Chevy Volt price announced
07-30-2010, 06:40 AM
#31
Nice analysis, Hev...We could analyze relative cost to death. But the bottom line is: eventually petroleum based fuel will become prohibitively expensive. As we transition to that point more alternative fuels and systems will become economically competative and the industry will respond to that trend.
07-31-2010, 05:02 AM
#32
Originally Posted by tof,Jul 30 2010, 09:40 AM
Nice analysis, Hev...We could analyze relative cost to death. But the bottom line is: eventually petroleum based fuel will become prohibitively expensive. As we transition to that point more alternative fuels and systems will become economically competative and the industry will respond to that trend.
Damned underlines always getting in da way...Btw, tof, thanks for your informed analysis of this type of stuff
07-31-2010, 07:19 PM
#33
Op-ed from yesterday's New York Times. Interesting comments on the Volt or as the author puts it "GM's electric lemon".
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/opinion/...&sq=volt&st=cse
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/opinion/...&sq=volt&st=cse
07-31-2010, 08:42 PM
#34
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Spokes Man,Jul 29 2010, 12:25 PM
^^ The environmental impact from fossil fuel (coal-fired) power plants has been nearly eliminated by the use of Scrubbers and Electrostatic Precipitators since the 80's. The "smoke" you see coming out of a power plant stack is steam, not pollution. The water from the condensed steam is cooled before it's re-introduced back to the source (river, etc) to protect plant and animal life.
08-01-2010, 07:19 AM
#35
Registered User
While coal fired plants are definitely much cleaner than in the '70's, there is a new round of EPA regulations on sulfur dioxide, mercury, and NOx that will likely force the early retirement of a number of older coal plants.
If natural gas recovery from shale continues as it promises to, gas generation will likely supplant a lot of coal. Especially since combined-cycle gas plants can be somewhere around 60% efficient.
If natural gas recovery from shale continues as it promises to, gas generation will likely supplant a lot of coal. Especially since combined-cycle gas plants can be somewhere around 60% efficient.
08-01-2010, 08:26 PM
#37
Originally Posted by aashish2,Jul 28 2010, 12:46 PM
08-01-2010, 08:36 PM
#38
Mrs. GM3 asked me how much our electric bill would go up when we charged it each evening? That's a good question. I know it's relative to where we live, but still a good question.
08-02-2010, 07:45 AM
#39
Originally Posted by Spokes Man,Aug 1 2010, 04:37 PM
Some would even argue that the environmental impact of an H2 Hummer is less than a Toyota Prius.
If you do a "dust to dust" comparison, it is pretty close. However, the latest evidence suggests that the Prius is somewhat more eco-friendly than an H2.
CNW Marketing Research initially published a study[138] in which they estimated that the total lifetime energy cost of a Prius was greater than that of a Hummer. The study is widely cited, and its contents have also been widely challenged: see for example "Hummer versus Prius: 'Dust to Dust' Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science."[139] A recent update by CNW has changed the total lifetime cost value, now placing the Prius as costing less than the Hummer.
But regardless of who is right, CNW or its critics, the debate misses an important point. The current generation of hybrids represents a step in a direction the industry must take. Even if hybrid and electric vehicles do currently possess a larger carbon footprint than comparable vehicles that use more conventional power plants, the hybrids and electrics remain early in their development life cycle. Early internal combustion engines produced less than fifty horsepower from 3 or 4 liters of displacement. As development continues on new vehicle power systems performance and efficiency should continue to improve.
08-02-2010, 04:28 PM
#40
Registered User
And there should be even bigger improvements in the sticker price!
I read an interesting bit a couple of years ago. The author (I don't remember source) stated that China isn't even trying hybrid vehicles: they feel hybrids are just a stepping stone to full electric, and they want to focus on the end game not the interim step.
If the Nissan Leaf or Mini-E were price competitive without a subsidy from the taxpayers, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Of course, we have to solve the problem of road use tax for vehicles that don't buy conventional motor vehicle fuel. Nobody should get a free ride!
I read an interesting bit a couple of years ago. The author (I don't remember source) stated that China isn't even trying hybrid vehicles: they feel hybrids are just a stepping stone to full electric, and they want to focus on the end game not the interim step.
If the Nissan Leaf or Mini-E were price competitive without a subsidy from the taxpayers, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Of course, we have to solve the problem of road use tax for vehicles that don't buy conventional motor vehicle fuel. Nobody should get a free ride!
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