Recent Comments:
Overpopulation bigger risk than climate, says UNESCO scientist {Green Daily}
Jul 23rd 2008 3:14PM "Overpopulation, while clearly an element in virtually every human-related crisis on the planet – rising food and energy prices, pollution, deforestation, conflicts over resources – is a controversial topic and for that reason goes largely ignored in the political arena"
because it leads us down the slippery slope of "population control" i.e. population reduction. Who gets to decide who are "fit" to have children? Could this lead to forced sterilization? What after that? I believe a man named Hitler went down the same path. I am truly worried that in the not to distant future numerous human rights abuses and atrocities will be committed in the name of radical environmentalism.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 16th 2008 9:58AM "Is that right? Seems to me that ConocoPhillips has facilities in Saudi Arabia, Irag, Qatar, Libya"
That's a valid point, the fields in Iraq are exploratory, and the Saudi Arabia facilities are chemicals. I called ConocoPhillips yesterday and asked them where there oil that is sold in my area comes from and they told me that none of it comes from the middle east. A couple of years ago ConocoPhillips was middle east oil free, but that seems to be changing, so I will concede that to you. There are no Sinclair or Valero stations in my area, so Phillips 66 is the best option I have for limiting funds to the middle east.
"We are talking a basic principle here, i.e., how much is it worth to an individual to play a role in breaking the addiction to oil and reversing the destruction of the planet? Yup, it is a hefty price to pay, no doubt about it... but it will be even heftier for our grandkids if we fail to act."
I absolutely agree with you. I am doing what I can. In a couple of years, once I save enough, I plan to move 2 miles from work. I can then bike to work year round. Then my wife and I can go from owning two cars to one car. I would love to buy every energy saving product that I want. I don't want to have to say to my children "sorry kids no college, daddy wants to buy an EV and put solar panels on the roof". It's sad to say, but our economy operates solely for the pursuit of profit. Don't despair though. Right now the cost to generate electricity from coal is 5 cents per Kw and rising and the cost to generate electricity from wind is 8 cents per Kw and falling. In the next 5 years wind will become cheaper than coal and then we will see some real change.
"you have made my earlier point: why read AutoblogGREEN, since you aren't really concerned about the climate change?"
There is more to being green than worrying about CO2 emissions. It is after all the gas that all animal life on this planet emits. I am more concerned with health threatening pollution. I want engines that burn as little petroleum as possible as cleanly as possible. By that I mean engines that emit only CO2, H2O, and N2. Pretty much anything manufactured contributes to harmful pollution. That's why I try to reduce my consumption of "stuff", which also has the positive side effect of saving me money.
"there are times when I think that our species doesn't deserve to survive, to be brutally honest"
I am so sorry that you feel that way. I used to feel the same way as well. I realized that humans are a mixed bag. Sure we're selfish and hateful, but we are can also be so kind and selfless. I don't know if you are a religious person or not, but I believe that everything that happens is part of God's plan, even if we can not understand what that plan is. I know it's tempting to call for population reduction and using government to force people not pollute. But, God gave us free will and each person has to choose to do right or wrong. I know it's frustrating when you see what is happening to this planet and realizing that you can do very little yourself to change that. It's best to have faith and focus on what you yourself have the power to affect and then do that.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 15th 2008 4:31PM "* $13,200 into the pockets of the zealot "drug" lords."
I'm not sure what you mean by that statement, if you are referring to foreign oil, I have prepared this response:
Ah, I see you got that number from the percentage of oil that the U.S. imports. The problem with that thinking is only 28% of the oil we use in the U.S. comes from OPEC countries. Here is a link: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbblpd_a.htm
also the price of crude isn't the sole component in a gallon of gas. For example when I buy gas at $4 a gal, $4 does not go directly to the King of Saudi Arabia. There are refining costs, federal taxes, state taxes local taxes. But, actually, none of the money I spend on gas goes to the King of Saudi Arabia because I buy my gas from Phillips 66 which imports no oil from the middle east.
If by the above statement you are referring to oil companies in general, I have prepared this statement:
Time to face reality, the world economy would stop without oil. Yes I agree, we should gradually move to alternative energy sources, but right now the price is not right for me to buy an EV. When they come down in price I will buy one. If others can afford to buy an EV I am encouraging them to do so, but I can not.
"* 19 _tons_ of CO2 into the atmosphere."
The vast majority of that CO2 was in the atmosphere during the Jurassic period, quite abundant in life if I remember. Global warming will not be the end of the world, we will adapt.
"If, on the other hand, one were to spend that $20,000 on off-peak electricity, it would power an EV for... 1,000,000 (one million!) miles."
and how many batteries would I have to buy to run an EV that long? My guess is somewhere between 7 and 10. How much would that cost me?
"To drive an EV a mere 70,000 miles... it would only cost $1,400 --a savings of $18,600! According to the above estimates, that would more than cover the higher sticker price of the EV."
You know what would be cheaper? Driving the car I already own another 70,000 miles
It is incredibly simple. The best think you can do for the planet is to live simply, live close to work, and drive as little as possible. Consuming more, and that includes EV's, will hurt the environment.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 15th 2008 9:56AM I realize that my situation is unique but:
Even If gas costs $10 a gallon $20,000 would buy enough gas to drive my 35 mpg compact 70,000 miles or about ten years of driving for me.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 15th 2008 9:22AM Right now I'm more concerned with saving for retirement, paying off my mortgage, and saving for my children's college education. If I had the extra money, I would gladly buy an electric car, but each person has to prioritize based on their unique situation.
I am counting on more well to do people (or at least less fiscally responsible) people to buy electric cars before me to bring the price down.
I drive very little. I think it would be a greater strain on the planet to buy a newly manufactured electric car than it would be to keep my already seven year old 35 mpg compact car for another five years. Hopefully by then electric cars will come down in price to the point where I can afford one.
I truly hope that those who have the means to buy an electric car will do so.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 5:11PM You forgot to subtract out the cost of the ICE components you don't need.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 5:08PM "Tesla claims it would currently cost $20K to replace their battery pack."
That is because the Tesla battery pack is 53 Kw and the iMiEV battery pack is only 16 Kw. 3.3 times smaller!
Let's see according to your claim of $20K USD (not the actual amount by the way, it's more)
$20,000 USD divided by 3.3 = $6060 USD
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 4:53PM Yes the i car costs about $10K pounds ($20K USD) in Britain and when the iMIEV comes to your shores it will probably cost $25K pounds ($50K USD) instead of the $19K pounds ($37,450 USD) you think it will cost.
Even at $4/gallon, American drivers still getting off easy {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 2:16PM I got my numbers from the above article. It states 81% of the price of gas in Britain is taxes and 19% of the price of gas in the U.S. is taxes. I was attempting to show that those numbers must be wrong by using said numbers to calculate the base price of crude in each country.
In other words I don't believe that 81% of the price of gas in Britain is taxes.
Mitsubishi iMiEV to be priced around $37,000 at launch {Autoblog Green}
Jul 14th 2008 1:32PM You can't take UK prices and directly convert the currency to US prices. The price of cars in the UK is vastly inflated. The Japanese price is $10K US, look it up.
