Originally Posted by skipster

I suppose I could have said things a bit better and more clearly. I don't think that electric cars are a bad idea -- they could be a great idea. My biggest reservtion about them would be the cost of replacement batteries and distance between battery charges. We are already accustomed to going approx. 400 miles on a tank of fuel in gasoline cars and all it takes to re-fuel is a few minutes at the gas pump. I don't think electric cars will realyl become mainstream until they travel about the same distance on a single charge and recharging (like what would be needed for longer trips) would be a quick as re-fueling.

But, I'm not antagonistic to environmental issues -- I guess I'm a bit skeptical of things that haven't been extensively scientifically researched (there's that PhD background matclone likes to prod me about). Also, I think that sometimes people think that things like electric cars are a panacea because they put out no pollutants, even though their power source may pollute. So much power in this country is produced by fossil fuels that if we increase the demand on power needs, we will be taking carbon emissions out of the right hand pocket and putting it in the left -- no net change. I think electric cars would be an AWESOME environmental idea if more electricity were produced using nuclear fuel, which pollutes MUCH less than fossil fuels. (In the turfgrass industry, maintenance golf carts and greens mowers are turning to electric power and many rough cut mowers are turning to clean burnign propane, which I am researching in my program -- these are all good things).

Finally, Ban, I do not want to stop the electric car. If smoeone wants to make and sell one, I will wish him the best possible luck. I don't have a strong personal connection or opposition to the electric car. Just remember that government mandates often create more problems than they solve. They certainly can't change the Law of Conservation fo Energy, but that doesn't matter because politicians don't pay attentions to laws anyway I just thought that some people might have been missing where the pollutants come from. Instead of a little bit coming from a lot of tail pipes, there could be a lt coming from a few smoke stacks. That's why I am for cleaner power generation.

Originally Posted by ban basketball

The batteries that could be used today can go for over 200 miles per charge. That also encompasses over 90% of Americans' daily travel. Furthermore, it's free. Who cares if a car, atpresent, can go 400 miles between fills. It ought to be going 1,000 miles between fills, but no need to get into the fact that government has not mandated increases in fuel efficiency standards since 1985. That's why drilling for more oil is pandering to oil interests, as simply increasing fuel economy standards would take care of all of the oil needs that we will get from wildlife refuges.

Remember, "false consciousness?"

Originally Posted by ban basketball

The batteries that could be used today can go for over 200 miles per charge. That also encompasses over 90% of Americans' daily travel. Furthermore, it's free. Who cares if a car, atpresent, can go 400 miles between fills. It ought to be going 1,000 miles between fills, but no need to get into the fact that government has not mandated increases in fuel efficiency standards since 1985. That's why drilling for more oil is pandering to oil interests, as simply increasing fuel economy standards would take care of all of the oil needs that we will get from wildlife refuges.

Remember, "false consciousness?"

Originally Posted by ban basketball

The batteries that could be used today can go for over 200 miles per charge. (snippage)

Originally Posted by ODH

How is it free?

Originally Posted by Cyclone85

Gasoline engines are very nearly at their theoretical limit for efficiency. There have been no real advances for over 10-years.

Just remember that most 49cc scooters that weight 175 pounds only get 85 mpg in real world driving, so I doubt we'll be seeing 3,200 pound Camrys getting that kind of mileage any time soon.

The government should have been discouraging the sale of trucks and SUVs for the last 16-years. Trucks and SUVs have outsold cars in this country for the last 16-years and we're paying the price now. We have nearly 100,000,000 gas guzzling trucks and SUVs roaring down the countryside and most of them get 14 mpg or worse. If I was in charge, I would implement a $5,000 gas tax on each one sold beginning now.

(Note -- I'm in a cranky mood right now so -- while I'm at it -- I would also implement a $2,000 license renewal fee for each existing truck and SUV owner. This bring into the fold owners that were previously exempt from these 'green' fees. No exemptions for business or farmers either).

Originally Posted by Cyclone85

200? The two best car companies in the world do not have anything remotely capable of this type of performance. Japan's Honda and Toyota have nothing that even compares to 200. Heck, Nissan's best effort to date is 40 miles! Where are you getting this 200 figure? Is a rolling 8-ton battery on wheels that will cost $200k, or is it a real *passenger* car with storage that can be sold for the same or similar price as a gas car?