Local E-Vehicle Ingenuity!
It was the treat of the Fair to talk with the owner of this grasshopper green putt-putt pictured, which has just been licensed as a low speed vehicle by the state of Maine.
It's powered by a big solar panel on the hood; there's nothing under the hood!
A SUNNev costs around $5,000, and is legal in Maine on roads up to 35mph.
The car was surrounded by excited listeners & do-ers -- a guy who'd made studded snow tires for his bicycle; a frail elderly gentlemen deeply in favor of this paradigm shift; a student at UMaine wanting the SUNNev owner, a high school teacher, to come do a demo and talk; student said he'd write a grant for it.
Owner replied, sure, but include funding for a sub.
A what?
A substitute teacher, so I can leave my school to come to yours.
These could be built locally by towns, each with their own fab-shop! Oh wow, plastic tubing for the brake fluid!
Those batteries, lead acid? Hm. The car'd have more range with lithium -- Yup, but for now, lithium batteries are way more expensive.
How far on a charge? --30 miles.
How fast? -- 25mph.
What'll it set you back to plug the thing in to recharge? -- about 25 cents overnight.
The owner said he'd taken a Maine congress-critter for a spin, to get the ball rolling. Active discussions are underway to expedite incentives for EV, and to disentangle obstructive legislation.
For an example of legislative bass-akwardness, scroll down at www.evmaine.org to read the state's refusing to register Maine's first "ZAP" e-truck, on the basis of steering wheel, for goodness sake.
For kits: www.sunnev.com
Interesting times? Folks, these are exciting times! We can do this!
Note to Readers:
Yeoman Gardener has published a book,
Wayfaring Traveler,
Whale Rider of the Tide
Yeoman Gardener has published a book,
Wayfaring Traveler,
Whale Rider of the Tide
www.wayfaringtraveler.com and Amazon reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment
You are welcome to comment.