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The Electric Car
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Where is the mass market electric automobile? What is taking so long to bring these things to market?  Tesla Motors has a car, but it's high end. They don't go very far. Fast yes, distance no: max range is 220 miles. The Tesla Roadstar has lovely bells and whistles, but I don't think there are any on the road yet. I've read that they are working on a mass market vehicle. We'll see. I won't go over the disaster that General Motors (GM) made of their EV-1. Years ago, I can recall that that car was initially supposed to fill the California market. The next thing you know - poof! - it's gone! The theory of peak oil has been around for a number of years. Whether it is true or not, there should be alternatives to transportation, and not just dependent on Petroleum Oil. Brazil had no trouble getting clever about this strategy. They use sugar cane, Ethanol, to fuel their automobiles. Why haven't we? Why isn't there a full variety in our transportation infrastructure options? Supposedly, the mass market problem with the electric automobile is the battery. Senator McCain, in an effort to get the market moving, has proposed a $300 million reward for a better battery for a new electric car. I guess he's unaware of the $10 million X-prize for a mass market zero emission car.  Hey, I am all for it. Right now there's a company from Norway called Think and they plan on bringing their car to our market. I hope they do, I like the concept. I would wait for the second or third generation of this item. The car they plan on selling will only have a range from 125-155 miles. Good, but I'm sure they will get better. The thought of only plugging in my car at night excites me. I think as a backup, I would like having a small tank of gas (flex-fuel) that can take me roughly 100 miles or so. Any and all options are welcome at this juncture. Yet, until I see these cars in a showroom all this stuff is just PR hype and talk. Labels: automotive x prize, battery, Brazil, electric car, Ethanol, John McCain, oil, Tesla Motors, Think posted by GoldenAh
email this! | article source | 0 comments | post a comment Solar Power Monday, May 26, 2008  Now, that the end of world - in the form of peak oil - is coming soon, and this has always been prophesied, what does the future regarding energy have to offer? I believe solar power is still the most promising, however there are a ton of hurdles to overcome.I read the usual stuff about how there is enough solar energy hitting the planet to fuel the world, and then some. Even the robots - Sojourner Pathfinder, Spirit, Opportunity, and of late Phoenix - sent to Mars are running on solar power. Solar power is always on and always free. The question is: Why isn't it being harnessed properly and provided to everyone? Well, who would make money from free solar energy? Once solar technology is exploited, per installed solar panels, and aside from modest maintenance fees, there isn't anymore money to generate from this situation. Businesses run on reoccurring consumption: customers return for more of the same. Even for products that may last a lifetime, people are urged to trade it in for new and improved models! Department of Energy: USA! USA! Never fear, there are people looking into this matter. Annually, the Department of Energy has a Solar Decathlon competition for college students to build the most attractive and energy efficient homes. The event takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., October 12 - 20. The winner of the 2007 competition, Technische Universitat Darmstadt (of Germany) has an awesome website: check it out. The house which won was neat, totally efficient, and something I wouldn't even mind living in. Sometimes environmentally friendly doesn't look comfortable, but this house is cute.    Labels: department of energy, doe, oil, solar decathlon, solar energy, solar power, usa posted by GoldenAh
email this! | article source | 0 comments | post a comment Safety versus Gas Price Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Around my area the price of gas has risen to as much as $3.75 a gallon. That's the slightly higher grade of gas my car requires. The summer driving season hasn't even started yet! I'm reading reports that per barrel "experts" predict prices as high as $200! Thank goodness I don't have far to drive. I've noticed that the dealers nearby have removed all of their big trucks and SUVs for those new, fuel efficient and amusing golf carts. I believe in fuel economy, yet I value my life more. I'd rather pay more for gas in a full sized automobile that will protect me from bodily harm. My car has air bags everywhere, and one of those crash zone impact frames what-have-you. I live in the state with the worst drivers in America. I care about careful driving and evading car accidents, not high gas prices. Labels: automobiles, fuel efficiency, gas, high gas prices, oil, safety posted by GoldenAh
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