Hey guys -

I've been enjoying listening to the podcasts (just caught up last night as I couldn't sleep with a pinched nerve in my back - ug!)

I really enjoyed the interview with Ian Clifford, and the recording of Sherry speaking a MIT (though I have to say that I could tell Sherry wasn't really on her game that evening. While her talk was very good - I've certainly heard her do much better!). That's good stuff, and it is awesome to make it available to everybody like this.

Now, onto the stuff that makes me giggle... It is REALLY interesting to hear folks on the East Coast talk about what is happening ihere n CA. Even more interesting to hear non-EV drivers talk about EVs. Your skepticism is healthy and enjoyable. And we're ALL tired of hearing that the next great EV will be available "next year." We've heard that for too many years! But the tides truly ARE changing. Three compelling pieces of evidence: The Tesla Roadster, GM's renewed comitment to the Spotted Owl... er the Volt... and your effort in creating this EVcast. We EV drivers went through some pretty sad and trying times there when it looked like we were tossed out with the bath water back in the early 2000's. The future looked bleak. The automakers had won: They got out of making EVs because of their promise to make a few demonstration FCV's (that most are bitching about being FORCED to make now... just ask Toyota.)

One caution that I'd like to make on your skepticism - and that is to keep in mind that current EV drivers you may hear from or interview, or whatever... they have no stake in the outcome besides cleaner air, lower health costs, increased national security, energy stability, improved international relations, etc. You don't find much money in EV advocacy, ya know? Just look at your own paycheck. ;) In fact, current EV drivers actually have a lot to lose (on the surface of it). The more popular EVs become, the more competition there will be for the public charging infrastructure. The value of our cars (insanely high today because of being rare) will drop when the cars that we're pushing for become available. But we still push for this tech to become available because of these more valuable reasons. Reasons that will benefit everybody - not just the special interests of the auto makers, the oil industry, etc. And we EV advocates are still ignored as nut-cases (my web site's name withstanding) and fringe lunatics. Non EV drivers who feel like we wish to do nothing more than take their Hummers and Escalades away will find all kinds of devilish reasons and agendas for our actions.

Step back and see what each side has to lose, and what each side gains for the world.

Skepticism is good and healthy. It can also be dangerous in the wrong hands. Use it wisely. :) Don't fall all over yourself to find fault in a new technology while ignoring all the obvious faults with the current transportation choices. And please, PLEASE avoid the trap of making this ALL about the money paid at the pump.

The gas version of my car cost about $18,000. I paid $42,000 for my Rav4EV. In theory (at least back then when I bought it) there was absolutely NO hope of ever making back that money difference with savings at the pump (hey, look, that answer has changed in the meantime though, huh?). But what is ignored in that simple equation (that is as far as most people go in the figuring - and I've heard you guys do the same) is all the "hidden" costs of driving with gasoline. I listed some above: health, life (what price to you put on health or life, btw?), national security, national economy (What of those $billions that leave our economy for good to buy oil?) We don't import any electricity)... and if you'll excuse my bit of politics - WAR (or to tone it down, let's just say "military protection of our oil rights." Nobody can argue with that expense.) This is just a partial list. We pay for all of these things. We pay for none of them at the pump. Driving an EV reduces or eliminates every one of them. So when we compare the costs of driving a cheap gas car vs an expensive EV... we must not ignore all the important stuff while only considering what leaves our wallet at the pump. You laugh at the cost of a used Rav4EV selling on Ebay for $70,000. Saying that you'd rather give $100 to Greenpeace. Funny, yeah. But think about the consequences of poking fun at somebody who truly is trying to make a difference - at great personal expense. Maybe there are better ways to spend money to improve our environment. But somebody with $70,000 could have instead bought just about any huge, chromed, lowered SUV they wanted. But instead, he or she purchased a car that is part of the solution. A car that demonstrates to others that this tech works, and that it is desirable.

OK, my fingers hurt. I'm not a pro blogger by any means. Stop by my site, and try not to make too much fun of it or I'll poke pins into my EVcast voodoo dolls. TONS of info on my site. Not all of it perfect.

I wish you guys the best.

http://evnut.com