The American Spectator

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(Page 3 of 10)

The hydrogen power also requires beaucoup electricity to turn the water into useable power, right?

And let's not get into any discussion about the weak, under-strength ethanol.

'Cause, after all, it really isn't about pollution or efficient energy, it's simply "control."

The pretentious and condescending ones who've become the self-appointed arbiters of what's proper have decreed that we mere citizens aren't wise enough to know what's good for us, so they'll do the dictating?

p>And we let them get away with it? br> -- J. Frost /p> p> Those hybrid owners that are connecting battery chargers to reduce the purchase of gasoline are tilting at windmills. The hybrid automobile is designed to use only a small portion of the energy stored in the batteries. The reason for this is the Federal and California government requirements for 100K mile guarantee on the battery pack. All rechargeable batteries have limited cycle life. The greater percent of battery capacity used in a charge-discharge cycle the shorter the battery life in cycles. This relationship is not a zero sum game. So for the hybrid manufacturer to include an AC power charge option that significantly reduces fossil fuel consumption, they will have to increase the size (capacity) of the battery pack. This will increase the vehicle's curb weight, which has negative effects of energy consumption. To have no net effect on energy consumption the Feds and CARB could reduce the required minimum mileage guarantee. However, for the hybrid owner this is the "You can pay me later" option in the Fram filter commercial. The batteries used are nickel metal hydride like those in the 1996 vintage notebook computer, which are expensive ($3K+). br> -- unsigned /p> p> What happens when all those batteries start hitting the local dumps? br> -- Jim Woodward

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