Environmentalist Peter Sinclair is beginning a new series of videos titled “Renewable Energy Solution of the Month,” and the first episode deals with some interesting possibilities for electric cars you may not have previously considered.
1 |
Obdicut Sun, Feb 7, 2010 9:47:36pm |
That narrator and background music is really trippy.
I like the positive attitude.
| 2 |
Dark_Falcon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 9:55:20pm |
re: #1 Obdicut
That narrator and background music is really trippy.
I like the positive attitude.
I hope Ludwig drops by. This thread is right up my alley.
| 3 |
freetoken Sun, Feb 7, 2010 9:56:22pm |
I appreciate the spirit in which Sinclair offers this.
However, there is a real trap here, best summarized in his hope that in the future energy will be "free".
It will never be "free", there are always costs.
In this case the big deal is in the idea of the "battery". What we know of as "batteries" today are not going to meet the needs of tomorrow. It is going to be exorbitantly costly to scale up production of batteries as current designs have them. Even now, today in 2010, one of the hot topics in the business of "green" tech is how China has become the monopoly player in key elements needed for new batteries. The cost constraints in dealing with energy storage in the electric automobile is a non-trivial problem.
If Americans embraced the idea of using less oil, seriously, and adopted much more energy efficient vehicles, we could be free of oil imports from OPEC. However, my fellow Americans have not shown themselves to be willing to do that, so far.
| 4 |
laZardo Sun, Feb 7, 2010 9:57:27pm |
Price issues and Steve Wozniak's Prius aside, the one issue that I believe most plagues the eco-car industry today is the smug factor.
| 5 |
Dark_Falcon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:03:27pm |
re: #4 laZardo
Price issues and Steve Wozniak's Prius aside, the one issue that I believe most plagues the eco-car industry today is the smug factor.
Hence the South Park episode "Smug Alert!"
| 6 |
Gus Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:03:28pm |
Nice to see a Sinclair video where he touches on one of the technological solutions to AGW which will also have positive impacts on other human environmental issues.
| 7 |
Jaerik Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:04:14pm |
I'm just holding out for one of these. If they live up to the benchmarks they're promising, who needs a hybrid?
| 8 |
laZardo Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:13:53pm |
I may be a progressive, but at the same time being a Clarksonesque petrolhead, here's an interesting article lamenting "The Nanny Car."
| 9 |
cliffster Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:18:24pm |
Lots of nasty campaign ads here in Texas in the Perry vs Hutchison race. Too bad.. Texans deserve better.
| 10 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:19:51pm |
re: #2 Dark_Falcon
I hope Ludwig drops by. This thread is right up my alley.
I hope he doesn't...like that
| 11 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:24:06pm |
dead...I come back from my football party and it's a threadis mortis...oh well
| 12 |
cliffster Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:25:28pm |
re: #11 albusteve
dead...I come back from my football party and it's a threadis mortis...oh well
how bout them saints?
| 13 |
laZardo Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:25:57pm |
re: #11 albusteve
dead...I come back from my football party and it's a threadis mortis...oh well
If that guy who got his TV shot was just over one Saints game win, then I sense an impending environmental litter catastrophe over their winning the Super Bowl.
| 14 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:26:31pm |
An opportune time to push a great film: "Home", by Yann Arthus Bertrand. Trailer by the National Geographic here
The ninety-minute film is on YouTube, but not viewable outside of the EU - unless you know how to connect using a proxy. Many basic free ones, such as this one, are out there.
After you use it to connect to YouTube, type Yann Arthus Bertrand Home in the search window and you should be able to watch the film, which is pretty stunning: all in high-res color aerial photography, which is Bertrand's speciality. Intelligent narrative. This is a well-reasoned, well-documented and totally unhysterical film and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
| 15 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:28:56pm |
Socialism! Fascism! Drill, Baby Drill!
/Tea Party
| 16 |
austin_blue Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:29:08pm |
re: #9 cliffster
Lots of nasty campaign ads here in Texas in the Perry vs Hutchison race. Too bad.. Texans deserve better.
Why? They are both empty suits, seems to me. An SMU cheerleader and an Aggie Yell Leader, with a Tea Party third candidate in Medina...
Rick has the big bucks and really good hair. He is feeding the great unwashed with the red meat they want.
Rick is seriously looking at the White House for 2012. The Texas campaign is all about the 2012 National Campaign. And we really, really, don't want to go there. Trust me.
| 17 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:29:12pm |
re: #12 cliffster
how bout them saints?
I loved it...just one hell of a game and an awesome story...I imagine there are some posters hiding about now...heh...I told you so!
| 18 |
Dark_Falcon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:32:24pm |
re: #16 austin_blue
Why? They are both empty suits, seems to me. An SMU cheerleader and an Aggie Yell Leader, with a Tea Party third candidate in Medina...
Rick has the big bucks and really good hair. He is feeding the great unwashed with the red meat they want.
Rick is seriously looking at the White House for 2012. The Texas campaign is all about the 2012 National Campaign. And we really, really, don't want to go there. Trust me.
You should still root for Hutchison. She's actually a sane person, whereas Perry took the train to Crazytown a long was back.
| 19 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:33:00pm |
re: #15 Killgore Trout
Socialism! Fascism! Drill, Baby Drill!
/Tea Party
fascism is a reach...TPs do not have a reputation for socialist nuance tho, but I favor drilling for oil...why would anyone oppose that idea?
| 20 |
laZardo Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:34:48pm |
re: #18 Dark_Falcon
You should still root for Hutchison. She's actually a sane person, whereas Perry took the train to Crazytown a long was back.
Isn't Hutchison even deeper in Big Oil's pockets than Palin was?
| 21 |
freetoken Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:39:03pm |
| 22 |
Dark_Falcon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:41:09pm |
re: #20 laZardo
Isn't Hutchison even deeper in Big Oil's pockets than Palin was?
I'd rather have someone in hoc to a corporation than an ideological lunatic.
| 23 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:41:13pm |
where is this tough as nails, late night thread I hear so much about?
| 24 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:41:43pm |
re: #21 freetoken
You mean this one?
(available in HD, but not embeddable.)
Yes, that's it!
As of yesterday, people in the U.S. couldn't watch it. I don't know how you found this version, but you've done everyone a great service - provided they care to see it. Thank you for posting this!
| 25 |
laZardo Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:45:25pm |
re: #22 Dark_Falcon
I'd rather have someone in hoc to a corporation than an ideological lunatic.
That's probably why we can't get better health care in this country either, whether toward single-payer or a viable public-safety-net e.g. Reine's idea for Lousiana.
| 26 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:45:44pm |
re: #19 albusteve
I'm not opposed to drilling as a short term solution. The problem that the Republicans have is that's their only idea. Aside from nuclear Republicans pretty much universally oppose all clean energy solutions and research. They are going to find themselves on the wrong side of history. That's a fact.
| 28 |
HelloDare Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:48:32pm |
Electric cars is the way to go. Another leap or two in battery technology and we'll be there. I don't understand why Toyota didn't introduce a plug-in Prius before.
I agree that "moving to a world ... where energy is free" put a pollyanna vibe on an otherwise good presentation. One thing not touched on was the impact on the environment of battery production and disposal. New battery technology may solve that problem.
| 29 |
Dancing along the light of day Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:53:23pm |
re: #15 Killgore Trout
There is potentially much money & oil to be had off the coast of California. BUT, we don't want to look at oil platforms, or see what an oil rig looks like, apparently. Drill, baby, drill, isn't just an idea, here.
Santa Barbara has drilled. LA just can't seem to find a way.
| 30 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:53:34pm |
re: #26 Killgore Trout
I'm not opposed to drilling as a short term solution. The problem that the Republicans have is that's their only idea. Aside from nuclear Republicans pretty much universally oppose all clean energy solutions and research. They are going to find themselves on the wrong side of history. That's a fact.
your history has yet to reveal itself...any source of green, renewable power is trumped by nuclear 10 to 1 at this point...and until the gap closes we need gas and oil...the ideas you speak of are not political in nature and will become more viable as time goes on...in the meantime, it should be obvious to anybody that liberal greenies are on the wrong side of history at this point...only the most convoluted, twisted reason could see it otherwise
| 31 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:53:44pm |
re: #27 Killgore Trout
What is it?
Well, it's a film....
Read the National Geographic piece above to get a better idea. I think you'll like watching it.
| 32 |
Dark_Falcon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:54:42pm |
I'm too tired to keep going. Have a good night, all.
| 33 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:54:51pm |
re: #28 HelloDare
Electric cars is the way to go. Another leap or two in battery technology and we'll be there. I don't understand why Toyota didn't introduce a plug-in Prius before.
I agree that "moving to a world ... where energy is free" put a pollyanna vibe on an otherwise good presentation. One thing not touched on was the impact on the environment of battery production and disposal. New battery technology may solve that problem.
where will the electricity come from?...a wall socket?
| 34 |
Dancing along the light of day Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:55:21pm |
re: #28 HelloDare
For me, the issue is we don't HAVE the battery technology yet.
Call me when/if the technology is there.
I have been waiting over 5 years at this point.
I don't know IF the battery technology is possible.
| 35 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:55:27pm |
re: #21 freetoken
You mean this one?
(available in HD, but not embeddable.)
Or just watch the film for a while, Killgore. You'll soon see whether you'll want to see more....
| 37 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:56:35pm |
re: #29 Floral Giraffe
There is potentially much money & oil to be had off the coast of California. BUT, we don't want to look at oil platforms, or see what an oil rig looks like, apparently. Drill, baby, drill, isn't just an idea, here.
Santa Barbara has drilled. LA just can't seem to find a way.
CA is suicidal...there is no other explanation...feds to the rescue!
| 38 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:57:43pm |
re: #23 albusteve
where is this tough as nails, late night thread I hear so much about?
We're all turning into tree-hugging pansies. And it's all my fault for pushing this subversive, effete, Commie film.
| 39 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:59:28pm |
just plug your green machine into an extension cord!...what's the big deal eh?
| 40 |
Dancing along the light of day Sun, Feb 7, 2010 10:59:30pm |
re: #37 albusteve
Except, the Feds aint comming to the rescue.
Now what?
Besides the we're F'd?
| 41 |
Dancing along the light of day Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:02:06pm |
re: #37 albusteve
Ok, it's time to go peel my eyelids off the eyeballs & give them some rest.
Good night, all.
Steve, I want the perfect car!
You can drive, but I want to own it!
Be well.
Stay HAPPY & healthy.
The rest doesn't matter.
| 42 |
freetoken Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:02:21pm |
re: #27 Killgore Trout
What is it?
It's a tree hugging, commie inspired, French seduction into paganism.
Should be just about right for you :-O
| 43 |
lostlakehiker Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:02:31pm |
China is well placed for this electric car business. They own essentially all the rare-earth element reserves that will be needed for the batteries in those cars.
It's not fair to castigate Americans for driving cars that burn precious oil, when that oil isn't priced as if it were precious. If we want broad masses of drivers to conserve energy, they will have to have a reason. That reason ought to be the price.
The government doesn't need to drive up prices. Those are destined to soar, far faster than inflation, as oil demand surges worldwide. [This recession won't last forever.] Meanwhile, the price of electricity will hold more nearly steady, assuming we can brace ourselves to build a new electric power system and issue permits for power transmission lines, nuclear power plants, extensive solar arrays, and so forth.
If we don't do that, then when the price of oil soars, we risk electing knaves who will promise to bring the cost of oil down, and who, when that proves impossible, will impose rationing and price controls and say they've cured the problem.
People will get their ration coupons at their friendly block monitor's monthly people's council meeting. That's the road to the HugoChavezization of America.
Mistake. Big, big mistake.
| 44 |
Irish Rose Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:02:41pm |
re: #38 ryannon
We're all turning into tree-hugging pansies. And it's all my fault for pushing this subversive, effete, Commie film.
[Video]
It's calm because certain people are not here, or have gone to bed.
I just finished reading through some of the contentious posts from this last week... dayum.
| 45 |
freetoken Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:03:00pm |
re: #27 Killgore Trout
Oh, and be sure to watch it in 720P in fullscreen.
| 46 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:04:32pm |
re: #42 freetoken
It's a tree hugging, commie inspired, French seduction into paganism.
Should be just about right for you :-O
It has nekked dancing girls too.
| 47 |
freetoken Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:04:57pm |
re: #43 lostlakehiker
I agree that we will have much more control over the cost of our electricity production than we will ever have again over oil.
| 48 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:05:02pm |
re: #40 Floral Giraffe
Except, the Feds aint comming to the rescue.
Now what?
Besides the we're F'd?
better start building desal plants...and not the experimental, cost effective type...the fact that CA does not lead the world in desal technology is telling....telling me they have their heads up their asses...bunch of liberal wreckers...they wreck stuff, like the quality of life...the ag business...tourism, etc...people want out of CA and are leaving in droves....there goes the tax base!
| 49 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:07:38pm |
re: #41 Floral Giraffe
Ok, it's time to go peel my eyelids off the eyeballs & give them some rest.
Good night, all.
Steve, I want the perfect car!
You can drive, but I want to own it!Be well.
Stay HAPPY & healthy.
The rest doesn't matter.
well here is the perfect car...so far as humans are concerned...
Image: 1969camaro1.jpg
| 50 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:09:56pm |
re: #43 lostlakehiker
China is well placed for this electric car business. They own essentially all the rare-earth element reserves that will be needed for the batteries in those cars.
It's not fair to castigate Americans for driving cars that burn precious oil, when that oil isn't priced as if it were precious. If we want broad masses of drivers to conserve energy, they will have to have a reason. That reason ought to be the price.
The government doesn't need to drive up prices. Those are destined to soar, far faster than inflation, as oil demand surges worldwide. [This recession won't last forever.] Meanwhile, the price of electricity will hold more nearly steady, assuming we can brace ourselves to build a new electric power system and issue permits for power transmission lines, nuclear power plants, extensive solar arrays, and so forth.
If we don't do that, then when the price of oil soars, we risk electing knaves who will promise to bring the cost of oil down, and who, when that proves impossible, will impose rationing and price controls and say they've cured the problem.
People will get their ration coupons at their friendly block monitor's monthly people's council meeting. That's the road to the HugoChavezization of America.
Mistake. Big, big mistake.
in short, we are fucked...bigtime
| 51 |
Jaerik Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:13:06pm |
As long as we're on the subject of power, the Joint European Torus tokamak reached a Q value (power out / power in) of 0.7, and they expect the ITER to reach Q = 5~10.
I find it sad that America has largely given up on fusion power as a pipe dream (outside of NIF), and has ceded most research in the area to Europe and Asia. Then again, I also find it an embarrassment that CERN and the LHC aren't here in the US either.
| 52 |
albusteve Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:13:36pm |
I guess all the liberals are down in the Quarter, pretending they rooted for the Saints all along...someone said these late nite threads were a hoot...so where is the hoot?
| 53 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:14:55pm |
re: #45 freetoken
I book marked it. I'll check it out in the a.m.
| 54 |
Irish Rose Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:16:10pm |
re: #52 albusteve
I guess all the liberals are down in the Quarter, pretending they rooted for the Saints all along...someone said these late nite threads were a hoot...so where is the hoot?
Depends on what kind of "hoot" you're looking for.
| 55 |
ryannon Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:18:47pm |
re: #52 albusteve
I guess all the liberals are down in the Quarter, pretending they rooted for the Saints all along...someone said these late nite threads were a hoot...so where is the hoot?
Upthread.
Time to stir the shit.
| 56 |
HelloDare Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:19:33pm |
re: #33 albusteve
where will the electricity come from?...a wall socket?
Yeah, in the garage. Charged during the night.
| 57 |
abolitionist Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:22:10pm |
Some are thinking a bunch of electric vehicles plugged into the power grid are going to help level off the midday peak demand problem. Might even be worth promoting, *IF* you didn't lose a big fraction of that energy going (back into the grid) and coming (putting your battery back to its previous state of charge --except that it's now a little closer to being worn out).
Managing the peak demand problem by time-shifting some demand away from that midday peak makes a lot more sense. Things like HVAC units, clothes driers, water heaters, battery charging stations for vehicles can (in many cases) be idled or turned down for a couple hours or so out of 24, without much adverse impact.
Most modern personal computers have some flexibility in terms of power versus perfomance --more so than a typical clothes drier. It might help if personal computers (and some mainframes) had some sort of time-of-day scheduling for that tradeoff.
| 58 |
SixDegrees Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:34:55pm |
re: #57 abolitionist
Some are thinking a bunch of electric vehicles plugged into the power grid are going to help level off the midday peak demand problem. Might even be worth promoting, *IF* you didn't lose a big fraction of that energy going (back into the grid) and coming (putting your battery back to its previous state of charge --except that it's now a little closer to being worn out).
Managing the peak demand problem by time-shifting some demand away from that midday peak makes a lot more sense. Things like HVAC units, clothes driers, water heaters, battery charging stations for vehicles can (in many cases) be idled or turned down for a couple hours or so out of 24, without much adverse impact.
Most modern personal computers have some flexibility in terms of power versus perfomance --more so than a typical clothes drier. It might help if personal computers (and some mainframes) had some sort of time-of-day scheduling for that tradeoff.
That's exactly what the "Smart Grid" is supposed to do - send a signal to your appliances when demand is high, telling them to ramp down their own consumption until otherwise notified.
After my own horrible experience with utility-interruptible air conditioning, I will be avoiding Smart Grid capable appliances like the plague they are sure to be.
| 59 |
abolitionist Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:42:55pm |
re: #58 SixDegrees
Ah, I see how a "until otherwise notified" feature could be hard to cope with.
Cold showers? Spoiled food in your freezer? Air conditioning inhibited for days at a time? How bad was it?
| 60 |
SixDegrees Mon, Feb 8, 2010 4:33:42am |
re: #59 abolitionist
Ah, I see how a "until otherwise notified" feature could be hard to cope with.
Cold showers? Spoiled food in your freezer? Air conditioning inhibited for days at a time? How bad was it?
Pretty awful. Only the AC was hooked up to an interruptible line; in return, we got cheaper rates on that line. The utility promised that power would never be interrupted for more than 20 minutes at a time, with a couple hours at least between stoppages.
The reality was far from what was promised. Our compressor would shut off for hours at a time. After many complaints, they finally started honoring the 20-minute rule - but after 20 minutes off, the power would only come back on for 3-5 minutes, and then be shut off again.
I will never, ever participate in such a scheme again. The utilities are full of lies.
| 61 |
Buck Mon, Feb 8, 2010 8:37:32am |
It is coming up as "This video has been removed by the user" for me.
| 62 |
Varek Raith Mon, Feb 8, 2010 8:44:39am |
| 63 |
Buck Mon, Feb 8, 2010 8:47:03am |
There is an interesting electric car plan in Israel. Stations will, in a couple of minutes, replace your almost empty battery with a freshly charged one.
I would buy a plug in hybrid. Where I live electricity is cheap. We have Hydro electricity, so it is very green. As long as the water falls, the generator runs.
Due to the cold weather conditions, almost every garage and parking lot has plugs. I would be able to charge at night, and drive to work (20 miles), and then plug in at work for the drive back.
It would be virtually free (although there would be a cost for new batteries, but that price would drop as well).
| 64 |
imploder Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:29:54am |
A plug in car burns...coal.
57% of the electricity generated in the U.S. comes from coal.
[Link: www.powerscorecard.org...]
| 65 |
SixDegrees Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:32:02am |
re: #64 imploder
A plug in car burns...coal.
57% of the electricity generated in the U.S. comes from coal.
[Link: www.powerscorecard.org...]
There's nothing particularly wrong with coal, though. And the nice thing about electricity is it all looks exactly the same, no matter what the original source was, so if coal begins to present problems it can be swapped out for something else with little or no disruption to the end electrical user.
| 66 |
huggy77 Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:42:19am |
Need more electric cars to perform and look like this:
http://www.teslamotors.com/
i would buy one of these...
| 67 |
imploder Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:46:14am |
re: #65 SixDegrees
There's nothing particularly wrong with coal, though. And the nice thing about electricity is it all looks exactly the same, no matter what the original source was, so if coal begins to present problems it can be swapped out for something else with little or no disruption to the end electrical user.
Hahaha. I have no problem with an electric car, but it can't be seen as a panacea. It uses electricity, the majority of which is produced from coal.
I think if the technology is good enough, it will complete a business cycle like any other product, an example of which would be the Prius. This car's technology was adopted early and remained very popular. Indeed, it sold well next to standard internal combustion engine technology. It's about economics, which essential boils down to incentives.
I have a turbo diesel Jetta. This car was purchased used for a pittance and approaches the fuel efficiency of a Prius using very old technology. For me the incentives for that vehicle were clear: super efficient operation without crazy software and hardware driven systems that are honestly quite fickle. I know a Prius owner who's car completely failed, just shut down, and Toyota has not been able to revive it. They don't know what happened. Irrecoverable error.
| 68 |
karmic_inquisitor Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:48:34am |
re: #3 freetoken
Excellent points, especially the self-deception that so many seem willing to embrace about alternative energy somehow being "free".
Furthermore, plug in hybrids are no solution if you are on a coal burning grid - you end up with a bigger carbon footprint than if you buy a diesel Jetta.
Another thing to consider on batteries - they are chemically nasty things that are truly toxic.
Ultra capacitors, while a long way off from commercial viability, hold some promise as a cleaner way to store electricity with higher storage potential per pound than chemical battery technology, and they have the potential to be much less toxic when exhausted.
| 69 |
karmic_inquisitor Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:50:50am |
Oh - and one more thing.
Nuclear Energy is proven, stable, produces concentrated wastes (as opposed to airborne wastes that shower toxic particulates over large areas in low yet still harmful concentrations), and has a microscopic carbon footprint.
| 70 |
SixDegrees Mon, Feb 8, 2010 9:54:58am |
re: #69 karmic_inquisitor
Oh - and one more thing.
Nuclear Energy is proven, stable, produces concentrated wastes (as opposed to airborne wastes that shower toxic particulates over large areas in low yet still harmful concentrations), and has a microscopic carbon footprint.
I completely agree; see my post just above concerning swapping out the generating source for electricity with little disruption.
| 71 |
imploder Mon, Feb 8, 2010 10:00:15am |
BTW, it's 14 degrees in Omaha today. I remember before global warming it would be only maybe six degrees. Too bad my Jetta doesn't throw out a bigger carbon footprint.
| 72 |
karmic_inquisitor Mon, Feb 8, 2010 10:15:33am |
re: #71 imploder
BTW, it's 14 degrees in Omaha today. I remember before global warming it would be only maybe six degrees. Too bad my Jetta doesn't throw out a bigger carbon footprint.
An interesting thing that many don't consider when pushing plug in hybrids - the whole of the country is not California.
I rented a Prius on a recent business trip to St Louis. Did mainly city driving where the MPG should be strong. But they were short trips with long breaks between.
MPG? 12 miles per gallon with 200 miles driven.
Why? It was cold outside, and a Prius runs the engine to heat the car.
That would not have happened here in San Diego.
| 73 |
imploder Mon, Feb 8, 2010 10:21:20am |
KI, I too, rented a Prius once. I did a little better than 12 mpg, but I was driving around the Orlando area. It was odd then to drive 500 miles without a fill up. I can now do 600 with the Jetta. I fill it up twice a month (actually, it is my spouse's car.)
And, the Jetta will whoop a Prius at the green light, assuming you spool up the turbo first. :)
| 74 |
Øyvind Strømmen Mon, Feb 8, 2010 3:47:45pm |
re: #72 karmic_inquisitor
I think you might be confusing the hybrid and the plug-in-hybrid.
| 75 |
badger1 Mon, Feb 8, 2010 7:34:57pm |
I'd rather have a jump pack or flying car than a plug-in hybrid.
Just saying...
| 76 |
karmic_inquisitor Tue, Feb 9, 2010 9:47:54am |
re: #74 oslogin
I think you might be confusing the hybrid and the plug-in-hybrid.
I'm not sure how that is - a plug in hybrid will still have to fire up a combustion engine to heat a vehicle, or it will have to use electric strip heat which sucks down a lot of joules.
Further, if you are getting your electricity from the grid where you "plug in" then you are as carbon intensive as the electric supply. In much of the country that usually means you are burning coal.
Plug ins extend range over closed loop hybrids but that does not necessarily make them cleaner.
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Russia’s New Combat Robots Blown Up by Drones Near Avdiivka When we landed on the moon, I thought about how science fiction had become real. Now, the robot wars have begun. It's more poignant somehow on the ground than in the missile wars we have in the air as ...
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Why Did More Than 1,000 People Die After Police Subdued Them With Force That Isn’t Meant to Kill? An investigation led by The Associated Press has found that, over a decade, more than 1,000 people died after police subdued them through physical holds, stun guns, body blows and other force not intended to be lethal. More: Why ... CheechakoKGxvi
Abortions Outside Medical System Increased Sharply After Roe Fell, Study Finds The number of women using abortion pills to end their pregnancies on their own without the direct involvement of a U.S.-based medical provider rose sharply in the months after the Supreme Court eliminated a constitutional right to abortion, according ... Cheechako
Once Praised, the Settlement to Help Sickened BP Oil Spill Workers Leaves Most With Nearly Nothing When a deadly explosion destroyed BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 134 million gallons of crude erupted into the sea over the next three months — and tens of thousands of ordinary people were hired ... Cheechako
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ... Cheechako
