New Car Day

I live 35 miles from my work.  That means I make a significant commute each day.  For 14 years I drove an '02 Volkswagen GTI and averaged about 32 MPG.  That added up to a BIG carbon footprint.  

As much as I loved that car, when it died of old age (the transmission died at 260K miles), we wanted something with less carbon footprint that would still cover the various needs the GTI did - specifically carrying my music gear.  

We bought a Ford C Max Energy (plug in hybrid).  With careful driving and use of the electric motor, the C-Max allowed me to cut my gasoline use to one third of my previous use.  Big step forward!

At the same time, we've had our eyes on solar panels for our home.  We live in a place where electricity is among the most expensive in the nation and where the sun shines a lot.  That adds up to a very attractive place for solar panels.  Unfortunately we live in a condo with a shared roof.  Most condo homeowners associations do not allow solar panels.  Ours does... but then we had difficulty finding a vendor who would install on a shared roof.  Eventually we found one and got 16 solar panels installed on the roof.

My spouse's car was also getting long in the tooth - an '03 Honda Accord with 250K miles.  We decided to sell the Honda and get an all electric for me to use in commuting.  We were really excited

Arcimoto FUV

about the recently released Arcimoto FUV.  Indeed, we still have a small deposit on one.  We got to test drive one a few weeks ago and the descriptor is right on target.  It is fun.  The downside is that while it would be a great commuter vehicle, I'm not sure I could carry my bass rig and pretty positive my acoustic guitar and rack would never fit.  And that is without my spouse.  If she's in the vehicle too, I think a gallon of milk is about all we can carry beyond the two of us.  (Did I say it is fun?)  

That moved us to the back-up plan.

Like a number of other manufacturers, Fiat began building an all electric vehicle - the 500e - in about '13 to lower

image from wikimedia, taken by mr.choppers

their fleet gasoline mileage to meet new government requirements.  Unfortunately the perception was that the car was still over priced even after the tax rebates so they weren't selling.  To remedy this, Fiat put them on the road on ridiculously inexpensive low mileage leases - $99 a month.  The current lease on the same car is $149 a month for a low mileage lease.  Each year since '16 that has meant that a bunch have come off lease and are available on the used market.  The '16's are currently coming off lease now, are priced very attractively, and most have low mileage.  The car is rated at 84 mile range with a 20 KWH battery.  The back seat is only useful for stuff or small children but you can fit groceries or a bass and amp plus a second person.

So... we went with the back-up plan.  We're collecting solar energy to charge it at home and my work allows me to plug in there so thus far the range is fine for me.  We do have the plug in hybrid for longer trips or when we need more space.  Most of all, my carbon footprint is waaaayyyy down and we anticipate we'll only need to add any gasoline about every month or month and a half under normal use.

The Fiat is also really fun to drive.  The heavy battery mounted down low gives it a low center of gravity which makes the car stick to the road like a go cart.  Electric motors tend to have more torque than their gasoline powered cousins so the little guy has serious get up and go... (much more than the gasoline powered 500).  The temptation is to drive it like a sports car... but if you do you can almost watch the charge level on the battery drop as you accelerate.  So even though it could be a lot of fun to drive, I find myself driving like an old man (no smart comments thank you very much) and instead of being proud of my time in an autocross, I watch my range and strive to get more distance out of a charge.

I am considerably more aware at how few charging stations are out there, how many that are there are not functioning, and worst of all, how often a non-electric car is parked in those spots.   ARRRHHH

Cory & the Seventh Story - a book review

I’ve been writing book reviews for some time but this review is unique… I’m reviewing a Cory & the Seventh Story by Brian MacLaren and Gareth Higgins.  A disclaimer is important.  Both Brian and Gareth are acquaintances of mine and I have the deepest respect for them both.

children’s book –

            So how does a 60 something year old man review a children’s book?  I read it to my grandchildren, in this case, particularly to my 5 year old grandson who is a particularly good children’s book listener.  Kiddo enjoyed the book and loved to join in with Owl, “who, who, who will help us?”  He couldn’t distinguish between the 6 dysfunctional stories and I’m not entirely sure that he got the idea that the stories we tell ourselves shape the way we live together, but he did get the idea that we can love and welcome one another and that is indeed, a better way to live together.

            Like all good children’s stories, this one is also written to be overheard by the grownups reading  the story to their littles.  This one does that well and the story of Cory’s village presents very real concerns in a way that gets underneath some of the defenses and pre-conceptions of the adults present.  I do have to say that the six dysfunctional stories are not as distinguished from one another as they might be and had I not heard one of Brian’s talks on the 7^thstory, and/or read the companion adult book, I may have missed one or two.  Still, the alternative way of living and being is there, calling to the reader and the one being read to.  

            Kiddo’s mother was very excited about the book and has also read it to him more than once.

            All in all, the book does require a bit of maturity from the listener and even then needs some discussion… but it is a good discussion starter.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.