Comments on: No Plug? No Deal.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:37:57 +0000

I’m not a big proponent of federal government research dollars outside of government agencies, but I do support a federal government mandate that 75% of its vehicles must be fuel cell or electric vehicles by 2017. This method funds change through guaranteed sales to a buyer that never stops spending.

Sure, this President has distracted the public, but this is not a US automaker problem exclusively. There are just as many car manufacturers outside of the US. The whole world is decades behind in developing alternative vehicles.

By: Harold

Harold — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:17:47 +0000

I would like to see just a few billion of the US budget spent on R & D on alternative fuels and vehicles. The faith based economic system the present US gov’t is using is absolutely bizarre (a deficit of over a Billion a DAY). There appears to be little thought of the future, and no thought of balancing the budget.

The country is now decades behind where it could be in developing alternative vehicles. All while the present gov’t has kept people focused on gay mariage, abortion, church based schools or prayer in schools instead of the common good.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:52:28 +0000

Thomas: I’ll look beyond your personal attack and your lack of research in alternative energy sources.

If you re-read my post, you’d see that my primary reasons for wanting an electric car are economic and cool factor.

Electric motors are far more efficient than combustion engines. The cost for a single charge (over 300 miles) is less than a single gallon of gas.

Electric car manufacturers are doing awesome new design concepts to overcome their unique engineering challenges, something combustion engine manufacturers haven’t had to do in a long time. The Venture One looks to be the most awesome “motorcycle” ever ridden.

Mike: Good points. You’re right. You can get the Yaris loaded with features and the cost goes up, thought MPG only goes down about 1-2 MPG with the automatic transition. My primary reason for wanting an EV (economics) is not satisfied with the Prius because the initial cost delta would take over 5 years to be more economical than a Yaris.

I personally don’t need a large vehicle because I’m the only one usually riding in my car. I also have to park outdoors and do not have a place to charge. Fuel cell electric vehicles still gets more MPG than the “hybrid synergy drive” and have all the other mechanical simplicity benefits of EVs.

Don’t get me wrong: if I had the money for a Prius, I’d buy one and convert it to an EV in a heartbeat… at least until the Venture One is released. :)

By: Caleb

Caleb — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:32:54 +0000

Thomas C. Gray (comment #1) is a classic example of the “bully syndrome” — in order to feel okay about himself, he has to resort to demeaning others. It’s pretty common for people who live very self-indulgent lifestyles to look down on those whose worldviews go beyond their own immediate whims. The selfless make the selfish look bad and feel guilty, so the selfish must attempt to discredit the selfless in order to minimize these negative impressions and feelings.

In plain English: they’re asshats who become even bigger asshats in order to not seem like asshats.

By: Mike Cohen

Mike Cohen — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:48:51 +0000

The Yaris and other non-hybrid cars that get 40+ MPG are small, stripped down models, and most of them only get that mileage with a manual transmission.

The beautiful thing about the Prius is it gets 50+ MPG (I’ve actually managed 75 MPG sustained on longer trips) without giving up space, comfort, or features. It’s bigger than my old Corolla and has lots of extras like stability control, ABS, and a backup camera.

A plugin hybrid is out of the question for me since I have to park outdoors and there’s no AC outlet nearby.

By: Thomas C. Gray

Thomas C. Gray — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:15:32 +0000

Quit talking as though you are saving the
fu*%#cking world, you self inflated pompous ass!
I guarantee you that your pathetically insignificant green activities can’t possible by detected by the world at large. Just remember – the addition of even a thousand nuclear plants (equivalent to over 5 million useless, uncontrollable, unreliable, exorbitantly expensive and subsidized wind turbines)
can only lower the global temperature by 1/100th of a degree. And you think you’re
making a difference!!!!!!!!! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Total moron.