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ereverend
May 12, 2012 12:57PM
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I have a Chevy Volt which is getting 530 MPG after 7500 miles.  The electricy I use is solar.  Living in the SW US with abundant sunshine, it feels pretty good to drive on sunpower in the most refined ride I've ever been in.  Natural Gas is a great alternative as well and should be pursued vigorously, but for the moment, I'm happy to relieve our dependence upon foreign oil which pollutes by driving a Volt.  My battery has an 8 yr. 100,000 mile warranty.  Even relying on coal powered electricity, pollution relative to gasoline is greatly reduced in most cases.  I think it will be combined approach.  I'm glad that Natural gas is entering the game, and the variety of EVs.  In 20 years, we won't recognize our cars!
GordoninOKC
Nov 28, 2011 2:12PM
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CNG is the only way to go for the next 25 years.  The rest of the world has figured this out, why can't Americans.  I drive over 3,000 miles per month on just $75 worth of CNG.  The tail pipe still looks brand new and it goes over 12K between oil changes it runs so clean.  The Obama administration is so eaten up with electric cars they can't see the forest for the trees.  Electric cars will not be practical for at least another 25 to 30 years or more.  Hybrids loose their advantage at 35 miles per hour, and who drives 35 MPH for any length of time, you're going that fast before you reach the next cross-walk after a green light change.   The clean diesel is a good alternative, but the cost of diesel keeps going up.  Mixing diesel and CNG is pure magic but the EPA is blocking the development and certification.  Diesel/CNG co fuel, can you say 70 to 80 Miles per gallon?  Now we're talking.
Alexander Sandy Jack (Sandy Jack)
Nov 25, 2011 3:54PM
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one point missing in this conversation is longevity. 

 

Electric 5 years or ~70,000 miles before the batteries need to be replaced 

Hybrid Only as long as the batteries survive ~100,000 miles.

Gasoline 10 to 20 years, ~200, 000 miles before the engine wears out if maintained

Diesel 20 to 40 years, ~600,000 miles before the engine wears out if maintained.

 

If you do not replace your care every five years the savings in owning a Diesel care go well beyond mileage.

 

The longevity of Diesel motors comes from the motors being more robust in construction but also because Diesel acts as a lubricant for the motor itself. Many older Mercedes diesels replace or rebuild the motors to keep going.  Many have been driven in excess of a million miles and are still running.

Ozymandias372
Nov 20, 2011 8:16PM
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Too bad that the electricity to run that EV comes from burning coal.  At the power plant, coal burns at about 30% efficiency.  112 MPG at the power outlet means <40 mpg relative to carbon emissions.  When Americans finally start to understand physics, engineering, and business, we might be able to actually come up with a true green car.  Until then, buy the diesel!
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