It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an ... electric car?
By Angela Forgeron, Sympatico/MSN Autos
En route to a zip around the Detroit auto show's EcoXperience test track, a new exhibit added this year in Cobo Center's basement, I came across the most lovable car of the show: the NmG (aka: No more Gas).
"It looks like a banana!" laughed my father on the phone when I sent along the website. Personally, I think it resembles a shoe - a lady's pump to be exact, which is a good play on the company's motto: "Laugh your way past those pumps!" (or while driving a "pump").
According to the company's website, Myers Motors, the all-electric, three-wheel car can travel at highway speeds of 122 km/h and costs US$29,995. Though there's one catch, unlike the Smart fortwo (starting at $14,990): it's a vehicle built for one.
The company says the NmG is practical for 9 out of 10 commuters (according to unscientific observations in several Canadian and U.S. cities, this number sounds realistic -- think of all of those drivers you saw this morning humming along alone on their way to work).
The car company claims you can travel 1,000 miles (1,609 km) on US$20 of (electric) fuel. And unlike hydrogen-powered cars such as Honda FCX Clarity, it doesn't require a special charging station: simply plug it in to any 110-volt or 20-amp outlet.
Though a banana-yellow NmG was whipping around the EcoXperience track, it wasn't available for test drives. Goal for 2009: to again get behind the wheel of the NmG, but on a public road. Wheeee!
What do you think of the NmG: Smart, silly? Geeky or chic? Expensive, priced right? Have your say, below.
Posted by: Andrew | 2009-01-14 12:37:18 AM
RE: the Nmg
Remember the Isetta Bubble car or the Messerschmitt? It's deja vu all over again, but this time with electric motors! Most city drivers don't really need HUMMERS!
Posted by: Rose | 2009-01-14 1:53:11 AM
Doesn't anyone remember the 'who killed the electric car' documentary? I don't get it. They make the perfect car, but the oil industry would suffer, so they kill it, they crush like thousands of these awesome little cars. But now there back but this time they look like a glorified, sporty adult Go-cart. Hmm..well hopefully they can at least do a family four door car, like the first EV's. This time I hope they'll actually stick around. Its the ultimate solution.NO more dependancy on gas!
Posted by: DM | 2009-01-14 2:13:17 AM
30 grand for this thing....I wouldn't give you 30 cents for it.
As for the conept of an all electric car, I like the idea. The only real challenge to their gas counterparts is the price.
Posted by: Larry | 2009-01-14 2:16:13 AM
Electric cars It's the signs of the times it as been for a long time coming, BUT - At $30,000, This auto company can forget it. For a 0ne person transporter, $10,000 at best. Maybe if it could carry 3 people. and travel at lest 100 miles/ 160 kilometers, Ya I would think $15,000 Maybe...
Posted by: Chris | 2009-01-14 2:51:02 AM
As Rose said, what about the 4 doors? The average north American family of husband/wife/child(ren)? There are more of us out there than the rich! Build for our budget and our needs. Quit trying to build a new niche and build for the niche that need the most. We are the commuters, teammates, hockey moms, gym dads, mall goers, trip takers, basketball coaches, the college kid that actually has a car to drive friends, etc. etc. etc. When are these awesome cars and their manufacturers going to cater to the true consumers?
You want a million cars sold or a few cars sold at some millions? Hello, is the math that hard for these concept designers and engineers. Did they fail basic find a need and fill a need, the more the merrier concept class? Oh wait, that is the whole of it!
Posted by: Gerry | 2009-01-14 3:12:15 AM
Yep! Time for change is in the air (in more ways than one). $20/1000 miles and no polution = good for the planet and our pockets. Plus the added benefit of independancy (think about it) on foreign energy. Let's add to it the wealth we'll produce and keep in our own and friendly energy producing nations.
Posted by: Anne | 2009-01-14 4:40:00 AM
This would be great if we didn't need our cars for things other than commuting alone. At US $29,995, this would make a second vehicle impractical for most people.
Posted by: Rick | 2009-01-14 5:21:02 AM
A wake up call is necessary for the car manufacturers. Electric cars are the future for the auto industry. Unfortunately the retail pricing will handicap the sales.
Please wake up. Wages and salaries have not come close to catching up to the excessive price tags being demanded. Most consumers must take out a small mortgage to buy a car. That alone should tell you there is something wrong.
The NmG Electric Car certainly would be great for many consumers but it will fail as will most of the other electric cars going into production. Until the auto industry starts to wake up over the pricing, cars from India and China will swamp the market.
I want an electric car but I will not be able to afford the suggested pricing.
Posted by: Mike | 2009-01-14 7:22:30 AM
Most work cummuters ride alone in any case, so this certainly addresses this issue. However, the reality of winter driving, cargo capacity, families and the like make this more of a recreational reality than a pragmatic solution. Think of it more as an encased electric motorcycle/trike than a car, and it may better fill it's niche. Inner city commuting, perhaps....but not likely more than a recreational usage outside of that environment.
Looks fun, though.
Hopefully manufacturers new and old will continue in the "alternatives to gasoline" direction. Whether the designs are winners or losers, we all win when they finally get it right.
Posted by: Randy | 2009-01-14 9:08:15 AM
29,000 ? thats just stupid .thats the reson right there why electric cars arn't everywhere. the normal joe can't afford to buy them . if they got there prices down i think you'd see them in most households .
Posted by: Nelson | 2009-01-14 9:28:43 AM
why is it that anytime there is something new and obiously better for the planet it has to cost an arm and a leg. Why not make it affordable to a wider range of people so that it becames popular through its use instead of advertising and in the long run it would make alot more money instead of been just another good idea stacked in the shelf somewhere because only a few individuals have the resources to buy such an expensive car with such little praticality other than commuting. I understand the big start up costs and everything else and that's what goverments are for and your're not supposed to come up the a product and become billionaire overnight. Other than that its a great product and defenitly going in the right direction.
Posted by: John | 2009-01-14 9:49:25 AM
Excellent idea, but at $30K, far too overpriced! Also, it doesn't truly help the ecosystem. It has to be "plugged in" where, in most cases electricity is produced by fossil fuel burning plants. And would I drive a tricycle car at highway speeds??? Nope! But..., give it a hydrogen fuel cell and 4 wheels with an appropriate price, then the single seater makes sense.
Posted by: John A. Chisholm | 2009-01-14 10:02:27 AM
I think that the price of these vechiles is just out of bounds. The factors taken into account would be a gas operated vechile, that has greater efficiency and alot cheaper for the average person to purchase. When you start talking about $30,000 thats an immediate downer.
J A Chisholm
Posted by: Bert | 2009-01-14 10:34:22 AM
After reading the short article, I find the NmG to be TbE, (Too bloody Expensive)
Posted by: mchael | 2009-01-14 10:49:37 AM
At least one person here mentioned CHINA, Yeah, they have marketed a whole sedan with the same atributes as this useless deathtrap. PRICE!!! 22,000.00. Remember, you WILLL buy everything from CHINA@Walmart!
Posted by: Glyn | 2009-01-14 11:23:45 AM
I can buy a lot of gas for $30,000.00, Don't expect ro ever see one on the road at that price. Just another concept for the museum.
Posted by: lorie | 2009-01-14 12:53:35 PM
what about how safe it is for a accident. not much there is there? It s great that it is cheap.. but i don't think my self that i would go 15,000 for a vechile and i have a family of 3.
Posted by: sam | 2009-01-14 12:57:47 PM
The crazy world that we live in, car for one $29,000 and looks like a shoe. Please we know car are like toys to us, but this one is an adult go cart. what difference's is it from buy a Toyota yaris that is fuel efficiency, modern and carries 4 people when need? If we have to make this electric car which am for, like anyone suffering politic of GAS. Lets make them something what buy family oriented and not something from out of space.
Posted by: ailsa | 2009-01-14 1:09:53 PM
its time everyone had an electric car but 30 grand no way. ever notice the the smaller and less useful a vehicle is the more it costs. come on industry you're going out of business because of greed. every household in the country would buy electric commuter cars if they were a reasonable price.like everything else in this country service the few with money and the rest of us pay the price.
Posted by: casey | 2009-01-14 1:14:55 PM
well, yes it is a great idea and we all know we need it however for those who would think they might want one to better the enviornment I think the price is way to high. Lets face it, if it were only for the sake of having a car and not a choice for the enviorment why would'nt one opt for a less expensive gas powered car? I guess it is like health food if it is good for you it costs more.