----- Original Message -----
From: "Jed Rothwell"
> Ed Storms and others have objected to the
terminology "250 mpg" with
> reference to plug in hybrid cars. It is confusing and inaccurate.
> reference to plug in hybrid cars. It is confusing and inaccurate.
I suggest as an alternative measure - PQ or
pollution quotient. Perhaps CPM, or Carbon (equivalent) per Mile would be less
finger-pointing, but don't we need a "stick" as well as a carrot?
Another alternative which is equally "blame-worthy"
would be PPM or pollution per mile. It would then be a reflection of the owner's
transportation segment of his total pollution quotient, which includes the home.
Every citizen could pay a tax-rate (surtax) based upon their individual
pollution quotient PQ, in addition to income ;-)
How "left" is that...?
For gasoline, the calculation would be simpler - in
that it is grams of carbon released per mile driven. We could add some
extra for diesel as you get particulates, and deduct some for ethanol as it
burns cleaner. We could go all metric and call it CPK.
CPM, however, recognizes American obstinence,
something we should all be very proud of in the face of world opinion, like
going to war over oil-lust and deliberately false information... plus it has the
added nuance of honoring Gary Kildall, who would otherwise be the unluckiest man
in the USA for the last few decades (but that is another story).
For the hybrid, the measure would be a more
complicated formula based on the percentage of electric input, which itself
would take into account the mix of electric power. If batteries are charged at
home(office) with solar panels or wind, this could add zero and give the car
owner a large tax savings (off of the pollution-surtax).
This formula for power from the grid could be done
nationally or locally. If the area had 15% hydro, 15% nuclear, 5% wind and solar
and 65% coal, and the efficiency of the coal-fired plant was 45% then the CPM
for the electric part would be about half of the normal gasoline equivalent for
the same power, but since the hybrid uses less power, it would be even lower -
and a big savings if we had the surtax in place.
The only way to get quick and effective results is
the "carrot and stick" approach, where you reward economy and low pollution and
also give a disincentive for gluttons, who want to keep the a half dozen
hummers around their 50,000 sq. ft mansion... not unlike a famous governator,
who is... thank heavens... not a neo-con, and would not mind paying the
pollution surtax anyway, as it is a pittance compared to his other outside
income in public office.
That's the left-coast report for
today....
Jones
