Disappointing EV article in Sierra Club Mag

[Martin Jackson <mjackson@vcn.bc.ca>]

  Disappointing EV article in Sierra Club Mag
  
  Roger Stockton comments:

"I am mostly in agreement with you (except
perhaps the bit implying that nuclear waste may be preferable
to CO2, but that's getting really OT for this list ;^>"

  The nuclear topic has appeared here in past years, mostly by guys
  yanking some chains (Not Me). My contributions have attempted to be 
  constructive although not universally greeted with smiles. Nuclear 
  power reduces the net radioactivity from the raw materials, so I'm not
  sure the waste issue is as bad as made out by some. Of course, I took 
  the same class in nuclear power that most of us did.

"On this basis none of the HEV solutions come close to the
performance of battery EVs for the short-ish range trips which
we are continually told constitute the vast majority of average
driving in the US (and probably elsewhere)."

  As a purist, a short range electric mode should satisfy this argument. 
  However, this won't be the design mission configuration produced for 
  cost and efficiency reasons. Of course, short trips are not what 1 car 
  families 10 miles out of town want to be limited to. 

"We're starting to get fuel economy figures for HEVs, such as
60mpg for the Prius and 70mpg for the VV (neither of which is
twice that of the most miserly pure-ICEs);..."

  'the most miserly pure-ICEs' are crummy little boxes that get great 
  mileage and make you suffer every inch. Electric power makes the 
  minimal car much more comfortable and civilized.
  
"..it will be particularly interesting to see the corresponding figures 
for practical, gasoline-fueled FCEVs..."
  
  The ratio of 3 X  is a PNGV goal that requires long term development; 
  be happy when the 2 X mileage car hits the streets. Any technology. 
  East of the Rockies, a hybrid of any description will be much cheaper 
  to run than an equivalent EV. 
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