Quote:
Originally Posted by Ham88
Nuclear power is good
Yeah sure you have to put some stuff underground in specially designed containers so that nothing is contaminated, but the point is that the specially designed so they pose no danger to civilization. The only problem people have with nuclear power is the whole chernobyl thing, which was caused by a badly designed reactor, something that wouldn't happen in most countries, unless you happen in live in what was the Soviet Union, then your on your own. For example in France more than 70% of their power comes from nuclear power, and their not dying of radiation poisoning.
Dumb question how did we end up bickering over sources of energy?
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Nuclear plants were not built to last more than 100 years. Materials failure will force decommission prematurely.
Burrying toxic materials is short sighted an option. The Earth's crust will always be plastic and no one can predict the shifts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eumesmo
Simple, the merits of electric cars are wholly dependent on the form electricity is produced, otherwise electric cars only helps the coal industry, which produces more CO2 than oil.
The only reason US nuclear plants produce so much plutonium is that such method was chosen for strategic reasons, which in turn catapulted said technology ahead of all others. That is NOT the status of nuclear technology. After recycling, waste can be reduced to as much as 5% of previous figures.
I don't understand the nuclear scare, what I see are dangerous substances being produced ALL the time, and we don't have the infrastructure and even if we did, and energy is too expensive to do anything about it.
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EVs are more efficient than ICEs and need far less energy. If I hear you correctly, you want things to continue the way they are?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick
I test drove one awhile and almost bought one of two different models that I looked into but my big concerns were the battery life (cost to replace them) and distance that you could travel on a charge. I ended up buying a Smart Car for my town car and it does have the capability of highway driving, which none of the NEVs I was looking at could do because of their 35mph speed limitation. The Smart puts out the least CO2 of about any currently available petroleum powered car and gets very good mileage. Mine is the earlier European model, the 450, with the 0.7 liter Mercedes engine, gets 45mpg in town and 55 on the road. Besides, it is fun to drive!
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That is exactly the choice I would have done. NEVs suck and they're not really safe unless used in a protected area. If you are mostly alone the Smart is a very good option until they pull their thumbs from their noses and offer the EV choice.
The EV makers know about battery management problems. Some of them will sell you the car and
rent you the battery, as better ones come along they will replace it.
May I suggest that you find recycled biodiesel for your Smart, it burns without sulfur emissions, and they smell like food.
