My family owns two cars and a pickup truck. When I need to do a road trip {vacation} once every year or so, I'll just use a gas hog and leave the EV at home. Problem solved. I realize everyone does not have multiple vehicles to choose from, but the vast majority of families in the US do.

John,

I like reading your comments because even on the ones I don't personally agree with, I do agree they are well thought out and not just jabs at personalities.

{BTW, I do not disagree here, I just wanted to say it's refreshing to see someone who is just not in the habit of making useless insults for entertainment.}

Conceptually, conversions are great ideas. Fiscally, the idea fades pretty quickly. As convertors buy all the conversion items individually and each of their vendors are entitled to profit from their endeavors, the parts tally quickly gets up to, if not above the price of buying a new vehicle from a major automaker with a better {more wide-spread geographically} warranty. Add in convesion labor and it is double tough. Can it be done sucessfully? IMHO, only if you are working a market that has been disregarded as not profitable by the big boys. I wish the best for AMP EV, but I am reserved that they can make it as a conversion company long-term without something else going for them.

I happen to be proud of Tesla. I hope to own a Tesla some day.

I'm working the other way around, but the basic plan is the same: PV + EV. We're in the process of wiring our new 6.81 KW array. Will be leasing an EV in the not too distant future {I do not qualify for the full $7500 tax credit, but the lease company will, so I plan to buy it after I finish the lease.} It makes my family far more secure in the long run than putting the money in a 401k or IRA where scams abound.

I really like the way the owner chose to increase his overhang to provide shading for the windows in the summertime. It's a shame there are so many roof penetrations scattered across the roof that forced the remaining panels to be distributed the way they are laid out.

For many of us, a lease is a better option even if we plan to buy the car at the end of the lease. First off, I come no where near able to claim a $7500 tax credit and since it does not carry forward, I would lose much of it. By leasing, they get it and it lowers the residual price to me. It lowers my risk should I change my mind and finally, it saves me money as I go along so I can save up and have a smaller amount to finance at the time I convert the lease to a purchase.

I tried contacting our local Nissan dealer and asking what lease terms they have on the Leaf, but regrettably, they chose not to respond to the question. Sad.

I wanted to try the four possibilities. The Misubishi person to talk me out of an i-MiEV before he even let me get to the car. I wouldn't be buying from him. The local Chevy dealer has a used 2011 Volt on the lot for $36,400 and said the credit hadn't been taken on that car, so I'd get it. {The tax form says to claim the credit, it has to be a NEW car and you can't get more credit than the amount of tax you owe.} The Nissan Dealer let me drive a Leaf, but I did not buy that day. I have since contacted them about leasing one {so they get the credit and lower the end of lease purchase price} and they were unresponsive. The Ford dealer said they aren't going to get a Focus electric for several more years. No desire to sell.

From what I'd read before, I should expect 80% of 80% over the long haul. That is, only 80% battery capacity will remain after the pack sees some {unknown} amount of usage, followed by trying not to consistently exceed 80% of the battery capacity on a regular basis. With an EPA guesstimate of 73 miles, 80% of 80% gives a long-term range expectation of 46.72 miles. My commute is exactly 40 miles round-trip and there will be no charge at work option. Winter driving to work and back, if the wipers, heater and lights are all required makes that commute uncertain. When the EPA rating goes to 100 or more miles, 80% of 80% is 64 miles. Problem solved for me. I think in many minds, 100 miles is the magic number.

The problem as I see it is in weighting the scores. When I was younger, I thought it a necessity to have a sub-10 second 0-60 mph. Now, I find I'm satisfied with ~ 12 seconds and mostly do not attempt to do that in daily usage. Depending on how you weight performance versus economy, it is entirely possible to rate the Corvette as best. It has huge performance and nearly 30 mpg highway rating. Whilst the kid in me loves a Corvette, I wouldn't buy a car with a 30 mpg or less combined score.