Matt D. mentions:

>these are probably no better or worse than other vans on the market.
One =
>thing he did mention that caught my attention was the gas tank
placement =
>of the EV, that it was similar to the sidesaddle placement of the GM
=
>pick ups. VW makes it a point to mention that they use plastic fuel =
>tanks placed well inboard to minimize their exposure to rupture and =
>explosion. Any EVers look under their vans to confirm the fuel tank's
=
>material and placement?

Oh, oh, are those Ric's flying fingers I hear pounding out a scathing
rebuttal to the statement above by one Mr. Rand "I'm a whiner" Knox of
CARveat Emptor fame?...   "She's coming in low!...Hit the deck!..."

OK, well, I've looked and worked under my EV enough to confirm that
the
tank is some sort of plastic (I'd think you'd be hard pressed to find a

modern fuel tank that's made out of metal), and it does sit between a
ladder matrix to protect it from side impact, although I'm sure that's
not the sole reason that it's designed that way. Ever wonder why the
'93
EVs came w/ no airbag, yet did NOT have those putrid motorized mice?
(not to be confused w/ mice that make homes in your vent ducting)
Well, it's because VW got around the no airbag=passive restraint
require-
ment by classifying the EV as a truck.

Norman
OA/NT Sys. Sppt.
nleong@baynetworks.com
"#@&%!$...Hold your line!..."