As for the Volt, I fail to see how plug-in electrics solve more problems than they create. The electrical grid is already running at capacity, and adding capacity will only generate more pollution and greenhouse gasses unless it's nuclear, and we can't seem to figure out how to build safe nuclear power plants or what to do with the waste. Plus it will take decades to bring any new nuclear plants online and by then it may be too late.

Good application of critical thinking. We have too many people that are looking for the "feel good" politically correct "solutions" to everything that seem blind to the law of unintended consequences.

Suggestions are that some electric cars get the equivalent of 140 MPG. Even if that is true when the electricity comes form coal fired plants is the net effect better? It is less oil from the Mid East so that is a positive but more load on coal burning plants is a big negative. One of the worst things from coal fired plants is mercury pollution.

There are no easy solutions.

As for the Volt, I fail to see how plug-in electrics solve more problems than they create. The electrical grid is already running at capacity, and adding capacity will only generate more pollution and greenhouse gasses unless it's nuclear,

Gotta disagree here. The theory is that the cost of recharging a pure electric in terms of a gallon of equivalent (in mpg) gasoline is well under a $1/gal. And that even using dirty coal plants, the pollution from the recharge is not as bad as ICE exhaust except in terms of sulfur dioxide, which is marginally higher but of course could be reduced if dirty coal plants aren't used by utilities, which they shouldn't anyway. As for capacity, it's said that capacity is much higher during the night when most electrics would be recharged.

We recently rented Who Killed the Electric Car and it's a wonderful and even entertaining movie. There's some good bonus mat'l. on the DVD too. I'm aware that there are other perspectives in the issue of how good the EV-1 was and why it was killed. Granted, for example, there wasn't much cargo room or space for more than two persons. But even with it's 1990s technology batteries, its worst case 60 mile/charge figure met the needs of 90% of California commuters.

Then there's the awesome Tesla. I can't believe that a more modest but 4 passenger version couldn't be mass produced with advancements within the next few years at a cost that's competitive with today's hybrids, etc.

I do like hybrids, though, and I agree the Fusion and Focus are perfect candidates. And where are modern wagons? The Dodge Magnum might be a fair wagon, but follows most Dodge cars' styling of being ridiculously macho-looking.

Here's a cool electric car link that I believe was started with the making of WKTEC. Here's an interview with the makers of the flick.

On a related note, we've started to TiVo a new reality show on HGTV about Living with Ed Begley. It sucks in the usual reality show ways, but has good material (Begley and his eco endeavors). If his wife is really like she is portrayed (I seriously doubt it), he should dump her. (Sunday nights at 10, I think.)

UPDATE: Emission comparison found here. Comparing the government's data, the latest electric car published was the 2003 Toyota RAV4 EV while their latest Prius data shows that the greenhouse gases are slightly lower for the Prius, 3.4 vs. 3.9 tons/yr. I don't know what their basis is for power generation, though, but it's likely to include a lot of conventional coal and gas generation. With a large grid adding lots of wind and other renewables, it just gets better for plug-ins.

Even these numbers show too that the equiv. MPG for the RAV4 EV is 125/100 MPG city/hwy, which results in an estimated annual cost of $362 yr. vs. $631 for the 60/51 MPG Prius. We know, too, that the more realistic mileage for the Prius is actually closer to something like 45 MPG. (Using the same basis for cost comparison, my car which averages 28 MPG costs a little over $1300/yr in fuel. Plus there's a lot more maintenance for the ICE.)

As for the Volt, I fail to see how plug-in electrics solve more problems than they create. The electrical grid is already running at capacity...

Cars would mostly be charged at night when the grid is running below capacity.

I would buy an electric car in a heartbeat, preferably a Mustang which would be sacrilege. However, I would want some type of solar cells on the roof, trunk and hood so that it could collect solar energy at work while parked, and while operating. It would not be able to run completely off solar with todays technology, but it would provide some of the energy. Systems to collect energy from braking should be utilized as well. I would plug it in at home and have a timer set to recharge at night.

I have a friend who bought new fangled, retro looking Toyota FJ Cruiser, with the high tiny windows like many of the concept cars currently have. He has not had it 6 months and is getting rid of it. He can't see out of the damn car.

You're a Ford guy and you mentioned the new Mustang one time. Check out this custom Italian Mustang. Way too cool.

www.lesjones.com

Thanks to all for educating me on plug-in cars. I had not thought about many of these interesting aspects and will have to do some more research to get up to speed.

I am thinking short-term at the moment. As in I need a new car and I'd like to buy a hybrid but there aren't any that jump out and say "buy me!". The Prius seems like the most bang for the buck, but damn it's ugly.

Short term, it's a technology that we have and that works. My main point is I don't understand why automakers aren't getting on board. Just like I don't understand why Congress doesn't mandate higher CAFE standards. These are things we could be doing right now.

Longer term, that's an excellent point about solar. I think it should be a huge factor in our energy equation. Like panels on every roof, giant solar farms out in the desert or floating out on the ocean converting sea water to storable hydrogen, or things along those lines.

The idea of a more distributed system, with each home, school, or office being mostly or totally self-sufficient isn't going to play well, though, with the energy industry. I think the way to overcome that is get them in on the game, i.e. distributing, installing, financing, and maintaining the systems.

There will also have to be huge investments in R&D and manufacturing ramp-up for it to be cost effective. Like #9, I looked in to it, and you are looking at a 20 to 25 year payback right now. But I'm almost to the point of "so what?" Plus I think it would add to your property value. But then there are still lots of safety issues, problems with batteries, compatibility, switching, finding electricians who can work on the stuff, etc. etc.

(Speaking of hydrogen, now that I've learned more about it I've pretty much given up on it. It's good for a storage and delivery solution, but it doesn't seem very efficient right now unless somebody comes up with a magic way to produce it.)

Anyway, good discussion.