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One of their typically brilliant statements on the dangers of nuclear power: "Indeed, the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of 2011 has shown those risks to be more mythical than real."
Who's going to buy the used Fisker Karmas? While walking I saw one being driven yesterday. Beautiful car, more nicely styled than the Model S, in my opinion. I suppose I'd buy one for a price that would justify discarding it when it stopped running. Or, maybe I'd just park it in my driveway for its curb appeal. Who would/could fix the Karma's drivetrain?
I think we may see a similar demographic split with types of cars, as appeared in the late 70s, early 80s.
People at a higher income level ditched their gas-eating barges for smaller more economical cars, either pragmatic or luxury ones, and gave the old yachts to the poor.
Now, perhaps high-income people will ditch more and more of their used-up gasoline cars and purchase plug-in hybrids or EVs; and so once again we'll be able to "judge" people's economic status by what they drive...but this time, not by the size, but by the propulsion unit.
My prediction is that in 25 years one way to display your wealth will be to leave your lights on and water your lawn frequently.
I don't see France out producing Germany in a mere 37 years, either. Right now, the latter is the true power of Europe and towers above its neighbors. I do see more riots and car burning in France's history, as there's a huge gap there and little being done to fix it.
One way to see Germany really lead would be to see zillions of American Praetorian sector dollars stopped being spent there, and see it stand up for itself.
"the most reliable and most cost-effective resources happen to be solar and wind"
Xcel Energy said that to the Colorado PUC. (link and link)
Might start getting cheaper to recharge your EV.
I simply cannot convince myself that in the real world, on a real day, doing a real "thing" with a car, that driving an EV is going to be any cheaper than driving a plug in hybrid.
RE: Germany -- it's not that big an army, certainly not the largest in Europe. They do have women combat pilots though. Even Italy has a bigger army, if you can get your head around that.
The WSJ has a blurb up today on who's buying electric cars.
"Owners of electric cars drive less, possibly because they are using electric vehicles primarily for short trips. [L]imited range caused many EV owners to avoid longer or discretionary trips. [B]uyers of plug-in vehicles are relatively more affluent than the average motorist. [O]wners of electric vehicles tend to cluster in the same neighborhoods and plug in at similar times."
Plug-in battery packs? Had ’em. Gas-electric hybrids? Check. Regenerative braking? Yawn.
[Cost is] a big advantage for the electric car because gasoline was so expensive."
It's 1910 all over again.
Modern electric cars look to the past (Toledo Blade)
The next S-class will have a diesel hybrid.
Win-win. Great mileage in the city, great range on the highway.
23 Civic Type-R / 22 MDX Type-S / 21 Tesla Y LR / 03 Montero Ltd
Hard to make that combo pay. When hybrid or diesel are about breakeven, the added mpgs going from either one to a hybrid diesel just aren't worth much $$.
Didn't I hear that the super efficient VW 2-seater diesel hybrid was, like, $100k? WOW!
For the diesel-hybrid idea, I don't see it as being a big jump in expense. For MB, the diesel exists and is long-proven, just need to attach a hybrid to it. Then you can get 40 city with the hybrid and 40 highway with the diesel.
And now they are trying to sell an E400 hybrid rated 30 hwy. That would be crazy when you can buy the E250 Bluetec 4 matic that gets 42 MPG on the highway according to the EPA. The E hybrid is rated less in town as well.
At this price point it's not like a couple of thousand makes any real difference to the bottom line.
Also, the turbo diesel needs a short while to spool up, in that split second the electric motor would move you right along. So it could be tuned to be a lot more responsive to throttle inputs.
Well that is my thinking as well. Why even bother with a hybrid crap when a diesel will beat it at every level except 0-60 MPH. I see people posting 37 MPG combined with the GLK 250 Bluetec. With that engine in the E you got a 40 MPG machine. With good acceleration. I don't think you can really get any greener in that size luxury. Unless you buy a Chinese EV and use Chinese made Solar panels to keep the pollution in China. There is a lot more pollution building an EV or hybrid.
Green dragsters sounds like an oxymoron, but I suppose it could happen, along with claims of a lower carbon footprint than conventional dragsters.
We used to have drag strips all over CA. Now only two left that I can find. Both up in Northern CA. Phoenix SpeedWorld is now closed up and out of business. I think it is a dead sport except for street racers. Which is not likely to happen with the cost of batteries and electronics in a hybrid.
Now all we need are the EV dragsters complaining about winding up their engines and having their engines unwind.
Funny Story. Developer buys 17 acres and gets approval to build 84 homes. It is right next to an egg ranch with 100k chickens. The egg ranch owner puts up a sign saying buy at your own risk. When the wind blows in your direction you will smell the chickens. Houses all get sold and soon afterwards the homeowners try to get the chicken ranch shut down. No way the chicken ranch was there long before the subdivision. My part, is I dated the now owner while in High School. Her dad was the one that started the chicken ranch. Glad to see the court make a good decision.
Same story, but it was a fiberglass plant making tubs in a small town out near Boise. The rub was the city officials overruling their planning department and allowing the subdivision (this after years of the plant fighting to get the air quality permits in an industrial area). At least the mayor and council take all the flak and not the planners.
Much rather have the chickens, and if you do the ranch right, the manure could power your electric car and your house and the rest of the subdivision.
Gloucestershire farm to produce 'chicken poo' power (BBC)
Plus, you can use a smaller diesel than you would otherwise use if you have instant EV torque to move off the line. The diesel will do fine maintaining speeds on the highway.
At low speeds, they may be going for less noise, too. These are extremely well insulated inside, but pull up to a valet and you hear the clatter clatter when you get out. The hybrid would be totally silent.
When it's a $15,000 econobox vs. a $20,000 hybrid econobox, that's one thing. 33% more money. Let's figure the break-even, etc.
But $95,000 vs. $90,000? That's a rounding error to them.
Just go buy a TDI and be happy.
I might agree, except the Hybrid SUVs are not getting anywhere near their EPA mileage especially in city driving. Looks like Ford dumped the Escape Hybrid that got decent mileage.
EPA highway is 29, right? I bet on a few hundred mile haul with no detours or long slow periods, you'll be into the mid 30s.