“Electric cars should be a manageable achievement in this day and age”
wasder, rent/download the documentary, “Who Killed the Elecric Car”. It explains who has conspired over the years to prevent the advancement/commercialization of such vehicles (if you guessed the oil and auto industries as prime suspects, you’re on the right track).
wasder, do you know what a nation of electric cars would do to the grid? Just think what would happen in NYC on a hot summer day when demand is ALREADY at 99-101% of capacity.
To support electric cars would require a whole new infrastructure which will require a ton of new nuke plants and a wholesale grid update. And of course a reduction in nimbyism, as benson suggests, just look at what’s happened to anyone who’s attempted to put clean gas fired efficient turbines in.
totally agree benson, you didn’t even mention what’s happened to the solar panel market.
benson — I was vacationing in a mountainous area of southern Spain a while back, and there were several windfarms within view. I was really happy to see them and they did not mar my view. I wish others felt the same way.
“Electric cars should be a manageable achievement in this day and age”
Sorry to say, but statements like this demonstrate exactly why so much of our energy talk is wishful thinking for “green appearance’s” sakes.
The internal gasoline engine is a highly efficient power conversion machine. Something like 80% (or higher) of the energy released by combustion is converted into useful work (i.e. moving the car).
While electricity generation is fairly efficient, its transmission over high voltage cables is not. About 30% of the energy is lost during the transmission process. You want to know why high voltage cables are hot, and sometimes burn? Because the resistance of the cable converts the useful energy into heat.
If normal economics were prevailing, and not “green politics”, there would be about zero hybrid vehicles on the raod right now.
PUH-lease, this from the guy driving all over the country all spring”
Yeah. Like I said, I don’t care if DIBS buys 20 cars and idles them all day. I consume tons of oil. I am part of the problem, if you believe it’s a problem. I’m honest about that. I’m just holding up a mirror to those who indignantly point fingers at BP and its executives.
Slopefarm is very smart. He doesn’t lean in and swing too hard and get off balance.
“Electric cars should be a manageable achievement in this day and age”
wasder, rent/download the documentary, “Who Killed the Elecric Car”. It explains who has conspired over the years to prevent the advancement/commercialization of such vehicles (if you guessed the oil and auto industries as prime suspects, you’re on the right track).
” Cobble caught the stuttering bug”
I blame HOBOKEN. Kidding!
wasder, do you know what a nation of electric cars would do to the grid? Just think what would happen in NYC on a hot summer day when demand is ALREADY at 99-101% of capacity.
To support electric cars would require a whole new infrastructure which will require a ton of new nuke plants and a wholesale grid update. And of course a reduction in nimbyism, as benson suggests, just look at what’s happened to anyone who’s attempted to put clean gas fired efficient turbines in.
totally agree benson, you didn’t even mention what’s happened to the solar panel market.
…how’s 0-60 in 3.7 seconds?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster
benson — I was vacationing in a mountainous area of southern Spain a while back, and there were several windfarms within view. I was really happy to see them and they did not mar my view. I wish others felt the same way.
“Electric cars should be a manageable achievement in this day and age”
Sorry to say, but statements like this demonstrate exactly why so much of our energy talk is wishful thinking for “green appearance’s” sakes.
The internal gasoline engine is a highly efficient power conversion machine. Something like 80% (or higher) of the energy released by combustion is converted into useful work (i.e. moving the car).
While electricity generation is fairly efficient, its transmission over high voltage cables is not. About 30% of the energy is lost during the transmission process. You want to know why high voltage cables are hot, and sometimes burn? Because the resistance of the cable converts the useful energy into heat.
If normal economics were prevailing, and not “green politics”, there would be about zero hybrid vehicles on the raod right now.
PUH-lease, this from the guy driving all over the country all spring”
Yeah. Like I said, I don’t care if DIBS buys 20 cars and idles them all day. I consume tons of oil. I am part of the problem, if you believe it’s a problem. I’m honest about that. I’m just holding up a mirror to those who indignantly point fingers at BP and its executives.
Oh NO, Cobble caught the stuttering bug