so we may go look again.
You should email some of the folks at the Mid-America Electric Auto Association. They're in Kansas City MO but might be able to direct you to dealers near you where you can test drive one and so forth. We have a electric car chapter here and they are a great resource for the most current information.
The Houston Electric Auto Club has a nice set of links for more information as well. Be warned - whenever I talk to the people there - they are so GUNG-HO for electric cars that they really REALLY want me to get one too. They just LOVE them. It's cute and charming geeky pressure - but it's a little pressure nonetheless. Very sweet earnest pressure.
posted by dog food sugar at 9:29 AM on October 2, 2009
There's a place in town that sells something called a [url=http://www.electricwheelsinc.com/xebras.shtml]Xebra[/url]. I stood in line at a local coffee shop and chatted with an owner, he seemed to enjoy it on the whole.
posted by asterisk at 6:06 PM on October 2, 2009
posted by asterisk at 6:06 PM on October 2, 2009
Response by poster: Looking into the GEMs, but they're fairly pricey (over $10k once you add things like doors) and I don't know if there's any tax credits to help. Also checking into how they do on ice and in rain.
The new thing seems to be the Peapod, but it starts at $12.5k, which seems a bit crazy for something that can't go over 25mph. I was hoping to get something for $6-8kish.
posted by davebug at 4:41 PM on October 3, 2009
The new thing seems to be the Peapod, but it starts at $12.5k, which seems a bit crazy for something that can't go over 25mph. I was hoping to get something for $6-8kish.
posted by davebug at 4:41 PM on October 3, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Cogito at 12:36 PM on October 1, 2009