Posted on 05/06/2005 12:53:30 PM PDT by A. Linsley
Cadet Ben Smith, age 15 Millersburg Military Institute
The United States of America is facing an energy crisis of potentially huge proportions. Gasoline prices are rising steadily and it will not be long before the prices will reach $3.00 a gallon! I'm old enough to start driving but I can't afford to buy gas at these prices. In looking for a solution, I've been exploring hybrid cars.
Hybrid cars run off a rechargeable battery and gasoline, rather than just gasoline. Hybrid batteries reduce fuel emissions because the hybrid engine draws on the battery and not gasoline when accelerating. Hybrid gasoline motors can shut off when the car is stopped and run off electricity. Hybrid technology is better than all-electric cars because hybrid car batteries recharge as you drive so there is no need to plug in every 40 to 100 miles. Also, most electric cars cannot exceed 50-60 mph. Hybrids can.
Hybrid cars are also good for the environment. They can reduce smog by 90 percent and they use far less gasoline than conventional cars. Hybrid cars can get up to 55 to 60 mpg in city driving, while a typical SUV travels only 15-20 mpg, consuming three times as much gas for the same distance. America’s energy crisis could be addressed quickly were Congress to require multiple car families to own at least one hybrid by the year 2010.
The prices of Hybrid cars range from $13,000 to $48,000. In California, Florida, and Georgia, hybrid car owners are allowed to use the carpool lane regardless of the number of passengers. In Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, the owners of hybrid cars receive tax credits or rebates. In Connecticut and New Mexico, buyers of hybrid cars receive a tax sales exemption.
As a young American looking to the future, I worry about the world running out of gasoline and I'm concerned about the environmental effects of emissions. Hybrid cars are a good step for America.
Hybrids are "part gasoline, part electric, all stupid."
I heard of some guys modifying their hybrids to be able to plug into an electrical source and allowing the batteries to discharge significantly before gas kicks in. Now THAT'S an idea. But unless the electricity comes from a nuclear plant or solar cells, even IT has an environmental price as well.
Will that be expensive? It wouldn't be a lot of fun to invest another couple of grand in 5+ year old car.
Aren't replacement batteries between $3,000 - $4,000? The resale (from what I hear) are dismal for these cars.
My son in law is an environmental whacko, but he is also technically savvy. He heavily researched the hybrids and thinks they are really, really stupid.
He went for a Jetta diesel and tried to go the bio-diesel route until he researched that. Seems there was a downside there too, not least of which is how much they want for used grease at restaurants.
That article is junk. The Honda Hybrid is not a true Hybrid. Look at the numbers for the Toyota engine. In addition MPG can not be accurately tested as MPG is dependent upon braking and acceleration rates.
Misrepresented Info!
"As a young American looking to the future, I worry about the world running out of gasoline "
Well, while hybrids are a great things, so far (just wait until their batteries need replacing and the greenies SCREAM about their disposal, we won't be running out of oil any time in the next 10 generations, at least.
Thermal DePolymerization. Two plants already up and running, turning biowaste into crude oil. Look up "Changing World Technologies," or "Turkey Fuel." The first plant was attached to a turkey processing facility, and turns hundreds of tons of turkey heads, guts, feet blood, feathers and poop into hundreds of barrels of oil per day. It turns a money sink (biowaste needing incineration) into a money source. And the process feeds itself... the energy required to run it comes from natural gas evolved in the process.
And if you coat the roof of the bus with solar cells, I assume it couldn't hurt. And they are getting cheap almost as fast as computer chips.
I know. It's amazing. I wonder why we haven't implemented it nationwide yet.
Yep, a hybrid. That's exactly what I need for my weekend job that's 50 backwoods miles from my house and 20 miles from electricity.
Yes, and they do dioramas too, smarty-pants. ;)
Do cost-benefit analysis. There is a reason people didn't buy them. And the reason people are right now is "panic."
In some circles they will be the "in" car. If that's a good reason in your area, then knock yourself out.
Wait till you get to replace the batteries in those cars. About every 3 to 5 years you will get a small speed bump on your wallet which you will not soon forget.
No, they don't. They require hydrogen fuel cells.
But we have plenty of oil, and more is being "made" all the time:
http://www.detnews.com/2002/editorial/0205/29/a11-500860.htm
Is that the regular model? or the Deluxe model Ouija Board that you use?
> I wonder why we haven't implemented it nationwide yet
My hope is that they are simply working out the bugs, and that they have the investment needed to crank up production. This is one instance where I'd like to see the Gubmint get involved... a Manhattan Program to develop faltbed-sized, efficient units for mass production in their tens of thousands. The Dream:
A few years down the line, President Rice calls a session of the UN. Stands before them, and announces that as of today, several of these units are being shipped to every municipality in the country, and that in about one month, the US will have no further need for foreign oil. "As of today, our sh!t is more important to us than *you* are. Your problems are now yours and yours alone."
The great thing about TDP is that not only is it "green" (the carbon cycle becomes a closed loop), existign vehicles, from mopeds to VWs to buses to Cessnas to 767's can continue to operate. Your gas station will remain. Plus, unlike electric cars, the petroleum compaines should not be quite so opposed... refining is still needed, along with the existign distribution infrastruction. I'm sure that at some level, the oil execes won;t mind not having to deal with third-world dungheaps anymore, but instead deal with fixed sources in the US, such as sewage, garbage and biomass.
Yeah, the day I got my drivers license, the gas lines started.
Just my luck
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