Steerpike

[QUOTE=sir_eccles;11757903] ...
Remember, Priuses are hybrids, not pure-electric (though they do now offer a plug-in version, but even that one still has a hybrid powertrain), and they work their magic (gas saving) by regenerative braking, which is the closest thing to 'magic' that you can get. The batteries may be toxic, and/or environmentally damaging to produce, but that's about the only criticism you can level against them. My g/f has one and it's simply a decent car to own/drive, with amazing use of space.

On a more general level, while I don't think any current 'efficient' car (be it hybrid or pure electric) may be the answer, I think Toyota deserve credit for actually proving that such technology can be mainstream/reliable. The electric cars of today are spurring research and development that will result in a better product in the future.

My friend in AZ (who is a die-hard republican) has installed solar panels at his second home (which is 'off the grid' in a remote location) and he says the current efficiencies of solar panels are quite good, and getting better. He thinks individual homes with solar panels will be the way of the future, and that would allow you to recharge your electric car with no environmental penalty (again, other than the panel production). My local Safeway in Scottsdale just installed solar panels in its parking lot, and apparently it will power the entire store during the day - all the lights, refrigerators, everything - and possibly power all the battery cars that want to charge there.

Steerpike

That's the million dollar question - what would an (even more) extreme congress do to the Republican's chances in the election? Govt. shutdowns have apparently backfired in the past, but Cruz seems hell-bent on doing more of them. What's HIS logic ... ?

sir_eccles

Speculation on likely Speaker front runners?

One Of These 4 People Will Probably Be The Next Speaker Of The House | ThinkProgress

Oy!

SultanOfSwing

Yes, but they still run off normal petrol. They may use less of it, but they still use it nonetheless. Remember, driving a Prius won't make the Earth last longer, it'll just make it seem longer.

username.exe

Satire, surely?

[Disclosure: I am a Prius-driving dirty librul. Not for the environment though, I just hate paying California gas prices.]

Giantaxe

I saw a Trump bumper sticker in the people's republic of Berkeley of all places.

zargof

The type of car you drive will have no effect on how long the Earth lasts. The only thing it may alter is how long it is until civilisation returns to the Dark Ages.

SultanOfSwing

So far, the only bumper sticker I have seen is a Bernie Sanders one. Where I live (last election it was nothing but Romney stickers), that's quite a big deal.

Steerpike

Don't get it. Are you suggesting (for sake of argument) that if everyone drove a Hummer it would be the same impact as if everyone drove a Prius? Surely, reducing consumption is a very valid step forward?

Steerpike

Well let's face it, Trump is the best hope the Democrats have of winning the election, so we (liberals) should all sport Trump bumper stickers for now (until the primaries are over).

SultanOfSwing

I was being facetious. What I'm getting at is the difference it makes will be immeasurable in the grand scheme of things.

Moving away from dependence on petroleum based fuels for cars is the only thing that will make any difference. But that in itself isn't going to happen overnight - electric isn't going to cut it unless we change how it is generated; hydrogen is too costly to produce. Bio-fuels may be the way to go for now.

username.exe

I quite fancy one of those hats, myself.

Steerpike

Do you have flyaway hair?

username.exe

Can be substituted for a dead cat.

FlaviusAetius

In the long, long run, once the world's petroleum reserves have been exhausted, the future of transportation will consist of bicycles, horse-drawn carriages and sailing ships - and a population back down to a few hundred million at most (how could you have vast wheat and maize farms without liquid-fuel powered farm equipment?). So even the worthy Prius (Prii in the plural?) is/are but a stopgap in the grand scheme of things. Being semi-facetious.