Affordable Electric Car?
So Fisker Automotive is building its next vehicle in Deleaware, and the world is all abuzz witht he idea that we will soon have an affordable electric sedan. I am so excited I could just about snore...
When did a car that costs $39,900 (after federal tax credits) become the definition of affordable? In my world, that is two brand new mid-size sedans from a choice of manufacturers.
In fact, I did a little of the math and here is what I came up with;
A Fisker Karma with stated 100 mpg fuel economy and a cost of $39,900 over 5 years will cost $8475 per year to operate. A typical sedan achieving 25 mpg and costing $20,000 will cost $5,980 to operate annually if fuel is $2.75 per gallon. The cost doesn't increase to match the Fisker until gas costs over $5.50 per gallon!
Additionally, noone has yet answered what will be the cost to the average homeowner to plug in the electric vehicle every day before driving it to work? Oh, wait, you cannot achieve these economy figures if you travel more than 50 miles since the battery only goes that far...
Financially, electric cars do not make sense.
Environmentally, electric cars do not make sense.
Practically, electric cars do not make sense.
When did a car that costs $39,900 (after federal tax credits) become the definition of affordable? In my world, that is two brand new mid-size sedans from a choice of manufacturers.
In fact, I did a little of the math and here is what I came up with;
A Fisker Karma with stated 100 mpg fuel economy and a cost of $39,900 over 5 years will cost $8475 per year to operate. A typical sedan achieving 25 mpg and costing $20,000 will cost $5,980 to operate annually if fuel is $2.75 per gallon. The cost doesn't increase to match the Fisker until gas costs over $5.50 per gallon!
Additionally, noone has yet answered what will be the cost to the average homeowner to plug in the electric vehicle every day before driving it to work? Oh, wait, you cannot achieve these economy figures if you travel more than 50 miles since the battery only goes that far...
Financially, electric cars do not make sense.
Environmentally, electric cars do not make sense.
Practically, electric cars do not make sense.
Incidentally, I plugged the numbers for the Mahindra diesel pickup into my spreadsheet for cost comparisons. Using $20,000 purchase, 30 mpg, and 2.89 for diesel fuel, I can drive a one-ton pickup truck for about $5,700 per year.
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