EVs don't compete on squishy green feelings. They compete on the fact that their maintenance costs are substantially less (no or small transmission; no ICE parts; motor, batteries, inverter are primary drivetrain components) and the cost to drive is around 2 cents/mile compared to 15 cents/mile for gasoline. The problem is that the playing field isn't level. Oil is subsidized in the US through heavy tax breaks to oil companies, and energy density in batteries is still low because not much R&D has been done (due to cheap oil).
One common critique of an electric car revolution is that the increased energy demand might just lead to the generation of new power plants, negating some of the cars' positive environmental benefits. Well, according to a new study by the U.S. Department of Energy, those critiques are misguided. The study shows 84% of the 198 million cars, light trucks and SUVs on America's roads could be fueled by the existing energy infrastructure if switched to plug-in hybrid vehicles. When you add vans and other vehicles in the "light duty fleet," 73% of the 217 million vehicles could be powered with the power plants we have in place today. In switching from 6.5 million barrels of oil every day to electric cars fueled by off-peak power production, the study estimates a reduction of greenhouse gases by 27%.
Even with America's current power mix, with a heavy dose of coal power generation, electric vehicles are show to reduce total greenhouse emissions, however the picture isn't all rosy. The Department of Energy study also points to an increase in total particulate emissions with the grid pumping power all night. This, however, is much easier to tackle than petroleum-based pollution. As alternative energy gains a greater share of the American power pie chart, we can look for less particulate emissions as well. In the meantime, check to see if your power company offers green power or try to generate your own. Then, when you get your electric speedster, you can rev it up without worry.
Agreed. Amazon makes it stupid easy now to buy DRM-free music. I would like it though if I could put my Itunes credentials into Amazon and it would suck my shopping cart/wishlist in so I could buy the music through them. I have about 150 sounds in my iTunes shopping cart, and just haven't had the time to go through 1 by 1 in Amazon to buy them.
I have an idea! If you're a band, sell your songs yourself on iTunes! Collect the 70 cents/song yourself, and then arrange your own tours for the ticket sales.
I think you answered your own post. The EU is more up to speed because security has been regulated (fraud is the merchant's problem in the US, not the bank or processing network). Card issues care less about security and more about transaction volume.
I can't explain why our banking system sucks though. I would've thought we'd be ahead of the curve when it comes to moving money electronically. *shurgs*
They might not care about the enmity of users, but they sure care about their business users who could just as easily go back to Windows Mobile.
Or their Blackberry. I'm curious to see how well the Blackberry Bold and Storm do against the iPhone. Apple came first, but now their phone shortcomings can be fixed by those coming later (G1, new Blackberries, etc).
Trees suck up large amount of CO2 when they're growing and convert it into plant matter. When they reach adulthood, the amount of CO2 they process drops off.
I almost forgot, these machines and the clean energy they need could be paid for using carbon credits. Nuclear energy in Northern Illinois (where I live) can be had for about a penny per kWh between midnight and 4 am (when base load is extremely low). So, if they can pull out a ton of CO2 from the atmosphere for 100 kwH of energy, you're looking at between $1-$2/ton in energy costs (capital costs for the equipment needs to be considered, as well as people to maintain everything).
I assume that this device would be used with clean renewable energy sources to remove CO2 we've already pumped into the atmosphere. So, you'd run this thing at night when energy prices are low (around 1-2 cents/kwH) to help bring the atmosphere back into balance (and of course, you must be using wind or some other non-fossil fuel for electicty, duh).
A couple of these machines by themselves won't do much, but hundreds of thousands of them powered by coastal wind farms or solar farms in the desert could definitely reverse some of the damage we've done (in conjunction with moving from coal to nuclear for base load power; electrification of transportation; etc).
I'd also like the LED on the Roku box to flash red instead of be on solid blue when it checks my Hulu queue and finds new content in there for me to watch.
You can watch Heroes the day after it airs on Netflix Watch It Now, even with your Roku box. That's how we do it, since we don't have cable or an outside antenna.
Funny. Try to launch a plane, or a satellite, or set up a radio transmitter. See how quickly you get caged or shot.
On a serious note (though you missed the joke), I can hop in my GA aircraft and take off without asking anyone (from a non-towered airport). I can pretty much go damn near anywhere without checking with someone if it's nice out, and I don't run into Class A through D airspace.
With regards to a satellite, if you launch it you've just got to let the relevant people know that you are launching. They don't get to say no.
Now, of course, you aren't going to be using the most power at the times when these are generating, but it can definitely put a significant dent in your electricity bills.
Basic research is done with regards to getting to orbit. That's it. Game over. Now it's time for business to commercialize it and drive down the costs. This is a good thing. The government can pay business to get basic science payloads to space and beyond, and it'll be cheaper than vehicles such as the shuttle (which cost $450 million per launch).
Isn't it good if people move from NASA (highly bureaucratic red tap environment) to the private sector (either to SpaceX, which will expand to provide more launch capabilities, or to Boeing or Lockheed)? Shit actually gets done.
Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
Slashdot Mirror
EVs don't compete on squishy green feelings. They compete on the fact that their maintenance costs are substantially less (no or small transmission; no ICE parts; motor, batteries, inverter are primary drivetrain components) and the cost to drive is around 2 cents/mile compared to 15 cents/mile for gasoline. The problem is that the playing field isn't level. Oil is subsidized in the US through heavy tax breaks to oil companies, and energy density in batteries is still low because not much R&D has been done (due to cheap oil).
Dude, the Department of Energy says you're wrong:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/excess_nightime.php
One common critique of an electric car revolution is that the increased energy demand might just lead to the generation of new power plants, negating some of the cars' positive environmental benefits. Well, according to a new study by the U.S. Department of Energy, those critiques are misguided. The study shows 84% of the 198 million cars, light trucks and SUVs on America's roads could be fueled by the existing energy infrastructure if switched to plug-in hybrid vehicles. When you add vans and other vehicles in the "light duty fleet," 73% of the 217 million vehicles could be powered with the power plants we have in place today. In switching from 6.5 million barrels of oil every day to electric cars fueled by off-peak power production, the study estimates a reduction of greenhouse gases by 27%.
Even with America's current power mix, with a heavy dose of coal power generation, electric vehicles are show to reduce total greenhouse emissions, however the picture isn't all rosy. The Department of Energy study also points to an increase in total particulate emissions with the grid pumping power all night. This, however, is much easier to tackle than petroleum-based pollution. As alternative energy gains a greater share of the American power pie chart, we can look for less particulate emissions as well. In the meantime, check to see if your power company offers green power or try to generate your own. Then, when you get your electric speedster, you can rev it up without worry.
Emphasis mine.
Link to music? I'm always interested in new tunes, 'specially from someone who posts on Slashdot.
Agreed. Amazon makes it stupid easy now to buy DRM-free music. I would like it though if I could put my Itunes credentials into Amazon and it would suck my shopping cart/wishlist in so I could buy the music through them. I have about 150 sounds in my iTunes shopping cart, and just haven't had the time to go through 1 by 1 in Amazon to buy them.
I have an idea! If you're a band, sell your songs yourself on iTunes! Collect the 70 cents/song yourself, and then arrange your own tours for the ticket sales.
My bet is it was a medical problem like a heart attack, during which he flew into terrain. Very sad.
On another note, as a pilot I'm now interested to try to fly a Citaboria. Hopefully without the same results Steve had though.
I think you answered your own post. The EU is more up to speed because security has been regulated (fraud is the merchant's problem in the US, not the bank or processing network). Card issues care less about security and more about transaction volume.
I can't explain why our banking system sucks though. I would've thought we'd be ahead of the curve when it comes to moving money electronically. *shurgs*
They might not care about the enmity of users, but they sure care about their business users who could just as easily go back to Windows Mobile.
Or their Blackberry. I'm curious to see how well the Blackberry Bold and Storm do against the iPhone. Apple came first, but now their phone shortcomings can be fixed by those coming later (G1, new Blackberries, etc).
Trees suck up large amount of CO2 when they're growing and convert it into plant matter. When they reach adulthood, the amount of CO2 they process drops off.
I almost forgot, these machines and the clean energy they need could be paid for using carbon credits. Nuclear energy in Northern Illinois (where I live) can be had for about a penny per kWh between midnight and 4 am (when base load is extremely low). So, if they can pull out a ton of CO2 from the atmosphere for 100 kwH of energy, you're looking at between $1-$2/ton in energy costs (capital costs for the equipment needs to be considered, as well as people to maintain everything).
I assume that this device would be used with clean renewable energy sources to remove CO2 we've already pumped into the atmosphere. So, you'd run this thing at night when energy prices are low (around 1-2 cents/kwH) to help bring the atmosphere back into balance (and of course, you must be using wind or some other non-fossil fuel for electicty, duh).
A couple of these machines by themselves won't do much, but hundreds of thousands of them powered by coastal wind farms or solar farms in the desert could definitely reverse some of the damage we've done (in conjunction with moving from coal to nuclear for base load power; electrification of transportation; etc).
It appears I was mistaken. Maximum quality via Netflix movie streaming is at 2.2Mb/s.
I'd also like the LED on the Roku box to flash red instead of be on solid blue when it checks my Hulu queue and finds new content in there for me to watch.
You can watch Heroes the day after it airs on Netflix Watch It Now, even with your Roku box. That's how we do it, since we don't have cable or an outside antenna.
My Roku box, streaming at maximum quality Netflix provides for a standard def. movie, uses about 6Mb/sec. Just throwing the stat out there.
Woohoo! Death via Divide By Zero!
Funny. Try to launch a plane, or a satellite, or set up a radio transmitter. See how quickly you get caged or shot.
On a serious note (though you missed the joke), I can hop in my GA aircraft and take off without asking anyone (from a non-towered airport). I can pretty much go damn near anywhere without checking with someone if it's nice out, and I don't run into Class A through D airspace.
With regards to a satellite, if you launch it you've just got to let the relevant people know that you are launching. They don't get to say no.
Now, of course, you aren't going to be using the most power at the times when these are generating, but it can definitely put a significant dent in your electricity bills.
Solar power -> Air conditioner
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html
Q. How much does it cost to launch a Space Shuttle?
A. The average cost to launch a Space Shuttle is about $450 million per mission.
I never said *unarmed* cable laying crews.
Should've just dragged fiber.
Number of vehicles you have gotten to orbit: 0
I have much more faith in their engineering than your arm-chair engineering.
Isn't it good if people move from NASA (highly bureaucratic red tap environment) to the private sector (either to SpaceX, which will expand to provide more launch capabilities, or to Boeing or Lockheed)? Shit actually gets done.
Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you? Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
I've got a rock I'll sell you that keeps black helicopters away.