Going Hybrid

HMTKSteve

New Kits Turn Any Car Into a Plug-in Hybrid the Prius kit looks like a waste of money as it will take too long to recoup your investment but some of the other ones look very promising.

Alan

I really don't see going all electric working right now. In some bigger cities they have problems keeping the electric on during normal operation. I don't seeing anyone really recovering their losses after the electrical companies catch on and raise prices. This is a short term solution and as for the solar panel argument were lucky to see 10 good sunny days here in Ohio during the winter. Wind on the other hand while possible isn't always reliable. While its a step in the right direction we really need to get off this large car concept and switch to a lighter and safer small car. As for construction vehicles this could help them cut costs.

Jason

It seems to me that this doesn't defray the problem; it only defers it. Electricity is still generated in large part by burning fossil fuels. If this were accompanied by a wide transition to nuclear power, that would be something. But if we're still using the same old shit to power the cars, and only sending the electricity through the power lines, then we're only changing the delivery method.

HMTKSteve

I've been hearing "Internet Rumors" that the veggie oil cars may be illegal due to the owners not paying any sort of fuel tax on the veggie oil. Anyone able to confirm or deny this "Internet Rumor"?

Techparadox

I've been hearing "Internet Rumors" that the veggie oil cars may be illegal due to the owners not paying any sort of fuel tax on the veggie oil. Anyone able to confirm or deny this "Internet Rumor"?

I can see the "Internet Logic" behind this now: Enterprising consumer figures out way to make bio-diesel at home to power his vehicle, thereby bypassing the high cost of petroleum products and the government taxes thereon. Local/State/Federal Government catches wind of this movement and tries to declare the vehicles unsafe, unfit, or downright illegal in order to recoup the tax losses. Never mind that the taxes would have been paid on the original source material for the bio-diesel product some time previous, either by the consumer who bought a crapload of vegetable oil down at their local Sam's Club or by the establishment where the consumer procured the waste oil (think "McDonald's Waste Grease Pit"). It'd be a case of the government wanting to double-tax something. While I wouldn't put the government past trying a double-dip on taxing a product, I call Bravo Sierra on any "Internet Rumor" until I can find a reputable source for the information. And no, Jimmy-Ray's "we should all go green, move into the mountains, and overthrow the government" anti-establishment blog doesn't count.

HMTKSteve

I found out more information on this and found that if you use the biofuel for your own use no tax is required. If you sell it then a fuel tax must be assessed.

Kilarney

It seems to me that this doesn't defray the problem; it only defers it. Electricity is still generated in large part by burning fossil fuels.

I was under the impression that fossil-fuel burning power plants could be made cleaner than your fossil-fuel burning car. (With smokestack scrubbers, etc.) While it's not ideal, it's an improvement. It also helps to reduce smog, assuming the power plants are not located downtown.

RedShirt

Every time I see an ad about electric cars/plug in hybrids, it makes me laugh. It's all predicated on cheap electricity because no one else is currently doing it. When you've got 100k, 200k, a million people all plugging in to charge their cars overnight, electricity's not going to be as cheap anymore...

Kate Monster

Every time I see an ad about electric cars/plug in hybrids, it makes me laugh. It's all predicated on cheap electricity because no one else is currently doing it. When you've got 100k, 200k, a million people all plugging in to charge their cars overnight, electricity's not going to be as cheap anymore...

Wouldn't be a problem if we converted to new sources of electricity (i.e. nuclear power, wind power, water power, etc.).

HMTKSteve

Every time I see an ad about electric cars/plug in hybrids, it makes me laugh. It's all predicated on cheap electricity because no one else is currently doing it. When you've got 100k, 200k, a million people all plugging in to charge their cars overnight, electricity's not going to be as cheap anymore...

Wouldn't be a problem if we converted to new sources of electricity (i.e. nuclear power, wind power, water power, etc.).

But most of the vocal people who want us to drive electric cars do not want nuclear, wind or water power.

Andrew

But most of the vocal people who want us to drive electric cars do not want nuclear, wind or water power.

That's because most vocal people are fucking idiots.

HMTKSteve

But most of the vocal people who want us to drive electric cars do not want nuclear, wind or water power.

That's because most vocal people are fucking idiots.

So how do we get the rational people to speak up and get this stuff started?

Andrew

So how do we get the rational people to speak up and get this stuff started?

We try, but people just don't listen.

Magnum_Opus

I'm pretty sure, if you are just counting pollution to the environment, the damage a hybrid does is greater. I think this is because the battery doesn't last as long and causes a greater amount of chemicals to be released in all.

I hate it when progress is impeded by stupid and false ideas.

Rym

I'm considering a hybrid car for one primary reason: they're quiet. In electric mode, they make almost zero noise. Also, the cost of replacing the batteries has dropped precipitously in recent weeks, greatly reducing the TCO.

This would be fantastic for my commute to the train station. Wouldn't help much when I travel, though, as you need the engine going to keep your speed up on the freeway.

HMTKSteve

Also, the cost of replacing the batteries has dropped precipitously in recent weeks, greatly reducing the TCO.

Which will probably also result in many hybrid and electric cars having a very low resale/trade-in value.

Bronzdragon

This would be fantastic for my commute to the train station. Wouldn't help much when I travel, though, as you need the engine going to keep your speed up on the freeway.

Actually, it's build to be quite. Also, because of the much smaller motor it's un-hearable.

The tires on the road make more noise (people underestimate that).

lackofcheese

Also, because of the much smaller motor it's un-hearableinaudible.

Kate Monster

Actually, it's build built to be quite quiet.