Nice demonstration.

<OK, time to paint targets all over myself.>

I wonder what would happen if Adam and Jamie just drove around an oval course at speed with the same ATVs in the video with the "last one standing/driving" being the winner. Gas or electric?

Or they could do a longer course. I saw a Kawasaki 650i owner saying he got about 70 miles on a completely full tank. So how about a 120 mile ride on a cold winter day (maybe in the snow, like you might really use an ATV) with gas and electric cord sources (maybe an outdoor track) along the way when needed. First one to the 120 mile mark wins. Gas or electric?

I like electric vehicles. I used to watch drag racing every now and then and always looked forward to the electric ones because it was pretty much instant power with them and they were so fast. This was a while back when they first started paying more attention to the electric ones on the racing shows.

Also, they are certainly better than burning gasoline without emmission restrictions. Although there's a chance that fossil fuels went into recharging those batteries (unless Jamie charged them himself with solar panels or something), so it may not be having as much of an environmental impact as they said, but it's better than nothing.

I just think they should say something, especially on a kids science feature, if the range and refueling time are going to be different. Otherwise, it's kind of like watching certain news channels or the first season of Man vs Wild without the new edits.

<OK! Let me have it doctor! I can take it!>

Later!

quote:

Also, they are certainly better than burning gasoline without emmission restrictions. Although there's a chance that fossil fuels went into recharging those batteries (unless Jamie charged them himself with solar panels or something), so it may not be having as much of an environmental impact as they said, but it's better than nothing.

Good and valid points! But, I wish to rebut. While the electric vehicle used power from a (probably) fossil fuel power plant, the power plant is going to be much more efficient than an ICE, produce much, much, MUCH less pollution, and what little pollution there is, is located some distance from population centers. Also, the electric vehicle uses a lower cost fuel which we have in abundance.

You've got a good point, majmatt. We've spent several decades putting in the support for internal combustion engines, namely gas stations. For electric vehicles to catch on, we need electric vehicles that can get around town on a single charge. You're not going to see quickie recharge stations all over the place until there's a proven market for them. People won't want to buy an electric car if they're going to be stuck halfway home from work with dead batteries and no way to recharge.

For recreational vehicles, it's not as big a deal. However, I know some farmers and ranchers use ATVs as working vehicles. Given Jamie's childhood on the farm, it wouldn't surprise me if he put a decent battery capacity in that thing.

I remember seeing a couple clips on YouTube a few months back about Jamie's electric SUV -- they were promos from the company he was working with. I don't recall if they mentioned how far/long it would go between charges, though. (Come to think of it, that might be why they didn't talk endurance on the show; there's a lot of car ads on Discovery, too much talk on the specs might have been too close to competing with the advertisers.)

There is one issues that, in my opinion, does not make this a valid test: The drivers.

Adam obviously was not as comfortable using an ATV as Jamie was. If Adam is not as comfortable using his machine, he will not take it to as high of an extreme as the someone who is vary familure with it.

There is only a 5.7% difference between the two runs. (6 sec out of 104 sec) That is not enough to make up for scientific error. One run with that close of a margin is not enough to call it on.

My suggestion: a redo with both Adam and Jamie doing multiple, longer runs with BOTH of the ATVs. Results of all the runs will be averaged together for an answer. Or use pro drivers.

Sorry, but that's bad scientific method on their part.

I will also agree with the others on the range issue being something that will have to be solved before they can become viable modes of transportation to the average person.

quote:

there's a lot of car ads on Discovery, too much talk on the specs might have been too close to competing with the advertisers.)

Speaking of car ads, is it just me or have there been alot of ATV ads on Discovery over the past week or so (about 4/24 - 5/2; just guessing; maybe earlier)? I know there's a Honda one, and I think a Kawaski or Yamaha, and maybe a Polaris.

Maybe I'm just noticing it more because of the video here. Or maybe they sold extra advertising because an ATV was going to be featured on a show with the Mythbusters. Or maybe Discovery suggested to do the ATV feature so they could sell ATV advertising.

Seems kind of like the iPhone ad/show placement. I'm not saying it's necessarily bad, just curious.

Later!