SteveS:I think the ET never really took off in the marketplace because of its dual nature. Mower dealers really didn't want to sell it because they had to learn how to service electric and electronic circuits and parts. That's not what your average lawn care dealer was doing in the 60s and 70s, or today for that matter. Since the ET had golf cart guts, for the most part, why not sell it through golf cart dealers? How many do you shop at? Golf cart dealers are relatively few and far between, and often do a small retail trade. So IMHO the ET failed because there was no "infrastructure" in the marketplace to support it. The logical sales folks couldn't service it and the service folks couldn't sell it.
I really don't have a solution - maybe there are 'all electric" stores, or soon will be. But in the meantime, its kinda of a in-between vehicle still.
I think an ET with the modern golf cart controller ( http://www.alltraxinc.com/index.html) is close to what you suggest, even though it still uses the plain vanilla lead acid batteries. I have an Alltrax especially programmed for the ET, but have yet to install it. Now I just need an infallible charger.....
At 01:01 PM 8/27/2007, SteveS wrote:
Agree with lots of what you say Pieter. I think though the ET size 'tractor' is a good place for electric. Most aren't used more than a few hours a day (or even week). Most would be recharged at night (off-peak), or hopefully by solar during the non-use days. The weight (up to point) helps in a lawn tractor, especially when pushing snow. No noise, no exhaust smell - neighborhood friendly. I see people junk tractors after only a few years - usually due to something simple, like a crud in the carb or some simple part broken. You'd think a major manufacturer would have a electric tractor on the market. The biggest problem - misusing the battery pack could be prevented by electronics. Guess I'm preaching to the choir ;-) - SteveS _______________________________________________ Elec-trak mailing list Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
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