Thanks to all who have replied to my query about Prius & plug in electric buggies. I think Andy's on the mark but we're a long way from large number of communities that will walk or peddle or even use mass transit. Almost like it's too big a step especially considering that most people live in the suburbs. Tony
On 7/18/08, Andy Goodell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The problem is that we are relying on concentrated forms of energy - > whether > is it coal or gasoline - that both pollute, both cause environmental > issues, > and neither of which can ever be used sustainably. Cars will never be an > ultimate solution to any energy problem. Electric cars scare me too, not > just because they potentially pollute more than gas, but because if a > significant portion of this country's cars are electric, the energy has to > come from somewhere. Plus, we would need to manufacture the batteries to > store all of that energy. Sure, using power plants at night is a good idea, > but if we are building more power plants and batteries because of electric > cars, than we are not helping the situation at all. > > Innovations in energy efficiency are much more important than the source. > Want to save gas? Stop driving so much. Want to save coal? Stop wasting so > much electricity. There are so many options out there, and Americans are so > hesitant to try them unless it fits our comfortable way of life, while most > of the world uses far less and suffers from the problems created here. > > I specifically chose to live in a place that I knew I would easily get > along > without owning a car. I get everywhere by bike except when I have been lazy > and use the moped, which is about $2 of gas per month with my current > usage. > Even if the 300mpg plug-in-option car like the Atpera were available in NY, > I would not buy it. I have absolutely no desire for more efficient cars, in > fact I would love to see them disappear altogether. What I want to see is a > community, a whole-system approach, and a way of life that does not require > owning an expensive, energy wasting, polluting vehicle. Whether it is coal > or gasoline, they are both heading nowhere near the goal of reducing our > consumption. > > -Andy > > On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 1:33 PM, Tony Del Plato <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > I was taken aback by the this thought and wondered if anyone on the TC > > Sustainability list has a take on whether a Prius, if plugged in to > > re-charge its battery, could indirectly pollute more than and is less > > efficient than a gasoline fueled car. The article below sounds compelling > > in > > light of the coal industry trying to get into the transportation market. > > Tony Del Plato > > > > http://www.betterworldclub.com/articles/DC_Case_Against_Electric_Car.htm > > > > -- > > > > "Justice is what love looks like in public." > > ~ Dr. Cornel West > > > > > > -- > > > > "Justice is what love looks like in public." > > ~ Dr. Cornel West > > > _______________________________________________ > > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, > > please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > > [email protected] > > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > > > > > > > > > > -- > Andy Goodell > www.IthacaCarshare.org > 607-277-3210 > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, > please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > [email protected] > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > -- "Justice is what love looks like in public." ~ Dr. Cornel West _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
