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September 2008 Posts
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Why would Chrysler make their announcement now? It's the automotive version of Slipstreaming! They are hitching a ride from all the energy generated from the Volt build-up and unveiling.
AC Propulsion's Ebox? Great idea, nice car- HUGE pricetag- $55,000 for the conversion- the cost of the car is extra: http://www.acpropulsion.com/ebox/pricing.htm
The Zero X motorcycle looks good- it says it has a range of 40 miles, but does not say at what speed or terrain- given that it is a dirt bike, I would think that if you push it like a dirt bike, your range will become 20 miles real quick. Their web site: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/
The web site for the Bad Boy Buggy ATV is: http://www.badboybuggies.com/ and it too is an interesting vehicle, whether you are a hunter or just need an ATV for hauling items around the ranch or farm.
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The people at Zero say it is meant to be ridden hard (like a dirtbike) for up to 2 hours. That is pretty good. I remember growing up, I had a dirtbike. I would only ride it for about an hour at a time -- then I got bored :)
Regen braking on the E-box.
I have heard this confusion about the regen braking on the E-box before and it sounds like they didn't integrate it well.
The Prius has a very interesting way of applying the regen braking
1) When you press on the brakes lightly, they seem to be applying the regen. If you press harder, they seem to be applying the regen and the real brakes. So a light press on the brakes is all that is needed to get the regen to work.
2) If you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, a small amount of regen braking is applied. This simulates the drag of an ICE engine and slows the car down a little bit. If you are looking far enough ahead in traffic, you can take your foot off the gas and it slows down. Interestingly, at very low speed (like 0 mph), taking your foot off the gas does not apply regen braking. In fact, it applies a slight acceleration. This is to simulate the forward creep typical in an ICE engine with an automatic transmission. Looking at the display, I noticed at stop lights, that if you don't have your foot firmly on the brake, the car is wasting energy trying to make the car creep forward. So in the Prius, if you would really like to "coast" you have to have your foot lightly on the gas pedal. You can tell you are at the right position by looking at the color LCD display.
3) There is a second forward "gear" labeled as "B". This allows you to drive forward like the normal "D" position, but it applies more regenerative braking. This is useful if you are going down a steep hill and do not want to accelerate. This simulates downshifting in an ICE car with automatic transmission.
Toyota has done a lot with the software of the Prius to make it look and act like at normal ICE car with an automatic transmission. It is very well done.
Regarding the listener feedback on global warming. Al Gore does have a big financial interest in global warming. As you can see by the events of the last week, 700 Billion bailout here, 25 billion GM bailout there, 70 billion AIG bailout. I would be willing to state as fact there is more money in politics than anywhere. Also in politics you don't even have to work for the money people send you the checks.
Have the democrats in congress done anything for the environment. Did they illegalize the car or put a $5 tax on gasoline. The truth is they are cowards like everyone else. They want your tax checks, but any threat to those checks coming in and they will shut up and sit in the corner.
I like to beat up the politicians as much as the next guy, but...
They have recently passed a law requiring much higher fuel efficiency standards and much higher light bulb efficiency. I think these are significant.
Most people were already buying higher mileage cars due to gas prices. Most people were already buying CFs due to the price savings. If you really want to put a dent on gas use put a big tax on it, furthermore you make money at the same time. If you put a 50% tax on a gallon of gasoline, within 2 years electric cars would be on the road. After the demand for oil drops, the price for oil would drop with it and gas would cost probably the same $3 a gallon.
Bill, I am not sure you appreciate the magnitude of the importance of the new law. The new fuel efficiency standards will REQUIRE the car companies to produce cars that are currently unavailable. Now, you would not have a choice to buy these cars because they are not available. An increase in fuel tax might do the same thing, but that seems politically impossible. There are limits to what can be accomplished in a Democracy.
Also, I completely disagree with your accessment of people's use of CFLs. We need to look no further than Bo to see a common behavior. People don't know, or have been misinformed and end up buying incandescents.
If you want to know how true this is, go down to HomeDepot and look at the shelf-space for CFLs versus incandescents. CFLs have a small (but growing) amount of shelf-space. Many people are not giving up on their incandescents. I still see them advertised as a sale item at Target. Hmmm, it would be nice if I had some real data rather than these stories.
What will happen with the new law is that inefficient incandescents will be removed from the store shelfs. People will be forced to change. The law is a big deal and the politicians (or lobbiest) deserve credit.
LaterJohn C. Briggs
do you think you are superior to a girl from the south? ev off road is good for the enviroment your comments were extremely off color. I hope BBB doesnt listen to this podcast. she wasted her time with you.
YOU'RE SKILLS OF INTERVIEWING OR HOSTING A COMPANY DURING THE BBB INTERVIEW WERE HORRIBLE. YOU OWE THEM AN APOLIGY. THAT COMPANY IS AN INC 500 COMPANY NON EOF THESE OTHERS ARE NEAR PRODUCTION LEVELS OF THEM AND YET YOU BLEW IT OFF AS A JOKE. SHAME ON YOU. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND LEARN TO UNDERSATND A NAME WHEN TOLD OR GET A NEW JOB. YOU TWO SHOWED IMAMTURITY IN CLOSED MINDED THOUGHT THE WORLD NEEDS EV IN MORE THAN JUST CARS OR WE WILL ALL BE IN TROUBLE ALL VEHICLES NEED CHANGE ATV, MOTORCYCLES, LAWN MOWERS, FORKLIFTS, GROW UP GUYS AND EXPAND YOUR MINDS. IF YOU DO AN INTERVIEW PREPARE AND RESPECT EVERYONE.
WOW, we made it to episode 86 before we had flaming on the message board. I guess it had to happen.
But I learned something from the author of the previous post. Bad Boy Enterprises had revenue of $21.5M in 2007. I never would have guessed.
In defense of Bo, this is just not something we participate in, up here in Massachusetts. It is hard for us to believe what a big business it is.
No. 231 Bad Boy Enterprises Natchez, MS
Year 2008Industry Consumer ProductsFounded 2003Growth 1,123.3%2004 Revenue $1.8 million2007 Revenue $21.5 millionEmployees 50Website www.badboybuggies.com
http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2008/company-profile.html?id=200802310
Wow is right! The posts by the two "guests" obviously don't have much of a sense of humor! Not scaring away the animals you are hunting is a huge benefit to the BadBoy buggy! Sure, Bo's comment was extremely visual, but he did do an excellent job pointing out one of the best benefits. As for the messing up the name, I listened to this a few times and it sounds like they ran the same track over, making it sounds as if Bo screwed up the name more than he actually did. I think this is just Bo and Ryan being goofy. Anyway, this is Bo making fun of himself, not the lady he was interviewing. Dudes (or dudettes) flaming this board -- if you were looking for a boring interview (you are obviously from BadBoy), you gave it to the wrong guys. If it weren't for the evcast, I would have not known about BadBoy. Relax.
LOUD GUEST SAID... yeah guy- take a chill pill- this is not their full-time job, but more a non-paying hobby to promote EV's. They are not serious jounalists, and should not be held to the same 'politically correct' standards- they're just a couple of guys doing a podcast without being too serious about it- although they are serious about seing the success of EV's coming to market. Hey! They have even picked on Texas in the past, and them is usually fightin' words! But they mean no harm- they are just trying to be humorous. Perhaps as their audience grows, they will have need to be more careful- but until then, they should be allowed some lattitude. If you must take umbrage at bigotry or sexism in broadcasting, email Imus or Howard Stern, not a couple of goofball-guys from Massachusetts.
Paul, I can't tell if you are defending or denigrating Bo and Ryan. Oh well, either is OK with me.John
I see where you guys have had the good sense to change the discriminating remarks made against BBB. I do think it is correct move onyour part. BBB is a fast moving company picked top three from the Inc. 500 conference. You may have been fooled by her southern charm but that company is fast moving in the elctric field for outdoor enthusias whatever the end use. I did hear your snide remark towards huntingbefore you removed it and a fast fact is most hunters are conservationist. The USA today with all the failing company and poor managment needs more sucess stories like this do not so casually blow off a company because of your lack of education on the subject. This is your job whether payong or not you chose it. Respect people and they will pay it forward. BBB is making an all elictric vehicle with thousands in consumers yards right now like 11,000 not pie in the sky orone offlike most in the EV field. I do know that company well and know they are first rate Jim and Selah are top notch you two should be lucky they are not vengeful in any way. They just love their jobs and company. May one day you have the same maturity.
I must say, an open forum like this is always interesting. You meet a range of viewpoints. I would be a little more impressed if people were signing their names to their posts, but that is a small point.
ThanksJohn C. Briggs
The BBB is a company that has grown too fast and spent a lot of money on advertising convincing the public of their product. Congratulations for that aspect of their business, however where they receive a failing grade is service, documentation and support. how can you sell a product like this without manuals and direct factory support? This company needs to recognize that their product is great for the avid hunter but once you sell to all those customers, what then? Wait 5 years and hope to sell them another unit? Planned obsolescence ? The interview in my humble opinion lacked the confidence that you would be grown accustomed to with a seasoned sales professional, maybe its time to move away from the family culture/philosophy of business and recognize that not all customers have the patience or virtue to tolerate BBB's shortcomings. Some of the comments were slightly biased but when are you supposed to script an interview, its how the person reacts in the interview that shines. Selah handled it well as I assume it may not be her first nor will it be her last. I have driven the units and appreciate their contribution to the marketplace, there is value in the concept. I unfortunately hate to say this but BBB is paving the road for someone like Yamaha or Kubota to step in and do it right from a quality and marketing perspective. Did they not just go through an ownership change again? This is at least the third time in 3 years.....hmmmmmm????? Three strikes you're out, isn't that what they say? Someone step in and guide these poor souls to success!!!!!!!!!
I think you may need to get your facts straight from what I understand all the main sharholders are still involved and no the company has not changed hands 3 times so the three strikes rule does not apply. I believe new investor have been brought in as they have grown which is actually quit smart unless your are a born billionaire. The Bad Boy which I own one is fabulous. I will never own another gas UTV or ATV so what if another competitor comes in it just validates the market for all the naysayers of the world. I am sure their product will continue to improve as does any companies. There is a market of which I am one. I say all gas UTV and ATV owners should switch to electric it has more torque and power.
