Pics from the Weekend

"Maybe it's time to start living."

Friday Sunrise

Lubbock Green Car Spotting

Sweet - a First-Generation Prius! (next to a Prius V)

How I knew I'd found the Responding to Climate Change program.

A Used 2012 Nissan Leaf at 34th and Akron ($8k)

(Yes, D and I were drooling!)

The Mae Simmons Bike Trail

Sunday Morning Single-Track

Before we caught our second wind

Maybe it really is time to start living...

May all your graffiti be uplifting and may your carbon footprint be shrinking joyfully!

(PS. We really didn't plan the purple shirt thing.) 

Friday Pics the Mesquite Hugger

It's Friday! I thought I'd share a few pics for the faithful.

 

Never a dull sky around here!

This Benelli e-bike was parked outside the coffee today.

4 snowy egrets and a black-capped night heron in one pic!

The first new Nissan Leaf I've spotted in the wild.

 

May all the goodness appear in your path too!

So, what's it like to own a Nissan Leaf electric car?

Yep, MH is at it with the Nissan Leaf again!

 

Okay, this isn't a full post so much as a see-what-I've-been-saying post that uses somebody else's article to make the point.

 

That somebody else is Sami Grover writing for Treehugger.

 

So, if you're looking for a little first-hand testimonial on what it's like to own a very inexpensive car that costs very, very, very little to operate and almost nothing to maintain, this article may interest you.

 

May you find yourself owning a very inexpensive car that costs very, very, very little to operate and almost nothing to maintain while treading extremely lightly on this earth that we call home.

 

PS. In case you want to see a few other MH articles that tell a little about Leaf(s):

 

Fossil Free Friday: More Inexpensive and (Somewhat) Local Electric Cars

 

Good News: VERY Affordable Electric Cars

 

Pre-Heat: An Unsung Electric Car Luxury

 

Earth Day Suggestions: #1 Burn some electrons!

 

Fossil Free Friday: Electric Cars Exist - Really!

 

(There are more, but I am working on being merciful or gracious or something like that.)

Fossil Free Friday: More Inexpensive and (Somewhat) Local Electric Cars

Earlier this week I published a post on used electric cars and their very low prices: Good News: VERY Affordable Electric Cars. I just pulled up a few quick electric car searches on Ebay to show how little money it takes to bring one home these days.

That post's afterlife has been an interesting thing. It did not really take off  and it's had moderate online traffic.

But it keeps popping up in my immediate circles. I was having dinner with my wife on the first day it was posted. She told me that KB had called her with a lot of questions about the electric Fiats -  a red one had caught her eye.

And I've had three more separate but similar conversations with friends since then. Most of the time, MH posts seem like my own (not-so) dirty little secrets in the real world. But this post has people seriously looking at picking up an electric car.

So, to keep fanning the electric car flames, I decided to do a repeat attempt, but this time on Craigslist. Almost nothing popped up in West Texas, but Dallas and Austin offered up some tempting stuff:

A sample search of Dallas Craigslist "Electric"

The first attempt in Dallas showed an overwhelming number of Fiat 500E's and one Mitsubishi MiEV. So I took a second shot and just searched for Nissan Leafs. An impressive number of those popped up too. (For those of you who are interested, a number of Teslas popped up further down the list - but they were all out of the Mesquite Hugger price range.)

A sample search of Dallas Craigslist "Leaf"

While I was that far east, I decided to hop down I-35 to see what was happening down in Austin. The offerings were a little more diverse:

A sample search of Austin Craigslist "Electric"

A few Fords, a few Teslas, a BMW i3, Smarts, Leafs, Fiats, and an electric Jeep. Some fun stuff down there.

This is the one cool oddball that popped up - an Electric Jeep Wrangler

(with right-hand drive and very tiny pictures)

Inspired by all of this success in finding EV's, I decided to try another search to find an electric car to serve as the Official Mesquite Hugger business car. Here is what I found:

Several sample searches of "Citicar"

Oh well, I didn't find mine, but I hope this helps you find yours so you can (choose all that apply)

• smirk
• laugh
• giggle
• gesture rudely
• moon everyone
• leer
• [insert your own]

every time you pass a (choose all that apply)

• Chevron
• Exxon
• BP
• Fina
• Shell
• Valero
• Citgo
• [insert your own]

station.

May you know the freedom and mirth of not polluting the earth so darn much!

Good News: VERY Affordable Electric Cars

Okay, so you're wanting to make the move to electric, but you're not quite there on the money. I hear you! But there's more hope than most people know. With government and state EV incentives for new EVs, a public that's still pretty hesitant on going electric, and a lot of electric cars coming off of two and three year leases, there are lots of really good deals on used electric cars!

This Leaf is from Ebay too!

Before we go there, though, let's talk about the state of electric cars here in the states. Americans know very little about electric cars, their availability, and how far they've come in the last seven years or so. But don't take my word for it, check out this article from Car and Driver. The good news about these articles (for you) is that the lack of electric car awareness contributes to a lack of demand for electric cars, which also keeps the price down. So, there are bargains to be had.

I know, Talk is cheap, Mesquite Hugger. Put up or shut up!

Well, here they are - a sampling of inexpensive, late-model, and (mostly) low-mileage fully-electric cars on Ebay this week. Since this is a Lubbock-based blog, I did a few of the searches based on location. You may find some better deals closer to your locale.

All four are less than 400 miles from Lubbock!

The consistently best deals to be found are the Fiat 500e's and the Nissan Leafs. Me, I'd prefer the Leaf based on the longer history, the larger number of dealers with EV experience, and the vastly greater cargo and passenger space. But I have to admit, the little Fiats are pretty tempting if you're in the market for cuter than a bug on a rug.

Less than 350 miles from Lubbock

Keep in mind when you're looking at electric car ownership that maintenance costs and fuel costs on EV's are a great deal lower than on fossil-fuel cars. A low-priced car that is extremely inexpensive to operate - now that is truly a bargain and can do very nice things for your personal budget.

Still close to Lubbock - and cheap!

Most of the cars in this post have at least 80 miles of range, which is a lot more than most of us drive per day. For multi-car families they make a great deal of sense. And they're really great if you are interested in doing less damage to the planet. (But not as great as a bike or an electric bike.)

The least expensive electric BMW on Ebay

The BMW i3 is a very impressive car - BMW put a great deal of thought and engineering into building a car extremely well-suited to electric power.

The least expensive Ford Focus Electric on Ebay

It's not rare to find the electric Focus considerably cheaper on the Austin and Dallas Cragslist ads. They generally stay in line with Leaf prices.

The only Mitsubishi MiEV on Ebay

By most accounts, the MiEV is not the greatest of electric cars, but there's something about the funky little machine that keeps me curious. (But not at $8,600)

Smart Leaf Smart

The least expensive Tesla on Ebay.

So, there you have it. a random sampling of electric cars on Ebay this week. All of these are fully electric. If you've been leaning more toward Plug-in hybrids, they are out there too, but they tend to be a little more expensive. Search for the Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi, the Chevy Volt, and Toyota Prius if you are curious.

May you find planet-friendly solutions much more accessible than you ever dreamed, and may you drive (or pedal) cleanly.

PS. If you want to know a little more about all-electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrids, be sure to check out this Mesquite Hugger post from 2015.

Pre-Heat: An Unsung Electric Car Luxury

It's really cool sharing an office with two electric car owners.

Matt has the Leaf and JG has the Fusion Energi. So I get to hear some of their comparison stories. As winter gets near, one simple difference between electric-powered and gas-powered gets more and more appealing.

[Sidebar - quick auto heater lesson: gasoline-powered cars depend on heat from their motors to warm up the passenger compartment. The motor has to warm itself up which heats up the antifreeze which flows through a little radiator under the dash. That's why you see so many people who start their cars in the morning and let them idle for quite a while before they jump in and drive them. If you are trying to cut back on fossil fuels and make life better for all earthlings, this is VERY counterproductive. Electric-powered cars, on the other hand, have electric heaters which heat up almost instantly.]

On Matt's Leaf, there is a heater timer button down by the driver's knee. So, If you jump in your Leaf at 7:30 every morning, you can set the timer to heat the car up at 7:25 every morning while the car is still sitting on the charger. You get to your car at 7:30 and find that it is 100% charged and already warm and toasty inside. That's the option for the organized people.  But that's not the only option. There are several.

For you less organized and more impromptu people, JG just logs into her Ford Electric App and turns the heater on in her car. So, let's say it's a cold day and she's working late. A few minutes before she shuts down her computer, she can heat up her car and defrost the windows. (This is all hypothetical since JG's husband loves the car and won't ever let her drive it.)

Would you like to learn more about this absolutely rocking feature? Check out this hot article from Transport Evolved:

How To: Preheat Your EV This Winter

 

May your tootsies be toasty as you drive past your ice-scraping neighbors this winter!

Lubbock on a Bike: National Bike Challenge 2016 Update

The Concho Pearl and my bike earlier this week

Nope, I have not been writing about it much, but it's still going and I am still pedaling - a lot! (Or at least a lot for an out-of-shape middle-ager.)

So far, I have ridden more than 50 miles on the bike this week. And I hope to do five or so more today.

So, let's be very honest here. I can not afford an electric car -  not even one of those really inexpensive used Nissan Leafs. I can't afford a decent non-electric car. Shoot - I can't even afford a decent electric bike. But it's funny, that lack of money has turned out to be a blessing in a lot of ways.

If I could afford an electric car, I fear I'd be quite lazy (and smugly self-righteous to boot!)

For my own personal code of ethics, choosing to burn gasoline is wrong, so I have worked to have a life where I do not have to burn much gasoline. I live in a flat place where it rains and snows very little. I work five miles from home. Most days, I work in the office. I have bought (second-hand but very functional) electric or manual yard implements.

And I ride a bike as much as possible.

So, I am healthier, lighter, stronger, and more at peace. (I like myself and others better when I ride than when I drive.)

And all of that fits right in with the thing that gave me a big push in becoming a bicycle commuter - the National Bike Challenge.

It may shock you, but I am generally not a competitive person. It shows up here and there, but generally it's not what I'm known for. Strangely, that goes out the window when it's National Bike Challenge time.

That's me in first - but it's a tenuous lead!

You see, there's a guy in town named David, and he and I have fought it out all summer. I don't know David, but he has become a bigger part of my life than I'm ready to admit. Every day I log in to see where we are standing, and it's reaching a fever pitch. You see, the challenge ends in SIX DAYS!

My stats for this year

You can see from my stats how much I owe to David. Ten percent of my points for this challenge have come from this week. And it's all his fault. (And I don't even know if he knows that I exist.)

To be honest, my legs are getting tired, but I plan to keep pushing all week! Thank you NBC! Thank you David, Les, Bradley, Spencer, and  Allen for pushing me to ride more. Thank you to my Toni for putting up with all the biking!

David, if I ever meet you I'll buy you a beverage in a non-disposable cup!

May we all find encouragement in the healthy places!

Bonus San Angelo on a Bike pics:

It's a town with culture,

and a river,

and River Beetles,

and one seriously cool trash can. (It would be even cooler if it were a whole recycle train!)

Electric Vehicle Sightings in Lubbock and a Super-Fast Electric Beetle!

[Since National Drive Electric Week starts in two days, I thought I'd write about EV's in the LBK this week.]

Yesterday morning, I left the house (in the pickup, snagit all to Midland!) around 6am. I pulled up to the bicycle lane on Flint and noticed a high-powered LED bike light coming toward me. He was moving pretty quickly. I was thinking that he must be pedaling hard, then I noticed he was hardly pedaling. Then I noticed a big honking hub motor in the rear wheel and a battery pack hanging under the rear rack. It's a rare thing, but I saw an electric bike in the wilds of Lubbock traffic. Woohoo!

Most of the EV sightings this week have been (battery only) Nissan Leafs: a silver, two blues, a white, and a black one. I also saw the white BMW i3 humming down Marsha Sharp yesterday - it's such a cool car with all that carbon fiber and such. The two semi oddballs for this post were both PHEVs (plug-in hybrids).

I saw the Ford Fusion Energi yesterday afternoon. I often wonder how many of these I see without noticing since they look just like the standard models and the hybrid models.

And I parked near this last-generation Chevy Volt this morning. I like that the first Volts were a distinctive model that looked different enough to be noticed. The new generation Volt blends in much more.

When talking about EVs and Chevy, I have to mention the Bolt somewhere, so check out the next link. I have seen questions like this about the Volt a few lately: Does the Chevy Bolt EV make the Chevrolet Volt irrelevant? Is that a problem? (EV fans - Read more John Voelcker!)

And here's a link to a Gas2 (by way of Inside EVs) article that tells about EV sales AND has a list of all the EVs that are selling in the States: Electric Car sales Up Strongly in August. Be sure to check out the top 6, and (sadly) the last car on the list. (Toyota, what's up? Still waiting for the perfect storm for hydrogen?)

Saving the good stuff for last: Black Current did it Again: All-Electric Black  Current III sets 1/4 Mile Record 8.28 Seconds (Inside EVs again). Be sure to watch the video! Dang, that thing is fast!

National Drive Electric Week starts in two days - go test drive an electric car already! See what you're missing!

May you not miss pumping gasoline, or burning gasoline, or smelling like gasoline, or paying for gasoline.

2016 National Drive Electric Week in Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene, Odessa-Midland, and Wichita Falls!!!

National Drive Electric Week 2016 is September 10-18.

 

We may need a bigger battery pack! (Click the map to find an event near you.)

 

May we find what we are looking for and may it be healthier for us all!

 

PS - More NDEW news to come, but no events.

Tesla Supercharger in Lubbock, Texas!

Don't you love misleading titles?

It's really exciting to see this Tesla charging station graphic...

 

...until you realize...

 ...that you live here.

 

Have heart - the public charging stations are getting closer. (And there is that one at McGavock Nissan.)

 

May we all get a charge soon!

Earth Day Suggestions: #1 Burn some electrons!

One of my favorite holiday-ish days is this Friday (April 22). This is Earth Day #46. If I were a more ambitious blogger, I'd work on 46 suggestions. Being me and not being ready to quit my day job and all of that, I am shooting for 4.6 suggestions.

Number one is actually fun, and you won't get dirt under your fingernails, and it takes very little commitment on your part, and no money is needed.

Go test drive an electric car.

A Leaf and Charger at McGavock (Love the blue)

Why? Because you are human. Because the best way to learn about something is to experience it with multiple senses. A few weeks back I had the opportunity to take people for rides in an electric car. It was great to see how surprised they were. I am not sure what they expected, but the car far exceeded everyone's expectations. You should test drive one so that you know what it is, so that you can see whether or not an electric car makes sense for you or anyone around you. You may be surprised too.

What does test driving a new car have to do with Earth Day? If you are like most West Texans, you are a car addict. (I know I am.) That means we are all addicted to burning fossil fuels, which also means we are directly responsible for creating a type of pollution that damages the air, damages our lungs, damages our water, and damages our soil. Electric cars offer us a way to maintain our car-based lifestyles without doing nearly so much damage. (And there's a good chance that you will save a lot of money in the process.)

Original Poster from 1970 Earth Day

A few things to keep in mind before you go:

• If you buy a new (completely) electric car, you are eligible for a $7500 income tax break next April. (Whoohoo!)
• Your fuel costs will be about one-fourth of what you are currently spending.
• Electric cars are a phenomenal choice for multi-car families.
• There's a good chance that your salesman will know less than you do about the car.
• There's also a good chance that your salesman will try to steer you away to a gas-powered car.
• There's a good chance that you will experience the EV grin. Electric Vehicles have that effect on people.

There may be others, but I know that there are currently two new electric cars for sale in the LBK. McGavock Nissan (6312 Milwaukee Avenue) has a dark blue Nissan Leaf and Reagor Dykes Mitsubishi (6540 82nd Street) has a pearl white Mitsubishi MiEV.

Mitsubishi at Reagor Dykes

If you go drive either, please do me two favors: tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you, and please send me a pic (mesquitehugger@gmail.com).

May you be pleasantly surprised and may we all be one step closer to breathing easier.

PS. If you're not quite so hardcore but want to make strides, Gene Messer Ford has a black Ford Fusion Energi (plug-in hybrid) and Gene Messer Chevrolet has a silver 2015 Chevy Volt (plug-in hybrid).

Find many more Mesquite Hugger electric car posts here.

Fossil Free Friday: Electric Vehicle Smorgasboard! (Updated)

Riding to work this morning (on the non-electric bike) I was thinking, Self, what are you gonna write about today? It's FFF. I can't think of anything. Then my brain started running though a list of cool stuff happening right now. I thought to myself, Self, which of these cool things are you gonna write about? Being a man of great decisiveness, I answered, All of them!

 

My biggest EV dream is to create a vehicle that recharges itself while it sits in the sun. While the idea is not yet practical for those of you who drive a lot, for someone like me who has a 10-mile-round-trip commute to work and a very sunny parking lot, it could be a real possibility. Grizz and I have sketched it out many times, but our budget has always come out much stouter than $1900.

 



Solar Electric Chevy Truck on Craigslist

 

But we could run on up to Bozeman, Montana (a place I have always wanted to see) and bring such a beast home for $1900. Ah the temptation!

 

Same Truck on EVAlbum.com

 

For those of you who are seriously considered buying an electric car (on a budget) be sure to check out Leafs on Ebay - there are some great deals on low-mileage lease returns.

 

Several on Ebay under $10,000 and free nationwide shipping

 

Color me skeptical on this one, but there's a new-mid-drive bicycle motor on Indiegogo this week. It looks like a very simple setup, but it turns the crank, so when it turns, your legs have to keep up. It's called the Bimoz and you can Indiegogo in for $899.

 



Bimoz on Electric Bike Report

Bimoz on Indiegogo

 

Rad Power Bikes sent out an email yesterday to introduce their third product. They squeezed lots of categories into this one:

• folding bike
• electric bike
• cargo bike
• monster-tired bike

When I first saw it last night I chuckled, and thought to myself, No way, Ted! But today, my logical brain started putting pieces together and it is starting to appeal to me. They are announcing pricing and pre-orders later today, but if it comes in cheaper than the Radwagon (of my dreams), I may be tempted. It could pull a trailer, haul light loads, fit in a trunk. Maybe it's time to get past my prejudice against those big honkin' tires.

 

RadMini announced yesterday (They announced the price -  see the bottom of this post)

 

 

Just 10 more days to learn about the GeoOrbital Wheel - so excited!

 

Speaking of temptation, the only cargo bike on Austin Craigslist lately is this Xtracycle FreeRadical setup for a rather tiny amount of money. Do I need it? Not sure. Do I want it? Absolutely! It's a tremendous bargain for such a competent and useful machine, and it has accessories included. This combined with a GeoOrbital Wheel...good stuff for Mesquite Hugger daydreaming.

 

Xtracycle Freeradical on Austin Craigslist

 

May you find the green vehicle of your dreams in this appealing and motley crew!

(I know I have.)

 

$1500 + $175 shipping (?) Hmm...