Opening around the country: http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/
new.morning wrote: >--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >> >>In a message dated 7/3/06 12:30:25 P.M. Central Daylight Time, >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >> >>By the way, did you know we could have had electric cars, like ten >>years ago; >>The technology is there, >>Unfornately it would put filling stations and repair stations out of >>business, you see; >>Because an electric car won't need as many repairs at all. >>And you plug it in your wall at home; so the Saudi/Bush group >> >> >>Where is all of this electricity going to come from? Did you know >> >> >that an > > >>enormous amount of electricity is lost, in thin air, just in the >> >> >transmission > > >>from power station along the power line grid, before anybody uses it? >> >> > >I would not characterize 7% or so (typical transmission losses in an >electrical grid) as "enormous". The efficiencies of energy production >(more kwh per unit of energy) (as well as pollution control) is much >higher in large scale plants compared to a car engine and make up for >such transmission losses a number of times over. > > > >>If we >>weren't burning the oil in our cars as gasoline, we would be >> >> >burning it to > > >>generate electricity to charge those cars up at night. >> >> > >Ha. Good one. Oil is used in less than 2-3% of electrical generation >in the US (and most elsewhere) -- mostly for small peaking units used >when demand is highest 10-50 hours a year. > > > >>Too bad we don't have more >>nuclear power plants to generate electricity. >> >> > >Its about 20%. Waste disposal for the 100,000 year half life has not >has dolved, nor the security of transportation and storge against >terrorist highjackings of the material. And the history of nuclear had >been a cost disaster. In California, the cost has been so high >compared to other generation sources its a joke -- and a number of >plants have been retired early (Songs 1 and 2, Rancno Cordova, etc.) >Diablo Canyon, the last great behemouth in California, has such a >history of incredibly high costs per kwh, its laughably -- but sad for >ratepayers . Nuclear does have the lowest fuel costs of any major >generation (except hydro, solar, wind, etc), but huge capital, >operational and safety costs. On the other hand the nuke industry says >THIS time they really do have very cost-competitive untis. If so, let >them compete instead of asking for govt subsidies. And pay the full >cost of externalities for storage and insurance against terrorist >theft. (Unsurmountably high -- and don't ask for exclusions. Pay the >costs if its cost effective.) > >If electric cars were deemed most desirable, it would take 20 years + >to change out the current fleet. Enough time to build new electrical >generation. And much of the unused capacity of current generators at >nightime could be used, with no new construction. About 30-40% etra >national generation simply by running plants fully at night and weekends. > >Perhaps a more electric hybrid is the ticket. Can run on charge at >night from power company, at low off-peak rates -- and would be good >for most around town trips. Shifts into fuel/hybrid mode 40 mpg + on >longer trips. Hopefully with bio fuels. > >We could have had all of this right now, essentially for free if we >had wise energy policies going back 20-30 years. A fuel tax (10 cents >/ year cumulative -- $3 now) reinvested in research and jump starting >demand / economies of scale for low cost batteries, hybrid tech, bio >fuels, etc. would have paid for it self, keeping world oil prices >lower, greatly decreasing or eliminating US need for foreign oil, and >reducing all of the other external -- aka externality costs that >burning oil causes -- national security, health, pollution, global >climate change, etc. > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
