Re: (ET) [Fwd: [EVDL] The Case for the Electric Tractor] (fwd)

["Jeremy Gagliardi com" <jeremy gagliardi com>]

Steve wrote:
>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.

Indeed.  Gas engines go bad pretty quickly if not maintained from year to 
year.  I know way too many people that expect their mowers, tractors, weed 
whackers or what have you, that run on gas to last for years and years 
with 
nothing more than draining the gas and changing the spark plug each year 
(some 
don't do even that).  I gave up on my first and second gas walk-behind 
mowers 
after 2 years each because of all the maintenance they required.

Other than making sure the batteries are kept well charged (not too much, 
not 
too little), there is absolutely NOTHING I have had to do to maintain my 
ET in 
good operating condition.  I had an initial "get it working" phase the 
year I 
first retrieved my ET from decades-long storage, but after that, 
everything 
just keeps working.  I've even almost toasted the batteries on 2 
occasions, and 
even they keep on working.

I think if the whole world switched over to ET's or electric mowers, the 
maintenance business would sharply decline.  Like the Neuton, a failure of 
some 
kind could be diagnosed over the phone, and a part sent to and installed 
by the 
consumer -- a simple case of "unplug module 11a2b and plug in the new one 
I 
just sent you."

--
Jeremy Gagliardi
E20
Potomac, Md


>----Original Message----
>From: stevesgroups verizon net
>Date: Aug 27, 2007 13:01 
>To: "et"<Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
>Subj: Re: (ET) [Fwd: [EVDL] The Case for the Electric Tractor] (fwd)
>
>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
>
>
>
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