Are You As OVER This Whole GREEN CAR Movement Thing As We Are?

Before you all get out your tomatoes, let's make this a bit clearer.

The idea isn't a bad one. Of course we only have a finite amount of resources and as emerging markets become properly developed the take rate of autos only will grow. You don't have to be a math wizard to figure out that the greater the strain, the quicker resources will be drawn down.

We have nothing against the vision of a greener fleet of cars and better efficiency. We can dig efficient products like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight for what they are.

But we do have something against the execution of most other green products though. Electric vehicles haven't exactly broken that 100 mile barrier on a single charge and even that's a stretch most of the time. Read the FINE print folks: depends on weather and driving style. And imagine how much fun it will be if the battery starts depleting over time?

While cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight aren't exactly a blast to drive, they are cheap and they get over 40 mpg without having to try -- not even a little bit.

SO, why even BOTHER with $40,000 PLUS electric vehicles? If you work out the numbers you need YEARS until you reach your break-even point. Considering that no one knows what they'll be worth in several years, is it really worth it?

Realistically, until there is a revolutionary change in battery technology it's essentially pointless to own one of these products.

What say you, Spies?

ThierryHenry14 - 5/30/2012 10:34:54 AM

+6 Boost

was never into the movement in the first place...

1CarSmart1 - 5/30/2012 11:00:44 AM

-4 Boost

Absolutely not. The environmental movement has saved billions of lifes on planet earth.

TehShibbs - 5/30/2012 1:04:29 PM

0 Boost

oh please shut up.

Designer1 - 5/30/2012 11:42:05 AM

+3 Boost

The green car is just like its name states, it takes our green bills and offers no benefits in return at all. lol

I do like the idea of hybrid cars, in the thought of adding a little more power and saving a very little bit of fuel, but NOT charge an arm and a leg for the hybrid system. The hybrid system can be thought of replacing a turbo or supercharger, but it should keep the car price reasonable.

TehShibbs - 5/30/2012 1:05:45 PM

+2 Boost

Unfortunately, the components are much more expensive to implement than a simple turbo.

AlleVier - 5/30/2012 3:24:17 PM

+2 Boost

TehShibbs, the turbocharger, like electric propulsion, has been around for some time, but its early application in passenger vehicles was hardly much of a success story; high cost, minimal fuel savings, unpleasant driving characteristics (turbo lag), and poor reliability. Sound familiar (minus the poor reliability and turbo lag)?

One of the few reasons the turbo had a chance to evolve to its current level is because of high fuel prices and increasingly tighter emissions regulations. Without the latter, it might have never had a chance. See how this might relate to hybridization and electric propulsion?

1CarSmart1 - 5/30/2012 2:24:27 PM

-2 Boost

TehShibbs I can see by the icon of your gas-wasting pig american car that you dont think the Earth is in danger from mankind? Well it is my friend and I'll take great delight in seeing your camero washed away by the high tide of a melted glacier!

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 5/30/2012 7:20:30 PM

+2 Boost

I really REALLY hope you are not that stupid.

I suggest you go read up on all the claims made by the CAGW nutcases masquerading as scientists and how the vast majority of those claims have been thoroughly debunked.

Remember the one about the Himalayan Glaciers being totally melted by 2035 ?

Go look again.

TehShibbs - 5/31/2012 1:27:04 PM

+1 Boost

You're hilarious. Keep posting.

1CarSmart1 - 5/31/2012 7:40:09 AM

+1 Boost

All of the people defending the anti-Earth arguement have fuel-wasting sports cars to comensate for their penis sizes. Anyone who doesn't believe in global climate change is a head in the sand-man.