City Hall wants diesel drivers to swap for electric vehicles

WBEZ91.5 ^ | 11-27-12 | Lauren Choolijan

[smokingfrog]

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to make a deal with diesel truck owners in the Chicagoland area: give up your truck, and the city will give you a voucher that covers around 60 percent of the cost of a new electric one.

Officials say the project could help with air quality and even quieter streets across the city. By next spring, fleets in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties will be able to apply for the program.

“The city is encouraging companies to invest in electric vehicles in order to incrementally improve Chicago’s air quality while helping to advance these emerging transportation technologies,” Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein said in a statement. “By offering a voucher at the point of sale, rather than as a post-sale rebate, we hope that more companies will be encouraged to participate in the program.”

But not all drivers are jumping at the chance to trade in their truck. Phil LaPalermo, co-owner of All Ways Paving and Plowing, says he's not sure there's an electrical vehicle out there that can compare to the power of a diesel truck. LaPalermo said he likes the idea of using alternative energy sources, but the diesel engine is what keeps his fleet plowing and paving streets all over the city and suburbs.

[PapaBear3625]

You can convert a diesel engine to run on either diesel or natural gas, which IMHO makes a hell of a lot more sense than electric: use cheap natural gas where available, and diesel otherwise.

[muir_redwoods]

Yeah because coal burning power plants needed to recharge the trucks are way better for air quality than diesel trucks or natural gas trucks. I’m sure they are

[Red Badger]

Trains are already electric. In fact they have been ‘hybrid’ since the 40’s. The diesel engines don’t run the wheels, they run generators that in turn supply electric current to electric motors that turn the wheels.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotive#Hybrid_locomotives

[Red Badger]

When it comes to science, Democrats are truly stupid. I suspect there is a money connection here, as usual. Rahm probably owns some stock or partnership in the electric vehicle manufacturing or supply line. That’s the only reason he’s proposing this. He can get taxpayer money funneled directly to his bank accounts in the Cayman Islands..........

[Red Badger]

Why? They are his base voting bloc!........

[Safrguns]

Well, at least one person understood my point.

Thanks

[huldah1776]

LOL