Comments on: The Electric Car/Hybrid Car Lottery

By: G

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 03:44:23 +0000

Great idea; this could boost interest in electric vehicles in general. At minimum it will get a buzz going, and entice more people into looking at electrics, and some of them will buy.

It would also be worthwhile having the Chevy Volt on the approved list, since the range-extending small gas engine alleviates worries about range for people who otherwise wouldn’t buy an electric. Most owners report filling up the gas tank two or three times a year, compared to the gas-powered vehicle average of once a week.

Lastly, let’s also include commercial vehicles: electric minivans and tradesworkers’ vehicles, which presently operate on a fleet basis but have yet to become widespread for small business users.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 01:02:05 +0000

It’s a marketing stunt for green energy with the side effect of a few more electric cars getting on the road. If one million people participated each month, it could be 5000 or more hybrids a year with virtually no other investment.

By: Doug Alder

Doug Alder — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 23:46:36 +0000

Bob – because more people who otherwise would not have considered an electric or hybrid vehicle (too expensive) before, would now have one, or be talking about how nice it would to have one.

By: BobFromLI

BobFromLI — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 20:19:14 +0000

There are lotteries like this for charitable causes done regularly. It is not a ROSCA but a standard ‘take a chance’ thing. Often it is for some kid’s medical bills (thanks ACA!) or to build a new church. The chances are $10 or 25 or even 50. I have seen them in the back of Car and Driver over the years.

Question: other than maybe getting me a nifty car for fifty bucks, why would this add to the discussion?