Topic: Gas prices??? What are you paying at the pump?

[Tennis4you]

True.  But that is going to take years unless we can pump it right into our cars and it works just peachy keen.  I fear what the cost of living is going to do in the next year or so.  I also have one of those jobs that thrives on people spending money.  We are only a 5-6 person firm.  I would be second to last to go but some of my best friends work with me and it would kill me to see us slow down to the point where we had to let people go.  Right now work is pouring in and we have been really blessed.  I hope it is a trend that continues.

[Tennis4you]

Well, the homes have slowed down some but we have finally broken into the commercial market and that work is coming in nicely as well.  That makes a big difference!

[Dallas]

Wifey filled up for $3.77 today.

Must be a little car to fill up for $3.77!   She use your car Scott?

 

Ummm...  Should I laugh at this? 

Yes!!!  That was me trying to pull a "Batman" and be funny!  Guess it didn't work!   I'll leave the humor up to him from now on!

[pawan89]

The U.S can technically produce enough food to feed the whole world. Yet we susidize farmers to NOT produce. We are nowhere near where we can potentially be. Brazil is entirely converted over to using ethanol. That's corn based isn't it? And I am not talking about cheap cars, I am talking about the likes of VolksWagen, Mercedes, BMW and such that produce cars for Brazil that run on ethanol.

If the U.S really wisened up, there'd be almost no hiccup in the transition. Greatest natural resources. financially still the strongest. leaders in research & devlopment. the smartest people around the globe come here to fulfill thier potential. What is it that the U.S is lacking? Nothing. Beside proper leadership that is.

[dmastous]

The U.S can technically produce enough food to feed the whole world. Yet we susidize farmers to NOT produce. We are nowhere near where we can potentially be. Brazil is entirely converted over to using ethanol. That's corn based isn't it? And I am not talking about cheap cars, I am talking about the likes of VolksWagen, Mercedes, BMW and such that produce cars for Brazil that run on ethanol.

If the U.S really wisened up, there'd be almost no hiccup in the transition. Greatest natural resources. financially still the strongest. leaders in research & devlopment. the smartest people around the globe come here to fulfill thier potential. What is it that the U.S is lacking? Nothing. Beside proper leadership that is.

Ethanol isn't the answer. It doesn't burn clean, it's not as efficient (10% less cost, but 10% less miles per gallon), and it's making the price of corn get a bit out of control.
Electric cars, to me, are the answer, and have always been the answer. They are more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and quieter. The only drawback is the inability to travel long distances.

[pawan89]

The U.S can technically produce enough food to feed the whole world. Yet we susidize farmers to NOT produce. We are nowhere near where we can potentially be. Brazil is entirely converted over to using ethanol. That's corn based isn't it? And I am not talking about cheap cars, I am talking about the likes of VolksWagen, Mercedes, BMW and such that produce cars for Brazil that run on ethanol.

If the U.S really wisened up, there'd be almost no hiccup in the transition. Greatest natural resources. financially still the strongest. leaders in research & devlopment. the smartest people around the globe come here to fulfill thier potential. What is it that the U.S is lacking? Nothing. Beside proper leadership that is.

Ethanol isn't the answer. It doesn't burn clean, it's not as efficient (10% less cost, but 10% less miles per gallon), and it's making the price of corn get a bit out of control.
Electric cars, to me, are the answer, and have always been the answer. They are more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and quieter. The only drawback is the inability to travel long distances.

electricity isn't a renewable resource is it? Guess what the electric companies are burning to generate electricity. Coal. Coal is the cheapest fossil fuel. We have tons and tons of it, we can last another 2000 years just on coal. But its also the worst for the environment. Worse than burning petrol. I dunno.. Electricity is definitely good for now but it should only be a stepping stone. I didn't know ethanol was less efficient but at least corn can be grown over and over again.

[dmastous]

The U.S can technically produce enough food to feed the whole world. Yet we susidize farmers to NOT produce. We are nowhere near where we can potentially be. Brazil is entirely converted over to using ethanol. That's corn based isn't it? And I am not talking about cheap cars, I am talking about the likes of VolksWagen, Mercedes, BMW and such that produce cars for Brazil that run on ethanol.

If the U.S really wisened up, there'd be almost no hiccup in the transition. Greatest natural resources. financially still the strongest. leaders in research & devlopment. the smartest people around the globe come here to fulfill thier potential. What is it that the U.S is lacking? Nothing. Beside proper leadership that is.

Ethanol isn't the answer. It doesn't burn clean, it's not as efficient (10% less cost, but 10% less miles per gallon), and it's making the price of corn get a bit out of control.
Electric cars, to me, are the answer, and have always been the answer. They are more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and quieter. The only drawback is the inability to travel long distances.

electricity isn't a renewable resource is it? Guess what the electric companies are burning to generate electricity. Coal. Coal is the cheapest fossil fuel. We have tons and tons of it, we can last another 2000 years just on coal. But its also the worst for the environment. Worse than burning petrol. I dunno.. Electricity is definitely good for now but it should only be a stepping stone. I didn't know ethanol was less efficient but at least corn can be grown over and over again.

Electricity can also be gained by solar power, and wind, and water. There are quite a few sources of electricity. I've pointed out an number of people who are buy Teslas are also adding solar pannels to their garage (if not the whole house), so they will not have to tap the house source for charging their car. They park it in the garage, plug it in, and go to bed. In the morning it's fully charged curtesy of the sun (via stored energy during the day).

[Tennis4you]

I would love to be to a point where we could all do that.  Just plug it in and go go go.  We are a ways away from everyone having that kind of access.  Sadly.

[dmastous]

I would love to be to a point where we could all do that.  Just plug it in and go go go.  We are a ways away from everyone having that kind of access.  Sadly.

But that illustrates the one big weakness of electric cars. You don't just plug in and go go go. You plug in, and wait 2 or 3 or whatever, hours, and then go for a couple hours, then plug in for a few hours...
A drive like the one I anticipate taking to Columbus would be a 2 or even 3 day trip instead of a day. I'd have to drive to Hartford, plug in and wait, drive to Wilkes Barre, plug in and wait, drive to somewhere near Pittsburg, or between Harrisburg and Columbus, and plug in and wait. Then finally make the last leg to Columbus and plug in.
Now I drive and fill. Filling takes a few minutes rather than a few hours. It's expensive, but quick.

[Tennis4you]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

[dmastous]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

Any suggestions? I consider myself pretty good at creative thinking, and getting around barriers (mostly where it concerns computers and technology). But I don't see an obvious way to get past that limitation.

[swish]

For regular unleaded I saw 4.27. 

My coworker filled up for $100 or so (25 gals).

[swish]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

Any suggestions? I consider myself pretty good at creative thinking, and getting around barriers (mostly where it concerns computers and technology). But I don't see an obvious way to get past that limitation.

Just switch your used battery with a charged one. In time there will be stations that take the run down battery and give you a charged one, they plug in the run down one to charge it and sell it to the next guy who needs it. maybe they'll have hundreds of battery packs charging at one time. 

[Tennis4you]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

Any suggestions? I consider myself pretty good at creative thinking, and getting around barriers (mostly where it concerns computers and technology). But I don't see an obvious way to get past that limitation.

Just switch your used battery with a charged one. In time there will be stations that take the run down battery and give you a charged one, they plug in the run down one to charge it and sell it to the next guy who needs it. maybe they'll have hundreds of battery packs charging at one time. 

I was going to say!!!  Shoot, just put an extra battery in the car.  Put 2 extra in the car under the hood. 

[dmastous]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

Any suggestions? I consider myself pretty good at creative thinking, and getting around barriers (mostly where it concerns computers and technology). But I don't see an obvious way to get past that limitation.

Just switch your used battery with a charged one. In time there will be stations that take the run down battery and give you a charged one, they plug in the run down one to charge it and sell it to the next guy who needs it. maybe they'll have hundreds of battery packs charging at one time. 

I was going to say!!!  Shoot, just put an extra battery in the car.  Put 2 extra in the car under the hood. 

Good solutions. I'd have to ask though, how big and heavy are the batteries. I mean how many watts does it take to run a laptop vs a car? I have a suspicion a battery for a car will be pretty good sized. Not easy to swap in and out like you suggest.
I hope I'm wrong and you are right though. 

[Tennis4you]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

Any suggestions? I consider myself pretty good at creative thinking, and getting around barriers (mostly where it concerns computers and technology). But I don't see an obvious way to get past that limitation.

Just switch your used battery with a charged one. In time there will be stations that take the run down battery and give you a charged one, they plug in the run down one to charge it and sell it to the next guy who needs it. maybe they'll have hundreds of battery packs charging at one time. 

I was going to say!!!  Shoot, just put an extra battery in the car.  Put 2 extra in the car under the hood. 

Good solutions. I'd have to ask though, how big and heavy are the batteries. I mean how many watts does it take to run a laptop vs a car? I have a suspicion a battery for a car will be pretty good sized. Not easy to swap in and out like you suggest.
I hope I'm wrong and you are right though. 

Well, one battery would go where the alternator would have gone. 

I bet technology could come up with some decent sized batteries that could go a while.  Just don't turn on the radio.

[dmastous]

They can find a way around that minor detail. 

Any suggestions? I consider myself pretty good at creative thinking, and getting around barriers (mostly where it concerns computers and technology). But I don't see an obvious way to get past that limitation.

Just switch your used battery with a charged one. In time there will be stations that take the run down battery and give you a charged one, they plug in the run down one to charge it and sell it to the next guy who needs it. maybe they'll have hundreds of battery packs charging at one time. 

I was going to say!!!  Shoot, just put an extra battery in the car.  Put 2 extra in the car under the hood. 

Good solutions. I'd have to ask though, how big and heavy are the batteries. I mean how many watts does it take to run a laptop vs a car? I have a suspicion a battery for a car will be pretty good sized. Not easy to swap in and out like you suggest.
I hope I'm wrong and you are right though. 

Well, one battery would go where the alternator would have gone. 

I bet technology could come up with some decent sized batteries that could go a while.  Just don't turn on the radio.

Or the air conditioning, or the lights, and don't roll up or down the windows .

[Tennis4you]

This one is for you dmast!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7XrzGpyCQE[/youtube]

[dmastous]

This one is for you dmast!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7XrzGpyCQE[/youtube]

I'll have to wait till i'm somewhere I can see it. All YouTube content is blocked here. But you've peeked my interest.... 

[Tennis4you]

Blocked at T4U or blocked for you?  I just watched it from work on T4U...