Comments on: (Not-so) Green Cars - Earth Day ‘08 http://www.mattmckimmy.com/blog/2008/04/22/not-so-green-cars-earth-day-08/ Computers, Cooking, Cars, Christianity, and More ... Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:16:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: More hyped-up hybrids on the horizon | From Bits to Bites & Windshields to Worship http://www.mattmckimmy.com/blog/2008/04/22/not-so-green-cars-earth-day-08/#comment-98 More hyped-up hybrids on the horizon | From Bits to Bites & Windshields to Worship Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:31:19 +0000 http://www.mattmckimmy.com/blog/?p=53#comment-98 [...] of you who are regular readers know that I have some doubts about the actual environmental benefits of both hybrids and flex-fuel / ethanol powered [...] […] of you who are regular readers know that I have some doubts about the actual environmental benefits of both hybrids and flex-fuel / ethanol powered […]

]]> By: Josie http://www.mattmckimmy.com/blog/2008/04/22/not-so-green-cars-earth-day-08/#comment-35 Josie Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:02:29 +0000 http://www.mattmckimmy.com/blog/?p=53#comment-35 The main problem with plugin hybrids or electric cars right now is the source of their energy. Our electricity may seem cleaner locally, but that's mostly because our coal fired powerplants concentrate the pollution into one area. This is not an insurmountable problem, but until we get there electric cars are still polluting a lot, even if it is somewhere else. I admire efforts to use switchgrass for ethanol. The ability to use old fryer oil from fast food restaurants in place of diesel is even more impressive right now. Every time I here this sort of talk i keep coming back to the fact that we should have better mass transit. I should be able to take a train to Dayton or Indianapolis or Cincinnati. Our main streets should all have corresponding local train routes. I have been to Europe and Japan. I know it can work really well and it will use less resources whether they be petrol, electrcity from power plants, corn oil, corn ethanol or even switchgrass ethanol. The main problem with plugin hybrids or electric cars right now is the source of their energy. Our electricity may seem cleaner locally, but that’s mostly because our coal fired powerplants concentrate the pollution into one area. This is not an insurmountable problem, but until we get there electric cars are still polluting a lot, even if it is somewhere else.

I admire efforts to use switchgrass for ethanol. The ability to use old fryer oil from fast food restaurants in place of diesel is even more impressive right now.

Every time I here this sort of talk i keep coming back to the fact that we should have better mass transit. I should be able to take a train to Dayton or Indianapolis or Cincinnati. Our main streets should all have corresponding local train routes. I have been to Europe and Japan. I know it can work really well and it will use less resources whether they be petrol, electrcity from power plants, corn oil, corn ethanol or even switchgrass ethanol.

]]>