[Validus]

I look at the civic and the civic hybrid.
Apart from the Engine(s), they are nearly identicle, and are so in the vast majority of their parts.

It's because a hybrid still has a combustible engine in it. I was talking about strictly an electric car.

I typed gear box, I meant gear box (I consider CVTs as gear boxes BTW - and yes, I know they dont quite fit the definition).

I got you, but I consider it more of a transmission. Suppose it could be argued as both.

1) Hit off switch.
2) Hit Battery pack circuit braker (not sure if thats standard or not)
3) Test to ensure power is off, by hitting on switch. If still on, pull plug.

Cars already have 1-2 batteries in them and people know how to handle them.

I never said the steps to turn it off were hard, I just said that it would be easier to make a mistake to start working on them while they were on.

The batteries today don't deal with the entire engine, and they put out an average of 12 volts. There is more stuff in the engine today that doesn't require electricity than does.

Have you ever opened up a Lexus or any other high end car?
Technology progresses, cars will get more complicated, and will continue to do so regardless of the power source and engine type.

Yes I have. But what I meant by that is that I do not want to see the day when someone could not work on his car at his house.

[Muck]

I never said the steps to turn it off were hard, I just said that it would be easier to make a mistake to start working on them while they were on.

It can be very dangerous to work on any car. I'd suggest that one is no more dangerous than another, you just follow a different set of precautions.

The batteries today don't deal with the entire engine, and they put out an average of 12 volts.

They put out whatever the batteries were designed for. They won't be lead acids straight out of todays cars.

But what I meant by that is that I do not want to see the day when someone could not work on his car at his house.

The days of working on your car at home are long gone with on-board computers and many specialist tools produced by the manufacturer, which you either can't buy, or they are just so expensive that it's not worth it.

I don't know what it's like in the US, but in the UK there are very few car parts shops left.

[Validus]

They put out whatever the batteries were designed for. They won't be lead acids straight out of todays cars.

Which for just about every average car (sedans, 2WD trucks, etc.) it is a 12 volt battery.

The days of working on your car at home are long gone with on-board computers and many specialist tools produced by the manufacturer, which you either can't buy, or they are just so expensive that it's not worth it.

I don't know what it's like in the US, but in the UK there are very few car parts shops left.

They are everywhere here (At least in Louisville, Ky). Agreed cars are getting more complicated, but it's also that people don't try to "fix it themselves" anymore to save money. Maybe that will change with the current economic crisis.

[nilof]

Just found this while randomly browsing wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_GT
http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/performance.php

Interesting. It seems to have roughly the same performance as the tesla roadster, but it works with four in-wheel motors instead that also act as regenerative brakes that can recharge the battery, so it has all wheel drive. It's battery system also has a much shorter recharge time at 10 minutes versus 3 1/2 hours, although with only 36 KWH vs 55KWH.

Interesting. If there's some concurrence, the prices on these electric sports cars will go down, so hopefully we'll see the prices on these cars go down.

Well, if the prices keep falling maybe I'll end up buying one of these by the time I get a job.

[tanklugz]

The Roadster gets about 220 miles to a charge. That's just under what some coupes get in the city, so it's not THAT bad. But the problem isn't the battery life.

How long do the batteries last o these things?

And nice avatar... Firefly was a great show.