Hybrid Porsches, One 100 years old and one "new".... Options

[neo914-6]

Electric "hybrid" Porsche


Tesla's comparison to their new roadster, Porschius. Not sure what the aircraft above it represents...

[byndbad914]

If pollution is the issue, electric cars are NOT the answer. Look what it takes to make the electricity... CO still uses coal to generate power, I mean, c'mon. Until this country rethinks power generation and begins converting all power generation to nuclear, I wouldn't waste a dime on an electric car from a pollution standpoint.

Then, cost-wise, they are not worth it either. Let alone run time/distance between charges and how friggin' small the cars are (smaller is better in that arena).

A turbo, high pressure lean-burn diesel hybrid on the other hand... now we are talking. You could make a huge F250 diesel get close to 30mpg pretty easy with a hybrid option for cruising speed. The 4x4 crew cab long bed monsters get 18-20mpg on the highway as is, so working the technology to a leaner mix, or considering a valved 2-stroke with separately compressed charge (technology that is out there in the works that burns very lean and clean), etc with a hybrid setup could really be amazing. Cars averaging 75mpg pretty easily and don't have to be little shit-boxes like the Prius (my friend has one; couldn't give it to me). I am talking the 40mpg Audis and so forth getting around 75mpg.

Then invade and take over Canada (would be an easier fight than in the mid-East) and drill like crazy (Canada has a lot of untapped oil) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[smontanaro]

If pollution is the issue, electric cars are NOT the answer. Look what it takes to make the electricity... CO still uses coal to generate power, I mean, c'mon. Until this country rethinks power generation and begins converting all power generation to nuclear, I wouldn't waste a dime on an electric car from a pollution standpoint.

Maybe in Colorado they use a lot of coal, but it's hardly the only source of energy to create electricity, and in some states, like California, it generates well under half the electricity, according to Tesla's website. In Illinois I think about half the electricity is generated using coal.

While electricity generated from coal isn't the final answer, it's certainly a step in the right direction and you have the option of improving your electricity generation mix as time goes on. That's not likely to happen to a great degree with the internal combustion engine, in diesel or gasoline form.

Skip

[racunniff]

If pollution is the issue, electric cars are NOT the answer. Look what it takes to make the electricity... CO still uses coal to generate power, I mean, c'mon. Until this country rethinks power generation and begins converting all power generation to nuclear, I wouldn't waste a dime on an electric car from a pollution standpoint.

...

While electricity generated from coal isn't the final answer, it's certainly a step in the right direction and you have the option of improving your electricity generation mix as time goes on. That's not likely to happen to a great degree with the internal combustion engine, in diesel or gasoline form.

Skip

Yes, exactly. It is much easier to scrub one large plant of pollutants than millions of auto engines. Electro Auto (where I got my kit) has a FAQ entry on this: http://www.electroauto.com/info/poll.shtml

[andys]

If pollution is the issue, electric cars are NOT the answer. Look what it takes to make the electricity... CO still uses coal to generate power, I mean, c'mon. Until this country rethinks power generation and begins converting all power generation to nuclear, I wouldn't waste a dime on an electric car from a pollution standpoint.

...

While electricity generated from coal isn't the final answer, it's certainly a step in the right direction and you have the option of improving your electricity generation mix as time goes on. That's not likely to happen to a great degree with the internal combustion engine, in diesel or gasoline form.

Skip

Yes, exactly. It is much easier to scrub one large plant of pollutants than millions of auto engines. Electro Auto (where I got my kit) has a FAQ entry on this: http://www.electroauto.com/info/poll.shtml

While that is generally true, the power generation industry will continue along the path of the most economically feasibly way to power their plants. Also, there are many far reaching issues to deal with from power generation to battery manufacturing (which uses many very toxic materials). Many trade-offs to be considered, rather than over-simplified blanket solutions filled with un-informed assumptions (mostly from politicians and greens).

It makes me no expert on the subject by any means; I was involved (Sr. Mgr. of Mech. Design and Manufacturing) for a few years in the PNGV program (Partnership for Next Generation Vehicles), and designed rapid discharge rate Lithium ion cells specifically for that now defunct program. I can assure you that the amount of toxic chemicals used durring manufacture was quite surprising to me, and it's difficult to imagine it on a scale necessary to supply something like the auto industry. Disposal alone would be a huge issue, I would think.

PNGV was a consortium of the big three American auto companies to help develop energy efficient alternatives. Google it for more.

Andys