Comments on: Will Converting to Electric Cars Cost Us Nothing? http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/ A blog about personal finances, peer-to-peer lending, investing, the economy, and more. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:30:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Wheels for Volvo http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-3023 Wheels for Volvo Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:08:59 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-3023 Even though the conversion will cost that much, I think it will be paid for some <br>time and won't be taking that long. The benefits are great and people will be <br>cool with this. Even though the conversion will cost that much, I think it will be paid for some
time and won't be taking that long. The benefits are great and people will be
cool with this.

]]> By: Retirement communities http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-3017 Retirement communities Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:49:32 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-3017 Solar cars will be best. Solar cars will be best.

]]> By: 100ice http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-2979 100ice Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:41:29 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-2979 Can Electric vehicles really can save time and money? Can Electric vehicles really can save time and money?

]]> By: WealthBoy http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-251 WealthBoy Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:08:19 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-251 @Jack To be honest, I'm not sure the margins are like on gasoline at service stations in the States. But now that you mention it, I think you're probably right. Even if gasoline has a high profit margin of say 20% here and a typical fill-up costs $60, that would be $12 of profit per tank. Paying $12 plus the cost of the electricity would still put the cost of a full recharge well below the $60 it would cost to fill a tank with gas. The cost of inventory will be much less than with fuel, so the margins could potentially be a lot higher. Perhaps the biggest problem that existing service stations would face, is "competition" from people recharging at home. The majority of their business would likely come from highway travelers, and stations within cities might lose a lot of business. It will also open up new markets as well, such as hotels offering vehicle recharging services to their guests. Maybe it will be something offered in many parking lots. Going to the mall or grocery store? Why not pay a couple of bucks to have a "full tank" when you're done shopping! @Jack

To be honest, I’m not sure the margins are like on gasoline at service stations in the States. But now that you mention it, I think you’re probably right. Even if gasoline has a high profit margin of say 20% here and a typical fill-up costs $60, that would be $12 of profit per tank. Paying $12 plus the cost of the electricity would still put the cost of a full recharge well below the $60 it would cost to fill a tank with gas. The cost of inventory will be much less than with fuel, so the margins could potentially be a lot higher.

Perhaps the biggest problem that existing service stations would face, is “competition” from people recharging at home. The majority of their business would likely come from highway travelers, and stations within cities might lose a lot of business. It will also open up new markets as well, such as hotels offering vehicle recharging services to their guests. Maybe it will be something offered in many parking lots. Going to the mall or grocery store? Why not pay a couple of bucks to have a “full tank” when you’re done shopping!

]]> By: WealthBoy http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-646 WealthBoy Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:08:19 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-646 @Jack<br><br>To be honest, I'm not sure the margins are like on gasoline at service stations in the States. But now that you mention it, I think you're probably right. Even if gasoline has a high profit margin of say 20% here and a typical fill-up costs $60, that would be $12 of profit per tank. Paying $12 plus the cost of the electricity would still put the cost of a full recharge well below the $60 it would cost to fill a tank with gas. The cost of inventory will be much less than with fuel, so the margins could potentially be a lot higher.<br><br>Perhaps the biggest problem that existing service stations would face, is "competition" from people recharging at home. The majority of their business would likely come from highway travelers, and stations within cities might lose a lot of business. It will also open up new markets as well, such as hotels offering vehicle recharging services to their guests. Maybe it will be something offered in many parking lots. Going to the mall or grocery store? Why not pay a couple of bucks to have a "full tank" when you're done shopping! @Jack

To be honest, I'm not sure the margins are like on gasoline at service stations in the States. But now that you mention it, I think you're probably right. Even if gasoline has a high profit margin of say 20% here and a typical fill-up costs $60, that would be $12 of profit per tank. Paying $12 plus the cost of the electricity would still put the cost of a full recharge well below the $60 it would cost to fill a tank with gas. The cost of inventory will be much less than with fuel, so the margins could potentially be a lot higher.

Perhaps the biggest problem that existing service stations would face, is “competition” from people recharging at home. The majority of their business would likely come from highway travelers, and stations within cities might lose a lot of business. It will also open up new markets as well, such as hotels offering vehicle recharging services to their guests. Maybe it will be something offered in many parking lots. Going to the mall or grocery store? Why not pay a couple of bucks to have a “full tank” when you're done shopping!

]]> By: Jack http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Jack Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:16:29 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-250 I get your point about the low-margins, but here in the U.K. at least, the margin on gas is only a few pence at best anyway. They actually make most of the money from selling candybars, washer fluid etc. Besides which, a low cost product does not necessarily entail low margins - look at gift cards for example. They cost pennies to make, and are sold at a 5-fold mark-up - yet people still buy them. As long as they can sell electricity cheaper than gas, then people will be able to make a profit easily. I get your point about the low-margins, but here in the U.K. at least, the margin on gas is only a few pence at best anyway. They actually make most of the money from selling candybars, washer fluid etc. Besides which, a low cost product does not necessarily entail low margins – look at gift cards for example. They cost pennies to make, and are sold at a 5-fold mark-up – yet people still buy them. As long as they can sell electricity cheaper than gas, then people will be able to make a profit easily.

]]> By: Jack http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-645 Jack Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:16:29 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-645 I get your point about the low-margins, but here in the U.K. at least, the margin on gas is only a few pence at best anyway. They actually make most of the money from selling candybars, washer fluid etc. Besides which, a low cost product does not necessarily entail low margins - look at gift cards for example. They cost pennies to make, and are sold at a 5-fold mark-up - yet people still buy them. As long as they can sell electricity cheaper than gas, then people will be able to make a profit easily. I get your point about the low-margins, but here in the U.K. at least, the margin on gas is only a few pence at best anyway. They actually make most of the money from selling candybars, washer fluid etc. Besides which, a low cost product does not necessarily entail low margins – look at gift cards for example. They cost pennies to make, and are sold at a 5-fold mark-up – yet people still buy them. As long as they can sell electricity cheaper than gas, then people will be able to make a profit easily.

]]> By: WealthBoy http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-240 WealthBoy Wed, 28 May 2008 14:56:12 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-240 There wouldn't be enough profit for gas stations to convert to recharging stations. If it only costs pennies to recharge, the stations would not be able to make enough money to cover overhead expenses. For a time they would be able to provide both fuel and recharging, but eventually when demand for fuel disappears they would go out of business. I still think the government would have to provide this service just as it provides other transportation services now (roads, traffic signals, etc). Performing battery-swaps is an interesting alternative. It probably could be profitable, but it could be a bit tricky logistically. There would have to be standards around battery sizes, performance specs, etc. The process of performing the swap would have to be quick, convenient, and reasonably priced. There wouldn’t be enough profit for gas stations to convert to recharging stations. If it only costs pennies to recharge, the stations would not be able to make enough money to cover overhead expenses. For a time they would be able to provide both fuel and recharging, but eventually when demand for fuel disappears they would go out of business. I still think the government would have to provide this service just as it provides other transportation services now (roads, traffic signals, etc).

Performing battery-swaps is an interesting alternative. It probably could be profitable, but it could be a bit tricky logistically. There would have to be standards around battery sizes, performance specs, etc. The process of performing the swap would have to be quick, convenient, and reasonably priced.

]]> By: WealthBoy http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-644 WealthBoy Wed, 28 May 2008 14:56:12 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-644 There wouldn't be enough profit for gas stations to convert to recharging stations. If it only costs pennies to recharge, the stations would not be able to make enough money to cover overhead expenses. For a time they would be able to provide both fuel and recharging, but eventually when demand for fuel disappears they would go out of business. I still think the government would have to provide this service just as it provides other transportation services now (roads, traffic signals, etc).<br><br>Performing battery-swaps is an interesting alternative. It probably could be profitable, but it could be a bit tricky logistically. There would have to be standards around battery sizes, performance specs, etc. The process of performing the swap would have to be quick, convenient, and reasonably priced. There wouldn't be enough profit for gas stations to convert to recharging stations. If it only costs pennies to recharge, the stations would not be able to make enough money to cover overhead expenses. For a time they would be able to provide both fuel and recharging, but eventually when demand for fuel disappears they would go out of business. I still think the government would have to provide this service just as it provides other transportation services now (roads, traffic signals, etc).

Performing battery-swaps is an interesting alternative. It probably could be profitable, but it could be a bit tricky logistically. There would have to be standards around battery sizes, performance specs, etc. The process of performing the swap would have to be quick, convenient, and reasonably priced.

]]> By: Lazy Man and Money http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Lazy Man and Money Tue, 27 May 2008 21:20:07 +0000 http://wealthboy.com/will-converting-to-electric-cars-will-cost-us-nothing/#comment-239 I'm sure a tool (think robot arm) could be made to pull a 200lb battery in and out very quickly and easily. I’m sure a tool (think robot arm) could be made to pull a 200lb battery in and out very quickly and easily.

]]>