11-02-2004, 02:14 PM
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#17
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Guest
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Quote:
Originally posted by Timber Loftis:
MagiK, hybrid cars do not require any additional "electrical resources." The engine is self-charging. There is no increased infrastructure needed. These are the hurldes of electric cars that the hybrid overcomes. Yes, they use gas -- 50-75% less gas, as I said.
What about the huge amonts of lead contamination of landfills as these hybrids wear out their lead acid batteries? (I thought the hybrids had to be plugged in at times too...my mistake) The increadible amounts of toxic waste that is produced in manufgacturing the toxic batteries all batteries use toxic elements..at least the materials that are commercially viable) They save gas and fix one problem but still raise other just as deadly problems. The best thing that can be said about the hybrids, is that they are "different" in where they hit the environment.
Fuel cell cars will also carry infrastructure demands, as you mention. I still think we need to develop them.
Oh I don't disagree aobut alternatives having costs....it's just that many people just "blip" over those costs as if they are nonexistant and I wanted to point them out.
Solar cells are not opposed by eco nuts, and I'm getting a little pissed at that term.
Not in and of themselves...planting them all over the landscape and spoiling the "pristine" desert environement in the huge numbers of acres that is required to make an impact is against the econut fringes sensibilities. (I'll quit useing the term econut when you drop the term "Oil Monkey"
Anyway, solar cells work well in conjunction with other technology, and can work very well on the roofs of buildings. Actually, they can work well on the roofs of buildings in conjunction with a "green roof" garden to minimize stormwater runoff and provide heat/cooling insulation for the buildings. Going forward in Chicago, most buildings will be required to have a green roof by code -- this will be coming along in the very near future.
I personally did a lot of research on the viability of residential solar cells..let me tell ya friends...they aint cheap enough to be a viable alternative unless you are already one of those in the upper 5-10 % income bracket. $75,000 start up cost to get you off the grid and a whopper of an annual maintenance fee for the batteries and storage systems for the cloudy and wet days...Solar Power is still expensive.
Back to Alaska -- I'm not trying to mischaracterize you. I think we simply have a hole in our knowledge. I bet there has been exploration (even if uninvasive) of what reserves are available in the Tongas. You disagree, and conjure the image of greenie meanies who refuse to let that happen. I think one of us is factually right and one wrong, and we just need the time to Google it and find out what the facts of the matter are.
There have been restrictions on oil exploration in the arctic for decades. We need to open up the ares for exploration even if we aren't going to exploit right away, knowing wehat is there versus what might be there would lead to more beneficial discussions.
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[ 11-02-2004, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]
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