tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post7355220348264471647..comments2024-01-09T23:23:38.038-05:00Comments on Tales of the Sissy: No offshore drillingMark in DEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12478832787656152843noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post-15462686627627041912008-08-07T20:55:00.000-04:002008-08-07T20:55:00.000-04:00Indigo IncarnatesThe thing that cracks me up is th...Indigo Incarnates<BR/><BR/>The thing that cracks me up is that GM has the capability to make almost EVERY vehicle at least a mild hybrid. BAS has a unit cost of about $800, but boost fuel economy by 3-5 MPG. So why aren't they doing it? I have no idea. Sure, 3-5 MPG isn't a big boost, but if every car had it, I think it would be worthwhile.Indigohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14698310099287418741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post-27098900237001488452008-08-07T18:47:00.000-04:002008-08-07T18:47:00.000-04:00There are electric cars made in Quebec and I think...There are electric cars made in Quebec and I think they are selling them in Europe, but the Canadian government is doing its utmost to prevent them from being sold here in Canada. Pisses me off no end.<BR/><BR/>We have to wean ourselves off of oil. Period.<BR/><BR/>Good post!Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885326688773256919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post-91556403880447883612008-08-07T16:25:00.000-04:002008-08-07T16:25:00.000-04:00Isnt it s damm shame! These guys are all a bunch o...Isnt it s damm shame! These guys are all a bunch of crooks! I hope times change--it can only get better and with your post and more people bringing this to light and attention things will hopefully change....RADhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14327199086953530789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post-69333470343833276242008-08-07T13:26:00.000-04:002008-08-07T13:26:00.000-04:00If you get a chance read Edwin Black's "Internal C...If you get a chance read Edwin Black's "Internal Combustion". There were pure electric vehicles in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The auto and oil industry did their part to destroy it. <BR/><BR/>Battery technology has come a long was since then and you could get 200+ miles per charge out of Li-Ion batteries. <BR/><BR/><BR/>I'd love an electric vehicle. My commutes are such that it's maybe 80 miles a day. Electric would be ideal for that. <BR/><BR/>And the way we do hybrids is in a word, stupid. We mechanically add an electric motor in the drive train with the IC engine. <BR/><BR/>Instead what we should do is drive the wheels with electric motors and have a small 2 cylinder engine operating at prime efficiency keeping a battery array charged up. <BR/><BR/>That's the thing, an IC engine has an optimal band where it is at top efficiency. That generally translates to speeds between 35MPH and 55MPH. So if you run the engine at a constant speed it gets the best 'mileage' and so to does your vehicle. <BR/><BR/>Trains have done that very thing for many years now. A diesel engine turns a generator which sends power to the drive wheels. <BR/><BR/>Experimental vehicles with the arrangement I've described get well over 100MPG. <BR/><BR/>I've even noted major bus manufactures are now switching to diesel-electric drive. It boosts the mileage by a factor of 4. I estimate the average bus probably gets about 10MPG, so 40MPG would help struggling transit companies. In essence they'd use a quarter of the fuel they currently use if their entire fleet was converted to this system. <BR/><BR/>I need to contact the board at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and tell them that with the next grants for equipment they should start investing in diesel-electric.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post-49446472067937535772008-08-06T15:06:00.000-04:002008-08-06T15:06:00.000-04:00Don't get me started -- at least without a glass o...Don't get me started -- at least without a glass of wine. Another thing I find weird is that we've been looking to possibly buy a hybrid vehicle. There are none to be found. they just keep on producing more of the full gas engines than the hybrids. interesting, isnt' it.A Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05066992019067893513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822653.post-36250758050103885352008-08-06T12:57:00.000-04:002008-08-06T12:57:00.000-04:00All the GOP has for the fall election is off shore...All the GOP has for the fall election is off shore drilling and the lie that it will somehow provide relief to consumers. They will beat that drum relentlessly, all the more reason to educate ourselves. Great post.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713972514003681234noreply@blogger.com