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Post by saunterelle on Jul 23, 2008 10:37:15 GMT -5
That's exactly why we should put tax dollars toward establishing the infrastructure to support electric or CNG cars. If we did, more car companies would be inclined to mass produce them which would drive down their price. It would be a major step in the right direction.
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Post by crossride on Jul 23, 2008 11:07:20 GMT -5
It doesn't make sense to establish an infrastructure for something that does not exist. Auto makers and energy suppliers are smart business folks. You know if there was money in it, they would do it. I would buy an electric car in two seconds if it was a viable option, and it may be in a few years time. Once the next breakthrough happens, someone is going to get rich making a viable alternative to the current auto standard.
If its elctric, don't you think PG&E will be slapping up charging stations all over the place in mere months? I'm sure they will be able to get charging ports in major parking areas in no time at all to support the new popular electric vehicles (the power is already there after all). While low power, short range cars might work for some people, the majority of folks can't make do without something that comes close, without it costing more than current cars and trucks.
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Post by jgaffney on Jul 23, 2008 11:19:57 GMT -5
That's exactly why we should put tax dollars toward establishing the infrastructure to support electric or CNG cars. If we did, more car companies would be inclined to mass produce them which would drive down their price. It would be a major step in the right direction. Saunterelle, as I have pointed out to you repeatedly, the infrastructure for a CNG Honda Civic is here now. Why aren't you jumping on one? |
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Post by The Big Dog on Jul 23, 2008 12:36:04 GMT -5
That's exactly why we should put tax dollars toward establishing the infrastructure to support electric or CNG cars. If we did, more car companies would be inclined to mass produce them which would drive down their price. It would be a major step in the right direction. And what infrastructure would be required to support electric only cars that only go 200 miles (maybe) between charges? I'm very interested in your answer. |
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Post by saunterelle on Jul 23, 2008 12:51:08 GMT -5
Research shows the average driving distance of Americans in a day is 30 miles or less and that 90% of Americans could use electric cars in their daily commute. 200 miles between charges is plenty.
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Post by saunterelle on Jul 23, 2008 12:53:20 GMT -5
Charging stations could be installed at gas stations. Or, it can simply be plugged in while working or sleeping.
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Post by crossride on Jul 23, 2008 13:29:31 GMT -5
I don't see the infrastructure being that hard to establish for electric since electricity is everywhere and you know PG&E has the means to establish necessary charging stations in enough places to turn a tidy profit. 200 miles between charges would be plenty. I could charge at home twice a week to get to and from work. Now if I had numerous options to re-charge, and if I could re-charge in less than an hour, I could realistically make longer trips. Charge while I have lunch and see the sights. Would it be business worthy for an power company to install pay-as-you-use power supplies? Would there be the interest to have these in enough places to satisfy the electric car users? We may reach that point one day where its a viable alternative in technology, availablity, and business sense. Its just not worth spending tax money now to hope that future use makes it worthwhile. And lets not forget that the infrastructure developed (say for electric) might turn out to be a complete waste if another option turns out to be the viable one. Not that our government would bat an eye wasting billions on a possibility.
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Post by The Big Dog on Jul 23, 2008 17:34:21 GMT -5
Charging stations could be installed at gas stations. Or, it can simply be plugged in while working or sleeping. Okay, but you are missing the question. And while the Tesla is rated at 200 miles between charges, in day to day commute traffic I would wager you would get a lot less than 200. I believe that is 200 unobstructed highway miles, but I am still doing deep research on the Tesla offering to run down the truth as opposed to the marketing. We are currently subject to brownouts and rolling blackouts because there is not enough electricity on the grid to meet slightly larger than average demand on any given day. No new generation capacity is close to any kind of approva within the state, and is often actively fought (see recent dustup over windmills on the Cotati grade). There is only so much power produced outside the state that can be purchased. In short... how do you propose to provide the eletricity for all those charging stations? |
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Post by The Big Dog on Jul 23, 2008 17:37:31 GMT -5
I don't see the infrastructure being that hard to establish for electric since electricity is everywhere and you know PG&E has the means to establish necessary charging stations in enough places to turn a tidy profit. But they can not generate a single volt. So called deregulation in California saw to that. PG&E is a transmission company; their wires carry the juice to us, nothing more. Where is that electricity going to be generated? That is the question that electric car proponents can never answer, particularly here in California. |
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Post by saunterelle on Jul 23, 2008 18:16:46 GMT -5
Nuclear Power + Electric Cars = The Future
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Post by subdjoe on Jul 23, 2008 18:58:29 GMT -5
Yeah, right, as if nuke plants will ever be allowed to be built. Especially here in CA. And if by some stroke of sanity they ARE allowed, then we are looking at 20 to 30 years before the first comes on line.
And your boy Barry isn't really in favor of nuke plants. Go read exactly what he said about nukes. He is big on putting everything on the table, yeah. But he he would have such tight restrictions that no one could build a nuke plant.
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Post by The Big Dog on Jul 23, 2008 19:07:28 GMT -5
Nuclear Power + Electric Cars = The Future Nuclear power... yes. Electric cars are a definite maybe until battery technology can move forward out of the 19th century where it is currently mired. To crossride's earlier post where he said that there is plenty of electricity out there, that really isn't the case. If it was we wouldn't have to put up with the constant "Flex Your Power" nonsense on radio and TV everytime the thermometer creeps over 80 degrees. As subdjoe correctly points out there is no political stomach in California to try and buck the Greens on the issue. Governor Schwarzenegger, a Green himself, hasn't got the nuts and I can't see anyone on the immediate horizon who might occupy the governor's office who does. As we all should know, electricity can not be stored on a large scale like water or fossil fuels can. It is generated and put on the grid to be used and that is that. Unless and until a whole lot of the hysteria perpetrated by the Greens is overcome, we're all going to be sitting in the dark wondering how long it's going to take to charge our electric cars when the day of full adoption comes. In the interim the best near term solution are the hybrids, CNG and fuel cell vehicles. None of these are perfect and all have their drawbacks but they are all on the market now. |
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