Sharon asks…
If changing vehicles to an alternative fuel source vehicle helped the environment, would you switch over?
This post is for research for a school project.
please see my other polls for the same project, if you would like to help.
admin answers:
Definitely! I really want my next car to be a hybrid.
Steven asks…
What is going to be the alternative fuel for all vehicles if we run out of petrol and diesel?
admin answers:
Battery vehicle technology available now can meet most of our personal transport requirements. Hydrogen fuel cells have been promised for decades and may yet come good; but hydrogen is only a way of transporting the electric and nowhere near as efficient as the grid. I doubt we will be allowed to home-brew hydrogen in our basement or garage; but you can have your own solar pannel or otehr micro-generator; certainly you can get zero emmision energy via the grid.
Electric motors are far more suited to traction than infernal combustion, max torque at 0rpm, no gearbox, cooling or exaust systems, refuel at home or work, even have your own wind or solar generator. They also recover energy back into the battery when braking or going down hill.
And the driving experience quiet, smooth, smell free and powerfull; the tZero can easilly out accelerate a ferrari; or the tango as driven by george clooney. Range >200 miles with current battery technology; we don’t need to wait for fuel-cells or the oil to run out, a better solution is available now.
Look out for film due for release in US end of June titled “who killed the electric car”
And there certainly won’t be enough agricultural land to feed the population and provide bio-fuel; especially once climate change and water shortages bite.
Carol asks…
Electric Aircraft. Are there any available to the general public?
I know there have been huge advances in Alternative fueled vehicles and will probbably be getting an Electric Boat, but what about small aircraft for recreation? Like an ultralight or a Powered Parachute or even a glider? I’m not looking for 8 hour flights, just a simple 2 hour putting around flight, that is eco friendly. I know electrics have a long way to go to make the same power and run time of fossil fuels, but has this gap been bridged with recreational aircraft?
admin answers:
Well Kasey should have done a simple Yahoo search before shooting off his mouth.
Http://www.pilotjournal.com/content/2003/septoct/all_electric.html
I knew there were electric powered planes. The ones I have seen are more like a glider with a small engine. They only use the engine while in flight to extend their time aloft.
But the above link shows a nice private aircraft that is all electric and there are several more links with other aircraft.
So they are on the way. Problem is the price.
Betty asks…
Should the wealthy be taking more initiative to break our dependence on oil?
They can afford cars that run on alternative fuels which are normally to expensive for the average consumer. Yet they buy gas guzzlers which do nothing to bring down the price of alternative fuel vehicles.
admin answers:
Most of the people who buy Prius or other hybrid vehicles have incomes that are double the national average income, or more.
Now that demographic is much more important as consumers of fuel than the very rich. That demographic as a whole could not however buy only Prius. There are not enough Prius.
The question has to be asked, are very efficient cars being left on the sales lot? Or is there a bit of a waiting list?
Alternative fuel vehicles do not appear to be that readily available either. Yes E85 vehicles are often hard to sell. Are richer people trying to avoid using up too much corn to avoid world starvation?
Bio-diesel vehicles are not unusually expensive, but too many of them are not energy efficient cars, so how does this help? Do we want rich people to buy a big pickup to use bio-diesel rather than a TDI rabbit? Why?
Richer people should make intelligent decisions and not buy something that does not make sense for them.
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