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| Europe | |
| Horses pitched as alternative transport for France | |
| 2007-11-22 | |
French towns worried about fuel prices, pollution and striking transport workers need look no further than the horse. Horses are a possible alternative for vehicles such as school buses and refuse trucks, say groups eager to pick up on global concerns about eco-friendly transport.
De Veyrac's group says it is the first in France to offer consulting on a wide range of horse-powered vehicles that could also haul bottles and aid street sweeping. "It is a serious alternative -- horses are already in use in over 70 towns as replacements for gasoline- and diesel-powered service vehicles," said de Veyrac, pointing to the 'Hippoville' prototype parked in the exhibition hall. With prices starting at 11,562 euros ($17,090), this revamped horse-drawn carriage with disc brakes, signal lamps and removable seating, goes for around the same price as 170 barrels of crude oil. De Veyrac's group was founded by Louis XIV's Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert to supply war horses for military campaigns. Today the group advises French towns interested in horses for city services. One project in northern France involves a pick-up route for glass bottles in the seaside resort of Trouville. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #14 Horses pitched as alternative transport for France OK, just what "Emissions Controls" are there, I envision huge diapers? Or huge grates for "Waste Disposal (Curb your Horse here, 500 franks fine for spillage) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-11-22 18:06 |
| #13 You could get a better result by equipping the Hippoville with an efficient two horsepower diesel engine and getting used to going slower. If you were going slower you might think about not making so many unnecessary trips, or maybe taking a walk. |
| Posted by: KBK 2007-11-22 15:53 |
| #12 Beginning the slide towards becoming a 3rd World nation. That's a really slippery slope once you get on it and the French have been on it for a number of decades now. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2007-11-22 15:44 |
| #11 I saw a row of "Smart" cars on the way to work this morning. Looked like they were going for less than €5000. With gas in Europe at over $7.00 a gallon, not surprising horses are making a comeback. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-11-22 14:20 |
| #10 The Germans lost. If horses come back, the French will long for the days of untreated diesel exhaust. Yeah, Pro, but you can't eat a Prius :) But can the French stay warm by the light of a burning horse. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-11-22 10:54 |
| #9 They worked for the Germans in WWII. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-11-22 10:36 |
| #8 It's winter now, but wait till it gets warm. It'll not be just the smell but the cloud of flies, vectors/agents of disease. This IS France were talkin about.and the smell will be different in what way? |
| Posted by: Slappy 2007-11-22 10:35 |
| #7 Yes, a horse is bio-degradable. Can't wait for the hybrid owners get the bill for new or recycling of their batteries full of toxic waste. I'm sure they'll expect someone else to 'eat it'. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-11-22 10:04 |
| #6 It's winter now, but wait till it gets warm. It'll not be just the smell but the cloud of flies, vectors/agents of disease Yeah, Pro, but you can't eat a Prius :) |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-11-22 08:07 |
| #5 French towns worried about fuel prices, pollution and striking transport workers need look no further than the horse. The enviro assholes forget what comes from the back of l'cheval. The old black and white photos and early movies don't convey the smell and the contamination by mother nature's alternative. Someone has got to clean up the waste. Multiple that by the hundreds and you're dumping a lot of crap in the immediate living conditions of people. It's winter now, but wait till it gets warm. It'll not be just the smell but the cloud of flies, vectors/agents of disease. It will have ever have a great effect on the demand for veterinarians. Let's see, the price of an auto mechanic versus a college trained and certified vet. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-11-22 07:27 |
| #4 Beats the hell outa walking. |
| Posted by: Thomas Woof 2007-11-22 06:22 |
| #3 I want a Shetland pony. |
| Posted by: Woozle Grereck5422 2007-11-22 05:43 |
| #2 "In other related news, buggy whip futures hit a new high on the Paris Bourse today as investors scrambled to get in on the ground floor of this exciting new development..." |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2007-11-22 01:22 |
| #1 Horseshit! |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-11-22 00:31 |