Responding to Scott Anthony's article, "American car makers failed us" (Dec. 13), I have an electric car called a 2002 (compact car). While not intended to be so powered, it became apparent, either having it towed several times to the local dealer for inspection, repair and battery replacement, something was seriously wrong. Provided a solar panel battery charger by the company, (supposedly to use in Seattle sunshine and/or my garage) I was told to drive at least 30 miles a week - with gas at $3.50 a gallon - to keep the batter properly charged.
Explaining I had never experienced such problems with my '65 Mustang nor the '74 Vega I dove until purchasing the (this car), I was told this was how all cars function now days. The more I researched the matter, the more I heard the same story being fed others - particularly seniors requiring wheels for primary transportation and necessities.
With the mayor attempting to get us out of our cars, why are automobile manufacturers and dealers telling us we should drive more, whether we want to, need to, or can afford to?
Advised that the many amenities installed in newer vehicles drain batteries while not even being used, I requested that some of those in my car be disconnected. Told this could not be done, I decided to take my problem to a company that would not profit from my erroneous purchase of such a catastrophe. Directed to Jacobson Marine, I was provided a batter charger modified to plug into the car's cigarette lighter and an electrical outlet in the garage. The ability of the car to function is not dependent upon use of the charger, a 12-foot extension cord and an electrical outlet to which it is connected after being driven. This is why, among other things, I call it an electric car.
With a move inevitable sometime in the future, parking space with all accessible electricity may be neither affordable nor available. At that point in time, my quandary will be what to do with this four-wheeled carcass - unload it on some other unsuspecting victim or deposit it in front of the local . . . dealership.
Joan Dahlgren Reid
Ballard
