The plug-in hybrid, religion?
A Prius before plug-in conversionFor years now I have been advocating for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Yet, I am often more apt to focus on the potential problems of the plug-in revolution, rather than the problems plug-ins will help solve. And, having spent time with engineers working on plug-in hybrids, I can assure you, there are, and will be, problems.
Still, I find it very alarming how many plug-in fans refuse to accept any criticism of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Apparently, plug-ins are part of the global warming religion (While I believe in man-influenced global warming, I do not subscribe to the religion).
Ultimately, costs and grid infrastructure, as well electricity generation, are monumental issues. Are these issues insurmountable? Not at all, but resolving many of these problems timely and effectively will require noble corporate intentions and an honest government. Yeah, that's right, the same Congress responsible for the corn-based ethanol debacle, for example, will also be largely responsible for the success of plug-in hybrids - that alone should worry any open-minded person.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles are a brilliant idea. Making plug-ins a smart reality, however, will require the kind of honest, intelligent and comprehensive energy policy that hasn't been possible for decades. Is it really possible now?
Labels: plug-in hybrid vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:21 AM
6 Comments:
everyone needs something in which to believe and plug-in hybrids give fans a lot to believe in.
yes, there are issues, but all are within reach.
True. Yet, there are already rumors floating around the auto industry that the first generation of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles have only one purpose: offsetting CAFE requirements. According to this rumored theory, automakers will only make enough plug-in hybrids to balance their cafe requirements. Even worse, automakers will expect the government to kick in huge subsidies to help them take advantage of yet another CAFE loophole.
If this is the plug-in revolution, I'm not buying. I'd rather that more tax credits go to conventional hybrids in the short term to help bring down the cost of the battery technology so essential to plug-in hybrids.
Plus, sub-$20,000 hybrids have far more short term potential.
I conceived of the hybrid in 1964 (except for converting braking-generated energy into additional power to be used or saved), because I couldn't wrest more than 19 mpg out of my 1959 Chevy Biscayne 6-cylinder--and I had to drive a religious 50 mph to achieve that. I should have built a prototype with a lawn mower engine and a generator, but I made more money than any 17-year old I knew and gas was $0.28.9, so I made the fatal trade-off (knowingly at least) and had fun making money and chasing girls.
So much for self aggrandizement. My comment has a definition, "a penetrating illumination of the obvious." During my lifetime, the government, the military and industry have both implicitly and explicitly conspired to run roughshod over the citizenry, and facts and consequences be damned! Mass access to hybrid cars--with no new, tricked-out bells and whistles ( a "people's car," if you will--and yes, I know the source of that name and the German word for it, a trademark, I believe. The name is apt, its source despicable beyond human understanding.) Use the 1950's Volkswagen model; build it and they will come. Gar-on-teed, brothers and sisters.
Writers write what they know; singers sing what they know; politicians, lobbyists and moneyed special interests, alas,
do what they know, which is generally to act against our best interests. They're gonna subsidize--with our money--whatever gimcrack idea Detroit throws at them. The bottom line is; The American people must be sold on campaign and lobbying reform, and the best beginning toward accomplishing that is vote out 95% of the incumbents. If a few good ones get lost in the storm, they'll be back or they'll make a bigger difference elsewhere.
Vote in folks who know the score and have the backbone to stand up to any president at any time.
But get us a decent car, by all means, and find realistic alternative transportation.
willyt--Arkansas
I think PHEV conversions, while technologically possible, are sort of a waste of money. Let's face it: Why take a $24k car, void its warranty, and add $10k in batteries to the trunk just to recharge it off a coal-fired power plant?
I am, however, all in favor of progressively cleaner/efficient vehicles and PHEVs if they can be recharged from natural gas or nuclear powered grids.
willyt-
that's exactly the way i vote. anti-incumbents all the way brother!
indigo-
phev conversions are not very cost-effective today, but i think that will change in a few more years. i'm advocating for manufactured plug-in hybrids, such as the Volt and a Prius plug-in.
for me, as i live in california, a plug-in hybrid makes solar more cost-effective, which greatly inspires me.
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