I'm not one to trumpet the hybrid as the end-all and be-all solution, but it IS an example of how we can use new technology to help tackle our problems.
There is a bit of a problem with this article in that it compares fuel mileage for hybrids running on highways to smaller cars and the mileage will very much be similar, I don't think anyone familiar with the technology will deny that. Where the hybrids excel is in city driving with numerous starts and stops. That's where a hybrid can destroy other vehicle's gas mileage. Which is why it makes PERFECT sense for buses and taxis, etc. New Flyer has been pouring lots of R&D into hybrid technology because it simply makes sense for the industry.
As for the battery issue mentioned in the article....we have to remember this is a pretty new technology. If we were to continue developing it and researching it further, I'm sure we could find alternatives to batteries requiring nickel. In fact, there already probably exists alternatives but the nickel ones are probably the most cost effective for Honda (after all, Honda IS in the business of making money first). Working for a couple different manufacturing companies has taught me that you try and make the cheap ones work before resorting to the more expensive options.
"As for the battery issue mentioned in the article....we have to remember this is a pretty new technology. If we were to continue developing it and researching it further, I'm sure we could find alternatives to batteries requiring nickel. In fact, there already probably exists alternatives but the nickel ones are probably the most cost effective for Honda (after all, Honda IS in the business of making money first). Working for a couple different manufacturing companies has taught me that you try and make the cheap ones work before resorting to the more expensive options."
Do you think this is the reason why the current Global Warming extravaganza will never work. You cant think that businesses are going to give up profits in the name of cooling the globe by a degree, can you?
And you would be surprised the gas mileage that a prius actually gets in the city, its not the 60 mpg that they advertise, its more like 40. And there are alot of cars our there that get close to that. Gas mileage is based on idea driving (basically driving like a grandma) How many cab drivers do you see doing that? Prius' are glorified, they, and other hybrids aren't as good as they are made out to be.
Perhaps you should talk to the folks at New Flyer in regards to the data from testing the same buses using hybrid vs. regular engine technology. There is a fellow at the U of M that worked with New Flyer and they realized a 20-30% reduction in fuel consumption, which is pretty significant when spread out over an entire fleet of buses. Like I said, there are uses that maximize the effectiveness of the technology and there are uses that bring back minimum gains.
And there is a very obvious solution to keep businesses honest in regards to their environmental records: instead of giving them huge tax breaks, make them financially responsible for any and all harmful side-effects of their production methods. A company will spend money on cleaner technologies if it costs them two or three times as much to keep on doing the same thing.
"And there is a very obvious solution to keep businesses honest in regards to their environmental records: instead of giving them huge tax breaks, make them financially responsible for any and all harmful side-effects of their production methods. A company will spend money on cleaner technologies if it costs them two or three times as much to keep on doing the same thing."
This is a capitalistic society, this will never fly. Otherwise you'll see more businesses moving out the this country. And you'll see more job losses and more people for unemployment and our taxes will go up. That is very unrealistic to think that. And it would put smaller businesses out of business because the cost is too high. You have to think this has been thought of before, but the economy comes first.
Broken & New describes a new start with and old friend. Often mistreated and neglected, drawn back together because of fate, because of His will. A choice I made, because how could I not. Broken I started, New I became.
4 comments:
I'm not one to trumpet the hybrid as the end-all and be-all solution, but it IS an example of how we can use new technology to help tackle our problems.
There is a bit of a problem with this article in that it compares fuel mileage for hybrids running on highways to smaller cars and the mileage will very much be similar, I don't think anyone familiar with the technology will deny that. Where the hybrids excel is in city driving with numerous starts and stops. That's where a hybrid can destroy other vehicle's gas mileage. Which is why it makes PERFECT sense for buses and taxis, etc. New Flyer has been pouring lots of R&D into hybrid technology because it simply makes sense for the industry.
As for the battery issue mentioned in the article....we have to remember this is a pretty new technology. If we were to continue developing it and researching it further, I'm sure we could find alternatives to batteries requiring nickel. In fact, there already probably exists alternatives but the nickel ones are probably the most cost effective for Honda (after all, Honda IS in the business of making money first). Working for a couple different manufacturing companies has taught me that you try and make the cheap ones work before resorting to the more expensive options.
"As for the battery issue mentioned in the article....we have to remember this is a pretty new technology. If we were to continue developing it and researching it further, I'm sure we could find alternatives to batteries requiring nickel. In fact, there already probably exists alternatives but the nickel ones are probably the most cost effective for Honda (after all, Honda IS in the business of making money first). Working for a couple different manufacturing companies has taught me that you try and make the cheap ones work before resorting to the more expensive options."
Do you think this is the reason why the current Global Warming extravaganza will never work. You cant think that businesses are going to give up profits in the name of cooling the globe by a degree, can you?
And you would be surprised the gas mileage that a prius actually gets in the city, its not the 60 mpg that they advertise, its more like 40. And there are alot of cars our there that get close to that. Gas mileage is based on idea driving (basically driving like a grandma) How many cab drivers do you see doing that? Prius' are glorified, they, and other hybrids aren't as good as they are made out to be.
Perhaps you should talk to the folks at New Flyer in regards to the data from testing the same buses using hybrid vs. regular engine technology. There is a fellow at the U of M that worked with New Flyer and they realized a 20-30% reduction in fuel consumption, which is pretty significant when spread out over an entire fleet of buses. Like I said, there are uses that maximize the effectiveness of the technology and there are uses that bring back minimum gains.
And there is a very obvious solution to keep businesses honest in regards to their environmental records: instead of giving them huge tax breaks, make them financially responsible for any and all harmful side-effects of their production methods. A company will spend money on cleaner technologies if it costs them two or three times as much to keep on doing the same thing.
"And there is a very obvious solution to keep businesses honest in regards to their environmental records: instead of giving them huge tax breaks, make them financially responsible for any and all harmful side-effects of their production methods. A company will spend money on cleaner technologies if it costs them two or three times as much to keep on doing the same thing."
This is a capitalistic society, this will never fly. Otherwise you'll see more businesses moving out the this country. And you'll see more job losses and more people for unemployment and our taxes will go up. That is very unrealistic to think that. And it would put smaller businesses out of business because the cost is too high. You have to think this has been thought of before, but the economy comes first.
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