miss-piggy

Johhny, you should want electric cars to become popular. The less people driving gasoline powered vehicles means more gasoline for you.

As for electric cars, I like them. I see the US switching from coal to nuclear power in the next 50 years. I also see solar and wind power becoming more and more popular, so I see the whole "coal is so dirty" arguement not being very valid in the near future.

There are three big things to figure out with electric cars. 1) How to store the power efficiently and effectively. 2) (Similar to 1) How to get a decent range on the vehicle. 3) Effectively recharging the car. If they can figure out a way to give me 400 miles of range and then get a full recharge in 30-60 minutes, they will have a very salable product. Not only will they have a salable product, but also they will be able to offer gas stations, truck stops, dinners, malls, ect. a side business as offering a way to transfer large amounts of electricity very quickly may be a salable service.

Jorsher

Hah. I can imagine car outlets in parking outlets :P Throw some solar panels on buildings just to lessen the consumption. Would be nice to park and charge while you're at work. Have a full charge on your way home.

The biggest problem with electric-powered ---- right now isn't the ability to propel a car with it (Tesla for example) or cost of electricity. It's mostly just the cost of the batteries. Tesla gets a 200-250+ mile range, with a 1 or 2 speed transmission. That's not bad considering my 10 gal crx gets only 300-400 (probably less with the mileage on the motor).

They've developed batteries that charge fast as hell, and hold more power, and release power faster. But, they're still way too expensive for the average consumer.

I think the switch will happen eventually, but right now it's too damn expensive. Solar panels and batteries are getting cheaper but I think it'll still be a decade or two before it's "the norm." I sure as hell wouldn't mind covering my roof in some sort of solar panel and charging my car with it to get most of my trips for little or no money.

You can still modify the electric ----, it just doesn't have the awesome noise and number of upgrades you can make as with a fuel powered car. But, there are mods, just not as many. Seeing an electric motor explode into a ball of plasma is cool though.

J-SMITH69

solar panels are not efficient enough. they're basically worthless. you have to have a huge amount to even power a meduim sized house, which hardly uses any electricity in the big picture.

Jorsher

Yeah I thought stating it would be a decade or two before they'd become not-so-big of a surprise to see, people would have gathered they would be cheaper and more efficient.

http://www.energy.gov/news/4503.htm <- 40% efficiency

I know it's still not "great", but regardless it would cut down on costs.

J-SMITH69

even if they were 90% efficient, you wouuld still need acres of them to do anything.

they prob won't work

Jorsher

Yeah you're right. New Mexico, New Jersey, Arizona, Californa, etc are building solar farms and subsidizing roof panels because it's a stupid concept. Who cares that after a few years they'll pay for themselves and give "free" energy from then on. The New Mexico one does take up 3,200 acres, but it will power 240,000 homes without using the most efficient panels. I believe that 240,000 homes would take up more than 3,200 acres...

We DEFINITELY need to stick with fuel, and when it eventually runs out we'll just throw some hamsters on generators.

J-SMITH69

why do they need subsidizing if they work so good?

Jorsher

Possibly because the initial cost is so high? If they "didn't work" they wouldn't be subsidized at all.

Tell me what your better post-fuel solution is?

J-SMITH69

fat women and farts

its "subsidized" because it doesn't work yet.

Jorsher

Same reason farmers and business get subsidies, because they don't work. Government wouldn't waste money on something that doesn't work. Yes, I know they love to waste money, but it's usually on something that benefits them.

Either way, most of the solar stations don't get ANYTHING from the government, and do it for their own profit. The one built in NM was paid for by investors. You know why? Because they work. And they know that eventually, all their money will be profit (other than the usual maintenance).

How can you say solar panels don't work Is pixie dust keeping the space station and satellites powered? It sure isn't gas, and I'm sure they have the panels up for a reason. There are more and more solar plants being built for a reason. The reason is, it works, and doesn't require anything but the sun.

Do I believe they'll ever be able to support ALL the power requirements of the lovely human race? Hell no. But I don't think we should be sitting around burning ---- for power forever either. Put the deserts to use. Nobody wants to live there.

Fat women need to be on treadmills generating power, and their farts used for methane powered generators.