Comments on: Gassing about electric cars

By: printer cartridge supplies

printer cartridge supplies — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:34:51 +0000

“Would you buy a car that has to be refuled with 60% imported fuel? make pollution that could kill you? has the fire and explosive power of 20 sticks of TNT ?”

I will quote one comment above. This is true! Why opt for an engine with all these harmful effects. Be wise! Not just for your own comfort but for the common good.

By: J Mott

J Mott — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:27:52 +0000

I am less worried about noise. Don’t most people blare their stereos loud enough to hear from a block away anyway? What about noise pollution inside the cab? I am sure you will hear every bump in the road because there is no combustion engine dampening the noise of the road.

By: Matea

Matea — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:08:34 +0000

Regarding the long distance issue with electric vehicles,
why not consider installing a power supply net, say every 90 miles, above the highway for the amount of distance required to recharge the car batteries. Cars could be equipped with retractable anntena like contactors to be used at these locations while continuously moving?

By: Anupam Rae

Anupam Rae — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:31:48 +0000

How will the electricity required to charge the battery be generated? By means of fossil fuel only. What electric cars will achieve is that the city environment will become cleaner but whether the world environment will become cleaner is doubtful. Urban dweller is a self-centred person. Considering the efficiency of a power plant and transmission losses, I don\’t think much reduction in pollution will be achieved. The disposal of batteries will be a serious problem. In case of total power failure due to a natural disaster, the whole city will come to grinding halt. Imagine no ambulances available. I believe a lot more deep and cold or emotionless thinking is required on this subject. On the issues of pollution, the whole world should be considered as one system and then the issue should be analysed.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:17:47 +0000

Now put a solar panel on the roof to recharge the batteries and you will have my attention. I have a 2001 Saturn SC1 that gets 38-40 mpg. Not a single new Saturn, hybrids included, gets that kinda of mpg. I have no incentive to purchase a new, YET!

By: Drewbie

Drewbie — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:09:59 +0000

I don’t think it’d be too long before drivers could customize their car’s noise by downloading different acceration tones.

By: Tanie linie

Tanie linie — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:13:25 +0000

I guess that the oil cartels finally may be loseing their grip with corps seeing their future profits outside of the oil industry in the next 20 or so years – thus the “explosion” of alternative powered cars. As long as the prices come down and the electric cars are more reliable I think people will move to more eco friendly solutions as distances,esp in europe are much shorter that the 100 miles, plus most populations still concentrate on a small area around the city. On a side note frankly its amazeing that the basic concept of the piston engine hasn’t changed in the last 70 or so years. Only now have we begun to experiment with other methods – like mazdas Wankel engine in 2005.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:38:39 +0000

I recently purchased a new Honda Fit after much research. The overall cradle to grave carbon footprint from it is much smaller than that of a Toyota Prius hybrid or any current electric car. I would have gladly purchased an American made vehicle if there were any that were any good. Simply put, there aren’t. I would love to be able to purchase an EV. The 100 mile range is no big problem, just something we will be getting used to. I’m glad that people are finally realizing that American small car technology is non-existent and that letting the American automakers fail is a very good thing for the economy as well as for the environment.

By: Marcus Vinicius Pinto Schtruk

Marcus Vinicius Pinto Schtruk — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:34:44 +0000

With this mileage I could spend the whole week without recharging a single time.
Concerning the noise “problem” I don’t think it will be a major issue when the car starts to move because most of the noise comes from the tires and not from the engine itself.
No doubt I would buy one for me depending on the price.

By: tora201

tora201 — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:59:22 +0000

No noise? Great news! It means I will be able to get a decent sleep at night! Seriously though, most cars are far too loud at the moment and contribute more than enough to noise pollution as it is. I am sure that pedestrians will soon learn to look (and not listen) before crossing the street. To car makers: Please, please hurry and introduce zero noise electric cars and don’t worry: people are adaptable. I’m sure the millions who live in cities would appreciate the peace and quiet, as well as the clean air.