Buzz builds for plug-in cars

mathew adair, albany, ny — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:48:36 GMT

As selfish as it sounds, i believe that it is the goal of every human to be productive for their own success and survival. In other words, compete for themselves in a free market society. While the goals of the prizes are geared toward "service to society," instead of service to self, as long as the issues affect on a personal level, this just might be the jump start that our society needs to overcome the boundaries created by tradition, religion, and politics on our advances in science.
As for my thoughts on the hybrids, i think everyone is aware of the effects that oil has had on our world, i think its time we overcome our need for it. I am very excited to see what the future holds for transportation and science as a result.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Bob Reid, Lachine, MI — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:30:33 GMT

Plug-in automobiles may be a step better than what is currently out on the road, but they are missing the overall intent. By having to "plug in" they are still consuming electricity that is having to be manufactured by another source. In many cases this outside source is creating similar polutants to what would be generated by the automobile itself. A better goal would obviously be a hybrid that draws its electrical needs from solar conversion.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Kerry Beauhrt — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:02:05 GMT

Why not just wait another year for the GM VOLT and buy an actual commercial product with a 15 year battery and more power and better looks and a lower price? Bricklin will NEVER be able to build a practical electric plug-in without a practical battery pack - and he doesn't have one.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Mr. Know it All, Kookamunga, CA — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:24:16 GMT

Lithium Ion Batteries in cars are nothing new have been in use already for many years in the Nissan Hyper-Mini and Nissan Altra battery electric vehicles. The closest thing to 100 mpg was the Honda Insight (60+ mpg hwy), which unfortunately is not sold in the US anymore since barely anyone bought them. Check out this group of Insight owners that modifies them to get very high MPG: 99mpg.com

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Del Spiva — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:25:11 GMT

Bob Reid hasn't been paying attention. The electrical grid is much cleaner than conventional combustion engines today, especially considering that every car on the road could go plug-in today, and 70% could recharge in their homes without any additional power plants built. Study after study over the past 3 months have indicated this.

Check these links:
http://www.calcars.org/priusplus.html

http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/
hymotion_plug_in_conversion_kit_announced_today.htm

and this from the Los Angeles Times:
According to the study, a marginal improvement in power plant emissions, coupled with ownership of plug-ins by 20% of U.S. drivers by 2050 — the report's worst-case scenario — would cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by 163 million tons.

Under a "middle case" scenario, which assumes plug-ins make up 62% of U.S. passenger vehicles by 2050 and utilities adopt more stringent pollution-control measures, emissions would be cut by 468 million tons a year.

That would be equal to removing 82.5 million vehicles, about a third of the light vehicles on the road today.

"The study clearly shows that the benefits from pluggable hybrids are greater if the power sector is cleaner," said Dan Lashof, science director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Climate Center.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions would help combat global warming, and increasing the fuel efficiency of passenger vehicles would reduce the nation's dependence on petroleum, the nonprofit groups said.

The study estimated that a 60% market share for plug-in hybrids would tap only 7% to 8% of the electricity available nationwide in 2050. That finding jibes with a study released late last year by the Department of Energy that concluded that "the existing electric power system could generate most of the electricity consumed" by plug-ins. However, the DOE study noted that the power supply situation is tighter in California, a popular market for hybrids.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Eco Author Chris Eldridge — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:11:23 GMT

Now if we can only get people to think of building "FUNCTIONAL" plug-ins, we'd really be ahead of the game. I certainly won't deny the car in the photo "looks good" but that "looking good" is part of the endless facade that has caused the problems we face. We build our homes, cars, and buy clothing all as just a matter of show, and seem more interested in impressing the Jones' next door than of actually getting more out of life itself. Micro and subcompact cars can be built very safe and yet offer just as much seating and cargo capacity as a mere stylish car twice their weight. All that extra metal doens't just lower gas mileage, it also has to be mined, refined, and shipped... It all adds up and if everyone watched the Science Channel special on the dire conditions of the ice caps, they'd want to be doing all that you can too.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Loren, SF Bay Area, CA — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:25:45 GMT

"Why not just wait another year for the GM VOLT"

Anyone remember GM's last attempt at an electric car, the EV-1? They wouldn't sell them, only leased them, didn't promote them, and lobbied tooth and nail to get places like California to stop requiring them. American car manufacturers aren't known for being boldly innovative, and seek to stifle innovation that might threaten their profits at every turn.

I think that the more people who attempt to produce high-mileage, zero emission, etc. cars, the better. Just because GM has announced and shown a prototype doesn't mean we can all lie down and proclaim the Earth saved. Not by half. Competition *is* the American way.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

red pill junkie, Mexico city — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:55:47 GMT

Well, all I can say about that car is that it's BUTT-UGLY!! For $35000 I would expect something with a little more design, not this grotesque thing that looks like Buck Roger's Pontiac.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Charlie, Oak Brook, IL — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:02:38 GMT

OK, Kerry keep holding your breath, I'm sure GM will have a VOLT available for public consumption under $100k next year... green smoke and mirrors...

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Fred Gross, Irvine, CA — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:26:27 GMT

As most of us know, hybrid cars are not the end-all panacea of automobile efficiency, however, these cars are the natural progression towards that goal. At this time, I would like to see the introduction of the plug-in hybrid cars utilizing a solar-electric roof panel to augment the power system. The next X-Prizes should then be committed to the creation and production of marketable high efficiency solar panels and batteries

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

John O'Halloran, Seattle, WA — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:25:59 GMT

I am a bit late posting to this one but has anyone heard of the Tesla? It is a 100% electric car that goes 0 to 60 in under 4 second and cost about 2 cents a mile to run. That would be like a standard car that would get 300 miles to the gallon. I think the main reason we do not see more cars like this is that the oil companies do not want them. I have not done a detailed study but I would guess major stock holder in every major auto company include oil companies or heads of oil companies. This is just how business is done and if we want to drive cars that cost less to drive we will have to push for it both at the dealerships and in the government. The California law requiring any company selling cars there to also sell a hybrid has done a lot.

Buzz builds for plug-in cars

Gina, Las Vegas, NV — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:58:35 GMT

Wow let's all have a comment war on plug in cars. Haha. Interesting and fantastic thought and all, but let's see how far this goes. In all these comments, everybody's right, but there's always more to it.

Oil companies will definately not like this idea because it will not benefit them. The government is supposedly fighting their ass off for this oil in other countries, therefore they will somehow be involved in this, hence, in the end, the government has a say in whether this is going to happen or not.
Yup my homies, this all leads to politics.

Surprise surprise.
Great idea though. Yea let's save the ecosystem! Haha. Not gonna happen.