X-Message-Number: 18027
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 14:11:38 +0900 (JST)
From: "Matthew S. Malek" <>
Subject: Electric cars...

> From: Kennita Watson <>
> Subject: The oil supply is falling!  The oil supply is falling!
> 
> global, not just US, production will fall, and that alternatives will
> be found, though probably after a painful transition period.
> 
> Time to reconsider that electric car?  Maybe....

Thanks for pointing out the link, Kennita.  
It was a pretty interesting article.

One note, though, on your last comment.

In general, the electric car is _not_ a good alternative to the gasoline
fueled models when it comes to the consumption of fossil fuels.  This is
because purely electric cars need to be recharged by plugging them in...
and most of the electricity delivered to our homes comes from power plants
that generate it by (you guessed it) burning fossil fuels.

In fact, the purely electric car may even be somewhat less efficient in
its use of fossil fuels, because the fuels must be converted to
electricity and then the electricity must be converted to kinetic energy.
There is a loss of efficiency at each conversion.  Using a conventional
internal combustion engine, the conversion of fossil fuels to kinetic
energy is more direct, and thus more efficient.

If you want a good alternative car, try getting an electric/gasoline
powered hybrid.  While still consuming fossil fuel directly, the
efficiency (i.e. milage) is better by up to a factor of about two.

Or try getting a natural gas powered car...

=>Long Life,
=>Matthew

---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
   Matthew S. Malek        |    "Judging by his outlandish attire, he's 
       |     some sort of free-thinking anarchist!"
---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

        "Just love those laser-guided bombs.
         They're really great for righting wrongs.
         You hit the target and win the game 
         from bars three thousand miles away...

         We play the game with the bravery of being out of range.
         We zap and maim with the bravery of being out of range.
         We strafe the train with the bravery of being out of range.
         We gain terrain with with the bravery of being out of range."

                                        --Roger Waters
                                          (from "Amused to Death")
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