Filed under: Diesel, Etc., EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Green Daily, Vectrix
Free enterprise wingers attack Vectrix for using a diesel truck
Sure, there've been times when diesel gets attacked here on AutoblogGreen, but in general, we're pretty keen on the high-mileage power of the gasoline alternative (see this review of the BMW 535d, for example) while we wait for something better and cleaner. For Nathan Burchfiel over at the "free enterprise" Business & Media Institute, diesel is just an opening to attack Hollywood for its "hypocrisy."
I'm not that familiar with BMI, but whenever I hear someone talking about "free enterprise," I feel the need to get my sodium levels checked. I need to take whatever they say with such a large dose of salt it's not even funny. Why do people insist, in 2007, that "free enterprise" is possible, much less desired? I'll just make the most basic point that no one at BMI could get to work without government-funded roads, roads without which all their economic models would fall into the public sewer system. Anyway, here's how the shallow see Vectrix's attempt at creating greener transportation with an booth at the Hollywood Goes Green conference:
...Vectrix Corporation (SEA:VCX) was displaying its electric scooter. [...] The scooter costs nearly $12,000. Salesperson Tansy Brook said the comparable gasoline scooter would be about $4,000 cheaper, but said that maintenance costs would make up the difference over the life of the scooter. [...] The Vectrix scooter, Brook said, will travel about 40-60 miles on one charge. A full charge takes about 3 hours on a standard electrical outlet. But you might be surprised at how the "green" scooter on display got to the hotel. In typical Hollywood "do as I say, not as I do" style, it arrived in a diesel truck adorned with ads for the "zero-emissions" scooter.
Just one question, BMI: how should Vectrix have transported the scooter to the show?
Related:
[Source: Business and Media Institute, h/t to Domenick]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James 3:46PM (12/17/2007)
Argh! I went to their site. I didn't see any comment section.
Curious about the "do as I say, not as I do". I wanted to ask if that was like W's and Lott's war on consumer lawsuits EXCEPT when W sued a car rental firm and Lott sued his insurance company.
I try to avoid any site that doesn't allow comments, they're just EGOblogs.
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kert 3:57PM (12/17/2007)
"how should Vectrix have transported the scooter to the show?"
Using a Smith or Modec electric van, of course !
By the way, on the cost comparisons. I dont know hwat Brook was referring to, but in preformance Vectrix has competition with Honda Silverwing and Yamaha T-max. Neither of them is $4000 cheaper, bought new.
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yabun 5:26PM (12/17/2007)
This is media hype on a slow news day. I'll gladly cut Vectrix the slack here.
Options for transporting a bunch of scooters up-n-down the west coast is probably pretty slim. Knowing nothing about the truck, it looks fairly light (efficient) for its class/type. Considering it's a diesel, its MPG/ton-o-cargo probably isn't too bad.
Great scooter, BTW.
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Phil L. 5:32PM (12/17/2007)
>> Using a Smith or Modec electric van
Are either of these available in the US?
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jake 5:40PM (12/17/2007)
I think these people have to remember you can only solve one problem at a time. As diesel trucks are standard transport for most show vehicles (and most of the time much larger than the one shown), I don't see how they will do worst for the environment than say a honda or yamaha being transported to a show. What matters is if over it's lifetime does the Vectrix actually pollute less factoring manufacturing, operation, and recycling, etc.
Is BMI seriously suggesting they ride the scooter to the show? These people have to use some common sense here before calling other people hypocrites.
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MikeB 5:49PM (12/17/2007)
Kert: I ride a Honda Silverwing daily, and was considering the Vectrix as a cleaner alternative. Unfortunately, the Vectrix really can't compete in some areas. My SWing can reach 115mph, but more importantly it can hold 70-80mph on the interstates where traffic is also doing 70-80mph.
The Vectrix is limited to 62mph, which means that it's simply not safe to ride on the interstates around here. With that top speed restriction, the Vectrix is better matched against 250cc scooters, not 4-600cc bikes that can safely hold interstate speeds.
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Sebastian 6:47PM (12/17/2007)
Phil -
The Smith is
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12/11/evs23-the-green-machine-smith-electric-truck-comes-to-america/
The Modec will be here someday
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12/07/evs23-up-close-and-personal-with-the-modec-the-all-electric-de/
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Domenick 6:50PM (12/17/2007)
@James:
Unfortunately they don't have a comment section with their "stories" but they do allow comments on their youtube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PstYqfrLT8g&eurl=http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2007/20071212140846.aspx
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why not the LS2LS7? 8:54PM (12/17/2007)
Dodge Sprinter Diesel w/B100.
Don't get me wrong, it's still filthy, but it's CO2 neutral.
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TG 9:46PM (12/17/2007)
If the Vectrix diesel delivery truck had a particulate filter, then it*s use would be logical and fairly green in nature. = TG
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rick smith 11:57PM (12/17/2007)
I had hoped when the Smith Newton was unveiled at EVS-23 it would of carried a "suprise cargo"...oh well... ask the same question in 6-12 months ...electrics are evolving rapidly.
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rick smith 12:37AM (12/18/2007)
BMI...Boone Pickens and Fox media..lol
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GreyFlcn 3:42AM (12/18/2007)
Besides which.
If a Diesel car has modern catalytic converters on it, it's cleaner in emissions than a hybrid. (Assuming a majority of the distance is highway driving)
Should be refreshing to know that by this time next year, much of the stigma attached to diesels will be gone due to the fleet of new light-duty diesels hitting the market in all 50 states.
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GreyFlcn 3:42AM (12/18/2007)
And no, BioDiesel is ANYTHING but carbon nuetral.
http://greyfalcon.net/lca.png
http://greyfalcon.net/n2ostudy.png
http://greyfalcon.net/palmoil
Waste Vegetable Oil maybe, but virgin biodiesel is just disgusting.
Gimme Coal-to-diesel over that crap.
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