Friday Random: Lubbock on a Bike with Leaf Envy, More Temptation, and another Bug

Look who showed up on the porch near all of the olla planters

I finally rode the bike to work today. I love riding in the fall. It rained yesterday, so (thanks e e cummings) the world is mudluscious and puddlewonderful. And, it's staying darker longer, so drivers are more likely to see my strobing lights. And mid-sixties feel good on my skin as I ride. I saw two mockingbirds and lots of great fall flowers. Good stuff. So much better than fighting traffic in my little truck.

However, I did see the Nissan Leaf guy on Utica this morning and felt much more plug-in envy than normal. Work has had me hopping lately, so I have been driving a lot more and biking a lot less. I've had a number of thirty-forty mile days instead of my normal 10. And, back in the National Drive Electric Week, I stupidly opened up a big ol' can of temptation. My wife and went to look at the white Leaf I wrote about. We loved the car, and it was a really great deal, but we did the math and figured out that we are not quite wealthy enough to buy it wisely. But all of this driving has made me want to go electric very badly. And my wife drives that much on most days.

Speaking of temptation, it's time to cut back on it a bit lot. You see, I have way too much stuff and I have a bad internet habit. (The two are closely related.) Every day I check Craigslist for bicycles, motorcycles, electric devices, and battery-powered devices. Sometimes I search solar, barrels, and free as well. Then I go to scoot.net/classified and look at all of the vintage scooters and parts. Then I go to endless-sphere.com and check out the used electric bike stuff. A few times per week I go evtradinpost.com and check out electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and conversion components. Finally, I head to ebay once per week to see what funky vintage electric cars pop up this week. I've got it bad. Each week I find at least one thing that tempts me royally and I spend entirely too much time trying to fugure out how to afford and justify the purchase. So, next week, I am going cold turkey. The only way I will go to any of those sites will be to post things for sale. Please say a prayer for me and/or send over some methadone and near beer.

May you avoid temptation, enjoy a bike ride, and appreciate your neighbors no matter how small (and green) they are.

PS. Do you think I should ask the landlord at work for a big yellow ramp?

More Funky Electric Vehicle Temptations - August 2015

Temptation, snagit!

Let me start this by saying that the budget is tight and that I have too much stuff already. So, I won't actually pursue any of this stuff, and I have the dream of one day riding an ElectroPigeon, so there's no need for distraction. But distraction, it keeps the brain a-hopping!

Tempting Suzuki on the right, cool old Triumph on the left

You may remember a few weeks back when I wrote about temptation that arose when I took a friend to a motorcycle shop. I conflictedly fell in love with a little Suzuki motorcycle, but the conflict came with the fact that it burns gasoline. And I have no plans of bringing home extra gas burners. I saw one this weekend in a parking garage in Arlington, and it was cool and very desirable for a gas burner, but...we already talked about that. The appeal of a small motorcycle is that it is an economical and highly enjoyable form of suburban transport. And this one, like me, looks old, but, unlike me, it's new and reliable and has a fairly significant range. But it's counterproductive to one of my main goals - personal carbon reduction. I don't need a Suzuki.

Converted Yamaha SRX 250

 

So, I went off and found myself an electric Yamaha on EVTradinpost.com. And it's a lot more like me. It's not too pretty, has been around the block a time or two, and it was worn out and resurrected a bit. And, at $1500, it's less expensive, but it's on the West Coast. And there's still the ElectroPigeon(s) to consider.

1979 Electric Toyota

 

While on EV Tradin' Post, I also ran across a good deal on a Toyota truck electric conversion, and it is located in Austin. It's always encouraging when they are closer to home. At $2000 (needs batteries) it could be a very good deal for someone needing to run around town in  a small truck.

Factory Electric Subaru microvan! (Ebay)

 

A few days ago I was discussing with my wife how I think that an ideal platform for a solar powered electric vehicle would be a very small van. And then it appeared on Ebay. A 1980 Electric Subaru - it's definitely more expensive than the other two, but look at the potential. And, if I could make the solar panels look like surfboards on the roof...The ElectroKahuna! (It's amazing I'm still married!)

Minty-fresh Citicar (Ebay)

 

While on Ebay, I also noticed this lovely Citicar with a really low bid so far. So cool.

 

May your temptations lead to funky, healthy things and places.

 

PS. Happy birthday, JG!

Vintage Electric Car Profile: Zagato Elcar

From a blog post about ugly electric cars that you probably shouldn't translate

One of the sites I like to visit often is EV Tradin' Post. If you want to find a used electric vehicle or parts, it's a great place to start. You never know what you will find there. When I looked today, there were a few Beetles, a few Porsches, a Fiero, a BMW, a Mustang, a Focus, a Miata, Rangers, S10s, a box truck, a Zenn, a few scooters and motorcycles, and a $750 ZAGATO ELCAR! (A Zagato Zele if you picked yours up in Italy)

From Wikipedia

A what?!!! Well, for those of you who in the know, imagine a Citicar, then make it less of a wedge and more of a box, and make it Italian, but boxy Italian - not sexy Italian. It was produced around the same time - mid 1970s. It came in versions from 48 volts to 96 volts and had a range up to 50 miles. Pretty impressive for the time! And it's one more reason that my wife is thankful that I have very little disposable income and garage space.

May your beloved electric car not make the top 10 ugly list, and if it does, may you revel in it, snagit!