*snicker*
But seriously, I believe in several states that "car" is legally defined a motorcycle because of the number of wheels.
25mph speed limit.
I overlooked that. It would mean that it is not legal to drive on the highway.
25mph speed limit.
I overlooked that. It would mean that it is not legal to drive on the highway.
That and being way too slow for me.
You regularly speed through town?
I may have a ticket or two or whatever on record. That aside, I can't think of anywhere I've been where the highest speed limit in town was 25mph.
edit: As a parent, I'd like remind you that the difference between 30MPH and 40MPH is literally the difference between life and death.
Weather cities will be restricted to 25MPH or not is not something we can know now. If GM is assuming that they will be, it could explain the 25MPH top speed.
NYC DOT on speed limit.
Weather cities will be restricted to 25MPH or not is not something we can know now. If GM is assuming that they will be, it could explain the 25MPH top speed.
Most cities have a blanket speed limit that applies unless otherwise posted, but that doesn't mean it's the only or the highest speed limit in the city. And again, NYC is not the typical city. And you are right, we can't know what the cities will look like, but we can make reasonable educated guesses. Obviously they are banking on it being useful to some people, and I'm sure it will be for people that have a relatively short commute within a city, but I think I little better engineering could have expanded their customer base.
There's also the part about these vehicles being self-driving. It makes sense to to limit it's speed when it's going to be on auto-pilot, particularly when they envision it as doing things like driving your kids to school. This isn't something you get in and race around in. It's supposed to be something you get in, set a destination, and read a book until you get there.
Most of these kind of cars are just prototype stuff that the geeks are building for fun. They're more for show rather than practicality.
I drive a Mazda A-Z Wagon right now, only available in Japan because it's sensible and thus Canada will have nothing to do with it. It is of a class of car called "keijidousha," or "light motor vehicle." They are limited in size and power. Mine is manual transmission, and people look at me like I'm crazy here in Okinawa because it's so hilly. You should see the milage I get out of it, though. It's crazy. I have to turn off the AC going up steeper hills, but aside from that it's great. And I can park where full-sized cars can't, which is a serious consideration here.
That little two-wheeled electric wouldn't suit my Canadian lifestyle back home, but it would suit me very well here in a more urban environment where things are sensibly close together. Not biting my nails waiting for it to be available, but it looks interesting enough that I'll keep my eye on further developments like it.
I would agree, if you had said a little different engineering.
Fair enough.
There's also the part about these vehicles being self-driving. It makes sense to to limit it's speed when it's going to be on auto-pilot, particularly when they envision it as doing things like driving your kids to school. This isn't something you get in and race around in. It's supposed to be something you get in, set a destination, and read a book until you get there.
Ok, I'll give you that. Until I see it prove itself numerous times under situations such as kids running out in front of it or being surrounded by idiot drivers, I'd be very wary of any auto-pilot function (even though it does sound cool) and I probably wouldn't want it to go very fast when it's driving itself.
Seriously, these people didn't think these things through, did they?
NYC DOT on speed limit.
Weather cities will be restricted to 25MPH or not is not something we can know now. If GM is assuming that they will be, it could explain the 25MPH top speed.
Most cities have a blanket speed limit that applies unless otherwise posted, but that doesn't mean it's the only or the highest speed limit in the city. And again, NYC is not the typical city.
every village and city in belgium has a 50 kpm (31 mph) limit, and 30 kpm (19 mph) for residential area
my only issue is trunk size
It is too slow.
I prefer my 6-cylinder pick-up truck...
GM till recently hasn't shown a profit since 04. For a reason.
They keep killing all the cars that are actually cool.
As somebody who usually drive in the city, given that (like most of the world's population) I live in one, I love driving under-powered pieces of crap. And I'm not being sarcastic at all. Seriously. Don't look at me like that.
I drive a Mazda A-Z Wagon right now, only available in Japan because it's sensible and thus Canada will have nothing to do with it. It is of a class of car called "keijidousha," or "light motor vehicle." They are limited in size and power. Mine is manual transmission, and people look at me like I'm crazy here in Okinawa because it's so hilly. You should see the milage I get out of it, though. It's crazy. I have to turn off the AC going up steeper hills, but aside from that it's great. And I can park where full-sized cars can't, which is a serious consideration here.
That little two-wheeled electric wouldn't suit my Canadian lifestyle back home, but it would suit me very well here in a more urban environment where things are sensibly close together. Not biting my nails waiting for it to be available, but it looks interesting enough that I'll keep my eye on further developments like it.
The amusing thing is that if your underpowered car had more power, you'd likely get better mileage out of it. If you have to strain the crap out of the thing to make it go, it's not working efficiently. So, good mileage or not, it'd be better with a little more power. I'm not sayin' make it a V8 or anything, of course, but adding enough power so that it can go uphill with its accessories on and accelerate just fast enough to get out of its own way would be a true boon.
As somebody who usually drive in the city, given that (like most of the world's population) I live in one, I love driving under-powered pieces of crap. And I'm not being sarcastic at all. Seriously. Don't look at me like that.
I drive a Mazda A-Z Wagon right now, only available in Japan because it's sensible and thus Canada will have nothing to do with it. It is of a class of car called "keijidousha," or "light motor vehicle." They are limited in size and power. Mine is manual transmission, and people look at me like I'm crazy here in Okinawa because it's so hilly. You should see the milage I get out of it, though. It's crazy. I have to turn off the AC going up steeper hills, but aside from that it's great. And I can park where full-sized cars can't, which is a serious consideration here.
That little two-wheeled electric wouldn't suit my Canadian lifestyle back home, but it would suit me very well here in a more urban environment where things are sensibly close together. Not biting my nails waiting for it to be available, but it looks interesting enough that I'll keep my eye on further developments like it.
The amusing thing is that if your underpowered car had more power, you'd likely get better mileage out of it. If you have to strain the crap out of the thing to make it go, it's not working efficiently. So, good mileage or not, it'd be better with a little more power. I'm not sayin' make it a V8 or anything, of course, but adding enough power so that it can go uphill with its accessories on and accelerate just fast enough to get out of its own way would be a true boon.
Doubtful. With no AC, it's actually quite powerful enough. It is smaller and lighter by far than a standard car. The problem is that the AC still needs just as much power, and it's a far larger percentage on this beastie. I don't even use the AC, quite honestly, unless I'm parked in the sun and waiting for somebody.
Additionally, there's actually only one situation where I must turn off the AC... close to my house, there is a hill which I always must be going very slowly to turn and go up. If I were able to be going faster at the start, even that hill would be fine. I have a feather touch on the gas 99% of the time, AC or no, hill or no.
But really, a little more power would go a long way. Again, no need for an extra hundred HP or anything like that, but making the engine work too hard is bad for economy and the engine both. And, IMO, if you have to shut something off to allow the vehicle to perform a basic task, it isn't working as it should. Being able to cope with that or to work around it doesn't change it. But as long as you're happy, who cares, right?
Even the doom truck could manage that (if only barely... and while blowing smoke and oil all over everyone behind me)
If your car can't make a hill properly with AC on it's time to upgrade. That's the sign of an engine that is too worn out to do it's job properly.