modelmike Posted May 1, 2012 Posted May 1, 2012 The real impact of this save the world car in the batteries leaking in a landfill after they can't hold a charge and leak into the water table.....
Harry P. Posted May 1, 2012 Author Posted May 1, 2012 The real impact of this save the world car in the batteries leaking in a landfill after they can't hold a charge and leak into the water table..... Yeah, the technology is still not quite there yet. But it will be soon. I think electric cars will be a big chunk of the new-car market within our lifetimes, and not just for the treehuggers and eco-freaks. They will become practical and affordable, and will make sense for a lot of buyers. They're not quite there yet, but they will be.
CadillacPat Posted May 1, 2012 Posted May 1, 2012 The electric car is comparable to putting a band-aid on a shotgun wound. Not much use and way too late to help. The Interstate Hwy system, which many of us watched being built as kids in the early 60's, still dominates the way our cities are designed. Were the Hwy's and urban streets manufactured with an electric infrastructure, then cars (again, modes of transportation nowadays) could be built like simple slot cars without the need for expensive batteries. Even the Segway is useless the way our cities are built. CadillacPat
Harry P. Posted May 1, 2012 Author Posted May 1, 2012 The electric car is comparable to putting a band-aid on a shotgun wound. Not much use and way too late to help. The Interstate Hwy system, which many of us watched being built as kids in the early 60's, still dominates the way our cities are designed. Were the Hwy's and urban streets manufactured with an electric infrastructure, then cars (again, modes of transportation nowadays) could be built like simple slot cars without the need for expensive batteries. Even the Segway is useless the way our cities are built. CadillacPat Agreed, the electric "refueling" infrastructure doesn't exist. But there's no reason why a gas station couldn't also install a few electric outlets to recharge electric cars. The big "but" so far is how to get a full charge into a car in just a few minutes instead of a few hours.
Jon Cole Posted May 1, 2012 Posted May 1, 2012 The real impact of this save the world car in the batteries leaking in a landfill after they can't hold a charge and leak into the water table..... I would be interested to know more about that (but not interested enough to research it! ) After... how many years now of Prius production(?), if that is an issue, it should be a known issue, I would think.
Harry P. Posted May 1, 2012 Author Posted May 1, 2012 I would assume that practically all of a Prius battery pack is recycleable. Anyone know if Toyota dealers take worn out battery packs in trade towards a new one? I think Prius has been on slae long enough by now that the first ones out would need a replacement battery pack by now.
LDO Posted May 1, 2012 Posted May 1, 2012 Comicus represents everyone bitching about politics. Bea Arthur's comments...well, they're timeless.
CadillacPat Posted May 1, 2012 Posted May 1, 2012 Agreed, the electric "refueling" infrastructure doesn't exist. But there's no reason why a gas station couldn't also install a few electric outlets to recharge electric cars. The big "but" so far is how to get a full charge into a car in just a few minutes instead of a few hours. Harry, They've got the quick charges already. It's the dollars that just don't work. What do you think it would cost that station Owner who just paid $200,000 to replace old tanks, to also put in electric car "pumps"???? Yes, some refueling stations will be built, some. And, some electric cars will be sold, some. But, the table has tipped way too far for any of this to mean anything before everything collapses. Economy, social unrest, debt, lack of jobs, and on and on. Like Swayze said in "Next Of Kin", "You ain't seen bad, but it's coming"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CadillacPat
Steven Zimmerman Posted May 1, 2012 Posted May 1, 2012 Actually, with the advances in automotive technology and in the developement of more advanced batteries, you CAN go farther on a charge then you could in the first electric vehicles....
imarriedawitch Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 Electric car that nobody can afford... so what's the point? 20 years ago I could have said the same thing about a digital camera.
Joe Handley Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 (edited) Agreed, the electric "refueling" infrastructure doesn't exist. But there's no reason why a gas station couldn't also install a few electric outlets to recharge electric cars. The big "but" so far is how to get a full charge into a car in just a few minutes instead of a few hours. I don't see how hard that could be either, especially if they're making other changes to the station. I downloaded an alternitive fuel station locator app for my phone (the Pentastar V-6's are flex fuel) and beleive it or not, there are two electric charging stations closer to me in West Chicago than the two closest E-85 stations! If I want to put E-85 in the 200, I actually have to leave Dupage County for Kane (none of which are near work of course), Cook, or DeKalb Counties I would assume that practically all of a Prius battery pack is recycleable. Anyone know if Toyota dealers take worn out battery packs in trade towards a new one? I think Prius has been on slae long enough by now that the first ones out would need a replacement battery pack by now. I'd be surprised if they hadn't already started doing so for batteries that big. There's a company we dohandle battery recycling through takes all types of rechargeables. Edited May 2, 2012 by Joe Handley
Rob Hall Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 There are a few electric charging stations in a parking lot near my office..I've seen Volts and Leafs (Leaves?) plugged in there... going to be interesting to see how the Focus Electric sells.. As far as Prius batteries, anecdotally I know a guy w/ an early one (2001), has 150k on it, still has the original battery..
martinfan5 Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 Leaf's is correct, the Nissan is leaf is a really nice car, I would like to own, not for say a primary car, but for commuting anyways
JunkPile Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 It may be expensive but it sure looks cool and is nasty fast. Sign me up for one in each color.
Erik Smith Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 That is a good looking car. Over 1000hp too, not bad. Yes, $980,000 is ludicrous, but to me, so is a $60,000 truck that drives to the grocery store to buy milk. The electric technology will be there - and there will not be a collapse of the system. It's too easy to short the human capacity for innovation and scream the sky is falling, when in fact, we have managed extremely well as species.
Maindrian Pace Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 I wonder what the depreciation on an electric, exotic Serbio-Croatian supercar is. -MJS
Joe Handley Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 Unless it's an epicly awesome car.......probably pretty horrific!
Danny Lectro Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 I admit to having a bad knee-jerk reaction to conspicuous consumption, like people spending $980K on an electric supercar just to say they can. However, it's because of the early adopters of any technology, those that are willing and able to pay a premium price, that more capital goes into the refinement of the technology, allowing it to eventually become easy enough to produce that the "masses" can afford it. I hope the same can be said for workable electric vehicles.
old-hermit Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 Electric cars ... High cost ... No place conveniant to charge ... A battery that costs more to recycle than it did to produce ... Electrocution of occupants / rescue / fire personel in a collision ... Low resale value ... Horse & buggy ... Low initial cost ... Recharge anywhere with a bale of hay ... Recycles easily into glue & paint brushes ... Automatic collision avoidance system ... Lasts up to 20 years with high resale value ...
James Flowers Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 (edited) Electric cars ... High cost ... No place conveniant to charge ... A battery that costs more to recycle than it did to produce ... Electrocution of occupants / rescue / fire personel in a collision ... Low resale value ... Horse & buggy ... Low initial cost ... Recharge anywhere with a bale of hay ... Recycles easily into glue & paint brushes ... Automatic collision avoidance system ... Lasts up to 20 years with high resale value ... Do not foreget to cleanup after the horse. Those dropping are a mess. Edited May 2, 2012 by James Flowers
Monty Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 Do not foreget to cleanup after the horse. Those dropping are a mess. Yes, but they're "recyclable" (biodegradable).
Dingo5162 Posted May 5, 2012 Posted May 5, 2012 (edited) U all say that coal is clean these days well I'd like to see a clean coal power station or should I say show me a clean coal mine and I'll show U a coal cleaning station where all they do to clean the coal is wash it with water, yep U read right wash it with water. Oh and yea $900,000+ for an electric car wot a joke just like the Prius a joke on a wheels it's so polluting it's rediculous. Dingo Edited May 5, 2012 by Dingo5162
FASTBACK340 Posted May 5, 2012 Posted May 5, 2012 Not that logic should be thrown into hype, but the one little detail the media leaves out is how these batteries are mined and made. The poster-child for the anti- car, the Toyota Prius, has the ore for its batteries mined in the tundra of Canada leaving behind a several mile radius of acid rain that allows limited growth of any ground cover. But that's OK, it's in Canada's backyard. No country clubs or high-end vacation spots nearby. Then it's trucked out of the Tundra and shipped the china, world renowned for its safe work environment and strict factory toxic output control. Then those batteries are sent to Japan, where are bolted into cars sold to people whom want to appear to be "doing something socially responsible" for the environment. Plus all the safety and disposal facts already posted as far as accidents and landfills are concerned. Wow...... Huh?
FASTBACK340 Posted May 5, 2012 Posted May 5, 2012 (edited) BTW: Throught my job as a technician for Infiniti I've been to Hybrid training for both the Altima and M56H and we spent half of the first day ( of a two day class.....) with each car being repeatly told how this system will KILL YOU if you do not follow the proper discharging procedure and voltage discharge verification before touching anything. Nice to know thank you very much...... BTW: Nissan uses Toyota's technology for their Hybrids...... I forgot to add all the safety gear I'm required to wear and stand on while servicing anything to do with the Hybrid system. Gloves.... Goggles.....insulating work mats to stand on..... in school they want us to ROPE OFF our work bays with safety tape like a crime scene. I wish my scanner was working. I'd love to share some of the workbook warnings they sent me home with. Edited May 5, 2012 by FASTBACK340
Danno Posted May 5, 2012 Posted May 5, 2012 BTW: Throught my job as a technician for Infiniti I've been to Hybrid training for both the Altima and M56H and we spent half of the first day ( of a two day class.....) with each car being repeatly told how this system will KILL YOU if you do not follow the proper discharging procedure and voltage discharge verification before touching anything. Nice to know thank you very much...... BTW: Nissan uses Toyota's technology for their Hybrids...... I forgot to add all the safety gear I'm required to wear and stand on while servicing anything to do with the Hybrid system. Gloves.... Goggles.....insulating work mats to stand on..... in school they want us to ROPE OFF our work bays with safety tape like a crime scene. I wish my scanner was working. I'd love to share some of the workbook warnings they sent me home with. That's all good to know. Now, put that stuff in the hands of the average basic-transportation car owner ... the ones who put diesel in their gas engines and unleaded in their diesels ... don't seem to know the difference but somehow seem to be just bright enough to defeat the idiot-proof dispenser nozzles ... then they complain that their new car was "no good" once they've destroyed the engine with the wrong fuel. Give those darwins a car that will kill you if you touch it wrong ... explain to them that they don't have to ~ nor should they ~ try to change the electrons at home every 3,000 miles.
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