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Will Green Cars Be Exciting To Drive And Enjoyable To Own?

1161 messages,  Last post on May 14, 2013 at 1:36 PM

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Messages Page 97 of 117

#960 of 1161 Re: unplugged [steve_] by imidazol97

Mar 09, 2013 (7:55 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Mar 09, 2013 7:48 am)
I heard Akerson in an interview on cNBC, IIRC, recently, and he mentioned that GM is working on natural gas power as the ultimate solution. I wasn't paying close attention to his talk because I was doing something else. With the supply of natural gas being large and being cheaper than before due to the business world drilling for supply instead of government, that may well be the future.
 
Future or not, talk of natural gas engines has been around for decades. That is the more likely solution for us here in flyover country. Electric only vehicles might work in urban areas, but not in Celina, Ohio. The Volt is the ultimate solution, but the high cost of batteries makes it a pricey solution as was the Prius at first except for the tax rebate(s) available to push early buyers toward the Prius.
 
Did anyone else hear the Akerson interview?

#961 of 1161 Re: unplugged [ateixeira] by gagrice

Mar 09, 2013 (8:10 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 09, 2013 6:59 am)
My short use of the Altima in 2010 tells me it was a better car than the Accord I got stuck with. Unfortunately Budget sold the Altima in the short drive from the airport to the office. That is getting within challenging the hybrids in the class. I don't think the gas savings of a Camry Hybrid would justify the extra cost. Especially if you are mostly highway driving. Don't forget the Passat TDI that is doing well above EPA estimates on their site. Full sized sedans have good options.

#962 of 1161 Re: unplugged [imidazol97] by gagrice

Mar 09, 2013 (8:17 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Mar 09, 2013 7:55 am)
I think Natural Gas offers a good choice in buses, trucks and commuter vehicles. The Civic NG vehicle continues to be a good choice for business and commuters. Best vehicle to get in the HOV lane in CA. The tanks are big and take up much of the trunk. They have a life span that is about the same as the Prius battery. Very clean and much less complex than a hybrid. If you have access to CNG they would be a good commuter choice.

#963 of 1161 Re: unplugged [gagrice] by imidazol97

Mar 09, 2013 (8:27 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 09, 2013 8:17 am)
>If you have access to CNG they would be a good commuter choice.
 
I know that some fleets are using natural gas vehicles. I also see some truck stops are installing natural gas fueling locations. I picked up in one news article the stations have to be away from other fueling pumps. The one truck fueling station has the natural gas location 2-300 feet from their buildings and other pumps; the natural gas is located facing I-70, which is at the rear of the truckstop but is a great advertising location for their having CNG available.
 
In the past, fuel cells were an area of research for autos for green solutions. I haven't seen much about that lately.

#964 of 1161 Re: unplugged [imidazol97] by gagrice

Mar 09, 2013 (8:41 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Mar 09, 2013 8:27 am)
The Honda Civic FCX was supposed to be a great car. Honda was going to lease 200 of them starting in 2008. A couple Hollywood wonks leased them with great fanfare. That is the last I have read about them. Much like battery technology. TOO EXPENSIVE with very expensive components.
 
There were reports that previous generation fuel-cell cars from Honda cost more than $1 million to build in 2005. Some estimated that Honda had cut its production costs to between $120,000 and $140,000 per vehicle.

 
According to wiki about 40 have been leased WW since 2008.
 
I would say Fuel Cell vehicles are DOA. GM has closed several R&D locations.
 
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082068_gm-moves-electric-fuel-cell-work-to-- michigan-from-ca-ny

#965 of 1161 Re: unplugged [gagrice] by ateixeira

Mar 09, 2013 (9:14 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 09, 2013 8:41 am)
I'm more surprised that the Civic CNG never took off. With filling up at home you may never visit a gas station again, yet if you need to you can.
 
Brazilian taxis are mostly CNG now. Much cheaper to run.

#966 of 1161 Re: unplugged [ateixeira] by gagrice

Mar 09, 2013 (9:34 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 09, 2013 9:14 am)
We have a lot of CNG buses and taxis in San Diego. Most of the CNG is private. Not sure if any are open for public dispensing. The requirements for home CNG are limited to the line coming into your home. If you have NG. Also tanks are certified for a given amount of years. Once that is reached your vehicle is basically unusable.
 
The dilemma has surfaced primarily in California, where early adoption of NGVs in the 1990s was strongest and a mild climate has prompted a growing number of school buses, municipal trucks, and some light-duty vehicles outlasting their CNG cylinder's 15-year lifespan.
 
"The challenge before us right now is how can we help fleets that have well-maintained 15-year-old CNG vehicles keep them on the road," said Yborra."
 
http://www.government-fleet.com/channel/green-fleet/article/story/2010/05/what-h- appens-when-your-cng-tanks-expire/page/1.aspx

#967 of 1161 Re: unplugged [ateixeira] by gagrice

Mar 09, 2013 (9:37 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 09, 2013 9:14 am)
Buy a new Honda Civic GX and get $3000 in CNG. At today's price that will take you about 70,000 miles. Not bad if it fits your needs.
 
http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-natural-gas/?kwid=90548998&adgrpid=2197501254- &ef_id=ZilPBFQWt0YAAEaX:20130309163452:s

#968 of 1161 Re: unstable [gagrice] by imidazol97

Mar 09, 2013 (10:12 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Mar 09, 2013 9:34 am)
>Once that is reached your vehicle is basically unusable.
 
Well that would really be fitting in with the title of this topic: "Will Green Cars Be Exciting To Drive." Having a tank leak or blow up would really be exciting.
 
Might not help with the "Enjoyable" in the title.

#969 of 1161 Re: unstable [imidazol97] by gagrice

Mar 09, 2013 (9:55 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Mar 09, 2013 10:12 am)
Aside from the Tesla and a few other $100,000 plus EVs, exciting does not apply. Unless of course you look at some of the Green cars in the past couple years.
 
Audi A3 TDI is 2010 Green Car of the Year. Clean Diesel Reigns!
 
Diesel is the only Green alternative that can give both excitement and ECO friendliness at a reasonable cost. And many of them are MADE IN THE USA.

Messages Page 97 of 117

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