altcar expo 08

altcar expo 08
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

we squeezed in a visit to the altcar expo for the last hour of the show on sat. even though the companies converting and manufacturing electric vehicles are not in the mainstream, it's exciting to see the options out there.

if you've never seen who killed the electric car? you really have to. it's a sad story, but it doesn't have to end there. you would be amazed to learn what happened to a viable energy alternative to gas. or maybe you wouldn't, if you are jaded. a part of me feels that way, but i vacillate between that and hope.

one of the painful things to know is that average americans in more ways than one are the ones who pay for the stupidity and greed of those involved. the workers who were laid off from GM years later as foreign companies lead the push for alternative vehicles because instead of properly marketing and taking a chance on the EV1, GM wrenched the electric car from the hands of americans amidst protest, and crushed them all. that's right. perfectly working brand new cars were sent to a facility that compacts them like wall-e.

i really can't do the story justice, so you have to watch this movie. we must in our own ways, because we are partly responsible, curb our addiction to oil. ok. enough of my ranting.

so my next car has to be an electric one. i hope they come out with one that has everything i need. the choices for hybrids seem paltry, and i don't think its enough to get us away from all the problems associated with oil. mike has a honda civic, which is nice, but the back seat doesn't fold down. i often have to transport evergrowing in size art projects and materials for said projects. i need a car that has enough potential length for that. the back window on the prius seems poorly designed in that it's hard to see out the back because of the slope. not sure if that has contributed in any way to accidents, but it's a concern. even though i need room to carry big, possibly oddly shaped objects, i don't really want to be driving an suv all the time. some smaller version like a rav4 would be nice.

i won't be getting a new car any time soon, but i was eying this electric bicycle (green bik) & electric scooter. since both have the same max speed, i'm leaning more towards the bike. They are both made by green bik. it's oh so adorable, and a smart feature is that the battery can be removed and brought inside for charging. priced at $1400 and able to go 40 miles on a charge, it's really perfect for most day to day driving. i know you're thinking i'm just drawn to its pink cuteness. true, it's cute, but i'm more interested in one in green. i was even considering it for the commute to work, although it will take me an hour going down pch. some days with traffic, it takes that long on the 405. well, maybe i'll find a job in long beach.