Comments on: Electric cars: all systems go http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/26/electric-cars-all-systems-go/ This blog is about the impact of business on society. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:43:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Better Place Exec: Beware the Lure of Electric Car Early Adopters http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/26/electric-cars-all-systems-go/comment-page-1/#comment-284820 Better Place Exec: Beware the Lure of Electric Car Early Adopters Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:48:35 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3575#comment-284820 [...] “>Marc Gunther has explained, Better Place’s scheme in theory could bring the cost of driving a mile in an electric car to [...] [...] “>Marc Gunther has explained, Better Place’s scheme in theory could bring the cost of driving a mile in an electric car to [...]

]]> By: Chris Harries http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/26/electric-cars-all-systems-go/comment-page-1/#comment-284271 Chris Harries Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:33:33 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3575#comment-284271 Have to agree with David (above). 'An affordable (zero emissions) electric car in every American garage' is an impossible pipedream. Only huge upscaling of nuclear power plant facilities could provide the energy for re-charging such an enormous fleet of vehicles. And even accepting that possibility, there are so many other limits to contend with. That said, small electric cars will have a role to play in the future energy / transport mix, so the research and development effort is welcome. That will be a small but useful backdrop to a much greater transition in our cities that will markedly reduces the need for travel and provide most essential travel needs via public transport modes. Have to agree with David (above).

‘An affordable (zero emissions) electric car in every American garage’ is an impossible pipedream. Only huge upscaling of nuclear power plant facilities could provide the energy for re-charging such an enormous fleet of vehicles.

And even accepting that possibility, there are so many other limits to contend with.

That said, small electric cars will have a role to play in the future energy / transport mix, so the research and development effort is welcome. That will be a small but useful backdrop to a much greater transition in our cities that will markedly reduces the need for travel and provide most essential travel needs via public transport modes.

]]> By: David Herron http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/26/electric-cars-all-systems-go/comment-page-1/#comment-284215 David Herron Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:49:01 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3575#comment-284215 It is indeed exciting times for electric vehicles. However the story is not just about cars. The most important thing is advances in underlying technology especially the batteries. Battery technology advancements is what makes electric vehicles more feasible. However even the cleanest of electric cars is about replacing a car with a car. Driving an electric car still means you're stuck in grid lock during rush hour. It still means the blight upon the landscape that the modern highway is. Mass transit is a better land use decision than the highways required by cars. Only by decreasing the number of cars will we gain back the land currently wasted by highways. There are other kinds of vehicles for transportation such as bicycles, motorcycles, and public transit, all of which are undergoing electrification with advantages brought by battery advancements. It is indeed exciting times for electric vehicles. However the story is not just about cars. The most important thing is advances in underlying technology especially the batteries. Battery technology advancements is what makes electric vehicles more feasible. However even the cleanest of electric cars is about replacing a car with a car. Driving an electric car still means you’re stuck in grid lock during rush hour. It still means the blight upon the landscape that the modern highway is. Mass transit is a better land use decision than the highways required by cars. Only by decreasing the number of cars will we gain back the land currently wasted by highways. There are other kinds of vehicles for transportation such as bicycles, motorcycles, and public transit, all of which are undergoing electrification with advantages brought by battery advancements.

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