Selling green houses (and cars and fuel)
Brian Dumaine's The Plot to Save the Planet discusses small-business owners who are creating the green houses, cars, and energy sources that will slash our fuel bills and help clean up our ecosystem. What do you think about these new green technologies?
From John Lintz Glendale, Arizona Ecars are coming and soon. To really kick off the technology, the companies should invest in racing them. Think about how racing has aided gasoline auto development.
It would be strange sitting at a 200 mile almost silent race where batteries are swapped out of cars along with tires, frequently!
Drag cars and street sleeper hybrids with small diesel engines charging the batteries are other good opportunities.
From Brian Boucher, Johnston RI I'm excited by the technology, but the "devil is in the details":
1) Price-point a key for the average American…because of the economic situation, the big seller will be the vehicle that can come in with a price between $20,000. to $25,000…maybe up to $30,000.
2) Crash-worthiness of some of these radical designs is important, with the anticipated significant size difference among vehicles on US roads.
I will buy if these concerns are dealt with.
From Mekhong Kurt, Aubrbey, Texas/Bangkok, Thailand Heck yes, I believe all the alternative energy sources we're seeing will eventually eliminate the need of fossil fuels.
I realize each has its drawbacks, largely associated with relative costs, which is why I'm all for every government that can do so at all (including my own in the U.S.) to devote as much support as is possible, within the constraints of fiscal responsibility.
When I was I kid, my family lived on a small ranch in northeast Texas. We had a medium-size animal barn, and a windmill beside it, primarily to pull up water from the water table, lift it to a storage stank off the ground, then provide drinking water for the animals — via a wind-created electrically-powered pumping system to pump the water automatically when the trough level dropped to a certain point. My Father realized he might even be able to power a light or two inside the barn via the windmill for when we had to be there at night — and he was right.
Yes, he kept a small diesel generator as an emergency backup, but it was rarely needed.
And that's just one example from wind.
From david bedford tx i think that we need an electric that charges while you drive it. an alternator works just great and more speeds to the transmission
From John, TX The planet receives the bulk of it's energy from the sun and stores it, for a large part, as hydrocarbons (oil). We have a fairly useful natural battery in oil but seems that we need a more effective method of recharging the battery. Algea seems to be pretty effective and also looks like it can capture and process many of our synthetic polutants as well.
We have been damming up rivers for generations to control flooding and generate electricity. Maybe we should be flowing that water through massive algea farms, cleaning the water for reuse downstream, pressing the oil from the algea for fuels, and using the pressings to produce high protein livestock upstream.
From G Wikoff, Phoenix, NY If you want to see the future of electric cars take a look at the evolution of the RC aircraft hobby. With the advent of brushless motor systems and Lithium battery technology we are able to outperform gas powered aircraft in every respect. The planes are lighter, quieter, fly longer and have more power than all but the pure turbine powered jets. We have flight power systems that can generate more than 5hp and fly 20lb aircraft. When using the M1 type batteries we can easily recharge in 15 minutes so in most cases our second battery is charged before we have exhausted the first and no mess to clean up when done flying.
From Alan, Santaquin Utah Green Feuls and other such componies have been forced to find off shore investors because they have been unable to secure a U.S. patent, such as the one I own, U.S. patent 6966942 the process they are using is outlined in my patent.
From Tom Broken Arrow,OK what do we do when the battery is dead while on a vacation trip? are these car's for city comute only?
From John K Collings, Atlanta, Georgia The Electrics are a major piece of the US energy independence plan. But without the US Citizens following up with voting and consumer support for wind, solar, nuclear and clean coal it will be meaningless. The reason that democracy and capitalism succeed as a societal model is because they both give the power of choice to individuals, one allows you to vote at the booth, the other to vote at the store. The reason we should support the Electrics is it sends a clear signal to OPEC, GM, the DNC and GOP that we the people don’t just want change, we are changing. Once people realize that support of the Electrics, even if they don’t buy one, means lower demand, longer supplies and lower prices for oil. Eventually America’s creative genius will fully replace oil, but for now the Electrics provide a substantial stepping-stone in the right direction.
From Dan Connolly Would I buy an electric car or pickup truck? Absolutley! BUT, first it has to be able to perfomr more closely to current vehicles. I need to be able to go 300 miles wihtout stopping at highway speeds, and where I live, 4-wheel drive is essential in the winter. I am not worried about the electricity, i am seriously looking at a home based wind generator. Already using pellet stove for heat….
From none Half of the northeast USA is powered ALREADY by Niagara Falls.
So stop with the "we should use" crap. We already ARE! Remember NYC losing it's power completely because of a malfunction at the falls? Half of New England lost power for a long time.
From stupid is as stupid does Electric cars suck. period. If you want to drive a few miles here and there then fine, but every year or so you will spend thousands replacing the 12-15 batteries.
Your convoluted Hydrogen/Zinc idea is completely unfounded. Why would you even bother? It would work as well as putting a generator on your dog.
electricity can be made from an outside force, like a waterfall. Half of the northeast USA is powered ALREADY by Niagara Falls. I cannot see any "Ocean turbine", unless there is some kind of canal that has a really strong and fast current. Wind is barely ok., but not very much electricity comes out of it, and the worst is solar panels. If you are simply adding to the grid, fine, but it will not even come close to being sufficient, even if you have 5000 solar panels! Nighttime and cloudy days are quite a negative for solar anything.
Gas is not a bad way to power your car. There is NO "Co2 global warming" anyways, so don't worry. If your government really believed in man caused warming, then they would not require a catalytic converter in your current cars, which converts various gasses in your exhaust into CO2! Think of how many catalytic converters are out there pumping that horrible Co2 (the same co2 that all vegetation on Earth need to survive and is absolutely harmless to the environment)
From Dr. Walter Morrow Algae, corn, jatropha, any source of biofuel ends up burning–resulting in a heavy carbon footprint. Ocean powered generation of electricity is the ultimate answer to clean power. When coupled with affordable electric vehicles, ocean power has the capacity to totally eliminate automotive fumes. What a great day that will be. I am 59 and hope very much to see that day.
I am not a greenie at heart, but I predict that governments will so heavily tax any conventional use of petroleum products that enventually only zero emission vehicles such as hydrogen or totally electric cars will be affordable to drive.
Upcoming generations of photovoltaic (rooftop) systems will probably be so effective that the majority of household power needs will be supplied.
My twisted logic is that high gas prices are a good thing. The intensive research on electric cars would never have reached the current frenzied pace were it not for the high current prices of oil products.
Sincerely, Dr. Walter Morrow
From Keith, Placerville CA Nobody that makes statements such as this can really provide any facts, you are buying into the bull. Instead of paying the oil industry tens of billions of dollars a year that money can make huge and fast differences that far exceed the nebulous benefits of more drilling.
From Keith, Placerville CA GM was producing and delivering electric with an inferior battery compared to the higher tech batteries originally intended for them. GM is sitting on that battery technology, why I can't figure.
From Mike, Clearwater, Florida We will probably never know the full story behind General Motors decision to not only pull the EV1 from consideration for immediate developement and marketing, but to also repossess and destroy all test cars that were out.
While the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" was decidedly one sided, it does show that once again, whether it was merely merely lack of insight and corporate greed or possibly even a true conspiracy by industry or industries unknown, it is a sad commentary on the automobile industry, once America's jewel in the crown, and its unwillingness or inability to even try for a piece of it's former glory.
Having been born and raised in Flint, Michigan, now one of this countries most depressed "ghost towns", I still try to maintain a posative outlook, even though it gets harder day by day.
From Chris, Charleston, WV I think this is great. The need for this is finally here and businesses are starting to respond, now we need our government to start responding.
From ray, venice, ca what a great forum…you are all to be commended for participating. what about the japanese who have perfected the water power source…that's a wow! Let's do it ….thanks for letting me comment.
From Powell Anderson Sir.
Please name several mutual funds concentrating on this field of investment.
Powell Anderson
Waynesboro, VA
From Brian Richardson Tx Sorry John from Atlanta youre ideas are so anti big picture I just have to respond. We should immediately begin planning to replace all coal plants with nuclear in parallel with a common sense grid restructuring. These plants should be a cookie cutter approach to achieve cost of scale benefits and maintenance ease. For goodness sake even the French are recycling the fuel pellets leaving an eighth the waste we must store. While we are on the subject, are our imaginations so broken we can put a man on the moon but cant remediate or safely store nuclear waste. The coal could then be used to convert to gas for about $40 a barrel. If you truly care about the environment, this could be the bridge to affordable renewables . You can then plug in your electric cars with peace of mind. Cant believe I praised the French.
From Sabrina Rackard What will be the warranty on the new electric car "Aptera"?
From Alan R. Burgess I am wondering if there is any consideration being made toward individuals
with disabilities. I happen to be disabled and am concerned that new
vehicle design could make it very difficult to obtain adequate
transportation in the future.
From joseph plante, Sweetwater, TN What about air cars??
From G.H.Stewart, Southend-on-Sea The use of flowing-or falling water as an energy source has long been
negleted.
Tale any floating body,lighter,ship etc equip the vessel with turbines
turned by propellers along the length of its hull.Anchor said vessel in any
river-tidal or otherwise where the current exceeds three knots and you will
have an electric power source that will function as long as said vessel is
heading into the current.A tidal river would be used either with the vessel
swinging to a single anchor or reverable pitch propellers on the turbine of
a moored vessel.WHY ARE WE NOT USING THIS SIMPLE POWER SOURCE
From Joerg Schoepp Brian,
Geothermal power is not new. For example Larderello in Italy is
harvesting electricity from geothermal wells since the early 1900.
ENEL who operates the plant has 32 turbines producing energy.
The company I work for makes and services geothermal turbines.
Regards
Joerg Schoepp
From Jim, San Bernardino, Ca. I think it's possible to be green,in a little more than two decades. The problem is big business,lobbyist,and politicians. The investment would be in the trillions, that's just to switch our power grid to renewables. On the car front. There will be a car powered by air, on the market very soon. I believe it's called a mini kat. I have hope, that in the end, the right decisions will be made. It will be done, because oil isn't going to be around forever. These gasoline prices tell me that. Rich people like to stay rich. They can't eat oil!
From richard york, sc Electricity can e made for free, so can hydrogen. The technology is available today. It is all in the process. Zinc, zinc oxide, steam, hydrogen, tesla steam engine. First there is zinc – apply some heat and water (we get to the heat source in a bit) and some electricity (not much needed and we will get to that in a bit too). The result is zinc-oxide and hydrogen. The zinc-oxide is taken to a solar furnace that heats the zinc oxide to drive off the oxygen and the result is zinc (which we use back in the hydrogen generator). Now the hydrogen is burned (the result is water). This is where the tesla steam engine is used. As the hydrogen gas is burned, water is injected into the flame and the resulting 1,300 to 1 expansion is directed into the tesla engine which drives a generator. The excess heat from the steam heats the zinc and water solution and a small amount of the electricity is used to drive off the hydrogen atom from the water. All the acutal energy is from the sun which drove off the oxygen atom from the zinc-oxide. The tesla engine has a nozzle where the hydrogne flame and concentric water injection creates the steam.
From SCOTT BEMIS Venture capital is flowing into many good ideals, and some that may not work. This would be normal venture capital investing. For the rest of us, there are existing, energy efficient methods to which we could switch today, risk free at least from any investing view. These methods are proven in many other first world nations, as found on the European continent. Such examples include using mass transit, walking, using bicycles . . Just visit Europe for real world demonstrations. Or as travel is becoming more expensive, visit European web site.
From kate, seattle, wa I saw Ray Kurzweil on Glenn Beck awhile back talking about his solar project- decreasing the size (and cost) of solar power through the usage of nanotechnology. He's kinda wierd,what with his "singularity" stuff, but i picture cars running only on solar panels on their roofs, made very small and very cheap. He says 5-10 years. We could run EVERYTHING on soalr if nanotech is successful.
From Layne, Denver, CO I read some good news on CNN today: American car sales, especially SUV's, are dropping through the floor. Finally, gas has become so expensive that the American consumer has an economic incentive to hold out for an alternatively fueled vehicle.
We love to point our finger at the big auto producers, as if there were some vast conspiracy to keep us on fossil fuels. There is no conspiracy; only economic incentive. Now that we can no longer afford their gas guzzlers, they will have to produce something else.
So here's my message to the big auto producers: if you can produce an electric vehicle that goes 200+ miles per charge, goes 90+ mph, costs under $35,000, and doesn't look like it was designed by George Jetson (or his boy Elroy), I WILL BUY IT! And drive past the gas station with a smile on my face…
From Steve, Denver Co Perhaps the only benefit of $4 gas is that it is forcing everone to look seriously at alternatives. And unlike the last big increase of the 70's, the Internet has made it easy for most of us to research and shop those alternatives.
With regard to being green, I think any fuel technology that requires a gasoline-like distribution network is a huge mistake. Think about all the energy expense of finding petroleum, drilling for it, transporting it, refining it, distributing it, and the additional energy to run the dispensing stations. Pure electric power can eliminate all of that.
But don't expect perfection immediately! The switch is akin to going from horse and buggy to motorcar. Battery problems, speed, distance, reliability issue all will improve as the technology matures. But it will never mature if we as consumers dont embrace (and demand!) the technology.
From Machleidt, Madison, WI A few words to those who think that goverment involvment in innovation is a bad idea: Manhattan project, Apollo program and NIH.
Goverment driven programs can excel in innovation, especially if it requires the organization and coordination of diverse resources and long term strategies (which is bacoming increasingly rare in our shareholder driven public companies) . The benefit of those programs usually translates into the private sector within a few years (who would argue that the US biotech industry is the envy of the world). Goverment tends to mess up when it tries to mandate behaviour in form (just take a look at our numerous wars on something – poverty, drugs, terrorism etc..). What could be worth a thought would be the equivalent of the Manhattan project for future energy technologies. Might be a better use of tax dollar than subsidizing piecemeal efforts.
From Geo 15 years ago EVs like the Toyota RAV4-EV could go 150 mpc. Most are still working to this day with original batteries. Now they can't make them? What happened, technology went backwards? What happened was the NiMH batteries were taken off the market because they were too efficient. There should be a congressional investigation into why Cobasys is allowed to sit on pattents for NiMH batteries and refuses to allow them to be produced for auto use.
From Rich I have four questions I wish you could address in a future article. I have never seen these questions addressed.
1. If a car goes 100 miles on a 4 hour charge, do the batteries wear like any other battery, otherwords you get a little less range with every charge. After two years might you only get a range of 50 miles?
2. Since we don't allow building new electric power plants, after a larger number of these cars hit the road will we have enough electric generating power to charge them?
3. How much does it cost per mile to operate these electric vehicles? Electricity for charging them is not free and some news articles go on and on as though it is. I need a comparison of cost per mile for one of these electric vehicles compared to say a gas vehicle that gets 30 mpg.
4. How long before these batteries need replaced and what is the cost?
Thanks,
Rich
From Jeff Swint Smith, Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455 I think that it is the wave of the future ant that it will work very well.
Far too few resources have been put into alternative energy in the past, ans solar energy offers tremendous promise, as do other sources of energy.
And pursuing alternative energy full-tilt is less expensive, and far more
beneficial, than pursuing oil-based
wars in the Middle East, as the Bush administatrtaion has done in Iraq.
From austin, tx Why a US auto maker cannot begin production on a Prius type car is an utter mystery to me. The technology is there, I do not think stealing their exact design is necessary but something similar. These boutique electrics (Volt,Tesla) will not do. And this talk of 2-3 years away for an affordable hybrid or electric is absurd, half of US auto makers will be out of business by then.
From Anonymous people should stop talking about buying cars and walk. it use to come natural.
From Heydi, Milwaukee, WI well, in due time, the money will trickle down the ladder of heirarchy. what i mean is: once everyone in the company that helped create this car gets paid, will the prices go down. time is everything.
From Chris, Alexandria VA I drive a standard ICE (internal combustion engine) 1.6liter MINI COOPER 5speed and get 34-36 mpg… that's 400+ miles per $50 fillup. 72,000 miles of excellent reliability and economy has me wondering if hybrids are any better. I will admit that a vehicle with four in-hub electric motors could have the capability to out handle AUDI's Quattro.
Personally I've had my eye on the Venture One (http://www.FlyTheRoad.com since last year. Based upon the European car: Carver and reviewed on BBC's TopGear show, the design is sleek and efficient and FUN!!
From Cincinnati, OH The answer is a self-sustaining, electric vehicle. An electric vehicle that uses its own motion to generate its own charge, along with solar panels.
This of course will never happen because there is no money in that. The auto industry will force hydrogen down our throats so we have to keep buying EXPENSIVE hydrogen. And don't think for a minute that hydrogen will be any cheaper than what we are paying now for gas.
From Jim Sysko PE, Newry, Maine I think plug in electric cars are the way to go as long as the electricity used to charge them is made in a eco-friendly way. The batteries in these cars could then be used to store off-peak power and feed energy back to the grid when the car is not in use if needed by the grid during peak power times or brown out conditions. Doing this would reduce the need for new peaking power utility plants.
From Lee, Indianapolis, IN What are two of our biggest problems? Energy independence and health issues related to obesity and lack of exercise. The solution? Human powered/electric transportation. By utilizing lightweight composites and alloys we can easily add human power components to such vehicles (check out the Go-One or Leitra for a good foundation). Certainly not the only solution, but a good option. Bicycles are certainly a reasonable part of the equation if we can make it a safer form of travel (more bike lanes and paths).
From David, West Palm Hydrogen Economy: Hydrogen gas made at home with solar power running your car with fuel cells, and home electricity through fuel cell, batteries and inverters. Thats independence. Thats what I want.
From Mike, Barstow, CA We should stop talking about 'alternative energy'; this was the 1980s approach, and it failed. Oil prices dropped, and the companies folded up shop.
We need to focus on 'renewable energy'; we build it, and it doesn't run out. Eventually, all energy will come from renewable sources, as the oil, then the gas, and finally the coal run out; they are not renewable.
Geothermal is doing well: profitable and growing. Wind is coming on, with large subsidies; more needs to be done to lower the cost. Solar is coming on, with huge subsidies; much more needs to be done before we spend massive resources on deploying the current, expensive panels, or we won't be able to afford anything else. Biomass has the potential to completely replace petroleum, which is good, because it must do so in a generation or less.
It would be helpful if we could stop or at least slow the population growth in the US and the world. A variety of solutions (including a number that I didn't mention) will be needed because we have so many people in this country and on this planet.
From Arnold Gill, Errington, BC High fuel prices are the impetus to the greatest American strength – free market innovation. I like some of the new electric vehicles around (especially one I have not seen mentioned on your website yet – the Roadster from Tesla Motors – 220+ mi/charge, and the 2008s are already sold out – see http://www.teslamotors.com). I also have a guy down the street who modifies gas engine cars to electric vehicles for about $10,000 – so there are some real alternatives available right now. Go electric!
From Greg – Atlanta, GA My next car will be an all electric. I have a very old minivan and a sedan I use for commuting. Replacing my commuter car with an all-electric would be ideal. My daily commute is about 25 miles one way. With an electric car capable of 125 miles on a charge, I expect to get over six years (and hopefully closer to ten years) before I have to replace the battery. No tune-ups, oil changes, etc. I would love to make this purchase an American car, but the first <$35K car to market in Atlanta will get my business.
From Barre VT I think they are the immediate wave of the future. To say no is to have ones head in the sand the days of VROOOM!!! VROOM!!! are coming to a close get over it and adapt to the new cars.
From Frank,Cambridge MD During WWII the British ran cars with gas bags on top. This was derived from chicken munure (1cf=2 miles)
Better mileage would result by substituting the gas bag for a DC politician
From Al Kemp, Destin, Florida I think the electric cars are a great idea. Way back in the 60s someone had an idea to put an electric conductor in the center of roadways to power electric cars.
Electric cars can now run long enough on a charge for local commuting, and if that idea was developed it would permit long distance driving as well.
The cars battieries could be recharged while you were on one of these highways.
We could enjoy the efficiency of nuclear power for transportation.
From Jim Tullis, Maidson, WI New 21st century technology is the best to solve the problem of dependence on foreign oil and pollution from cars. Fuel-Free One is using quantum mechanics to create the worlds first fuel free engine that is not electrical. You should check out their webpage at fuelfreeone.com.
From Houghton, MI I am not totally agree of your points, but, how green are our current power plants?
Also, I do not want a slower car, that's moving backward.
From TAMPA FLA HYDROGEN AND ELECTRIC PLUG IN COMBO VEHICLES WILL BE IN ALL OUR FUTURE'S.PLUG IN POWER WILL BE PRIMARY SOURCES, BUT HYDROGEN MADE THRU ELECTROLSYS WILL CARRY US ON LONG TRIPS.GET USE TO IT PEOPLE..
CALL YOUR POLITICIANS AND GET GOV SUPPORT TO GET HYDROGEN STATIONS PUT IN PLACE, OR WRITE LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE HYDROGEN INSTALLED WHEN STATIONS REMODEL. YEA GOOD IDEA
From John Kernell, Ocean Springs, MS What might be the unintended consequences of electric vehicles that must be charged? How much will the average electric bill go up per month? Net net, what's the advantage to the consumer? Advantage to the environment mitigated by increased need for electric power?
From Glen Ellyn, IL You said the car is 20 years away—-I say No—-I say Now—-
Everyone likes a challenge—
Let us all develope the car of the
Future—-
From Glen Ellyn, IL Electric Car—-is it the answer?
I say NO—-
We must look for far better, then
Electric cars—
From Glen Ellyn IL Very well said—-
Could I develop a car that could beat
Toyota, and Honda—-the answer is YES—
So, I'm sure America is up for the challenge—
From Leonard Franklin, Paso Robles, CA Auto makers have been making fuel efficient cars for many years but the customers do not buy them in sufficient quanity to keep them on the market. If the general public were serious about conservation we would all be driving small fuel efficient cars. We have two Geos sold and serviced by General Motors in 1991. I drive 103 miles to work on 2.1 galons per trip. That is 47 MPG at freeway speeds of 65 – 70 MPH. The coificient of drag is so little on this design it will roll without power down a 10% 4 mile grade starting from 0 mph and reach 80 mph at the bottom. My geo has 355,000 miles on it and still preforms well. Maintanance has been minimal mostly consisting of tires and cam drive belt every 100k miles. Two of my daughters used these cars for college and after gas prices started to rise we went back to driving them. We have no one but ourselves to blame for not having more efficient vehicles.
From Brendon, Hamilton, ON Electric energy is an excellent energy source. Its perfect for the industry and home power use, but there are many other ways to power cars. One of them is compressed air. The idea has been around forever, and with modern technology it has been proven to work. With compressed air there are no expensive batteries to change, as it works similarly to a gas powered engine. Its clean and efficient. Best part is the cost: about $2 to fill, and it goes just as far as a gas tank now will take you. Google "compressed-air car" and be surprised at how simple and smart it is, I know I was.
From Ceila L.B., Coral Springs The oil era is almost over. The arabs, and all oil producing countries have all the reason to be worry, they should start investing their money in energy savings products.
From Jeff T., Kensington, CA My next car will be all electric.
From Bob Stovall I can only marvel at the vacuousness of the 'We can't drill our way out of this mess' mentality. The Democrats who oppose more exploration like to cite their claim that it would take 10 years (or longer) before the first oil would flow from a new oilfield. Yet, so-called green alternatives are going to take far longer to develop into truly viable alternatives. Once again, Government IS the problem. Not drilling is what has gotten us INTO this mess. Not drilling will take far longer to get us OUT of it.
From Bob Stovall Electric powered cars, whether hybrid or plug-n-play, are certainly one way to improve fuel efficiency of motor vehicles. But the unfettered market is the place for their development, not some government program. Safety standard and environmental standards are already in place for the manufacture of autos and their components. Subsidies only hide the true costs of the products they support. Entrepreneurs will devise and develop the technologies required to make them viable exactly as they did the personal computer. Neither Bill Gates nor Steve Jobs and Steve Wosniak required a government program to develop their businesses. That the microprocessor was a by-product of the space program of the '60s and 70's is misleading. The microprocessor would have been developed without these massively expensive and wasteful programs. Let the entrepreneurs sort this out and let the government get the hell out of their way. As Ronald Reagan stated so succinctly, 'Government is not the solution to the problem. Government IS the problem.'
From Prakash – Centerton AR My plan would be to get 1000 of the countries best engineers and give them 18 months to come up with an engine that meets the specified objectives. Give them all the money and infrastructure and let America's best manage the project. Don't you think this would work ? Bill Gates has just retired. Why doesn't he take on the task of coming up with a super engine ?
From Scott Rochester Ma Any electric vehicle that can plugged in is great because that makes it free to operate since your home electricity is free and the power plants all operate for free.The other good thing about power plants is that the "greenees" want to regulate them even more so that it costs even more to operate and in turn makes it more expensive for us, the consumer…. Wake up people, electric cars are useless for 90% of the U.S. population.
We need to be drilling in ANWR, off-shore and anywhere we can
From Bob – Houston, TX We need to move in this direction, but, gradually. There is a lot of infastructure required to manufacture and distribute goods. Our present factories would need to be modified and some new ones built since most manufacturing is done in poor countries to capitalize on cheap labor. Also, many people work in oil-related industries, and putting them out of work would effect the US economy as well w/ high unemployment and less consumer spending. Proceed, but, at a controlled pace!
From randy, North Carolina all new technologies need time to develop, look how far the automobile has come in a hundred years, we must get this stuff on the street now to make a difference in our grandchildrens lives, lets give some of the 17 billion we gave to big oil to this industry to see what they can do with it, 17 billion got us $4 dollars plus at the pumps….
From Patrick,Cincinnati,OH "Lets see now, according to Aptera’s website, while their prototype got just over 200mpg not 300mpg, they estimate that what they’re selling will only get 100mpg. Does it make sense that they would underestimate its capability"
No… but even if it is just 100 mpg your talking about elimination of our need for foreign oil? Nuff said…
From George W.Bush Washington, DC Please everyone reply that has just a minute here…..What is the average length of your daily comute??? Miles a day you are working?? A week total???
I would bet 60 miles and less, for 80-90 percent of the population…..yes there are exceptions, but when the oil companies cant' give away oil, you will have $1 gas again….ha, ha. Eat your oil….
From John Jax,Fl How many and where, have there been Brown outs, in the past 5 years.
Please check your facts. Was it one or two?
From John Jax,Fl My blogs were erased last week by CNN.
A lot of people here do have the right idea, as I have read down the blogs to here….Your point about "more electric use"….well the big diff in fossil vs. electric powererd vehicles is in their EFFICIENCY !!!! Not many people get that even here….measure the amount of energy used to make your comute to work for a week/month and compare that….EV will not tax the elec indust that much…while you EV sits in the parking lot, the photo elec cells can also help trickle charge your car. The car makers need to jump on the EV wagon for now, and FED GOV needs to get involved, get the ball really going, like we did in WW2 to gear up for war production….we have plenty of empty warehouses, stores, and factories, and people laid off in this country…
From Anonymous The clean-and-green-energy-tech economy is burgeoning and here to stay. Only it and green tech per se will keep the U.S. a first-world society and restore its sure footing as a hi-tech products world leader. Read the blog Capitalism with a Conscience at the web address Http://capitalismwithaconscience.blogspot.com/2008/05/citizen-insurgency-for-cheap-new-car.html
Type the above address in the web explorer slot at the top of the web page after clearing the type already in that slot. The blog goes beyond its interesting initial clean-and-green, new-energy vehicle commentary and discusses the future of the rising green energy economy versus that of the antiquated petroleum, fossil-fuels-based economy and the implication of this on public health and global warming and climate change. The latter commentary is discerning, incisive, picturesque and informative, although brief. It is a worthwile read.
From alfred padilla We`ve gotten so freak`n lazy
that the car has fuse as part
of our limbs.but there are other factors that contribute to fuel waste.
bigger homes, bigger boats,more lawns,
taller buildings. we are actualy razing
down fuel,Like sheep razing grass fields
From Rod, Champaign, IL I used to own an electric Karmann Ghia. It went 35 miles on 10 kWh. A problem with electrics is the air conditioning, which really drains the battery fast.
From gwmc7e, Oceanside,Ca Lets see now, according to Aptera's website, while their prototype got just over 200mpg not 300mpg, they estimate that what they're selling will only get 100mpg. Does it make sense that they would underestimate its capability? Maybe there just not too clever about marketing. But why the difference? Highway collision standards sometimes do that. So then its safe? Define safe. In parking lot you probably will be okay, but the car may sustain a bit more damage than you may be comfortable with. The potential damage is enough that insurance expense is a little pricey, as long as you don't drive it on the highway. If you drive one on the highway you probably will want to opt out of insurance auto insurance. You may want to keep your life insurance but if you disclose it on your life insurance application, they may rate you like Robbie Knievel.
From Patrick McCullough, Cincinnati ,OH "Obama is full of s**t wanting to spend more taxpayer money on pork barrel gov.’t programs for alternatives."
Ummm we spend 17 billion on taxpayer subsidies to oil companies making $ 10 billion NET profit and your concerned about what Obama might do?
The Aptera at 300 MPG… is perfect… a commuter car that holds two people. I never see more than one person in a car around here… if everyone drove this car… OPEC would be totally defeated and so would terrorism.
From Geo We're in this mess because the US energy policy has been, "what's good for Exxon/Mobile is good for America." Let's stop giving billions of tax payer dollars to the oil companies and switch it to private ownership of PV, wind, hydro. There's plenty of spare capacity to charge electric vehicles at night right now. Drilling is NOT the solution; solar, micro hydro, geothermal, wind ARE
From GWMC7e, Oceanside,CA I'm familiar with the efforts to increase the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The problem is two-fold. First, proponents of the technology don't always reveal all of the important details that lead to business decisions to incorporate. A major problem is expense. If the cost of retooling and re-engineering an internal combustion engine is such as to increase the cost prohibitively when compared to alternatives, it becomes a nonstarter. Secondly, politicians especially here in California have the mindset of moving entirely away from fossil fuels. So why should automobile manufacturers who are financially hurting, retool to incorporate a more efficient internal combustion engine which California is only today proposing a new cap and tax on auto manufacturers that aren't producing zero emission vehicles?
From GWMC7E, Oceanside,ca I'm deeply interested in all new sequential developments in all forms of energy technology. With that I must say that electric- only vehicles as exciting as it sounds, is far from a feasible alternative to fossil fuel vehicles. Battery technology isn't at a feasible level considering range, cost, and longevity which is more expense. Fuel cell vehicles using just-in-time conversion methods aren't yet developed enough to provide an efficient storage capacity which can be cheaply and easily refilled. Hybrids are just an interim solution but that interim should last at least 6 or 7 years at best. Corn ethanol is just another pork-barrel joke. I've been kind of excited about the prospect of algae-based biodiesel using 'blue technology', but I know from experience that accurate details are hard to come by when we're dependent upon scientist proponents that are seeking federal grant money.
From A. Walker, Richmond, VA First come up with a car for getting to and from work. Carry no more than 4, or even 3 people. Use hybrid gas/electric and get over 60-70MPG.
Sell it for under $25K. You'd have people lined up.
We don't need futuristic cars that get
300 mpg, but cost too much or can't be resold easily. We also don't need tiny
cars except for in a crowded city.
Great opportunity for Detroit, but
smaller companies could be faster to
get a new product out the door. Detroit can then buy out the trend setters and mass produce. Would make a profit on volume, rather than the SUV
strategy of profit only on gas hogs.
From Ed in Atlanta The Prius battery is warranteed for 8 years, and most are proving to last minimum 10 years (there is not enough data to conclusively determine an average longevity, since some are lasting longer than the Prius has been out, it seems). How long do you drive a gas-engine-only car? Typically, no more than 8 years. To me, the battery technology in the Prius is almost a moot point, unless you plan to sell the car in 3-5 years and the purchaser plans to use it for 10 years…
From Anonymous Ever heard of the guy that is going to put battery stations along roads for his new electric car? You pull in and switch out the battery. If we had a government with their hands in solar cells and not buried deep in oil wells we might get something else than a fossil fuel power plant car.
From Josh, San Diego, CA Current-gen hybrids aren't the solution, because their batteries are the weak link. I can't tell you how many laptop batteries I've gone through, which are based on the same technology (nickel metal hydride + lithium ion in the upcoming Prius). The cost of replacement is both obscene and necessary.
The combustion engine still has legs. 75-85% of the chemical bond energy of petroleum fuel is given off as heat in a combustion engine. A 6-stroke engine can eliminate its cooling system because it's able to use some of that heat to generate another power-stroke. Why isn't anyone other than Crower researching that? Modern engines could use a Rankine cycle to recapture heat and use it to do work rather than radiating it away. Current concepts are between 42 and 63% efficient. Why isn't anyone working on that? Inductive shock absorbers could be used to generate electricity from the constant supply of up/down motions you never feel as you drive down the highway. This would reduce the load on the electrical system by 25%. In a hybrid, that would directly translate to a 25% increase in mileage. Why isn't anyone working on that? These are just some ideas I've had that I wanted to work on, but are already covered by patent. Another way to look at this proclamation is that these ideas are here now, but some entity or entities don't want you to have them. Why?
From Andy, Eugene OR Technology could solve the problems… new batteries are being developed… some are very far along. Capacitor-like power supplies are being developed more speculatively.
The government can help by suspending or modifying regulation of electic cars until the industry gets well-established. You want to see an electic car in every garage? Give people a tax rebate to buy one and loosen regulation to get the market started.
From OutboardWalt, Morehead City,NC I hope gas prices will remain high
just long enough for us to be motivated to make a permanent switch to electric and hybrid
cars. It didn't take but about a
decade for us to forget about
what was done to us in the 1970s.
From TimJowers, Cary, NC Department of Transportation stops electric cars because they have set the barrier to entry far too expensive. If McCain really wanted to drive progress then he'd reduce this cost so the electric car companies could sell cars instead of glorified motorcycles. He does. The DOT doesn't. Only GM, Ford, Toyota, and other mega companies can afford the certification and they have yet to get serious about electric cars. When I researched it over a decade ago hobbyists were making cars which went 85MPH and traveled 100-200 miles per charge; but, they never had the economies of scale to drive the prices down to compete with Big Auto.
From Giuseppe Manu Dovinci, Des Moines, IA Solar Roofs so much unused potential, wonderful to see it being put into practice.
Things that make you go hmmmm?
Why can these start ups figure out solutions and bring them to market but GM, Ford, Chrysler seem to be inept and unable to come up with anything until 2012 or later?
Someone should do a story on how much it costs when the battery units of these cars like the ever popular Prius go out. Or the average cost to charge the battery on a daily basis…the costs to replace and recharge may really surprise those making the purchase.
From Anonymous I agree, Europe took it to heart to avoid the next energy crisis and started developing reliable mass transit system, high speed train, better nuclear power plants as well as more use of natural gas, solar, wind and wave energy. This time around the impact was much less in Europe. Us? we quickly forgot the lesson and moved forward without concern. We have no sizable investment in nuclear, solar or wind energy and GM went to develop the mostercar like Hummer etc. This crisis might pass if more oil come to market etc, have we learned the lesson? of course not. We will go back to SUV, Hummers and forget about anything else… until the next crisis.
From Tomas Coat I am all for it and would buy one if I could make a 200 mile trip one way without a charge and also carry a 1/2 cord of wood.
From Hopie, Roseburg, OR While I don't agree with Warm Springs David, that Obama has a digestive problem, I do agree that entrepreneurial energy is a problem solver. I've been to hear Obama speak and he DOES offer tax incentives to green companies. Keep your eye on the near future David!
From John, Atlanta Electric vehicles seem promising for reducing smog, but electric power still must use fossil fuels, primarily via coal-burning electric generation plants in the U.S. If we move increasingly to electric vehicles, electricity consumption will increase accordingly, along with power plant pollution. Also, increased demand will put pressure on the market to build more power generation plants (coal-fired and nuclear) and electric rates will go up.
These comments are meant to encourage thinking of the big picture. Electricity is neither free nor resource or pollution free.
From Realistic, king of prussia, pa Give a battery power car which can start and work in zero degree temp, plug it in any electric outlet (110 volt) and get 400 mile driving range charge in 5 minutes. Yes, it has to be light weight and move my two tonne sedan with five passengers in it. I think it's twenty years away!
From Larry, Atlanta, GA Electric vehicles will be better and better in the future,BUT, where will the electricity come from to charge them. Already the grids are due for brown-outs, and a lot of the electric is produced using OIL and Natural Gas, coal and nuclear. More of the same. We must become oil independent as soon as possible. Drill now!!!
From Robert Chantilly,VA I am interested in a Hybrid with only one real concern stopping me from making a purchase. The EMF emissions seem to be an unknown factor ranging from a 2 reading to a 24 reading these emissions which have been know to cause cancer (at high levels) should not be exposed to humans. (EMF=Electro Magnetic Field). Why won't the Mfg. take this issue head on and put any fears to rest? Thanks for listening!
From Brian Dumaine, New York City Hi, I'm the author of the new book the Plot To Save The Planet and appreciate these thoughtful comments.
Frank, for the amount your drive, an all electric might not be feasible but in about a year or so some of the major car companies such as GM and Toyota will start selling plug in electric hybrids—the Chevy Volt has a battery and a small engine to recharge it; you'll have a range of 640 miles between tanks and the equivalent of around 60 mpg.
On C. Gonazalez's comment on the Phoenix, I believe that the state of California offers around a $10,000 subsidy for buying a zero emission vehicle–that might bring the truck down more in line with your price range.
From David, Warm Springs, Va This proves the ingenuity is in the private sector.Obama is full of s**t wanting to spend more taxpayer money on pork barrel gov.'t programs for alternatives.These companies should get some incentive or tax breaks for their diligence.We're only a few short years away from cutting oil dependence to the positive extreme.Keep up the awesome work & the price will be affordable for the masses!
From Rick, Melville, NY It's about time…. This should have been done 35 years ago during the first oil crisis. We wouldn't have these problems now.
From Frank Angus Hulbert Jr, Parks, Arkansas I would like to see a company or individual, group of inventors and investors develop a plug in to your home for recharging car and truck that is a battery operated vehickle with a back up set of batterys (If your primary fails) that also has solar pannels to run on in the day and recharge when the sun is out that gets 700 to 1000 miles of run time in the day! 200 mile night time driving ability. My average commute per day in my car is 400 miles a day. 700 on business trips! I own my own business!
From Cindy, Spring Hill, TN I am thrilled that smaller companies are finally leading the way in this segment. I can't wait to get my hands on one of these electric cars and say good riddance to the fat oil companies. Thanks for the alternative!
From C. Gonzalez, Los Angeles, CA It's all about the price of the vehicle or any other alternative energy product that's introduced into the market. I applaude Phoenix Motors, but I will not pay that kind of money for any car. It has to be more afordable for the general masses to participate.
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Some current hybrids can get up to several hundred miles before one needs to recharge and refuel. I imagine most vacationers don't want to travel further than that in a single day anyway.
Right now, a more serious limitation is the lack of places to recharge the battery. But I'm willing to bet that places such as hotels (especially them) will see a way to make a profit by providing recharging facilities. If they price the service right, we can still save a bundle on "fuel" for our trip, though it'll cost more for the recharge than were we doing it at home.
Also, there are several battery technologies that appear on the verge of breakthroughs in both range and recharging times. If one of those pays off — well, who knows what'll happen, especially if prices are reasonable.
And there are other technologies as well, such as hydrogen fuel cells, though those are almost certainly not going to pay off as quickly if for no other reason the absence of refueling infrastructure.
Finally, given the leaps and bounds in solar energy technology, I'll be astonished if we don't see that becoming part of the transportation equation, and sooner rather than later.
In terms of purely electric vehicles, of course you're right at this time. Let's hope I'm right in my speculations.