🚀 go-pugleaf

stncar@ix.netcom.com(Marty Bernard) wrote:

<snip prior post>

>The project is on-going but behind schedule because of some electrical
>problems with the cars.  Not a particular surprize since they are
>prototypes.  BART has not released a report. There have been no walk
>homes yet. They are used for both the work end and the home end of
>cummutes but still are assigned to one driver.  They are at the BART
>Ashby, Colma, Walnut Creek, and Lake Merritt stations.  If any reader
>could use one of those stations in their commute, please return e-mail
>me and we might be able to work out a lease. Also, if you want to know
>more about the station car concept please visit 

>http://www.stncar.com

I took a look, and the last update to that website was apparently
2/27/97.  The site also seems a bit short on details,  presumably
because they were not available when it went online.   I was hoping for
a more informative report, as the station car application should be one
of the better niches for EVs.  

There are several questions that would be of interest to at least me and
possibly other readers here:

1.  How many users are there, and how do they actually use the vehicles?
What percentage is routine daily commute and how much errands, etc?
What is the average daily mileage?   What is the average cost per mile
driven? How about average Wh/mile energy consumption?

2.  You mentioned the project is delayed by "some electrical problems".
What kind of problems?  Charger, battery, controller, motor, or what?
Design, workmanship, maintenence?

3. How much does the lease with Green Motorworks cost per month?  What
kind of terms?  Is there a mileage fee?  Have any private  (spending
their own money) individuals taken out leases?

4. The web site mentions $1.41 million in startup subsidies.  Is the
system taking in enough revenue to break even yet?  If not, when is that
projected?   Has the funding been extended?

Since real-world data on the subject is pretty scarce, you would be
doing a big service if you could update your website to include the data
that would answer  those questions, and probably a lot of others I
haven't even thought of.

A little data is worth a lot of speculation.

Thanks for your reply

Bill Ward