Re: Way OT: hybrid cars and you

On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 04:47:01 +0000 (UTC), Trish Crowther
<trix_mine@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:17:43 +0000 (UTC), Rob Perkins
><rperkins@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>ravend03x wrote:
>>> Just curious what the flavor and attitude toward hybrid cars is out
>>> there in moderated b5 land?
>>
>>mmmmm... Hybrid cars.... ahhhhhh...
>>
>>>
>>> Would you buy one?
>>
>>Yes, but my current cars have to be at death's door.
>>
>>> What are some of the improvements/flaws that would
>>> influence your decisions?
>>
>>Advanced battery technology would be nice. If the hybrid could
>>alternatively be plugged in, that would be very nice, too. Half the
>>power in my area is hydroelectric. That amounts to a zero-emissions car
>>for in-town driving.
>
>Actually, unless 100% of the power in your area is hydroelectric, that
>doesn't hold. I don't know what the base power load of your area is,
>but if it's more than that provided by hydroelectric power, anything
>extra is produced by other means (whether that be coal-fired, gas
>fired etc). So if you add any power usage above that produced by
>techniques that have clean emissions, that is actually adding to
>emissions.
>
>Now if the non-peak electricity load is more than covered by
>hydro-electric, then recharging a car in off-peak times would be
>zero-emission.
>
>Trish

Think I might have hit the wrong button, so I'm sending the gist of
the same message:

Just to clarify; I'm talking about emissions from the power-plant that
produces the electricity, not emissions from the car itself.

Trish
>>
>>> Is mass transit a viable option for those
>>> with environmental concerns? Is your community safe for bikes just
>>> like mine isn't?
>>
>>My community is very accommodating of bikes, and public transit into the
>>big cities is likewise easy and possible. The only drawback is finding a
>>space at the park and rides for the light rail.
>>
>>Rob

.