billvon 3,120 #101 July 9, 2003 >Really? Wow. $4 per watt/hour? No, $4/watt. >Solar cell technology has been getting more efficient and cheaper >with relatively little funding. What if we actually funded it? A lot of money _has_ been spent on it, since our military satellites can be smaller with more efficient solar cells. I am sure they will get ever more efficient and cheaper; it will make more sense to use that cheap solar power to feed the grid (which exists) and thus allow people to discard their oil and natural gas based appliances. This will save oil. Once that's taken care of, and we have shut down all our natural gas, coal and oil fired power plants, we'll have the natural gas and oil to use to power cars instead. If you like, you can convert the natural gas to hydrogen and use _that_. And if we find after all that we still have excess power, then it might just make sense to make hydrogen from water. Hydrogen is a good idea for the far future. I would hate to see important environmental and energy system improvements put off while we spend billions on a manufacturing and distribution system we don't need yet. Right now that money is much better spent on technology we have _now_. I mean, if you're going to spend money on something, subsidize solar power systems. They will reduce pollution, increase our power system's resiliency and resistance againt terrorism, and help end energy crises. >And the boil off/refrigeration would be an issue only if your tank leaks. > Otherwise, the pressure within the tank will keep the hydrogen >condensed, at least as long as you kept your tank full. Hydrogen cannot remain liquid at any sane pressure when at room temperature. If it heats up it will either boil off or the tank will explode. >But that is no different that a gasoline filled gas tank. >That evaporates if you have an almost empty tank too. Evaporation and boiling are two different things. Put water in a glass bottle and seal it; it will sit on your shelf forever. Now put it in a microwave, boil the water and see what happens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #102 July 9, 2003 >but don't just pick on SUV's. But they're so fun to pick on! It really gets SUV owners going. >At least be fair and pick on all vehicles with much bigger engines than > needed. Including trucks, vans, and sports cars. OK, it's a deal. Although engine size isn't the issue, it's the efficiency. The Escape hybrid SUV will have a pretty big engine but get 35mpg. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #103 July 9, 2003 QuoteBut they're so fun to pick on! It really gets SUV owners going. >At least be fair and pick on all vehicles with much bigger engines than > needed. Including trucks, vans, and sports cars. Atleast I'm safer in a wreck in my big truck then you'll ever be in your little Honda. Especially if the wreck I'm in is with something like a little Honda. The truck is wide, too, not super easy to roll, not like those little wanna-be overgrown station wagons that don't even rate as 1/4 ton vehicles they call SUVs now days.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #104 July 9, 2003 QuoteAtleast I'm safer in a wreck in my big truck then you'll ever be in your little Honda Probably (though not certainly) true. Of course, part of the reason is the number of trucks that people buy using the same rationale. And people who go the speed limit are probably safer than those who speed too -- has that stopped a lot of people? Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #105 July 9, 2003 5000lbs of truck against 1500lbs of car...I think I know who'd probably be a bit safer.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #106 July 9, 2003 Well, my hope is neither of you are in an accident. Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #107 July 9, 2003 Yeah, tell that to the cellphone chatting soroity girl that pulled straight out infront of me today. Locked up all 4 wheels and slid sideways on the wet road (I was doing 5mph under the limit) to miss her. She then flipped me off (after she ran a stop sign to do this) and sped off...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #108 July 9, 2003 Quote 5000lbs of truck against 1500lbs of car I think you win if you run into me in freefall, or running, too. But I don't plan to gain weight. And I agree with Chris -- I won't run into you, and you don't run into me Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #109 July 9, 2003 >Atleast I'm safer in a wreck in my big truck then you'll ever be in your >little Honda. Pickup trucks do not meet federal passenger vehicle crash safety standards; my car does. On crashtest.com the Honda Civic Hybrid gets an "good" rating; the Ford F-150 gets a marginal to poor rating, as most pickups do. They are designed to haul stuff, not save your life in a crash. >Especially if the wreck I'm in is with something like a little Honda. I have a great picture showing a Honda, its entire engine compartment smashed in, sitting upright with an SUV on its side 20 feet away. So I guess the question is - do you want the engine and airbag to absorb the impact, or would you rather have 1/4 inch of window glass between your head and the road? >The truck is wide, too, not super easy to roll . . . I thought you had lifted your truck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #110 July 9, 2003 I was just saying that I never want to hear that you, BillV or anyone at dz.com were in an accident. Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #111 July 9, 2003 Its not a large lift, its a 2" lift, thus I'm not towering up in the air. That and the angles I've driven it at and the angles I've taken off the pavement doing 70+mph (don't ask) has proven the truck to have good stability. Remember my comment in the post before last about the difference in what ppl call SUVs and what a true SUV/truck is? That applies to your comment about the SUV on its side. Oh, and please do me a favor, never compare my truck (a Chevy) to a worthless ford. Oh, the crash tests don't usually pit the height of my bumper against the height of stuff like your car. That alone gives me added safety against cars on the road. My bumper is about 3ft off the road. Suck for the other guy, but I could give a rats ass about the other guy, on the road its about MY safety and the people riding with me, not about others, they can kiss my ass.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #112 July 9, 2003 Thats for sure!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dbriggs 0 #113 July 9, 2003 A truck with a full roll cage beard race seat and crow 5-points. indestructable. Anyone want Honda for dinner??????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dbriggs 0 #114 July 9, 2003 CHEVY people unite. FORDs are not first on race day they are...ah heck you know what they are. Although I will give FORD one thing. they have the best front suspension set up on the older rangers and f series trucks. thats about it though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #115 July 9, 2003 Dayum Dave you need to upsize that Texas Pickup of yours... My Dodge Ram 4x4Diesel weighs in at 7400 pounds... even better for little recycled tin cans to bounce off of.... And it gets 22MPG on the open road...woo hoo Amazon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #116 July 9, 2003 QuoteIt would be if we had a lot of excess (and free) electricity. What that big bright thing up there you keep telling us about? Don't see much of it in New England anymore... Use solar power to drive the hydrolysis. Sorry for not keeping up with the thread completely (i have no idea how you guys can post so much) but I'll personally be happy when all the fossil fuels are gone. (for ecological and political reasons) then we'll have to come up with something else and hopefully we'll get it better. Damn back to work.... JumpScars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #117 July 9, 2003 Might want look at the exact height of that bumper if you head north. Most the states here have laws on the height that they love to enforce. http://www.therangerstation.com/LiftLaw.htmlYesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueEyedMonster 0 #118 July 9, 2003 Thats dumb...The bumpers don't match up between the big and the little vehicles. What's the purpose of that law? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #119 July 9, 2003 >What's the purpose of that law? Same as the drunk driving law. To keep people from unneccesarily endangering others. If you wanted to drive around with a big spike on the front of your car - same thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
txblondie 0 #120 July 9, 2003 QuoteMight want look at the exact height of that bumper if you head north. Most the states here have laws on the height that they love to enforce. http://www.therangerstation.com/LiftLaw.html Besides, Aggie's from TX, and it's practically illegal to have a truck without a lift, and that means the bumper's going to be higher... No one in TX cares; it's cool! ***************************************** Blondes do have more fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueEyedMonster 0 #121 July 9, 2003 Quote>What's the purpose of that law? Same as the drunk driving law. To keep people from unneccesarily endangering others. If you wanted to drive around with a big spike on the front of your car - same thing. Actually billvon, I thought the intended purpose of the "bumper height" laws was to make sure bumpers meet bumpers during collisions, and allow the crumple zones in smaller cars to work properly.... thus saving lives. But according to this law a 4,501 lbs. to 7,500 lbs vehicle can legally have a bumper that will clear the bumper of a passenger car by 3/4 of an inch... head on collision: Amazon's Ram verses a little small car with a aerodynamic front end... Amazon's Ram will just go over the hood and decapitate the small cars occupants. Thats not a life saving law! Thats a FUBAR law. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #122 July 9, 2003 >Actually billvon, I thought the intended purpose of the "bumper > height" laws was to make sure bumpers meet bumpers during > collisions, and allow the crumple zones in smaller cars to work > properly.... thus saving lives. Yeah, sorry, that's what I meant. You're not allowed to drive a vehicle that's a threat to others, whether that threat is due to no brakes, no taillights, or a bumper that will decapitate someone else in a crash. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #123 July 9, 2003 QuoteOh, and please do me a favor, never compare my truck (a Chevy) to a worthless ford. You just made a friend for life!!! JumpScars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueEyedMonster 0 #124 July 9, 2003 QuoteOh, and please do me a favor, never compare my truck (a Chevy) to a worthless ford. Yeah, don't compare them... he would hate to realize the horribly disgusting error he made in the purchasing a Chevy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyAnt 0 #125 July 10, 2003 It's all you dang Skydivers punching them holes in our ozone layer! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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