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Post by Aerostudent on Jan 12, 2008 2:32:04 GMT -5
The EPA is to our lives as PETA is to our diets. HEY!! I'm a member of PETA. People Eating Tasty Animals Nice, so am I! ;D I think that us scooterists will have a little longer before anything changes in our lives. I think that the gov't will go after the bigger, badder, faster bikes first like crotch-rockets and such before coming after us on our hopped-up 150s. The same as Cali went after Dynojet instead of MRP. "Scooter performance parts?! Yeah, let get something a little bigger first." Atleast I hope that is how it goes down. Seriously I hope that the gov't starts promoting electric vehicles more than restricting gas vehicles to extinction. I seriously want to convert an old Ford truck to electric. One of the really old ones with the bubble fenders and three on the floor. Aero
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Post by guyruss on Jan 18, 2008 2:21:39 GMT -5
hahahahaha Retro your killin me Bro. You just said the things I have been wanting to say. Your alright friend, and wish I could buy you a beer. So instead, heres a karma. Hahahaha Russ
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Post by YellowScooter on Jan 23, 2008 16:20:12 GMT -5
NC just went statewide with their smog-sniffers as part of state inspections for cars 1996-up. 95-75 is just regular safety inspections, lights horn no exhaust leaks etc... 1974-older are totally exempt. They get to have a clear windshield.
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Post by earlwb on Jan 23, 2008 17:14:18 GMT -5
The states generally promote electrics more than the government does. You can convert almost any motor vehicle to electric. The only catch is if it has room for the batteries or not. Ford Escorts on up to Hummers. Range is usually 20 to 30 miles or so, which is the limiting factor. It used to cost about $5,000 to $15,000 to do a conversion depending on what you bought or made yourself Here in Texas electric mopeds, bicycles, and scooters don't need to be licensed to use on the roads. You are limited to lower speed roads though. But if the electric can keep up with traffic it wouldn't be a problem on larger roads. Many of the other states have regs on electrics like that too.
For me range is the limiting factor. I can use a electric assisted bicycle as I could bring it into my office to recharge, plus I can pedal it as the batteries run down. But the building owners would get upset if I tried to do that with a scooter, moped or motorcycle. Unfortunately there aren't any AC power plugs outside that I can see yet. Hummm, I'll have to look harder as there might be something somewhere. 23 miles one way to work is my limiting factor on electrics, 46 miles round trip.
I have thought about a electric scooter/moped model that looks like a 50cc scooter. Maybe with a larger capacity battery pack that is easily changed out. I could charge a pack at work and home, and just change it out when I get there.
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Post by Jacine on Jan 23, 2008 17:21:29 GMT -5
I wonder what the cost of replacement battery packs are. If they are like cell phones, they will last maybe two years or less. There was a 50,000 electric car in one of the eastern auto shows. Looked like a Ferrari but had a range of 40 miles (on a good day). Wouldn't even get you shopping in some of the states. The charge time was . and it just couldn't be charged by a 110 volt outlet. In the long run, I don't think they will be any cheaper and then there is the problem of battery disposal.
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Post by earlwb on Jan 23, 2008 17:42:21 GMT -5
I once did a cost analysis of using a electric bicycle. The battery gets like 200 to 300 charges before it starts to get weak. The motor with brushes needs to have new brushes or you replace the motor about every 200 to 300 hours or so. A brushless motor would be better but they cost more though. Anyway, it turns out the cost per mile is still way cheaper than a automobile, even if you have to replace battery packs and motors from time to time.
On a electric bicycle, you use two, three or four sealed lead acid batteries, 24v, 36v or 48v. The brush motor cost something like $100 to $200 bucks depending on the wattage. I estimated I would use up two pattery packs a year and two motors. This is if I used the electric bike for about 250 days a year.
But since I can ride a regular bicycle to and from work without electric assist Ok, I never persued it. But there are those days where you'd like to ride the bicycle in to work, but you just don't feel like it. But a gas powered scooter works quite well, so I lost a lot of interest in electric bicycles.
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Post by bob on Jan 23, 2008 17:44:12 GMT -5
In Oregon there is no safety inspection but there is DEQ. Vehicles that must be tested In the Portland area: All 1975 and newer cars, trucks, vans, motor homes and buses powered by gasoline, alternative fuels (such as propane) or hybrids registered within the DEQ Portland area boundaries All 1975 and newer diesel powered vehicles with a manufacturer's gross weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less (This includes all passenger cars and most light-duty trucks) registered within the DEQ Portland area boundaries. In the Medford area: All cars, trucks, vans, motor homes and buses powered by gasoline, alternative fuels (such as propane) or hybrids 20 years old or less and registered within the DEQ Medford area boundaries All diesel powered vehicles 20 years old or less with a manufacturer's gross weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less (This includes all passenger cars and most light-duty trucks) registered within the DEQ Medford area boundaries. This includes all passenger cars and most light-duty trucks. Vehicles temporarily located outside of Oregon If you and/or your vehicle are temporarily out of Oregon at the time your DMV registration renewal is due, DEQ will accept another state's vehicle emissions test! If the state offers no emission testing, you will need a "Statement of Vehicle Outside of Oregon". This will allow you to register your vehicle by postponing an emission test until you return with your vehicle to Oregon. To request a Statement of Vehicle Outside of Oregon form, or for more information, please call toll-free 1-877-476-0583 (Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm) or e-mail VIP Info.
Vehicles new to Oregon If your vehicle is new to Oregon and registering in Oregon for the first time you can receive a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection at any DEQ Clean Air Testing Station. However, your license plates issued by your previous state of residence must remain on the vehicle. Visit DEQ, take the emissions test, receive a VIN inspection and return to DMV to complete your registration. You will only be able to pay for the Certificate of Compliance at DEQ. All other registration fees including the VIN inspection ($7.00) will be collected by DMV.
Vehicles that are exempt from testing If your vehicle is listed below it is exempt and you may need to fill out a "Declaration of Exemption" form and return it to DMV with your registration renewal. Contact DEQ at (971) 673-1630 or toll free in Oregon at (877) 476-0583 to obtain the form.
Heavy duty diesel-powered vehicles (gross vehicle weight rating 8,501 or more) Vehicles legally registered outside DEQ program boundaries Motorcycles and low-speed vehicles (mopeds, golf carts, tractors, all-terrain vehicles, etc.)
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