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Tesla has a very low frontal area so it works ok in that regard. However, the high performance is not without cost.[2] Tesla is a perfect example of this. [3] Tesla, for instance, will help any new owner of their products to install solar panels. While it will be awhile before all homes can provide all the power that an electric car will need for its daily commute, nevertheless a dent can be made in the dependence on the electrical grid.[4]
Gasoline tanks are still the most efficient batteries to store energy in automobiles we have at this time. Electric cars are a pie in the sky idea that failed in the early 1900’s.[5] Gasoline prices exceeding $5 per gallon are not unlikely. [6] Gas prices are down. Now they're up.[7]
Hydrogen cars would need many new power plants to free, compress and store the Hydrogen. The "hydrogen hype" is just a PR campaign to delay battery electric cars.[8] Hydrogen, by electroisis can be created at any time by a wind turbine, solar cell or water turbine. Since these sources are unreliable they do not necessarily deliver grid power when needed.[9] Hydrogen is the fuel of the future. BMW is already betting the farm on it and had viable production cars (7 series) ferrying around the stars in Europe to their awards shows.[10]
Batteries are great and it really makes sense to backup the grid depending on the use of the vehicle. I see at least 5 different kinds of hybrids suited to different uses.[13] Batteries are getting better and better. I think the time is now for me at least.[14]
Built with a range extending gasoline engine like the one in the Chevrolet Volt, this vehicle is already on sale in China for $22,000. [17] Build nukes, might eventually catch up with the rest of the world but you'll be shocked at what it costs to charge your batteries. Oh and by the way, your little electric motors generate ozone, the manufacture of your batteries produces tons of pollution, the replacement of your batteries will make gas look cheap.[18]
Power companies need to make sure that a concentration of cars in a relatively small area won't overwhelm the grid. Charging has to be safe.[20] Power plants don't shut down they just throttle back to meet demand. This actually helps them become more efficient.[21] Power oversteer is also verboten at the moment, although we sincerely hope that a production version would let the driver decide whether to melt the tires. As with our women, we prefer that a powerful sports car be able to frighten us from time to time.[22]
Auto pollution has also been linked to other ailments including heart disease. This is said to affect urban design; but it shows there is no way to live in close proximity to the auto exhaust and refinery pollution.[23] Automakers are also hopeful that government incentives will be available for consumers who purchase their green cars. A tax credit is already extended to hybrid owners, who get a break of up to $3000, depending on the purchase date and model of car.[24]
Greening Vehicles: They apparently have a long track record of pushing for clean vehicles, for consumers and for themselves. They have a plug-in Prius (yes, just one).[28] Green is a magic word for getting BO money.There are interesting sub rosa studies on using the seas to generate electricity.Using tides or other natural forces can generate electricity forever. In this study there is no green to be seen or BO money to be passed out.[29]
Every evening--and during days of low demand--there is a large amount of spare capacity that could easily be tapped. By charging cars and trucks with electricity at night, American drivers could reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil while potentially cutting power prices as well.[32] Even a Prius, at 50 mpg, takes 2 gallons of gas to go 100 miles. The aerodynamic Honda Insight takes 1.6 gallons of gas to go 100 miles.[33] EVs require no gasoline whatsoever, and when recharged from renewable energy sources, produce zero total emissions. [34]
EV use this cheap off-peak power. The rooftop solar array helps feed power into the grid when it is most needed -- in the daytime.[35] Even so, it is still cheaper to charge the battery using the plug-in technology. [36] Toyota, by contrast, is coming on strong. With record net income of $3.5 billion during its most recent quarter, it is poised to overtake GM as the world's No.1 automaker, in part thanks to prescient bets on fuel-efficient technologies such as the hybrid drive that powers the Prius.[43] Toyota is seeking to spice up its Scion brand. Could adding a few hybrid cars to the Scion brand help Toyota increase Scion sales?[44] Toyota has announced that it will offer hybrid versions of all its models in the next 10 to 20 years. A plug-in hybrid will go on sale in 2010.[45]
Plug-in cars can work NOW to cut our addiction to oil with all the turbulent foreign politics, environmental destruction, health issues and global warming problems that our demand for petroleum necessarily brings. What “crap” exactly are you trying to cut re plug-in transportation?[56] Plug-in hybrid electrical vehicles, which this study looked at, use high-capacity batteries to store electricity from the power grid. Zareipour, Rosehart and Hajian say plug-in vehicles are the best choice for Alberta because they make use of clean wind energy from the grid.[57] Plug-in electric vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce the United States? Yet can this potential be realized?[58]
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