Electric cars - are there any available to buy

[rurallib]

I have come to the conclusion that electric will be the answer to some degree. But all I can seem to find is overgrown golf carts.
We would need a range of about 100 miles minimum and a speed of @45 - 50 mph. So far I have struck out searching the internet.
Am I asking for too much?

[benburch]

1. Buy a prius, and a plug-in hybrid conversion kit.

Then you have a real car that can drive as far as you like, and you can still use it as an electric car for commutes.

[rurallib]

2. How's the availability? And price?

[benburch]

4. Prius availability is fairly good...

...my friend actually bought one off the lot a couple months ago. Likely there is a wait now due to fuel prices. I paid $20,500 for mine.

http://www.edrivesystems.com/index.html offers plug-in systems that cost around $12,000, not sure of the availability.

http://www.hymotion.com/products.htm is another vendor and their kits are said to be around $6500.

I suggest contacting them to ask about availability.

[PATRICK]

3. The cars destroyed in California

were pretty good, available on lease only. You couldn't steal one without having a price put on your head.

My guess is that you tried to import a real electric car from another country you would be taxed an arm and a leg so you'd have to have it equipped for paraplegic disability.

The price of gas is double what it was a few years ago. The hybrids using half as much gas put you back on square one now with the burden of an extra energy system to maintain. The wear and tear of a combustion engine should prove the first part of the car to die taking the whole machine with it. The decision to hide electric cars and push hybrids had some specious logic to it. In an automotive industry magazine, GM execs years ago used the reasoning that people feel more comfortable with gasoline engine being part of the system. ????? That is the most asinine rationalized statement to put forward first and betrays the quality of any subsequent argumentation.

[FtWayneBlue]

5. There are a few, very rare, used Toyota RAV4 EV's

still on the road. Total electric, excellent range. They are quite expensive, however.

[MelissaB]

6. One of these rare babies is on Ebay and ends in > 2hours.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-RAV4-RAV4EV-RAV4EV-Electric-Vehicle-150-mile-range-VERY-nice-%20cond_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ31872QQihZ018QQitemZ280003979615QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW


I've been watching this one and dreaming. :)