The Electric Vehicle Discussion List, founded in 1991 by EV enthusiast Clyde Visser PE, is the Internet's oldest and most comprehensive resource supporting EV hobbyists. We have hundreds of members all over the world, many with dozens of years of EV experience. Some have built (or are building!) EVs for a living. Others sell, design, and even manufacture such EV components as motor controllers and battery chargers. It's very possible that you'll find one or more of our members living near you.

In the summer of 2008, fuel costs increased at a pace unknown since the 1970s. Not too surprisingly, this generated considerable interest in the EVDL. Our membership has reached at an all-time high - over 1750 subscribers.

Even though gasoline prices have since fallen back, the peaks of well over $4 per gallon in the US, and close to $10 per gallon in some parts of Europe, have awakened drivers to what the future may hold. They're realizing that running on electricity can save fuel costs, and that an EV in the garage is good preparation for the next big run-up in gas prices.

Just so you're not disappointed, though, remember that fuel isn't the only cost of operating a vehicle. Whether you actually save money overall by driving electric really depends on many factors. They include where you live; your area's cost of gasoline, electricity, and batteries; what kind of EV you build or buy; how you drive it; and how you maintain it.

But even if you don't save any money at all, there's still a huge satisfaction in driving your EV past the filling stations, and keeping your wallet closed to the petroleum companies. And if we should ever see a repeat of the gas lines and quasi-rationing the US had three decades ago, you'll be ready for it.

Photo: Chip Gribben / NEDRA

EVs are also a pleasure to drive. They're quieter, smoother, and more efficient than fuel-burners -- and despite what you may have heard, they definitely don't have to be slow. Many of our members have built cars and bikes that set records in EV drag racing.

If you're more interested in doing what you can to help the environment, rather than in going fast, not to worry. You'll find both kinds of EV hobbyists on the EVDL. And you should know that regardless of what the PR machine says, EVs really are cleaner, even when you consider powerplant emissions. If you invest in PV panels for your house's roof, you can even fuel up your EV with 100% renewable, carbon-neutral, pollution-free energy harvested directly from the sun with photovoltaics. Try that with a gas-burner.

Whether your interest is energy independence, going fast quietly, or ultimate greenness, you're just about guaranteed to get the "EV grin" when you drive one.

Why not join us in this forum? (Just to be clear here, the EVDL is a forum in the traditional sense of the word. It's not an Internet forum or bulletin board, but rather a mailing list.) Although we talk about nearly anything (and everything) directly related to EVs, we ask our members to stick to the list's conventions.

Discussion is always welcome, but the list's main focus is on putting people into EVs. Since there aren't many production EVs offered for sale, and most of them are pretty limited, we help our members build their own. These EV hobbyists typically use ordinary gasoline / petrol or Diesel vehicles as a base (the glider). A few brave souls -- and not just professionals -- actually design and build electric vehicles from the ground up.

The EVDL's charter, written by the founder, says:

The EV (Electric Vehicle) Discussion Mailing List is intended to provide a forum to discuss the current state of the art and future direction of electric vehicles. It is not intended to discuss either EV appropriateness or comparisons with other transportation primary drive modes such as the venerable internal combustion engine. Those discussions are best relegated to the appropriate usenet newsgroup. An electric vehicle is any vehicle which uses an electric motor as the primary or sole motive force. The energy storage device used to drive said motor can use any technology including, but not limited to, solar electric, electric battery, fuel cell, internal combustion engine coupled with a electric generator (hybrids), or any combination of these. Production electric vehicles are currently available. Internal combustion engine vehicles can be converted to electric power. A number of companies perform this conversion. A number of manufacturers provide equipment and components allowing you to "do it yourself."

This is what the EVDL can do for you:

• Help you determine whether an EV will suit your needs
• Help you decide where and how to start finding or making an EV
• Encourage you on the project if and when you run into challenges
• Support you when something goes wrong with your finished EV¹

If you'd like to see what sorts of issues are discussed on the list, check out our archive before you subscribe.

We hope we'll see you online!