Yeah no thanks...I'll keep my 1/2 ton pickup truck. I wouldn't feel safe riding around in one of those little things. They look cool though.
We really need to start separating PEV traffic from classic automobile traffic. For a long time I have argued that any vehicle over a specified weight [like tractor trailers, but also large trucks and SUVs] should be forced to travel in the right-most lane or lanes of traffic; with a reduced maximum speed limit. Ultimately PEVs and standard autos should be kept apart completely. It isn't reasonable to force people to risk their lives sharing roads with large vehicles, in order to be environmentally responsible. PEVs combined with high-speed rail, where rail cars are designed to accept PEVs, seems to be the ideal fix. Drive to your nearest train stop and drive onto the train. Ride at high speed for the majority of a commute. Then depart the train and drive to your now local destination.
Why exactly should trucks and SUV's be forced to travel in the right lane and drive slower than everyone else?
They pose the greatest threat to public safety. I believe most States already limit tractor-trailers to 55 mph. And in some States they are already limited to the right hand lanes.
Rather than speed limits, perhaps the maximum momentum should be posted instead. That would limit large tractor trailers to less than 5 mph.
Note that the force upon impact = the negative rate of change of momentum. So the total moment is a direct measure of the damage a vehicle can do in a collision. Momentum = mass x velocity. So a SUV weighing 8000 lbs has 4 x the destructive potential of a Honda Civic weighing 2000 pounds. And a tractor trailer weighing 80,000 pounds has 40 x time the destructive potential.
I sort of get it for semi's, but what does that have to do with pickups and SUV's? Also you are incorrect about the speed limit of tractor trailers. Only 4 states actually have a 55mph limit for semi's. The reason why most states actually don't do that is because believe it or not slower drivers are actually more dangerous than faster drivers. The person going 55mph on the interstate is actually causing more issues and is more dangerous than the one doing 85. The reason is because people are impatient and try to weave around slower traveling vehicles which in turn increases the risk of accidents.
Cool - like the tunnel between UK and France and a couple others, I think. In too many cases, America is dreaming about following.
Because we had cheap gas and so much influence from the oil and auto industries, we built freeways instead of mass transit. This is a chance to not only catch up, but dramatically improve mass transit.
Great! However, before I buy one I'd like to hear how they manage air traffic - other such vehicles (commute hours into downtown?), drones, light aircraft that don't squawk and/or have no radar, traffic helicopters, height above ground limits, etc.
