Alternative fuels.

I heard in germany that they were making cars that run on compressed air. It was really cool, although the cars looked odd...People these days just don't know that enough is enough, and oil is the big money business too, so people like Mr.President could care less as long as they get their bundle of cash.

I think it's good that we are coming up with ways for alternative fuels. Its better for the enviroment, to keep it here and healthy for as long as we posibly can, but cars that run on water could be dangerous if they use them just like we use the fuel most cars run on now, couldn't it just end up being bad, I say we should use a lot of different fuels that way we won't over use one fuel.

Right now, my Prius Hybrid (half-gas, half-electric) gets an average of 56.5 miles to the galleon. The average all-gas car gets about 24 miles to the galleon. I'm all out for supporting a fully electric car. This would:

a) end our dependency on oil from the middle east
b) save us tons of cash on gas
c) save us tons of money from having to plant, grow, harvest, process and ship corn-based gas all over the country
d) save the earth from being bulldozed to build more gas stations
e) save us time from having to pull over and pump gas every week
f) help drastically decrease the CO2 emissions and lower greenhouse gases

while creating fully hybrid cars would do wonders for our environment, i honestly dont think it will ever happen, simply because the oil industry is so big! i foresee payoffs and whatnot to destroy the cars that we know people have come close to creating. its sad, but very very true

skittles o.O:

while creating fully hybrid cars would do wonders for our environment, i honestly dont think it will ever happen, simply because the oil industry is so big!

NEVER SAY NEVER...

Ford sees plug-in hybrids in 5-10 years
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/07/10/fa.ford.plugin.reut/index.html

ROSEMEAD, California (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Company Chief Executive Alan Mulally says he expects the company to sell plug-in hybrids in five to 10 years.

Ford Escape Hybrids are being used as taxis in San Francisco (above) and New York. "Within five to 10 years we will start to see this technology in our hands," Mulally said on the sidelines of a press event to announce an alliance between Ford and utility Southern California Edison to test 20 rechargeable electric vehicles.

When asked if that meant plug-in hybrids would be available on showroom floors, Mulally said, "Yes. Sure." Mulally said the rollout of Ford plug-in hybrids is dependent on advancements to lithium ion batteries that will be charged by the car's owners using regular household electrical outlets. He declined to give a more precise production target, saying: "I can't go further than that. We will know a lot more in the next few years."

Many environmental advocates see plug-in hybrid vehicles as the best available technology to reduce gasoline consumption and global-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers from Southern California Edison and Ford will work together in "real world" testing of up to 20 plug-in hybrid vehicles, Bryson said. Environmental advocates, who have targeted Ford in the past, welcomed the tie-up and said it showed the automaker was back in the race for electric car technology with Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp.

Mulally said it would provide So Cal Ed with 20 model year 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid sport utility vehicles reconfigured to work as plug-ins by 2009. The first will be delivered by the end of this year. Bryson said So Cal Ed will make it a "real world" test by giving the Escapes to 20 consumers who have electric "smart meters" to monitor power used to charge the SUVs. Mulally cautioned that the commercial rollout of the still experimental vehicles depends on advances in battery technology, an assessment shared by other rival automakers.

Environmental advocates, particularly in California, have been pressing automakers to roll out plug-in vehicles capable of running solely on electricity for short distances and recharging at a standard electric outlet. Ford will initially work exclusively with Southern California Electric to develop the testing procedures, but did not rule out working with other partners in the future. And Bryson said SCE will work with other automakers.

GM began development work this year on its own plug-in hybrid car. GM showed off a concept version of the Chevrolet Volt in January. Plug-in hybrids are to use little or no gasoline over short distances and at lower speeds.

Caitlin Caustic;;:

The only problem I see with fully electric cars is that nearly every automechanic in the world would be out of a job. That's why I think the cars that run on used vegetable oil or biodiesel are probably the best bet for now.

That's not true! We have an automechanic for our car and it's nearly ALL electric. Automechanics fix so many things besides the gas componets. They rotate tires, fix air conditioning leaks, repair brake pads, change filters, repair hoses, belts, all the little moving parts inside your car which, by the way, electric cars have MANY. They'll still be needed very much, they just have to learn new skills.

Beeblebrox:

Caitlin Caustic;;:

The only problem I see with fully electric cars is that nearly every automechanic in the world would be out of a job. That's why I think the cars that run on used vegetable oil or biodiesel are probably the best bet for now.

That's not true! We have an automechanic for our car and it's nearly ALL electric. Automechanics fix so many things besides the gas componets. They rotate tires, fix air conditioning leaks, repair brake pads, change filters, repair hoses, belts, all the little moving parts inside your car which, by the way, electric cars have MANY. They'll still be needed very much, they just have to learn new skills.

Yeah, but that's the thing....all those things would be different in an electric car. Sure there'd still be worn-down brake pads and tire rotations and so on to be done, but the major components would be operated completely differently. I'm sure they'd start teaching mechanics differently and there would be a whole generation who would know how to do it--but little shops run by guys who know cars up and down but not much about hybrids and electric cars....there's too much involved to just teach a whole section of the workforce all those new skills.

I don't know, learning how to repair an engine that runs on a different sort of fuel is one thing, but an engine that runs on electricity would be a whole different animal. It's like, if you took a guy who knew how to repair a steam train and told him to learn how to fix a problem on the bullet train. He could learn, but how long would that take?

I'm not in any way against fully electric cars, I just think they should be phased in slowly and that cars that run on veggie oil or biodiesel are a better alternative in the meantime.

Caitlin Caustic;;:

Yeah, but that's the thing....all those things would be different in an electric car. Sure there'd still be worn-down brake pads and tire rotations and so on to be done, but the major components would be operated completely differently. I'm sure they'd start teaching mechanics differently and there would be a whole generation who would know how to do it--but little shops run by guys who know cars up and down but not much about hybrids and electric cars....there's too much involved to just teach a whole section of the workforce all those new skills.

I take my car to one of those "little guys" and he's quite knowledgeble about all my car's computer parts. My car has been on the market for seven years already. Most mechanics know how to fix all the electric parts by now. It is being phased in. It's not as different as you'd think under the hood.

Here's what an actual mechanic from Arts Automotive had to say:

"Most of the skills, methods, and systems in a hybrid car are already familiar to a skilled mechanic. Electric motor / generator theory is well understood by a good "gas" mechanic. Computer control is certainly nothing new. Internal combustion engines are still found on the hybrids. In fact most of the familiar automotive systems -- brakes, steering, suspension, drivetrain, engine management, heating and air conditioning, are still on the hybrid and still operate in much the same way as they have for years.

There is a relatively small amount of training needed to make a good gas car mechanic into a good hybrid mechanic. I think it's similar to when a computer programmer learns a new language: he already knows how to program, he just needs learn the differences in the new language. Both Honda and Toyota have excellent subscription based websites with all of the information we need to understand and diagnose their cars."

Although the Greasecar isn't as efficient as oil it's more beneficial because it utilizes waste rather than drains a natural resource. And eventually we'll probably be able to get the fried vegetable oil without the smell. Even so, it would drive me nuts but I think it would be worth it.

Also, I think everyone should start investing in solar power as well and wind energy. I did read somewhere that instituting a system based on windmills and such would be very expensive and might end up being more expensive than the current system in the long run, but maybe we would be able to afford it because the wind will never run out and we wouldn't have to go to war or become embroiled in complicated political dealings for it. There wouldn't have to be the military-industrial complex there is when it comes to oil.

If that makes any sense....