It's sad that an engiener came up with this

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1035443

OK, here's the parts of the story that make me want ot go bitch slap the guy who made this...

Gremban, an electrical engineer and committed environmentalist, spent several months and $3,000 tinkering with his car.
He's part of a small but growing movement. "Plug-in" hybrids ....

My anger:
If you plug your car into the wall, it is using electricity produced by a power plant. Some are oil burning, others coal, etc... An engineer who claims to be an environmentalist should know that using electricity that comes from a wall outlet is not "green".

ARgghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... I see dumb people. ... they're everywhere.

EDIT: spelling errors does not impy that one is dumb.

Be as angry as you want, but if you want to go from point A to B it is going to take energy of some form. The electricity generated by a power plant is much greener than the equivilent amount of energy produced in a gasoline burning car, even a hybrid. Unless it is solar, wind, or hydro, the electicity isn't green, but his solution is greener as it reduces emissions and saves energy by taking advantage of centralized efficiency.

R

 

[venk]

The tech isn't perfect, but hopefully it will get better to a point that it becomes a viable alternative. Saving $150 over the course of 100K miles isn't really worth it when you give up a lot in covenience, options, and looks.

 

[thesurge]

It's sad that you created this thread. 🙁

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Amused
At any rate, it doesn't matter WHAT battery technology they use. ALL battery technology deteriorates over a period of time. Even if a company boasts a "100,000 cycle lifetime" they are NOT telling you what performance degradation you see after that 100,000 cycles. It could very well be that they find 50% or less capacity acceptable.

I fail to see how that makes hybrids a bad choice for car buyers who are interested in the latest and greatest technology. It's not like internal combustion engines run forever while batteries have a lifespan of 10 years or so; all machinery eventually breaks down.

Again, 10 years my ass. Batteries deteriorate. Just because a battery holds a 30% charge at 10 years (not bloody likely... more like 5) does NOT mean it's still effective. Your gas milage WILL decrease as your batteies become less effective.

There are diesel cars out there that out perform the best hybrids at a MUCH lower cost. Hybrid technology is a dead end, desperate measure that will not work in the long run.

 

[whistleclient]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

ARgghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... I see dumb people. ... they're everywhere.

yes... um... perhaps you should read the article. It's 80 mpg, not the 250 mpg you put in the thread title.

 

Originally posted by: Amused
Hybrid technology is a dead end, desperate measure that will not work in the long run.

I'm sure people said the same thing about computers before the transistor was invented, which replaced hot and unreliable vacuum tubes.

Hybrid technology is not a dead end; rather, it's a bridge to the next level of technology. The tech is in its infancy now; but I am damn sure that scientists will take the idea of hybrids and improve on it in coming years.

 

[Staples]

Power plants create a lot cleaner energy than cars so it is a step up.

 

[Staples]

And since wer are talking about batteries, I would like to know why cell phones, cordless phones and so many other things still use NiCD? What is wrong with NiMh?

 

Originally posted by: Staples
And since wer are talking about batteries, I would like to know why cell phones, cordless phones and so many other things still use NiCD? What is wrong with NiMh?

Uh, my cell phone uses a Li-Ion battery. I'm pretty sure most others do too.

 

[thirdlegstump]

At least the pollution will be somewhat isolated...

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Staples
And since wer are talking about batteries, I would like to know why cell phones, cordless phones and so many other things still use NiCD? What is wrong with NiMh?

Uh, my cell phone uses a Li-Ion battery. I'm pretty sure most others do too.

LiIon allows them to keep selling you batteries, or even better, new cell phones.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Staples
And since wer are talking about batteries, I would like to know why cell phones, cordless phones and so many other things still use NiCD? What is wrong with NiMh?

Uh, my cell phone uses a Li-Ion battery. I'm pretty sure most others do too.

If infact that is the case, I have to claim ingnorance. I don't have a cell phone. I did just buy a new battery for my panasonic cordless phone and it was NiCd.

 

[Engineer]

It's still a bandaid solution. Until we remove ourselves from ME oil by "making" or own alternative, renewable, cost efficient energy, then we are just putting off the inevitable.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Topic Title: It's sad that an engiener came up with this
Topic Summary: Experimental Hybrid Cars Get Up to 250 Mpg

Yes, it's sad, the U.S. should only be driving cars that get no more than 8 miles to the gallon.