tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post1272595595661753332..comments2024-03-19T04:48:40.304-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: Volvo Announces Their End Date for Conventional Gas or Diesel Powered CarsSiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-46531304467880542752017-07-08T21:35:56.144-04:002017-07-08T21:35:56.144-04:00Steam powered cars. Roughly as old as both electri...Steam powered cars. Roughly as old as both electric and internal combustion cars (1890s?).<br /><br />Water plus that commonly available biofuel, biodegradable, and readily renewable resource ... wood.<br />:)<br />QAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-63173685786469585092017-07-08T00:47:57.447-04:002017-07-08T00:47:57.447-04:00That problem will soon be solved by graphene batte...That problem will soon be solved by graphene batteries. <br /><br />For those of you who don't know, graphene is the newly discovered substance that can do absolutely anything except, apparently, leave the laboratory...Wraithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02791730539181731523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-4842797024250396462017-07-07T17:54:52.015-04:002017-07-07T17:54:52.015-04:00Speaking of electric windshield wipers, the Lockhe...Speaking of electric windshield wipers, the Lockheed Electra L-188 had hydraulic motors for the windshield wipers. Loved the logbook entry "windshield wipers leaking" <br /><br />And the funniest thing I heard this month was Elizabeth MacDonald on Fox Business commenting about Elon Musk. "Profit, the final frontier". Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693579680266086557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-3607839273359835202017-07-07T17:14:27.834-04:002017-07-07T17:14:27.834-04:00That gets back to the whole thing about buying veh...That gets back to the whole thing about buying vehicles for that once a year occasion we do something. Although I've never towed the boat down to the keys or over to the west coast, I might. That's trivial with my Exploder. Just pull into the gas station and dump in another tankful. With an electric vehicle, it just ain't happening. <br /><br />And that's why there's no electric vehicle in my future. Unless my 12V trolling motor counts ;-) <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-44456349521856744542017-07-07T15:59:20.628-04:002017-07-07T15:59:20.628-04:00The problem is that the Governments that are pushi...The problem is that the Governments that are pushing self drive/sparky cars, don't CARE if the Tech works or not. The reasons behind this Are: To data link the on board AI computers with the GPS allowing government to control the car at all times. Making it in essence a rolling gulag. At any point they would know who was in the car and what they were saying/doing and where they were going. If someone in The office of population movement and control didn't like what was said, or where they were going (say a rally for the "wrong party", a gun show, or a covert religious service) they could just lock you in and send the car to meat with the nearest secret police. Or just reprogram it to lock you in along side the road until the GESTAPO comes to get you, hours or maybe days later. IMO that is the ONLY reason all of this has been pushed on us. It is ALL of it about high tech "birth to death" slavery. I was only half joking when I said it was grounds for revolution. I really do see this as grounds to burn everyone involved at the stake. It is one of the most sinister things ever foisted onto Liberty. ----RayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-91927298432461851232017-07-07T15:24:52.810-04:002017-07-07T15:24:52.810-04:00How far would you have to tow that boat? And how ...How far would you have to tow that boat? And how much fun would you have when your tow vehicle runs outta juice a few miles from where you intended to go, with the trailer and boat hanging off the back?<br />}:-]Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-21720019857072157212017-07-07T14:02:06.287-04:002017-07-07T14:02:06.287-04:00Electric motors are wonderful for vehicular use. T...Electric motors are wonderful for vehicular use. They make max torque at stall (zero RPM), so they're capable of astounding acceleration.<br /><br />The problem is still the power source....drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-16137901812608896992017-07-07T13:06:09.882-04:002017-07-07T13:06:09.882-04:00Not that I really care about Volvo, but I wonder h...Not that I really care about Volvo, but I wonder how their stock reacted? This is one dumb move. The president must be a bean counter without a lick of engineering sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-81666568231554831732017-07-07T13:00:56.502-04:002017-07-07T13:00:56.502-04:00That's already being done in F1 cars.That's already being done in F1 cars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-14467360334373285472017-07-07T12:49:48.218-04:002017-07-07T12:49:48.218-04:00The Tesla's acceleration comes from the torque...The Tesla's acceleration comes from the torque/RPM curves that I'd love for towing the boat. First time I saw the Teslas, at $100K, I thought "there's no way I'd spend $100,000 on any car, but if I did, that would be the one. That was around '08 - ? - I think.<br /><br />Agreed on the tire rub issue. That's just stupid. One test ride before turning on production would reveal that. <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-17697257357274689742017-07-07T12:45:54.870-04:002017-07-07T12:45:54.870-04:00I think the first time I heard we'd have fusio...I think the first time I heard we'd have fusion power in 20 years was about 45 years ago. It's still 20 years away. SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-83247295760260593912017-07-07T12:29:40.777-04:002017-07-07T12:29:40.777-04:00In general, I don't have a problem with electr...In general, I don't have a problem with electric vehicles as long as people understand the advantages and disadvantages. Most people I know that have one also have a conventional vehicle and use the electric car for commutes and fun (and let me tell you, a Tesla absolutely is fun - the acceleration is insane).<br /><br />That said, the idea of Volvo doing this strikes me as unwise. I currently drive a Volvo S60R and am planning to get rid of it shortly. Aside from reliability issues in general, Volvo simply hasn't impressed me with the engineering on this car, which was their top-of-the-line performance model when it came out. It has a 300 HP, 300 ft-lb turbocharged engine and a 6-speed manual transmission, so it's fairly fun to drive, but they have many things that they didn't really work out. For instance, it uses 18" tires with a wide, low-profile design, but if you crank the steering wheel to the stop the tires rub the inside of the wheel well. The idea of a company that can miss something like that trying to go to a full electric and hybrid lineup makes me a little doubtful that they will pull it off.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192121247584828848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-87997471091229238632017-07-07T11:27:14.499-04:002017-07-07T11:27:14.499-04:00Diesel electric trucks and other heavy equipment h...Diesel electric trucks and other heavy equipment have been around for years; one recent innovation has been for front end loaders that are diesel electric to have quick start engines and a battery pack so that the engine turns off instead of idling during slow parts of their cycle, for example when waiting between loading trucks. The battery runs lights, AC, radios, etc, and may soon run the whole machine for short periods like drjim suggests.<br />But there is no serious talk of running them on battery power, since as you know there isn't enough power available EXCEPT where emissions are a big problem - like underground mines. There, the machines have enormous battery packs and are often set up to switch packs so they don't have to wait for a recharge. Sandvik makes a shield hauler/ loader that can handle 55 tonnes (metric tonnes) and which uses the battery as a counterweight - but the machine costs millions and only a handful have been made.Jonathan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10476185257203343474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-69166472340325225262017-07-07T11:26:19.303-04:002017-07-07T11:26:19.303-04:00And when no one buys them ( like Tesla and the Vol...And when no one buys them ( like Tesla and the Volt) will the "Government" or the UN mandate them? It isn't about the environment. It is about control. No gas/electric/self driving means no movement without government approval. I can think of no better reason to exterminate the greenies than being forced to give up my oversized pickup. ---Ray Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-45155718047961037742017-07-07T09:24:18.931-04:002017-07-07T09:24:18.931-04:00Don't forget we're going to have fusion po...Don't forget we're going to have fusion power "in 20 years" too!Angus McThaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295013525738248801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-81012374063361727742017-07-06T23:36:22.001-04:002017-07-06T23:36:22.001-04:00X2X2LLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05538854359365988863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-85426937424646583822017-07-06T23:32:11.985-04:002017-07-06T23:32:11.985-04:00The Next Big Thing in batteries has always been &q...The Next Big Thing in batteries has always been "In Two Years...", or "In Five Years..." depending on who you listen to.<br /><br />I'm with you on electric cars. They're getting better, but still don't compare with a "regular" car.<br /><br />Back in the 1970's, I used to joke with a friend that they should make a diesel-electric car, like a locomotive, but with a battery pack for burst power.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.com