electric, hybrid, and solar powered cars

wwoods · 05 Oct 2009

DocBrown said:

So GM is killing the Volt, just like their previous electric car, they crushed them, also in the video " Who killed the electric car" Sad day for technology, again

Why so...they own them, why shouldent the do with them as they want ? Personally, wouldent be caught dead in one of those tin cans.

wwoods · 05 Oct 2009

zigzag3143 said:

SG

did you see the piece on tv where GM is crusging their electric car volt rather than sell them? they have 80 more to crush and 100 ppl who want to buy them so there is a waiting list for a car that not even being made

ken

So what......if they dont want to sell them, that is their right.

whs · 05 Oct 2009

Tews said:

While Diesel appears to be an option, some facts about it need to be brought to light...
1. Diesel is still a byproduct of Oil .. to produce more diesel engines does nothing to relieve our dependence on foreign oil...it furthers it.
2. Saying that diesel is economical in the same sentence, is like saying military intelligence.. It just aint so. Regardless of the MPG ratings that you cite, you still have to put it in the tank, and diesel costs the consumer more than gasoline at the present time...and will continue to rise in the foreseeable future.
3. Diesel has a notorious reputation to wax up (gel) in cold weather.. While there are additives (kerosene) that can help, but all it takes is one time and you end up wishing that you had a gasoline engine.

I like to disagree with you on a couple of points:

1. Diesel is not a byproduct if you have proper refineries. But the US has not built new refineries in 25 years - that comes back to haunt them now. And if you consume less fuel, you alleviate the dependency on imports. There is an easy way to fix that - put a $5 tax on each gallon of gas (like we have in Europe), and people will buy sensible cars. If the gas costs 3 times more but the consumption is 3 times less, it comes out to the same.
2. Yes, in the US, diesel costs more. Not so in Europe because there is less tax on diesel. And 65% of all passenger cars are diesel. It is all a matter of pricing and sensible tax approaches. And again, the diesel prices in the US will probably rise - because of a lack of refineries.
3. The cold wheather problem is a fair point - but not in Florida, LOL

BTW: The average energy consumption per person in the US is 3.5 times that of Germany or France. With a proper approach, the US would have a surplus of oil and could export it.

Tews · 05 Oct 2009

Fair points all, but I dont live in Europe, I live in the US...in the Southern Hinterlands.. So, I must stand by my original post.. Yes if this happens, or that is changed, or whatever...but they havent and they arent likely to in my lifetime.. My experience is based on 15 years of being an over the road truck driver ...

Antman · 05 Oct 2009

Another thing I like about my high mileage diesel - no tailgaters.

Get too close, I drop into neutral, rev the engine 2 or 3 times, and a noxious black cloud engulfs the offender. I do it to cops, too.

I call it "engage the get off my *ss switch."

Tews · 05 Oct 2009

Its amazing how quickly a jake brake engaged at 70mph will get the same results...

whs · 05 Oct 2009

Antman said:

Another thing I like about my high mileage diesel - no tailgaters.

Get too close, I drop into neutral, rev the engine 2 or 3 times, and a noxious black cloud engulfs the offender. I do it to cops, too.

I call it "engage the get off my *ss switch."

Not with a modern diesel. They have filters and you can hold a white hanky across the exhaust - it will stay white. No more suds.

Antman · 05 Oct 2009

whs said:

Antman said:

Another thing I like about my high mileage diesel - no tailgaters.

Get too close, I drop into neutral, rev the engine 2 or 3 times, and a noxious black cloud engulfs the offender. I do it to cops, too.

I call it "engage the get off my *ss switch."

Not with a modern diesel. They have filters and you can hold a white hanky across the exhaust - it will stay white. No more suds.

My goal is a million miles on this engine.

Not really, but I think I will turn over more than 500k miles before the engine gives up the ghost.

And then, I will have the cylinders re-bored. I love this little red car.

whs · 05 Oct 2009

Tews said:

Fair points all, but I dont live in Europe, I live in the US...in the Southern Hinterlands.. So, I must stand by my original post.. Yes if this happens, or that is changed, or whatever...but they havent and they arent likely to in my lifetime.. My experience is based on 15 years of being an over the road truck driver ...

Tews, but it's guys like you and me who can change things. We just have to work at it. I spent about a total of 15 years off and on in the US - since 1964. I have seen a lot of change. If properly explained, people are willing to listen and to contribute.
The US dependency on oil imports is a terrible burden for the country that could be ended by cutting the energy consumption in half. And as you see in Europe, that can be easily done and still maintain a very high standard of living. Imagine without this burden, the US could get to a positive balance of paiment, the troups that are now stationed in about 100 countries could come home because they need no more protect " American vital interests" and the air would be cleaner too. I think it's worth moving into this direction.

AlexT2889 · 05 Oct 2009

DocBrown said:

So GM is killing the Volt, just like their previous electric car, they crushed them, also in the video " Who killed the electric car" Sad day for technology, again

GM is NOT killing the Chevrolet Volt, it is ON schedule to come out in mid-2010 with 230MPG range (don't blame GM, blame your best friend: The Government run EPA). If you are a car enthusiast (which half people on here aren't), The reason why GM killed the GM EV1 (The electric car being crushed in the movie) is because it was a TEST car, it was only possible to lease the car in California because of it's climate. GM had been developing and testing the EV1 since the LATE 80's and started selling them in mid-late 90's with THREE different variations of updated models and different batteries. Also, I haven't seen the movie, I highly doubt they had a Chevy Volt being crushed since it didn't even exist yet, but if they DID! it was a PRE-PRODUCTION or concept version which they HAVE to crush or disable.