In These Times

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• • 06 Jul 06
  • 11:23 am

  The article barely mentions highway-capable electric vehicles (EVs,) which are now being driven on US roads in the thousands. EVs are zero emissions vehicles, and even taking power-generation emissions into account, they’re far cleaner than the alternatives. That’s why major US refiners have fought against EVs for a decade and automakers have crushed several thousands of their own EVs. See Chris Paine’s documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” now playing across America. The well-to-wheels fuel efficiency of electric vehicles is over ten times that of any petroleum-fueled hybrids. The cost of petro-fuels includes huge amounts of electricity used in refining oil, …

  Posted to Running on Empty

• • 09 Jul 06
  • 8:14 pm

  The Farnz apparently didn't bother to read the comments before adding his "limited brains" nukes-only rant. Tnes of millions of zero-emission, highway-capable electric vehicles (EVs) can be recharged overnight using idle generating capacity already built. I agree that uranium is limited. Farnz' statement that solar is not possible is idiotic: photovoltaic is zero-emission, free power (put it on your hime roof and it also cuts cooling costs) that is now quite efficient and rapidly coming down in cost. Here in Florida, I'll get thousands in tax rebates for installing it, and the state will not have to pay for as much …

  Posted to Running on Empty

• • 10 Jul 06
  • 6:42 pm

  John B apparently didn't read my post before opining that EVs are little help. 40% reduction in air pollution and driving for 3 cents a mile are a pretty big deal to most people, John. I've been an EVangel for a decade now; I can back up everything I say. See my guest blog posts on EVWorld.com, which refute your argument and the next two objections you'll think of...

  Posted to Running on Empty

• • 13 Jul 06
  • 5:34 pm

  John B: The fuel costs of EVs may be less than I stated. You don't think that a 90% reduction in repairs and maintenance makes a difference? By the time that EVs are actually offered for sale in this backward country, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or Lithium batteries will outlast the car. You assume EVs using century-old lead-acid techology. Everything you hold against EVs is true of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs.) No one said that the entire machine would be organic (although complete auto-component recyclability is now becoming available.) Can you bring yourself to accept that the huge pollution involved …

  Posted to Running on Empty

• • 15 Jul 06
  • 12:35 pm

  John B: Again, you are confused (or are one of the oil and auto industry employees being paid to attack EVs, such as the hundreds of commentless negative-review votes on film sites covering the documentary, 'Who Killed the Electric Car?' now showing nationwide.) One, the oil industry backs hydrogen; it requires dedicated fueling equipment in thousands of new stations, which is their bailiwick. Also, the likeliest way to obtain H2 is by extracting it from petro-fuels. Finally, hydrogen-powered cars are propelled by electric motors - they're just over-complicated EVs. Of course, they remain perpetually a decade from market, allowing Oil to …

  Posted to Running on Empty