On Earth Day, April 25, 2009, Chrysler announced a new car called the Peapod. This revolutionary product will change the face of the American auto industry. The world has been clamoring for all-electric vehicles that allow ease and mobility within a short range. On average, Americans spent four percent of their annual income on gasoline in 2008. The Peapod will cut these costs dramatically, ultimately costing about 2 cents per mile. This will make it by far the cheapest option for auto travel on the market.
The Peapod, a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), allows drivers to take their kids to soccer and pick up groceries without emitting any carbon dioxide. This cute car (its front appears to smile) offers more inside. It offers iPod and iPhone connectivity as well as an app that shows the amount of carbon dioxide saved by using the Peapod.
Many already know that the Chrysler group is in dire straits and its future is uncertain. This product might be the magic elixir that will save the company by becoming the most relevant form of transportation for the new generation. Much like the Beetle in the 60s, the Peapod may develop into a form of affordable, fashionable transportation for the masses. Yet if it proves to be the new Beetle, the Peapod will not only be stylish but will also protect the environment from millions of tons of CO¬2 that is released into the air.
Although this car comes with the hefty price tag of $12,500 it is one of the cheapest to keep on the road. If the Peapod proves to be the future of the short-range drive, all I can say is "where do I sign up?"
http://www.mdi.lu/english/index.php
Sorry, but a practical city car must be able to, fully occupied, be able to maintain a steady speed of 45mph on an incline to be considered marketable in my estimation.
One of the reasons that most posters have stated for not being interested in a Peapod is safety. This is also one of the same arguments against bike commuting. Bike commuting safety can be increased with dedicated bike lanes and motorist education (not to mention cyclists are much more attentive and defensive in traffic). What can be done to overcome this objection to the Peapod?
My current lease is up in 15 months, and I have put less than 16,000 on our family's 2nd car in the past 21 months. 80% of my trips are less than 10 miles roundtrip. The Peapod or it's competition would be ideal for me and probably at least 15 million other households in urban/inner suburb areas. That's a pretty large market that's worth targeting and supplying.
Driving around, I get more looks and comments than high-end sports cars and many curious folks want to know all about the car, especially since last year’s high gas prices. That financial wake-up call may be the difference this time around for electric cars.
That being said, the $12.5K starting price for a Peapod is still too high for most Americans as a second short-range vehicle. And even with high gas prices, it still takes too long to offset this kind of expense via gas savings. The government already offers some incentives to buy a new electric vehicle, but they should do more, like allow buyers to write off the entire cost of the vehicle. It’s an investment in cleaner air.
Speaking of that, those that decry these vehicles as not 100% clean and therefore somehow futile, give me a break – they are a HUGE leap forward.
There is a world of difference - 25mph vs 30 - to where you can (realistically) go within a congested city.
I'm still mystified about the cutesy look. I'd be concerned about some prankster tipping it over. Just because.
Just make a car that looks like a car. (But stubby enough to park perpendicularly to a curb).
The PEAPOD! OMG!! Nobody is going to rush to the store to buy a peapod! WTF?? Call it something cool so people won't instantly laugh at the people driving them. The VW Beetle wasn't the coolest name, but it fit (and the number of beetle species outnumber all other species on the planet, besides being very efficient ). They don't have to call it the "Viper" or anything way too cool. Call it the "Eco" (economically or ecologically, you can't go wrong). I lost track of stupid car names long ago, so that name might be taken already. They are probably running out of car names, but I never knew what a Countach (Lamborghini) was anyway and didn't care because the car was so cool. Bad on gas though. I think that model gets 7 mpg or something ridiculous. I'd like one with an electric motor.
Most of the time, 30 miles round trip would do me. Occassionally, I like to take a trip to a city about 4 hours from my home. I do not want to buy 2 automobiles to accomplish this.
Let's get real.
http://www.teslamotors.com/
The Tesla is a car for those who can afford to be green.
Many families have a second car for that very purpose, in the traditional nuclear household image. And many more would be able to use such a vehicle in conjunction with mass transit by parking them at a parking garage at a light rail stop, like many people do here in Portland, OR.
Thanks for the insight and the chuckle.
Bill Maher's Clip below:
http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=0m5ravh445
http://www.teslamotors.com/models/index.php
NOW we're talking!!
Three hundred miles on a charge is a step up, but I still want to hear what the battery life is, and how well it performs in subzero and over 100 degree temperatures (yes, I experience both where I live).