Gas Prices….

[Anonymous]

Who knows when gas prices will come down. Yeah, it sucks. I’m loving the car I drive right now, although I wouldn’t mind having a Prius.

[meadandale]

“Do any of you think we’ll get to the point where electric cars are a viable alternative?”

Electric cars are already an alternative in most cases in that they have produced cars that get 100+ miles to a charge which is sufficient for round trip commuting for most people.

However, there are a number of things to consider with electric cars.

Electric cars are NOT non-polluting, they just move the pollution source to the power plant. Most power plants in the US are still using coal and natural gas. While power plants are more efficient and cleaner than car engines, they STILL pollute, especially the dreaded GW pollutant of choice–carbon dioxide.

There is also a real threat of a lithium shortage in the next few decades and since most EV’s currently use lithium batteries, well you do the math.

Finally, remember the power shortages a few years ago in California? With no new power plants in this state in several decades, what do you think is going to happen if a few million people start plugging their cars into the power grid?

In the long run (at least with current technology) we should be developing a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen allows us to effectively store electricity without the need for batteries. Since all electricity in the US is typically generated and used immediately, this allows us to capture wave, solar, geothermal, wind and any other renewable power source and use it to drive electrolysis of water to generate the hydrogen.

Electric vehicles, hybrids..these are just delaying the inevitable.

[meadandale]

“Do any of you think we’ll get to the point where electric cars are a viable alternative?”

Electric cars are already an alternative in most cases in that they have produced cars that get 100+ miles to a charge which is sufficient for round trip commuting for most people.

However, there are a number of things to consider with electric cars.

Electric cars are NOT non-polluting, they just move the pollution source to the power plant. Most power plants in the US are still using coal and natural gas. While power plants are more efficient and cleaner than car engines, they STILL pollute, especially the dreaded GW pollutant of choice–carbon dioxide.

There is also a real threat of a lithium shortage in the next few decades and since most EV’s currently use lithium batteries, well you do the math.

Finally, remember the power shortages a few years ago in California? With no new power plants in this state in several decades, what do you think is going to happen if a few million people start plugging their cars into the power grid?

In the long run (at least with current technology) we should be developing a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen allows us to effectively store electricity without the need for batteries. Since all electricity in the US is typically generated and used immediately, this allows us to capture wave, solar, geothermal, wind and any other renewable power source and use it to drive electrolysis of water to generate the hydrogen.

Electric vehicles, hybrids..these are just delaying the inevitable.

[meadandale]

“Do any of you think we’ll get to the point where electric cars are a viable alternative?”

Electric cars are already an alternative in most cases in that they have produced cars that get 100+ miles to a charge which is sufficient for round trip commuting for most people.

However, there are a number of things to consider with electric cars.

Electric cars are NOT non-polluting, they just move the pollution source to the power plant. Most power plants in the US are still using coal and natural gas. While power plants are more efficient and cleaner than car engines, they STILL pollute, especially the dreaded GW pollutant of choice–carbon dioxide.

There is also a real threat of a lithium shortage in the next few decades and since most EV’s currently use lithium batteries, well you do the math.

Finally, remember the power shortages a few years ago in California? With no new power plants in this state in several decades, what do you think is going to happen if a few million people start plugging their cars into the power grid?

In the long run (at least with current technology) we should be developing a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen allows us to effectively store electricity without the need for batteries. Since all electricity in the US is typically generated and used immediately, this allows us to capture wave, solar, geothermal, wind and any other renewable power source and use it to drive electrolysis of water to generate the hydrogen.

Electric vehicles, hybrids..these are just delaying the inevitable.

[meadandale]

“Do any of you think we’ll get to the point where electric cars are a viable alternative?”

Electric cars are already an alternative in most cases in that they have produced cars that get 100+ miles to a charge which is sufficient for round trip commuting for most people.

However, there are a number of things to consider with electric cars.

Electric cars are NOT non-polluting, they just move the pollution source to the power plant. Most power plants in the US are still using coal and natural gas. While power plants are more efficient and cleaner than car engines, they STILL pollute, especially the dreaded GW pollutant of choice–carbon dioxide.

There is also a real threat of a lithium shortage in the next few decades and since most EV’s currently use lithium batteries, well you do the math.

Finally, remember the power shortages a few years ago in California? With no new power plants in this state in several decades, what do you think is going to happen if a few million people start plugging their cars into the power grid?

In the long run (at least with current technology) we should be developing a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen allows us to effectively store electricity without the need for batteries. Since all electricity in the US is typically generated and used immediately, this allows us to capture wave, solar, geothermal, wind and any other renewable power source and use it to drive electrolysis of water to generate the hydrogen.

Electric vehicles, hybrids..these are just delaying the inevitable.

[meadandale]

“Do any of you think we’ll get to the point where electric cars are a viable alternative?”

Electric cars are already an alternative in most cases in that they have produced cars that get 100+ miles to a charge which is sufficient for round trip commuting for most people.

However, there are a number of things to consider with electric cars.

Electric cars are NOT non-polluting, they just move the pollution source to the power plant. Most power plants in the US are still using coal and natural gas. While power plants are more efficient and cleaner than car engines, they STILL pollute, especially the dreaded GW pollutant of choice–carbon dioxide.

There is also a real threat of a lithium shortage in the next few decades and since most EV’s currently use lithium batteries, well you do the math.

Finally, remember the power shortages a few years ago in California? With no new power plants in this state in several decades, what do you think is going to happen if a few million people start plugging their cars into the power grid?

In the long run (at least with current technology) we should be developing a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen allows us to effectively store electricity without the need for batteries. Since all electricity in the US is typically generated and used immediately, this allows us to capture wave, solar, geothermal, wind and any other renewable power source and use it to drive electrolysis of water to generate the hydrogen.

Electric vehicles, hybrids..these are just delaying the inevitable.

[Coronita]

There is an alternative. While diesel is totally out of control over $5/gallon. Bio-diesel is pretty cheap to make. You can even make it yourself at home, if you have the right tools, for about a buck fifty/gallon.

 

The only problem is that with the latest CARB emissions guidelines, there aren't too many diesel vehicles.Mercedes bluetec and Audi diesels are hopefully going to make the trip over here.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel1.htm

 

[img_assist|nid=5962|title=selfportrait|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80]

—– Sour grapes for everyone!

[Coronita]

There is an alternative. While diesel is totally out of control over $5/gallon. Bio-diesel is pretty cheap to make. You can even make it yourself at home, if you have the right tools, for about a buck fifty/gallon.

 

The only problem is that with the latest CARB emissions guidelines, there aren't too many diesel vehicles.Mercedes bluetec and Audi diesels are hopefully going to make the trip over here.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel1.htm

 

[img_assist|nid=5962|title=selfportrait|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80]

—– Sour grapes for everyone!

[Coronita]

There is an alternative. While diesel is totally out of control over $5/gallon. Bio-diesel is pretty cheap to make. You can even make it yourself at home, if you have the right tools, for about a buck fifty/gallon.

 

The only problem is that with the latest CARB emissions guidelines, there aren't too many diesel vehicles.Mercedes bluetec and Audi diesels are hopefully going to make the trip over here.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel1.htm

 

[img_assist|nid=5962|title=selfportrait|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80]

—– Sour grapes for everyone!

[Coronita]

There is an alternative. While diesel is totally out of control over $5/gallon. Bio-diesel is pretty cheap to make. You can even make it yourself at home, if you have the right tools, for about a buck fifty/gallon.

 

The only problem is that with the latest CARB emissions guidelines, there aren't too many diesel vehicles.Mercedes bluetec and Audi diesels are hopefully going to make the trip over here.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel1.htm

 

[img_assist|nid=5962|title=selfportrait|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80]

—– Sour grapes for everyone!

[Coronita]

There is an alternative. While diesel is totally out of control over $5/gallon. Bio-diesel is pretty cheap to make. You can even make it yourself at home, if you have the right tools, for about a buck fifty/gallon.

 

The only problem is that with the latest CARB emissions guidelines, there aren't too many diesel vehicles.Mercedes bluetec and Audi diesels are hopefully going to make the trip over here.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/biodiesel/ss/makebiodiesel1.htm

 

[img_assist|nid=5962|title=selfportrait|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80]

—– Sour grapes for everyone!

[meadandale]

You can make biodiesel pretty cheaply but when the state and feds come calling for their taxes, and they will, it starts to dig into the viability.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-vegoil6-2008may06,0,5791535.story

Expect to see more of these stories in the future….

[meadandale]

You can make biodiesel pretty cheaply but when the state and feds come calling for their taxes, and they will, it starts to dig into the viability.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-vegoil6-2008may06,0,5791535.story

Expect to see more of these stories in the future….

[meadandale]

You can make biodiesel pretty cheaply but when the state and feds come calling for their taxes, and they will, it starts to dig into the viability.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-vegoil6-2008may06,0,5791535.story

Expect to see more of these stories in the future….

[meadandale]

You can make biodiesel pretty cheaply but when the state and feds come calling for their taxes, and they will, it starts to dig into the viability.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-vegoil6-2008may06,0,5791535.story

Expect to see more of these stories in the future….

[Author]

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