Technology marches inexorably to the future, ever changing and ever improving as the beat of human ingenuity propels it forward.
Just as the Volt represents a major paradigm shift for the automobile, so too one day even its technology and form factor will become outdated.
As much as we wait patiently for the Volt to roll into dealers lots and driveways across America, big thinkers sit pencil in hand dreaming up the next big thing. Not just about health and medicine, computers and technology, earth and space exploration but so too are people dreaming about the next generations of automobiles.
Chris Borroni-Bird is one such big thinker. Borroni is GM’s Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Concepts and was in part responsible for the recently demonstrated EN-V concept.
The EN-V concept which stands for “electric networked vehicle” is a 2 person electric pod capable of autonomous driving via wireless networking to other pods. It is proposed for use in urban centers of the future.
Borroni along with GM’s former VP of R&D, Larry Burns who was responsible for the similar PUMA concept, and William Mitchell, Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, co-wrote a new book called Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century.
The book takes the premise that today’s vehicles are fundamentally no different than the old Model T and that in the near future they should become “green, smart, connected, and fun to drive.” They argue the concept of cars with high power and speed to move multiple people along great distances is becoming outdated. Most of the world’s population is in densely crowded big cities, and a new form of low speed high efficiency electric transportation would be best suited for them.
Four central themes expected to revolutionize personal mobility are outlined and expanded upon in the book:
1. Base the underlying design principles on electric-drive and wireless communications rather than the internal combustion engine and stand-alone operation
2. Develop the Mobility Internet for sharing traffic and travel data
3. Integrate electric-drive vehicles with smart electric grids that use clean, renewable energy sources
4. Establish dynamically priced markets for electricity, road space, parking space, and shared-use vehicles
Are these leaders correct in envisioning the transition of the high horsepower two-ton chrome and steel roaring machines into the little self driving electric pod for two? I don’t know but you can tell them what you think or ask them what your want. GM-Volt is fortunate enough to be hosting a live chat at 2PM Eastern Time with the three authors in the chat box below. You can also order their newly published book by clicking the Amazon link below:
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:52 am)If these replace NYC taxis, they’ll need to put a curtain on that front window!
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:04 am)Would not be bad if the thing could attach to a rail car and take you either from the suburbs to the city or to a distant city and then detach for the last few miles. Still would not totally eliminate some use of personal cars for things like vacations.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:11 am)Here in the country we will still be using our updated model T’s (with plug-in capability, I hope).
In the urban environment, it has been proven that mass transit uses much less energy than even the Volt. Personal transportation will be eliminated, but for those short hops, you can always use a taxi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjRXyWFLkEY
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:18 am)At a weekend Green Expo someone asked the Ford rep about the effect of the load on the grid of a massive number of electric vehicles. His answer was that it would reduce the demand on the grid as long as each vehicle was connected smartly. Yes he mentioned feeding energy back to the grid, but even that is not absolutely necessary in that the peak demands can last as short as minutes and if the energy storing device has the intelligence to talk to the grid and interrupt the charging process, sometimes even for a few minutes there could be HUGE savings if these peak demand savings are multiplied by the thousands.
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:27 am)It would have been nice to get EVChels take on the effect of V2G and G2V possibilities on Volt and EV production, if CAFE rules don’t help anymore.
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:38 am)Lightweight composite BEV’s with enough range to curb your anxiety will be here sooner than you think .. . . . . but still not soon enough.
________
“Munich / Beijing. With the launch of its Megacity Vehicle in 2013, the BMW Group will be bringing its first series-production electric-drive model to market. “With this innovative vehicle, designed from the ground up, we will be creating new benchmarks for electric mobility from 2013 on. Our Megacity Vehicle will be significantly lighter than conventional cars and, in terms of sustainability, will set a new standard across the entire value-added chain,” said Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, on Thursday ahead of the Auto China 2010 show in Beijing.
“This vehicle will radically alter the motor industry as we know it. The BMW Group is currently the only company that will be launching a volume-production vehicle on the market that features carbon fibre-reinforced material,” explained Reithofer. “We were among the first manufacturers to pick up on the trend towards electric mobility and to act accordingly.”
BMW Group: Megacity Vehicle to launch in 2013
- via bmw press release
/Mercedes appears to be going this direction as well
+5
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:57 am)When you can beam me from place to place, like on Star Trek, I am all ready for it.
But until then:
You can have my car when you pry it from my cold, dead hands…………..
Those pods look like they are from a Woody Allen movie!
I have been working with computers for the last 30 years. I think we are a long way off from them driving us “safely” around!
+12
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:03 am)I go back and forth from people having pure freedom to regulations that would be good for our country as a whole.. Sure, I’d like to see way more electric cars out there. Sure a great way to do that would be to add a buck to each gallon of gas and use that money to subsidize electric vehicles. But every time I leave the country, lets say even to Canada I think, damn I’m happy to be an American. I drive a fuel efficient car now but I loved my Jeep Cherokee when I was 18.
My point is, I don’t know what the future of the automobile will be, but people are smart and I’m glad a car like the volt will be available and will be because of the American free markets. Let’s let Singapore or Hong Kong force these pods down peoples throats. And let’s let innovation and capitalism help us thrive into the 22nd century! God Bless You and God Bless the United States of America! (That last part was cause I felt I was being a bit preachy.) (But I do mean it.)
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:04 am)Airports still shuttle people around in golf carts. These are basic vehicles with bench seats, spinning yellow warning lights, and beep-beep horns. The drivers will often ask walkers, “can you move please” to open a lane. Why are these still in use? People come in all sizes. Larger people need very easy slid in access. Children or drunks may drop food or spill drinks. Some persons have vision issues or don’t speak the language for voice command.
A very low speed vehicle doesn’t require the multi-million dollar R&D for aero tuning. May as well make the most use of space with a basic box design.
=D-Volt
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:13 am)I can envision a future where many of the vehicles will be smallish, enclosed 2-wheel and/or 4 wheel EV’s designed for 1 or 2 people at a time, with quick charging capability. In other words personal vehicles for the daily commutes, and advanced people haulers, Plug-in pick-ups with bio-diesel EREV chassis and such for people needing larger vehicles for other purposes. Start working on an EREV Traverse, GM!
If the charging infrastructure, and the cellulosic ethanol, and the biodiesel, and even the natural gas stations infrastructure could be brought up to power, I think we could conceivably power our society completely on domestic means. Zero oil imports. The cool thing is, technologically speaking it appears it is something that is in reach. The more difficult thing would be the act of will it would require. Energy independence is something I hope we can and will shoot for.
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:14 am)Same comment as yesterday –> Thanks, Lyle (for hosting the chat).
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:14 am)Electrification of transportation will take 20 to 30 years or more. With night charging mostly, and the slow introduction of this technology and the slow replacement of the ICE, Volt and the likes will have very small impact on the electric grid even without smart electric technology. The fear of lack of grid capacity is misguided in my opinion. In fact it will have more likely a positive effect (leveling) on the grid for a long time.
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:19 am)I like the idea of being able to do something else when the car drives itself until I realize that a net connecting all cars essentially means that someone knows where I’m going all the time. I don’t want big brother knowing where I am and when I go there. It’s bad enough having EZpass in the northeast and having the cell phone companies know where you are based on your phone. I can turn my phone off and leave the EZpass at home but if all cars were connected what then? I don’t trust the people with access to data to always do the right thing. Not necessarily I don’t trust the government (although really I guess I don’t when it comes down to it). For those who post every BM on facebook and twitter you might not care.
How lame would the OJ chase have been if they could have made his pod go directly to jail or who woulda watched the roadwarrior if he had one of the last net connected PUMA’s?
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:22 am)From the post: They argue the concept of cars with high power and speed to move multiple people along great distances is becoming outdated. Most of the world’s population is in densely crowded big cities, and a new form of low speed high efficiency electric transportation would be best suited for them.
Different strokes for different folks. Their ideas may make sense in places in India, Japan, London, and even NYC or D.C., but people will “always” travel long distance in Montana, the Dakotas, Texas, New Mexico, etc. So, I only question the use of “becoming outdated.”
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:27 am)I would have to be much vainer than I am to think anybody would give a crap where I go or what I do. Now, if I could just convince the ad companies that the only items I buy online are bras and panties.
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:50 am)I believe that in the distant future the automobile will be looked upon much like we see escalators today. Just a means to get from one place to another. They will not be owned by individuals but by transportation companies. You need to get somewhere, text moveme + number of people i.e. (moveme2), on you GPS phone and within 3 minutes a vacant vehicle will locate you ready to take you were you want to go. The service will have a pay as you go fee or monthly subscription. The vehicles will probably come in different sizes based on the number of people traveling at once.
For now I want my Volt.
The True Dual Fuel Vehicle. TDFV
NPNS!
+7
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:58 am)Why do we have to overengineer everything?
Just ride an electric bike and you’re 80 percent there already…
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:00 am)These things are toys that will never sell in the US.
Most people live in cities that are widespread (in the US, different story in Europe), may take an hour or more to cross from side to side.. that has to be lowest ability of a personal mobility vehicle. A BEV with at least 50 miles of range, preferably 100 would work for that.. the rest you choose yourself, payload, number of passengers etc. Computer controlled driving can be done to any vehicle.
The car of the future will look much like the cars of today, a lot like a Ford Model T.. four wheels and about the same size.
+5
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:01 am)And first we will have to eradicate all potholes to make this work… This is truly the distant future…
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:02 am)You could always line the inside of the vehicle with aluminum foil. I like your other idea, gotta think about it some.
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:08 am)Today The White House announced, “No new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico”. Oil up 80 cents per barrel on the news.
_________________________________
Thu Apr 29, 4:07 pm ET
Along with officials’ consistently cautious predictions about the scope of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, another group has been calling for a tempering of dire oil-spill forecasts: the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry.
Already battered by imports of shrimp and other seafood – 80 percent of the seafood Americans eat is imported – the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry is eager to avoid a panic about the safety of their catch. And for good reason.
So far, the seafood is safe. Gulf oysters are never exposed to surface waters, so unless the oil sinks, the oysters could well survive, as could shrimp and stocks of redfish and other species who can swim away from the spill.
But in the longer term, the spill could pose a significant danger to the industry if it damages fragile nursery grounds or drips down into oyster beds.
“If you talk about the sky falling too early, then people stop buying Louisiana oysters, blue crabs, and shrimp, and since we’re talking about people’s livelihoods you have to be very, very careful about saying things that will get dispersed around the world,” says Ed Overton, an emeritus professor of environmental science at Louisiana State University. “On the other hand, they won’t get a paycheck if there’s no oysters.”
=D-Volt
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:12 am)I can see computer-controls and networks being integrated into existing form-factor vehicles before any pod-like vehicles become mainstream.
The whole premise of physically moving people around to accomplish commerce is out-dated, not just the vehicles themselves. In my work, I can already do 80% of my job (admittedly, IT) from anywhere there is network. All I need is my laptop and my cell.
Virtual Reality can also bring people together for face-to-face meetings more efficiently than physically moving their bodies.
Shopping for physical junk is already moving to the Internet paradigm. I have no reason to go to a mall during the Christmas rush to not find what I am looking for. A couple of taps on my keyboard and the thing is sent to me next day. As we go 3-D this experience will get even better.
Driving a 4000 lb vehicle 40 miles to go tap on the exact same laptop and talk on the exact same cell phone all day is just stupid. Doing it with a 1500lb vehicle is just as insane. I can use that two hours much more wisely.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:16 am)I HAVE to believe that there is a place in this world for a voltec version of a Jeep Cherokee.
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:17 am)The innovation that technologically is available today, but politically blocked, is vehicle monitoring. Using GPS, the location and speed of every vehicle could be compared with posted speed limits. Ticketing cops would be unnecessary, and so traffic deaths would diminish, because speed kills.
Say a bank is robbed at 2:00 PM. Instantly the police would know what vehicles departed the area and where they went. The hazard of the mentally impaired, i.e the drunk driver, would pop out due to erratic driving and police could be directed to the offending vehicle.
We could take down all those useless signs, like speed limits radar enforced or airplane enforced and replace them with vehicle speed is GPS enforced.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:23 am)The technology that is powering modern civilization, for the most part, was invented by cavemen. It’s called…fire. The quicker we get off the preferred energy system of cavemen, the better off we all will be.
The electrification of the automobile, like the EREV drivetrain, represents the first drops to leak through the crack in the dam. If you don’t like rapid change, close your eyes, because vehicle electrification is going to take less time than it took for PC’s to become a household appliance.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:26 am)What % of driving would this replace ?
Tom
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:36 am)Actually, my 2000 Jeep Cherokee Limited (I6) gets 20-22mpg. *When* I get my Volt, I’ll still use the Jeep on “snow days.”
Now, when I can get a high ground clearance, four wheel drive Voltec vehicle I would retire the Cherokee.
I don’t think the vehicles pictured would work very well in the snow either.
The first accessory I plan to buy for the Volt is a custom cover.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:44 am)It really does not make much sense 90% of the time there is only one person driving with no cargo to need a 4000 LB vehicle to move a 200LB peron from place to place.
We already have ultralight aircraft so why not ultra light cars. with a little sponge rubber and air bags of course when colliding with those steel 4000LB dinosours.
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:44 am)God help us if we turn to the ‘computer controlled grid’ idea. Increasingly socialistic controls always result in the reverse effect of people wanting their freedom back. Look at the former USSR. Hopefully there will always be that one guy with a salvaged 383 stroker rat who is high on epoxy fumes and partially blind from years of sand blasting.
=D-Volt
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:45 am)Well if they had O.nStar instead…
-2
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:02 am)Does anyone else find it a little strange that this site is decorated by Ford Ads this morning???
Lyle, are you playing both sides??
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:15 am)Let’s see if we can “splain it” like Lucy… The recent Kentucky coal mining disaster killing 38 men, followed by the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster killing 11 – are nails in fossil fuel’s coffin. Nothing to do with “climate change.” Just hard core money/finance. These two disasters demonstrate the rising cost of insuring fossil fuel extraction and use. As cheap as coal is right now, insuring coal mining operations has just risen dramatically. Likewise with deep water drilling. That’s out of pocket costs to coal and oil companies unless they pass on the cost to consumers.
In which case the cost of oil and coal is about to rise. A lot. So, as the price of oil spirals upward from present $85 pb fix – so will gasoline. Which means $3.50-4.50 gas is just around the corner. Which of course means that EVs and PHEVs and EV-ERs will start to look mighty good just as they enter the market. The next step is to replace the coal with NG, nuke and alternative electrical generation.
Chevy VOLT is here at precisely the right time. The electrification of transportation led by US and Japanese manufacturing is the keystone to a new era of energy production and use. Thanks to the the excellent team at GM for seeing this inevitability and stepping forward with a transformative product to lead the way.
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:30 am)#28
+1. Agree. Very futuristic evs coming out in 2012. Wish the Volt had more the look and feel of the Renault Zoe ZE. A dinosaur by comparison. (source- all cars electric.)
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:31 am)That was my first thought. The new electric bikes are very cool, IMO. But, I live in Phoenix, and I think you’d need a cage in other climates.
-2
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:32 am)Another technologically feasible innovation is to monitor the fuel consumption of licensed drivers. In order to buy gas, a person would have to swipe their gas authorization card which could be their driver license. If the licensed driver had used less than 60 gallons in the last 30 days, then the market price would be charged. If a person exceed their authorized amount, a surcharge, say 30% of market price would be added for each gallon over the limit. A small bank of say 60 gallons could be accumulated by using less than 60 gallons so high consumption for a vacation would not bust the budget. The way it would work is 2 gallons would be added each day up to an accumulation of 60 gallons “in the bank.”
This would be a true “gas guzzler” tax, and the money received from the surcharge would go to pay for incentives for EV’s and quick charge infrastructure. But this too is politically blocked.
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:44 am)Only slightly OT, originally from “Autonews”:
Tesla Outlines Production Details For 2012 Model S
Tesla’s first all-original car, the upcoming Model S sedan, is already on pre-order sale and should be launched by late 2011 if there aren’t any major development stumbles. In the lead up to its showroom appearance, Tesla has revealed an expected price tag for the Model S of $49,900 and confirmed that it will announce a production site to start manufacturing the car in the next several weeks.
This new plant will be a high-tech center and will include divisions for stamping, paint shop, body and chassis, and doors. The plant will also build powertrains–not only for Tesla but for other automakers as well. Finally, Tesla will use its new plant to also build the next-generation of its all-electric Roadster.
A quick run-down of the Model S’ stats reveals that it will carry on the Roadster’s mantle of green performance, while expanding considerably on its utility: a 300 mile range will be complemented by an expected 0-60 mph time under six seconds. There’s even work being done on an optional 600 mile extended-range battery pack. Despite the range of the still generous 300 mile pack, Tesla is claiming a 45 minute quick-charge time. The battery pack itself will be warrantied for 7-10 years, while the car will be warrantied separately for a period of 3-4 years.
+5
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:45 am)The future is giant blimps!
The future is pneumatic tubes/Pipes!
The future is … Well, the future is not these things.
“They argue the concept of cars
with high power and speed to move multiple people along great distances is becoming outdated.”
Hahahahhahah! Using gold and diamonds for jewery is becoming outdated — its so heavy, and much shinier and cheaper alternatives are available.
yea, no one in the future wants to go fast, or carry a passenger.
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:46 am)Visionaries tend to overestimate how fast new technology will be introduced in the the short run and to underestimate the technology itself in the long run. Some day not too far off cars and trucks that you have to actually drive will be like records and land line phones to current teenagers — quaint reminders of the past.
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:52 am)If a $32.5K BEV is a niche vehicle which only 17% of people would consider I wonder how many will jump at a $57K BEV? No doubt it will accelerate very quickly but still. It does, however, have a great design with a lot of space. Much more practical than the Roadster. Just seems pricey for a second or third car.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:53 am)Totally unrelated: The Tron Legacy release date got moved back to the 17th of December this year.
Trailer/Daft Punk Theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rvtXUuiwDY
/full of win
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:54 am)All I can think of is the movie WALLE, and all the fat people riding on the floating carts. Shouldn’t people walk/bike more?
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:55 am)I don’t disagree with your comment at all, but I’m just curious how you jumped from Tesla’s announced $49,900 to $57k.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:55 am)I’d prefer the “Brilliant Red Barchetta from a better bygone day” please…
Hey, if we’re all going to end up riding in pods in the cities, wouldn’t it be nice if we could still drive our Volts out into the country on the weekend?
LJGTVWOTR
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (9:59 am)I’ve heard the claim that “speed kills” many times. But my anecdotal experience is otherwise. I’ve been the witness to several really bad accidents. In the two worst I’ve seen, nobody involved was traveling over the speed limit (I knew because in both cases I was pacing the faster moving car and both of us were going under the limit).
I’d say what kills is not paying attention to driving and road rage.
+4
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:15 am)Only hard rock mining operations. Razing a whole mountain with giant machinery is still safe for the operators so it won’t change the way most coal is already produced. Not that I’m saying that it is a good thing.
We all are electric car fans, right? Let’s not celebrate the interruption of the fuel that is the source for 50% of the US’s electricity. I’d like coal to be replaced, but I want to see it done in an orderly fasion, otherwise it emperils the electrification of transport.
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:17 am)Hi John , we got exactly the same results under the same assumptions here in Belgium. An average driver who drives 15,000 km (a little less than 10,000 miles a year) will pay at current prices of electricity, 46€/year (yes /year! ) for his energy using such a scheme and the price of electricity should drop by several points of percentage.
Source : in French sorry : http://www.creg.info/pdf/Etudes/F929FR.pdf
Regards,
JC NPNS
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:22 am)#21
Who speaks for the birds and the other creatures in the wetlands and on the beaches?
I weep for the poor state of Louisiana. First Katrina and now this. Last night Tavis Smiley interviewed the author of a book on Haiti. She said tha many people there feel that the country is cursed, having had so many tragedies visited upon it. Who could blame the people of Louisiana for feeling the same. And make no mistake, the loss of the wildlife and its habitat is a tragic loss to all of us.
+3
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:22 am)If we are talking about the future, I want a car that takes care of all my transportation needs.
Flying, driving, boating, off roading, etc.
I want a few thousand miles of range.
Of course I want all of this to be done using electricity generated from a renewable source(s).
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:38 am)#24
I saw a headline this AM about legislation to require “black boxes” in all new cars. Wait for it. Of course I see it as sort of like the NSA and the CIA. You can have this tidal wave of “intelligence” coming in from every cell phone conversation on the planet but, If you don’t have anyone to translate and interpret them, what good are they?
It kind of puts me in the mind of Frank Zappa and “The Central Scrutinizer”, from some 20 years ago. Is some artificially intelligent computer somewhere going to issue me a speeding ticket with no human intervention?
All of which leads me back to Jim I’s comment at #7. +1 to him.
This whole thread reminds me of another one of my late father’s favorite comments, “It sounds good if you say it quick”.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:39 am)Slow news day!!!!
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:41 am)#48
Yeah, and for “comfortably under $30,000″ LESS tax credits, thank you very much, LOL. +1
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:44 am)#29
Did somebody call me? +1
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:50 am)These thingies guided by wireless stuff? All electronic?
Man, and the Prius is having issues with the electronic braking or whatever. Can you imagine what happens when an antenna goes out or if 802.11xxxx get’s scrambled….lol.
Not that I would try anything like that.
The best place I can see these are in stadiums with the NFL teams logo or NBA or whateva.
Oh yeah, drove by the AM/PM gas station and regular low end ghetto grade 87 is $3.07 /gal
WTF?
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:52 am)#43
You will probably be able to if “The Central Scrutinizer” determines that you have not exceeded your mileage allotment. Otherwise, your Volt may be disabled by a signal from the satellite. Although maybe we could try one of those cool tinfoil hats from a recent thread and see if they would block the signals. +1
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:53 am)#40
Yeah, right. +1
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:55 am)#45
Gee, what a relief.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (10:58 am)#46
Truly amazing research! If you aren’t careful, you are going to change the world my friend. At least I’ll be able to brag that I knew you when. +1
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:01 am)We actually have the start of that in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They’re called “Red Light Cameras.” They have these cameras mounted at intersections that are notorious for accidents. (Albuquerque is notorious, as a whole, for people, ignoring red lights.) The cameras take pictures of license plates automatically when people go through red lights, and tickets are issued “automatically.” There are a lot of political ramifications from this, so the topic makes the news on Albuquerque TV stations regularly.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:03 am)#50
Not if you live in Louisiana. Or how about the front page headline in yesterday’s LA Times, AFGHAN TALIBAN SEEN AS MAKING GAINS”. Subhead, “The Pentagon, while expressing confidence, says insurgents flourish despite repeated assults”.
Somehow, this all ties back into the Volt, IMHO.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:05 am)I will pass along some anecdotes from the MD area because I love when our dear leaders are confounded by the facts on the ground.
In MD, during the debate about moving the speed limit back to 65 from 55 (This was several years ago), the 55 supporters kept spouting “speed kills” and warning of the dangers of 65. People will surely die because of this new law don’t you know…
Long story short, when they moved the limit to 65, traffic deaths went down the next year. The probable cause is the change in the relative velocities between cars. The speed variation between cars went down with the limit at 65 (ie: less slow cars to weave around for the perpetual speeders I guess).
Another tidbit from MD is that the Gov of MD (a former governor now) was adamant that the speed limit should remain at 55 (for the safety of the peasantry). The same Gov was routinely clocked speeding along in his limo with his state appointed driver (It seems that speed limits are great but not if you are as important as the Governor of MD).
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:07 am)#53
Oil blowout and mine collapse. Guess what – we pay for it.
BTW, I always think of you now when I see a “Captain Morgan” commercial on TV, LOL. I hope that’s a compliment.
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:10 am)(re: Taliban, foreign turmoil, etc.)
Unquestionably! All the gulf spill news is relevant too, naturally. +1 to you for pointing it out.
EDITED: Didn’t like my initial wording.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:10 am)I see electric cars going 150 mph nose-to-tail on the Interstates with auto-pilots and collision avoidance and automatic route planning computers while the occupants sleep or sight see or whatever. Charging rails could be installed down the middle of lanes if battery capacity lags or maybe there would be ‘motivators’, engines that would propel groups of vehicles in self organized “trains” on the interstate and the vehicles could resume operation under their own power when ejected from the stream at the appropriate exit.
If batteries turn out to be any good the “grid” problem everybody loves to fantasize about will become insignificant. Batteries can store energy for quick charging a car without impacting the grid. Batts can be “loaded” when capacity is available. Batts can hold energy from solar systems and windmills and whatever. This can offset present massive generation plants. We may be able to free ourselves from the grid and the government and the utility bill. Wouldn’t that be nice?
New fail-safe nuke plants could generate for heavy industrial needs. These plants could be sized to loads and located on the load and provide some hot water or steam as well. No need for massive power line construction.
If these lithium batteries work well and develop as some have speculated, it seems like a very bright future is appearing that will free us from dependency on others for energy needs all over the globe. We seem to lack the vision or political will to conceive a future of energy freedom in our country. That’s why I believe the Volt and the Leaf are so important. The light may dawn if they are successful.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:11 am)Red light cameras are a given in MD now. They are very effective and they simply take your picture and in a few days you get a letter in the mail with your fine.
they also have speed cameras. These are easier to get caught with. On 295 (65 mph road) as it goes through the district of corruption (Washington DC) the speed drops to 50 in some areas. they have these cameras along the road taking photos about as fast as they can and many get these fines automatically.
Studies have shown that they actually tune up the red light timing at the intersections with the cameras so that they can increase their yield. Budget documents have also shown the reliance on these things as a source of income rather than a safety initiative.
the locals know where they are and they are easy to plug into your GPS. My GPS chimes at me as I approach a red light camera or speed camera. They are a good way to pick the pockets of out of towners…
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:12 am)If you observe vehicles traveling on the highways and city streets today, you will have noticed that there are usually only one or two people in the vehicle. It doesn’t make sense to have a one and half or more ton vehicle for so few people. It’s just a huge waste of resources. With populations increasing, there are fewer resources available. We may not like it but the day is coming when we won’t be able to afford those large vehicles we take for granted and not even if we have the money to buy one.. They require more energy to move as well as using more material to make. It’s time to make a major change and use our natural resources wisely. Imagine the broader impact; a more affordable and practical vehicle for everyone; lower cost of operation; easier to park since they require so little space. Businesses and cities won’t need to consider building such large parking ramps and lots. It’s conservation at its best. Everyone, people, businesses, governments, etc. will benefit from the cost savings.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:16 am)#58
Yeah, now that you mention it, we have those here too. The thin end of the wedge, I guess. Maybe we had better take that ride in the country this weekend while we still can, LOL.
My wife was born in Albuquerque. We are great Tony Hillerman fans. We have all of his books lined up on the shelf. My son made several trips to Philmont Scout Ranch. Every year I tell myself that we are going to tour the high country up around Cimmaron, Chama, and all of those fabled places. Alas, every year it seems to get farther away.
We are also great fans of the Unser family, but I guess I had better stop there.
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:25 am)Still doing re-shoots!
GO EV !!!
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:26 am)Which relates to my statement: “There are a lot of political ramifications from this, so the topic makes the news on Albuquerque TV stations regularly.” The state of New Mexico and the city of Albuquerque fight over the revenue (remember Richardson).
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:30 am)Well, if you get out here, and drive from Albuquerque to Chama, I’ll tell you how to get off route to stop by my place.
You don’t get here by accident (except for that load of radioactive rebar years ago), it’s not on the way to anywhere. 
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:54 am)These are commendable efforts to steer away from today’s highway prolific single and two passengers riding 3-ton SUV’s. But realities’ priorities govern. First, there’s China. With its enormous population westernizing (some call externalization). Its now a world’s top three oil consumer. India. Eighth largest auto maker. And still in a nascent state of upgrading its enormous population. APAC-closely to an equal force. Maybe there will be little green men driving bimini-covered electronically-controlled Segways …just as predicted. Maybe for a few select US cities, maybe a few select Euro cities. That’s it. The fly in a futurists vision is this. Oil dominates. If we (Europe & North America) can free ourselves of OPEC dependency, it’ll be solely because we’re finally producing sufficiently to cover our own needs. Which brings us to… Fuel Cells.
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:17 pm)You know, I have always wondered why GM was able to get higher profit on large vehicles when what you say is true. More materials but yet they have a higher profit?
Their smaller cars use way less materials yet they make little to no profit on them.
What’s your take on that? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:22 pm)lol….
I know him too….
My other friends are Pat & Ron, yall know them as “Patron” ( http://www.napacabs.com/Patron-Silver-Tequila-750ml-P3575.aspx )
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:23 pm)Agreed. Do I win the understatement award of the day?
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:25 pm)Hey, ABG has an image of what looks like other pod thnigies of their concept….
I like the first one on the left.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:29 pm)I live near a town that recently put them in. I think the way they did it is quite just. They have still cameras placed to get the license plate and the driver, and additionally they have a video camera from behind the intersection that records 30 seconds on either side of the alleged violation. It can see the entire intersection, including what the stop light is showing.
Each one is reviewed by a person before they send the ticket. Apparently most of the people who show up to contest change their mind and just pay the ticket when it shows their car running the red light.
I actually LIKE seeing the flash go off when I see someone run the light.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:35 pm)The main difference between the little vehicles and big vehicles is the amount of steel used. Steel is cheap, and they get to charge a lot more for the big vehicles. The amount of electronics is comparable. Things like engines and transmissions are bigger, but have similar numbers of parts, and that’s the real cost.
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:51 pm)So, at some point in time, they can actually get a good portion of the safety effect by putting dummy cameras up as a deterrent.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:56 pm)The latest report from the Coast Guard is that the BP Oil spil is pumping 210,000 gallons of Oil per day into the Gulf. How many millions of $’s is this costing us? The Govt needs to invest and drive more EV’s on the roads!!!!
Apr 30th, 2010 (12:57 pm)Tesla always quotes the price after the rebate of $7500, so the quoted $49,900 translates to an MSRP of $57,400.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (1:01 pm)One would hope it doesn’t cost us anything but will cost BP 100% of it.
I find it ironic that after Obama says he will open the doors to offshore oil drilling this catastrophe occurs. It just is not meant to be.
Get off oil now should now be his focus, not get more oil.
Apr 30th, 2010 (1:04 pm)As gas prices increase, I expect to see local traffic slow down a lot more. If my midwestern college town were to implement a 20mph speed limits and make a couple of other tweaks to the rules within the town borders, we would see a lot more golf carts, NEVs, bicycles, and other non-conventional (and cheap) transportation.
Right now, the lower speed limits would not be accepted by most of the people in my town, since most are car-only commuters. But, as the screws of constrained energy tighten down gradually but forcefully on the economy, I expect that people will see how much money bicycling or driving an electric golf-cart saves, and will lighten up about sharing the road with vehicles that aren’t highway-capable.
Personally, I’ve been taking a three-pronged approach to the transportation-resiliency and efficiency of my household:
1) We live close enough to work that we can walk, bike, take public transportation, drive, jog, roller-blade, ski, snowshoe, golf-cart, or mozy to our current jobs and to places where employment is likely to be available in the future.
2) The vehicles are both paid off — all we pay for is gas, insurance, and maintenance. These are minimal since step 1) means that we don’t drive all that many miles.
3) We own a highly efficient/dependable little car (a Prius), which serves our day-to-day needs. This vehicle works wonderfully for now. This vehicle saves us a ton of money as compared to similar vehicles we’ve owned in the past, due to the low fuel and maintenance costs. I’m hoping that a Volt or MPV5 will fill this slot in the future.
4) We own a highly serviceable compact pickup truck from one of the most popular vehicle platforms in the world. Parts and expertise on this vehicle are cheap and readily available, and I’ve owned and maintained this vehicle since 2003. I can do a lot of work on it myself for $0/hr, and for the jobs that I’m not prepared to do (like ball joints, timing belts), I’m sure that I can find expertise locally and information via the Internet. I can keep this vehicle running through financial hard-times, but the poor fuel-efficiency (about half that of the Prius) means that I only drive it when I need the extra muscle that this vehicle provides — this vehicle can sit for months at a time sometimes.
Yes, I’m a bit pessimistic about the energy-future. Not as pessimistic as many people you’ll find on the Internet, though — I expect the effects constrained energy to be mostly economic in nature (higher prices, fewer jobs, etc). Also, you’ll notice that I’m not giving up anything today in order to prepare for the future. In any future, from another dot-com gold rush to a peak-oil fiasco, owning a dependable/efficient little car and a sturdy/maintainable/flexible compact pickup truck will meet my young family’s needs and taste very well. (We don’t have anything to prove, so conspicuous consumption isn’t attractive to us.)
I also expect to see more bicycles, golf-carts, and other slow non-conventional traffic on the road in my town in the future. I’d love to commute via golf cart, but it’s not socially acceptable to drive an unlicensed vehicle electric vehicle with the size and performance of a golf-cart on the roads of my town. That could be changed with just a few votes from the Town Council — but only when most of the citizens in my town realize how much money could be saved by dropping the speed-limits to 20mph everywhere and by getting out of their cars. $7 gas might be enough to sway public opinion this way. This is representative government in action.
I do think that energy and economic constraints will drive the future of the automobile much more than they have in the past. The good news is that this creates an even greater demand for clever engineering, and the solutions will be awesome. Alas, I’m beginning to think that Omni Magazine was science fiction.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (1:30 pm)It’s not speed that kills, it’s delta-V. Subtle distinction, but it can be very important at times.
I’m not sure I want to live in a society that is so Orwellian. This kind of thing would work wonderfully, just so long as you trust authority to never abuse its power. I’ve seen power abused firsthand, so we need a lot of checks and balances — and your idea didn’t seem to include any of those.
Also, why do you think you could trust me not to tamper with a GPS device that I have in my possession?
Going deeper than these practical concerns is the issue of personal freedom. I am an American, after all, so this matters to me.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (1:31 pm)I have always wanted to be able to drive one of those around here. Safety is the issue though. One other big issue are the dang posted speed limits are almost always faster than 35mph. I’ve pimped out some golf carts that can scream but then again, it’s still a safety issue. It would be nice though to use one just to go grocery shopping or to games for the kids at parks or whatever. Here’s a fairly descent one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-THINK-NEIGHBOR-ELECTRIC-NEV-LSV-VEHICLE-GOLF-CART-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563bc55872QQitemZ370369976434QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (1:43 pm)Exxon never paid their debt to the fisherman of Prince William Sound, and cleanup was impossible, though they spent a couple or three billion dollars trying. I expect it will be the same with BP in the Gulf.
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:00 pm)The price is deceptively low for initial delivery. The first year of production will be a specially configured high end “Signature Edition” that will be around $80K.
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:02 pm)Thanks going out to the people doing the chat. Interesting and informative.
Be well,
Tagamet
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:05 pm)So, if we expect that certain trends are due to let’s say evolutionary choices then simply extend those trends (for fun, mind you) we can maybe envision what future cars will be like.
) further pointed out that the only dimension that was really changing was, in fact, height. And height had grown rather dramatically.
) people in those cars as there will be a whole additional level to carry them.
So, I remember reading an article a few years ago saying that in the US, cars have actually NOT been trending bigger but have essentially remained the same size (remember our early cars were not small). The article (which I can’t find, but I’m just larking about, anyway, as you’ll soon see
Fast forward to a few decades from now and the only way to achieve the kind of height improvement that buyers are demanding is to start building double-decker cars. This also satisfies the trends to carry more (who are also trending to be larger
This should work particularly well with the Voltec type drivetrain because all those batteries’ low center of mass in the vehicle will help keep the whole thing from tipping over. Add in some fancy aluminum or composite materials to keep the top lightweight and there you go! The future of cars, at least until the Jetsons flying cars come around.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:06 pm)Today I went to the local Chevy dealer to ask about placing a deposit on a Volt. I had a check in my pocket.
Started by cruising the lot. Looked at the white Malibu, a yellow Camaro, a burgundy Camaro, and a white Saturn Vue. A salesman walked out to talk with me. I told him I was interested in pre-ordering a Chevy Volt. And if he had a price on one. He said that GM had not priced the Volt. And that the dealership can not take pre-orders now. He gave me a tentative date on when pre-ordering will begin. And a tentative date on delivery of the first Volt. To be fair to GM and Lyle I will not disclose the dates.
I asked the salesman if many people are inquiring about the Volt. He responded, “We’re not a high volume dealer like Paradise Chevrolet (the dealership I first visited for a Volt update about 6 weeks ago). I’m getting 2 inquiries per week.”
I asked if I could get my name on a list for one of the first Volt. He replied, “We don’t have a list. But, I will remain in touch with you. If you want one of the first Volt, I can make that happen.”
I gave him my name and email address. He said he will email back next week with more information.
=D-Volt
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:12 pm)That’s pretty funny considering the Nobel prize winner for laser energy research sitting in office, rebates of $7500 for the cars you talked about, and tax incentives for battery projects, advanced car projects, energy projects, grid projects and infrastructure projects to nudge the vision you spoke of. The average person likely knows nothing about it.
Not to mention the $100 million Nissan’s Leaf is taking advantage of to study problems or issues faced by EV’s, the most effective ways to get electrics out, and to add public and private charging stations. Considering the size of the deficits already, what more is needed before people notice the difference so far, a tablet written in stone and handed down from the heavens? Maybe people just don’t value “a bright energy future” and for politicians to express a desire for it is political suicide. Drill baby drill was popular, until a week ago anyway.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:16 pm)Congratulations, sounds like some progress for you. The difference with me was that $500 changed hands with putting my name on the top of the list. As of that moment there was a list. Another difference is that I am dealing with the “larger” dealer.
You got a tentative date. That’s great.
I have no idea of a date. 
I do have an expected price range that, to be fair to someone, I won’t disclose yet.
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:21 pm)Well, electric cars is the obvious answer.
As far as ‘non-individual’ control, I have heard proposals for ‘car trains’. You ‘join’ the train and then your car basically maintains speed and distance with the car ahead of you. The article suggested that a long-haul truck driver would be the lead ‘vehicle’. You can get on or off the train with some wireless communication. I don’t really know how practical this is. I suppose if the lead driver falls asleep, everyone dies.
The rest of the suggestions sound unlikely or idiotic (vehicle to grid).
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:25 pm)They might as well delay it forever. The present recently passed the future using maximum electric torque from 0 rpm.
The electric motorcycles in Tron can now be regarded as sleepy imagined visions of what the real thing is today. Reality wins hands down:
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/Team_Agni_Wins_TTXGP.jpg
http://www.motorcycle.com/news/fim-epower-2010-le-mans-results-89439.html
http://www.motorcycle.com/news/ttxgp-offers-discount-for-infineon-round-89465.html
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:35 pm)#82
True that. +1
My Dad used to say “It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop.”
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:38 pm)#87
It won’t do much for the CdA though, LOL.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:43 pm)Absolutely. In both cases of the bad accidents I witnessed, the worst of the delta-V occurred because of a mass miss-match between the involved vehicles.
Oh, and in one case the vehicle could have been a suburban or a full size pickup or whatever… If you get hit on the drivers side by a loaded log truck going 50 MPH, it’s over for you.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (2:44 pm)#89
They played a recording of Sarah Palin making that speech on NPR this AM. I wondered if this might be a good time for her to make a swing through south Louisiana?
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (3:11 pm)Good call! I don’t have an onstar vehicle and I guess I need to think a little harder about if onstar would kill my chances of getting a volt. Probably not. No more rationale than my gut but I don’t fear GM doing much with my info as much as I do the government. Yeah I know GM is owned by the gov, and I know if the gov wanted the info I’m sure they could get it. Damn, a lot to think about … Time for a beer
Apr 30th, 2010 (3:14 pm)Lyle, thanks for asking the “flying car” question. My commute sucks because of all the stop and go traffic. I’m 46 years old and really doubt I will see a production flying car in my lifetime.
Apr 30th, 2010 (3:34 pm)Van: “Say a bank is robbed at 2:00 PM. Instantly the police would know what vehicles departed the area and where they went. The hazard of the mentally impaired, i.e the drunk driver, would pop out due to erratic driving and police could be directed to the offending vehicle.”
Like half wit criminals can’t crack GPS tracking beacons.
All this wiz bang monitoring and big brother stuff aint gonna fly in the USA. Orwell’s Big brother is an addiction just like crack is an addiction. People who need to build social structures based on control and monitoring are addicted to mechanical order — aka fascism. Life is not meant to be controlled by authoritarian orders – since authority like any group is subject to corruption and disease. We are seeing a great unveiling of abusive authority everyday now (church pedophiles, corrupt science, crooked cops, compromised politicians.)
Automated bug mobiles will be fine in social structures inhabited by automatons. For the rest of us, you’re gonna have to live with free will and the open road.
+2
Apr 30th, 2010 (4:22 pm)Sorry, I have zero interest in the illegitimate offspring of a kiosk and a golf cart. Say what you will about city modules — they aren’t cars.
This kind of “people pod” speculation hasn’t fundamentally changed in 30 years, it just gets freshened up every now and then: it assumes that cars as we know them are restricted from cities, that people living in cities will be just gung-ho about sharing pedestrian space with motorized pods, and that there are never (as pictured above) more than two of them within sight at any given time.
Lets be clear, I have nothing particularly against some dedicated city-transportation system be it pods, network dispatched monorails, the turbo-lift from Star Trek, or human-sized pneumatic tubes; but let’s stop pretending that these things are cars, or direct replacements and/or evolved descendants of cars.
Future real cars may be capable of computer-controlled in-town use, using quick recharge electric propulsion, but they will also be capable of manual drive out to the sticks. They may achieve weight reduction through advanced materials, and resemble the Volt inasmuch as they use more than one kind of energy for more than one kind of use. Anything less may be something futuristic, but it won’t be a true automobile. Beyond this, you’re actually talking about a division of technology by mandate for either urban or non-urban use, but not both, period.
I look forward to seeing something about the Volt in future postings.
Let the negs ensue …
Apr 30th, 2010 (4:40 pm)Sorry bro, I gave you a +1…..lol
I agree.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:02 pm)Don’t neg me bro!
=D-Volt
Headlines read: Oil up on improving economy.
Give me a break. The S&P was down 1.7% today. Think the surge in oil price may have something to do with a Gulf spill? Super unleaded cost $3.49 in Santa Barbara. Up 9 cents from last week.
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:19 pm)I found a system – while watching Popular Science’s “Future Of – ” series on the Science Channel. I think many of you who think practically and admire good engineering will appreciate this transport system I discovered.
Our population, including our kids, are sitting in front of games and computers, our rate of obesity skyrocketing in all age categories and our healthcare system maxed out and, to some opinion, in need of a government takeover — here’s a solution that, for areas of all kinds, makes alot of sense. In Seattle, as in many cities, mainly people who ride buses are those who live in or near the big cities. In the ‘burbs, nobody rides the bus – and our freeways are some of the most crowded in the nation, gridlock being the rush hour norm. I live near a large 20 mile railway-turned-bike-walking path. Some diehard bicyclists commute on it, but rain and poor weather really cut down the numbers who do this regularly compared to the hundreds of thousands who drive to work. My city has dozens of “rails-to-trails” bike/walkways where this neat-cheap-simple little system could be built quickly, without a large impact on businesses and roadways…. I know Portland, Oregon has many “rails-to-trails” also, as do many cities.
Take a look, this is REALLY NEAT. I have no idea why solutions like these don’t take precedence over HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND COMPLEX infrastructure systems politicians so love to raise taxes over. My opinion is this is just TOO SMART AND SENSIBLE for big government mechanisms to wrap their heads around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxVtUFZVzk
Current light rail systems’ construction and planning underway in my city are running into the 10s of billions of dollars. This system would suit a large demographic and is dirt cheap compared.
Geeky systems like the EN-V took a rather simple system ( P.U.M.A. ) and cranked up the computer-operated, autonomous cyber geeky solution and ran with it to the tune of a very expensive proposition on the user level and for cities and counties who would adopt such a thing.
IMHO, People who work downtown, and have personal transportation needs and want more flexibility, economy ( and safety ) than using some of our urban buses, taxicabs or streetcars can use a clean, simple, PORTABLE device like a Go-ped electric scooter – http://www.goped.com. I have one and when I don’t want to work up a sweat it works like a charm! I swear by the Goped Hoverboard!
Let me know what you think after you watch the video!
RECHARGE! James
IF YOU BUILD THEM THEY WILL COME.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:41 pm)When the oil spills into the water does it still belong to BP or can anyone suck it up out of the water? Isn’t Oil “black gold” ?
I want my Volt.
The True Dual Fuel Vehicle. TDFV
NPNS!
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:45 pm)#104
I think that it gets a bit degraded when it mixes with salt water, LOL. Sorry, I guess it’s not really funny.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:45 pm)If you’re going to do this, do it right:
Ten Rules For People Pods
(for the purpose of this comment, a “People Pod” is defined as an autonomous, two-person vehicle, under a centralized controlling authority, used for transportation within an urban center):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Apr 30th, 2010 (5:52 pm)Our local NPR station just did a short report on BYD’s announcement that they are opening an office in Los Angeles to manage their U.S. operations. They gave an address, and said that they are going to be hiring 140 people this year.
There have been recurring reports recently that they are scouting around CA for sites for a manufacturing plant, but I don’t think that this rises to that level. Still, if I was selling cars in the U.S., it would make me very, very, nervous.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:00 pm)#106
I’m down with that. +1
It’s not gonna happen in my lifetime. We don’t have the money to maintain the infrastructure we have now. Let’s concentrate on the at least remotely doable.
LJGTVWOTR!! NMST!
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:02 pm)Here’s an article on it…
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/04/byd-20100430.html
Snipt…
“BYD introduced the F3DM dual-mode electric vehicle in 2008, and will soon officially launch the e6 electric vehicle.”
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:05 pm)#102
Gee, ya think? +1
The industry may have to pay to at least partially clean up their mess, but the price of crude ratchets up and they make it back with interest. What a world.
All the majors just reported massive profits for the 1st quarter, BTW.
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:11 pm)#109
+1 for outstanding reporting, even though I hate it.
When I see how cheap they sell Kias here sometimes it makes my head swim. I shudder to think what these guys’ pricing strategy will be when they try to break into the market. I swear people here would by a car from the Devil himself if it was cheap enough.
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:40 pm)Coal mine collapses, Oil platform exploding … what next?
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:45 pm)It’s the Iceland Volcano too!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!
I can’t pronounce it though…. “Eyjafjallajokull”.
/looks like yabbadabbadoo to me.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (6:57 pm)Warren Buffet has already made a 500% profit on his piece of BYD. He could support selling their EREV crossover for $19,990 no problem. He owns a chunk of Harley Davidson and of the American railroads. Would he undercut GM and Ford? Will he buy electricity distributors to channel power in his favor? How will this reflect on his legacy? Does he care?
Oh the drama.
=D-Volt
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:05 pm)I’ve been blasting anyone who’s been pitching conspiracy theories, but if anything happens at a nuclear power plant, I’m joining them.
Apr 30th, 2010 (7:29 pm)#114
Tragedy, I might have said.
+1
Apr 30th, 2010 (8:12 pm)Ironically, about the only 2 ton passenger vehicle out there is the Chevy Volt. An air of unreality and downright falsehoods pepper this volume, which is about as anal an exercise in directing the future that I’ve ever seen – it reminds me of GM’s :World of Tomorrow” at the 1939 World’s Fair.
It also portrays a world of transportation that never existed and never will – the idea that a vehicle is nothing more than a conveyence to transport folks from point A to point B. It also tota;;y exaggerates any supposed advancement in a clean environment as a result of electric vehicles.
Today’s ICE powered cars emit trivial amounts of pollutants – some cannot emit enough to even reach measurement on a sensitive emissions machine. He thus fraudulently oversells the advantages of the electric vehicle, a technology which doesn’t need such unethical assistence.
The technology is efficient, reliable and low maintenence, and with low cost batteries, far more cost effective than the ICE flavored vehicle. He also uses the word renewable, an irrelevant concept and mostly frausulently applied – coal is a “renewable” energy source, as are trees, etc.
So , it turns out, is radioactive material. Nor can one call a windmill machine “renewable.” You
have to build a new one every 20 years or so. ICE cars often outlast windmills.
Apr 30th, 2010 (11:35 pm)Anybody watch the video link from my post #103?
No opinions?
This article today and the webcast were about public/individual transport.
Any takers?
Observations?
The Orlando article just too captivating? Guys?
RECHARGE!
IF YOU BUILD THEM THEY WILL COME.
May 1st, 2010 (2:27 am)James.. I don’t think shweebs are going anywhere except maybe a fun ride through the costa rican rainforest
May 1st, 2010 (10:51 am)I’m with ‘ya. Why even allow a vehicle the ability to break the law? Just have speed governors built in.
That’s part 1. Have to also do part 2–revising the speed limits based on more rational thinking. For example, setting it at what 2/3 of the drivers actually travel. This has been suggested by many people before and studies showing travel speeds are largely independent of the posted limit. In other words, most people are reasonable. The net would be raising the limit for a lot of stretches, but the actual speeds traveled would not change.
Most drivers’ speeds would not change much. They would just not have the paranoia of getting a speeding ticket.
May 2nd, 2010 (12:03 am)Sell me a car / build me a car right now! I don’t care what you’ll be able to do in 3012!
I’m not satsified with what you have now, so you’re wasting your time with these overfunded day dreams.
Build a car that is:
-Affordable
-Reliable
-Servicable at a reasonable cost by the owner (hands on) or shop technician
-Build your cars for economy or power, most of the base model cars out there don’t have either.
You’ll keep the economy minded people and the hot rodders happy. The cars will be clean at the tailpipe either way.
-Improve your rust prevention methods, I have seen virtually brand new dodge trucks with huge rust holes.
I was raised in Detroit, and don’t want the cars from the big three! I don’t want an import car either at this point. Be it domestic or import cars just are not practical any more!
To me, new cars are a collection of features that keep you distracted until the warranty runs out.
Are you listening car makers?