Will You Be Getting a Hybrid or Electric V-1?

[RAN]

Do you want a hybrid V-1? Or Electric? Or Both?

I'm torn. 95% of the time, the electric would serve me fine. And the EV-only range of the hybrid was never that good at 20 miles, and now they're talking about only a 10 mile range, so the hybrid is essentially a gas-powered vehicle. It may use less gas than a normal car, and pollute less, but it's also way less green than the EV version.

[MVRacing]

Good poll RAN

But with the latest statements that only the hybrid will be offered first may skew your result. I voted Hybrid. Would prefer electric, but not until the range tops 100 miles.

Also with the hybrid, it sounds like we will be able to upgrade the battery pack as technology improves. Of course the same applies to the EV, but I want the cruise range in the meantime.

[RAN]

The range on the EV model used to be 120 miles, unless that changed too. I didn't see anywhere that mentioned such a change, but if they're going with NiMh batteries, maybe that dropped the range to where they just decided to postpone the EV model. Or maybe when they started shoehorning everything into the hybrid, they found there just wasn't room for enough batteries to keep the 20 mile EV only range. Who knows

[Derwin]

Good poll, RAN. I voted for the Hybrid, but this is what I registered for at the VV website MANY months ago. I just don't think an all electric model would fit my life-style. I need to get around 300 miles a day, and then I would want a vehicle that can constantly add mileage (through fill-ups) so I can make those "long" trips. This car will not ONLY be a daily commuter for me, but my main vehicle. I would want to take this on fishing trips, golfing, etc, etc.


Derwin

[CelticFlyer]

I voted hybrid, but that's only because I wanted to be able to drive the V1 when the batteries died. Or is that faulty thinking? I'm not 100% sure of the vehicle's capabilities.

[RAN]

I'm thinking that this probably won't be my only "car," and so I will have something else (probably a hybrid) to take on longer trips. Of course, it'll be a problem getting the EV model home if we go to CA to get them. Otherwise, it'll be fly-and-push-down-the-road ;)

I was just interested to see how V-1 afficionados compare to Aptera's, since they're bringing out the EV version 1st.

[cpaddock]

I voted Hybrid because of extended range but price is a huge concern for me as I'm sure it is for many other prospective owners.....especially if this ressesion deepens. It is always such a slap in the face when they come out with $50,000 plus models that are
supposed to help with the pain at the pump. If you can afford that much car you probably can afford gas at any price. The middle class is shrinking rapidly and we need an affordable ride if we want the masses to be able to have an effect on our dependence on foreign oil.

[Mark Tomlinson]

I voted for hybrid because I think this will be an excellent vehicle for road trips. My wife and I will be empty nesters soon enough, so we won't need anything that seats more than two. And if the passenger seat is comfortable enough for extended travel, we should be hitting the road with it quite often. I get about two months of vacation time each year and I'd love to tour the country in a V1.

[Rpeek2]

Hybrid most definitely. The technology as applied to production vehicles is still relatively new; About 7-8 years for the Prius as an example. It has been around long enough to be a fresh concept with most of the bugs resolved. Couple that power plant with a knock-out design like the "D" -- a combo made for Nirvana. Plus, I think I'd look cool as heck in it.

[rogwild]

Unfortunately, Rpeek2 the 7-8 years of de-bugging of the Prius Hybrid system will not be much benefit to Venture Vehicles since theirs is a Series Hybrid (always runs on electricity, ICE only charges the batteries), while the Prius is a Parallel Hybrid (runs on TWO different power systems, electric motor, and ICE). Hopefully, using proven, already existing components will lessen any bugs for Vv.

[Mark Tomlinson]

Unfortunately, Rpeek2 the 7-8 years of de-bugging of the Prius Hybrid system will not be much benefit to Venture Vehicles since theirs is a Series Hybrid (always runs on electricity, ICE only charges the batteries), while the Prius is a Parallel Hybrid (runs on TWO different power systems, electric motor, and ICE). Hopefully, using proven, already existing components will lessen any bugs for Vv.
Yeah, but trains have been doing series hybrid for years. Of course, they haven't been working on the regenerative braking thing.

[PHEVadvocate]

Unfortunately until someone puts a cost effective battery on the market, a highway speed series Plug-In Hybrid will be the most cost effective solution. :(