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

[swl]

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

Did you catch the part that said "Out of the 100% total potential energy in the crude oil, only 11% is left to turn the wheels of the car"?

The electical generation cycle is supposedly in the 55% efficency range - 5 times more efficient than the oil cycle. I agree that todays batteries are not the way to go for large scale relief from oil. But the electric car/hybrid is a great way of easing in electrical technology. Manufacturers can realisticly put technology into the cars without a drastic departure from their existing technology. Do their research - get experience in the field. Then when generation/storage issues have been resolved they will be ready to jump to oilless.

At the risk of being banished to the sandbox... Did you see the report from the Democrats that has their estimates of the true cost of the war in the middle east? Over $1trillion! Imagine if that money had been invested in NASA style research on energy self sufficiency 10 years ago. Americans wouldn't need the middle east - or Canada! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hide.gif)