Date:         Fri, 20 Jul 2001 18:42:55 -0500
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Organization: not likely
Subject:      Re: CARB madness! (Friday)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> have seen a reduction of emissions that is 98% in cars.  Some of the
new cars
> today that are hybrid gas/electric or diesel/electric are getting a
98%
> decrease over today's standards.  However the CARB is ignoring these
vehicles
> and focusing squarely in the electric only technology which GM could
not
> perfect given ten years and more than a Billion dollars.  It makes
you wonder
> if lower emissions is really the goal or if it is something else?
Any
> comments?  (he says sacastically:)

yup. the only thing that will be buildable quickly and drop the
emissions dramatically is the hybrid ... it still uses the in-place
infrastructure (the gasoline stations that already exist throughout
the country/world), people understand (?!!!!) how to fill up the tanks
(can't really let the general public pump their own hydrogen or
propane!!), and the technology is available and proven ... the big
earthmovers use the same exact technology and design ... just a tad
larger. :)

and with a little effort, you could make ALL vehicles 4-wheel drive
... just put the electric motor at the ends of each axles .. each
wheel is powered and able to be separately controlled by a computer
(uh-oh!!! more computers!!). and the generator uses very little
gasoline to run the electric motors, and can be optimized for certain
rpm ranges and produces extremely small amounts of pollutants.

the downside? you lose trunk space. what a bummer! ;)

that, or alcohol (cleaner burning but a good bit less power). or both.
since you don't really need a lot of power in a generator, run it off
alcohol. no drilling for oil anymore, and anybody can grow their own
fuel. :) or buy it from the local moonshiner.

and!!! the hybrid technology isn't particular complicated (if you did
it right). so mechanics in place could actually maybe sorta kinda fix
the stuff.

them's my opinions. and you're welcome to 'em. :)

joel