The Truth About Cars

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Hurricanes are brutal forces of nature that involve whipping winds, flying debris, and extremely choppy waters. When we decided to go a different direction in Joshua Tree and thus had to turn around on a dirt road, I ended up recreating a famous scene from Austin Powers. Smoothness doesn’t often come cheap, after all.

Jeep 94

Jeep MPG Los Angeles Fuel Economy 94

Green Car Congress

JUNE 29, 2015

During the late innings of the ICE-age (as in the Internal Combustion Engine age) it has become clear that feeding gasoline and diesel to the next billion new cars is not going to be easy, or cheap. The first eye-opener for large scale solar was the Austin Energy PPA last year that was priced at 5 cents. It really isn’t a fair fight.

Solar 150

Solar Miles Gasoline-Electric MPG 150

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 16, 2009

So, the used batteries are almost arbitrarily cheap since an arbitrarily large fraction of their cost of production can be loaded on their use in transportation. Wind, solar and nuclear could easily change our electrical sources. Gas is 60% efficient and wind, in this context, is 100% efficient even with transmission losses.

Grid 47

Grid Green Electric Cars Cars 47

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 16, 2009

Furthermore, changing the battery pack on say a Toyota Prius often costs a fortune, at least in most European countries, so such cars better be VERY cheap, but they’re not. Wind, hydro, DC transmission lines, and smart grid electronics are also Portland strengths. — Larry 4.

Oregon 58

Oregon Green Electric Cars Lead Acid 58