Recent Comments:
Richard Viguerie: Blame a liberal for high energy prices {Autoblog Green}
Jul 8th 2008 7:13PM armmat,
You seem to blame everyone but the consumer for the consumer's own ignorance. Thinking like that is why consumers are so uninformed in the first place. "The consumer is too dumb to make their own decisions, so we should make decisions for them." NO! The consumer should be able to make up their own damn mind and if they make a bad decision, they they should deal with it.
So many economic problems in America are directly because the consumer was too damn lazy to put a bit of critical thinking into their purchases, or their life. I have no sympathy for anyone struggling because they have 19 children, 3 ford excursions, an overpriced/undervalued 6000 sq ft house and no job. It was never hard to see that those were terrible decisions. If they can afford it, that's great for them, sucks for me, but I'm not telling them they need stop feeding their kids, driving their cars or selling their house. Why should I have to care that they can't afford it?
Bad decisions make for bad results and the only person to blame for bad decisions is yourself. Deal with it.
Lotus Engineering establishes group dedicated to hybrid and electric vehicles {Autoblog Green}
Jun 24th 2008 2:43PM Throwback, while I get your point about weight, I don't think there is a better platform to start with. The Tesla is 1000lbs heavier than the Elise, but that it still lighter than most other new "sporty" vehicles by several hundred pounds. If they had based the Tesla on the C6 Corvette, as an example, The resulting vehicle would probably be closer to 4000lbs. The motor in the C6 is bigger and heavier, sure, but it's not THAT heavy.
Retrofitting and proper maintenance vital for emissions {Autoblog Green}
Jun 24th 2008 2:29PM As long as they aren't stupid about it, I have no problem retrofitting older vehicles with new tech. In fact, I think it's a fantastic idea. The problem is, these sorts of regulations tend to be overly bureaucratic and make things less feasible. For example, I have a classic car that I am transplanting a new, clean running motor into. I will be using as much emissions controls as possible(cats, EFI, evap, etc and potentially even alternative fuel capable), but the resulting car will not be registerable in California because it is not an "approved combination". I'm projecting 40mpg and far far far fewer emissions than the original, registerable setup. Good thing I don't live in CA.
Trapped in a Ford Excursion! {Autoblog Green}
Jun 18th 2008 4:47PM "People seem very quick to attack and very slow to offer solutions."
The solutions are obvious and easy, if you spend 10 minutes to think about the impact of your decisions. Don't have 5 kids. It's way easier than the alternative.
Don't drive a vehicle that is impractical. Again, obvious and easy.
If you can't afford to live where you work or work where you live, find a new job and MOVE. Easy, obvious, and often it's just a good idea. If you're too stubborn to give up what you've always done even tho it's encouraging bad habits, then it's your fault and you deserve the consequences.
Trapped in a Ford Excursion! {Autoblog Green}
Jun 18th 2008 2:35PM Yep, I feel absolutely no sympathy for this person or people like him. You should have to deal w/ the consequences of your actions, and if you are short sighted, selfish, and just all around make bad decisions(have 7 kids, buy an excursion, more than likely lives in an oversized house in the suburbs) it's your own fault.
Best Buy's Geek Squad getting smart-er? {Autoblog Green}
May 20th 2008 4:05PM I think the concept of a "chick-car" is completely asinine. I don't, and never have, owned a Mazda Miata, new VW Beetle, smart, or anything that i have known to be considered a "chick-car", but I just don't get that association. "If you are a man you must drive a V8 Camaro or a Magnum!" Please, I'd rather be seen in a pink Miata w/ lacy trim. It's far less repulsive and significantly more practical.
AFVI 2008: Dymac EVs enter the market with low-complexity, lower-cost models {Autoblog Green}
May 14th 2008 3:39PM I like simplicity, but regenerative braking is pretty simple. If I were building the simplest EV possible(with rechargeable batteries), I'd be hard pressed to find a reason to give it up.
Electric Super Seven from Evisol Thorr offers high power and light weight {Autoblog Green}
Apr 30th 2008 11:22AM "either Tesla just got pwned or not. totally depends on price and availability."
No, not really. They don't really apply to the same consumer. This is for someone who wants an all-out, open-top, short range race car. The Tesla is much more reasonable for normal every day driving while having fun.
The Prius may not be the best way to cut energy costs {Autoblog Green}
Apr 23rd 2008 2:04PM My solution was to buy a 15 year old Corolla wagon. Never less than 30mpg and if going on a trip it pushes 40mpg. Certainly not Prius levels, but consider it was $1200, and I can fit almost anything in it....
I took a trip a few months ago. 4 people, 2 bicycles, an extra engine I was selling, and camping equipment and it got 40mpg doing 80 from SLC to Las Vegas and back, I don't think it gets much cheaper than that.
London Black Cab goes electric green {Autoblog Green}
Apr 22nd 2008 12:07PM 100km for a Taxi? I suppose much of time they are idling waiting for customers, but I could easily see a taxi making a single 50km trip.
Not to discourage them from doing this, it just seems a bit limited. Perhaps just for downtown transit? Probably for distances you should walk anyway? :-)
