[TR] LBC?

[Bill]

The Real Problem with electric cars are the batteries ... how do you 
dispose of them when needed, and more importantly ... everyone seems 
to ignore the fact that the electricity needed to re-charge comes 
from an power plant somewhere ... coal fired, oil fired, wood fired, 
but certainly NOT nuclear  powered  (heaven forbid we actually do 
something that makes sense), the real solution IMHO, was clearly 
demonstrated on the same show ... Hydrogen power, which also must be 
generated somewhere ... and so the problem goes on.  Jay's comment 
that autos freed horses for pleasure, and that Hydrogen could free 
our LBCs for just pleasure was great insight.  We will eventually run 
out of fossil fuels ... hopefully not before those of us alive no 
longer are ... and I suspect there will be a scientific breakthrough 
that will save the world.  Till then ... anyone know where I can get 
115/145 AVGAS??   Just kidding ... ;-)

>you have to amortize the incredibly high cost of electrics to buy, 
>add what it costs to run (new batteries, etc.)  and balance that 
>with the cost of running a car you already own.
>add to that the fact that a new car pollutes more as it is being 
>made, than it does the rest of its' life (petro cars, not electrics 
>- they are worse because of battery pollution) and it appears that 
>petroleum is still the most energy dense form of transport.
>newer cars produce almost nothing but co2 and water, electric cars 
>merely have a longer tailpipe (electric plants).
>electrics (I have driven some) are OK to go to work and back, then 
>plug in ...BUT they are useless as transport for longer distances. 
>the advertised 200-odd miles of operation are figured at a optimal 
>(low) speed.  reality is that it is much less.  creature comfort 
>isn't too good, either.
>all in all, that makes a trip from, say, LA to the Santa Ynez valley 
>for a little wine tour about a four day trudge instead of a one day 
>fun ride.
>Best,
>Ray

-- 
"Thinking is the hardest work there is. That's why so few people 
undertake it." - Henry Ford
Bill Pugh
anabil007 at comcast.net
Wallace, CA