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2010-12-14 Science & Technology

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Posted by Fred 2010-12-14 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Think about this: The Leaf and other electric cars are not zero-emission vehicles despite the hype; they are remote emission vehicles. The power has to come from somewhere, the electron fairy just doens't pop in, slap the hood with her magic wand and "presto" a full charge. but try to sell that to a enviro greenie weenie and see what happens: mouth frothing, eye bulging, shakes and hysteria will greet you.

Posted by USN,Ret 2010-12-14 00:42|| 2010-12-14 00:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Caliphornia, the most populous US state, is the biggest market for conventional cars and is expected to be the biggest one for electric vehicles as well.

Except Caliphornia is BROKE.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2010-12-14 09:52|| 2010-12-14 09:52|| Front Page Top

#3 Uh, hello..... ANY manufactured machine has remote emissions. A gasoline powered car has both remote and ( I suppose non-remote emissions ).

Posted by 746 2010-12-14 09:59|| 2010-12-14 09:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Its not pollution if its energy from Utah or Kansas, its what they deserve.

Now, are we going to have to add sound makers a la Houston Light Rail so that people don't start walking out in front of these fancy electric vehicles, and what does having the AC unit and fan do to the maximum expected range, or for that matter driving in mountains or I-40, and with the heater on? How long does that charge last if you are stuck in traffic...yes yes the battery is not engaged because it is electric blah blah bullcrap. Lights, radio, windshield wipers, gps, cell phone charger all going while just sitting there, stop and go. I'm just going to go ahead and guess that in order to keep the weight down it will have a cage made of these new alloys which are too tough for traditional jaws of life to cut through.

$12,000 in government tax credits? OK, I see the niche for such vehicles but just admit it..it is a personal transport with a very narrow ability which would not be worth it if someone else were not picking up 1/3 of the tab but that is ok because if fosters your fancy snob tendancy to look down on others who point out the obvious. No I get it I really do, locals have retrofit golf carts into road legal in-town transport. Honestly I cannot wait for these vehicles to get into the market gonna be good times.

Posted by swksvolFF 2010-12-14 10:21|| 2010-12-14 10:21|| Front Page Top

#5 Actually they could claim to be "emissions free" if they drew power exclusively from nuclear or hydroelectric plants. You know, the generation plants that the Greens block with lawsuits.

I still do not know why no major manufacturer has come out with a diesel electric motor and direct electric drive. Submarines have been doing that for decades. It would be seriously efficient, and a well tuned diesel running at constant speed (the engine providing charge and electrical current, not the car) the pollution would probably be far lower than the equivalent conventional drive gas or diesel engine.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-12-14 12:51|| 2010-12-14 12:51|| Front Page Top

#6 has been riding an electric bicycle to work

I used to ride a bicycle to work in San Francisco - and I, you know, just peddled it. No electric motor necessary. That's the funny thing about bicycles...

Posted by Secret Master 2010-12-14 14:00|| 2010-12-14 14:00|| Front Page Top

#7 That's the design we've been using in our locomotives for the last 50+ years. It's not made it in the individual vehicle market due to noise, exhaust and operating time, I'd suspect. Why it is not used in trucks is an interesting question. You would think trucking companies would be enthusiastic about the design if it were economically efficient.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-12-14 14:03|| 2010-12-14 14:03|| Front Page Top

#8 The design I was referring to was the diesel electric motor.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-12-14 14:04|| 2010-12-14 14:04|| Front Page Top

#9 Hey 746, we know that all vehicles are remote and not remote; my comment addresses the mis-statement in the press release quoted in the article. On behalf of all the 'Burgers, allow me to apologize for our obvious lack of in depth knowledge that you seem to bring an all fronts.
thanks for playing.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2010-12-14 15:08|| 2010-12-14 15:08|| Front Page Top

#10 try to sell that to a enviro greenie weenie and see what happens: mouth frothing, eye bulging, shakes and hysteria

Tempting.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2010-12-14 15:11|| 2010-12-14 15:11|| Front Page Top

#11 I still do not know why no major manufacturer has come out with a diesel electric motor and direct electric drive. Submarines have been doing that for decades. It would be seriously efficient, and a well tuned diesel running at constant speed (the engine providing charge and electrical current, not the car) the pollution would probably be far lower than the equivalent conventional drive gas or diesel engine.

Because the air pollution control laws in CA (which are now, thanks to the Zero Administration, the air pollution control laws for the nation) are seriously biased against diesel vehicles. Since the combustion happens at a higher temperature, it basically means that there's a higher chance that nitrogen compounds will be formed.

(Oh, and since then, CA has been taking an even harder line against diesel engines, because they also produce soot; they want to make them cost-prohibitive to use for things like forklifts and over-the-road trucking).

(Ain't it funny how stopping CO2 emmissions is important to these people until basically suddenly it isn't?)

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-12-14 15:45|| 2010-12-14 15:45|| Front Page Top

#12 Who's paying for those "charge points"? This loon, or me?

Posted by mojo 2010-12-14 17:29|| 2010-12-14 17:29|| Front Page Top

#13 Chevy Volt. American Jobs. The GMCs made in China, stay in China, buy Chevrolet volt which will be made in USA. I think GMC just hired about 7000 American workers for this.

Posted by Fire and Ice 2010-12-14 17:36|| 2010-12-14 17:36|| Front Page Top

#14 "try to sell that to a enviro greenie weenie and see what happens: mouth frothing, eye bulging, shakes and hysteria"

Sounds entertaining. Can I bring popcorn? :-D

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2010-12-14 19:03|| 2010-12-14 19:03|| Front Page Top

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