Posted by Ray S on 08/31/06 14:42

Ken Maltby wrote:
> "Ray S" <mail@mail.com> wrote in message
> news:dqmJg.404$5i7.59@newsreading01.news.tds.net...
>> Ken Maltby wrote:
>>
>>> If clean and efficient batteries, solar panels, bio fuels, whatever...,
>>> could
>>> be sold at a profit, there are plenty of those "most powerful" who would
>>> be trying to earn that profit. If enough of those "everyone" thought the
>>> current crop of electric vehicles were worth what they cost (even with
>>> the subsidies), and bought them the makers would gladly make more to
>>> sell. Once anyone is making a profit, all the other greedy terrible "most
>>> powerful" will be trying to do the same. It's not Environmentalists or
>>> any program they force the rest of us to pay for, that will put a large
>>> number of electric cars on the road, it will be those greedy "most
>>> powerful", trying to make a profit.
>>>
>>> Luck;
>>> Ken
>> If it was a matter of National Security to rid ourselves of foreign oil
>> and let the oil barons return to pounding sand I'll bet the idea of
>> whether it was immediately profitable would not enter into the
>> equatio....oh, wait, it is...Darn, hmmmmm what else could be causing all
>> this, oh crap, of course, if it wasn't hidden behind that mountain of oil
>> exxon profit and if it were a snake, it would have bit me. Heck, you'd
>> think that Cheney being so fat and all it would have been more obvious.
>>
>
> So you wouldn't expect Exxon to make any electric cars, but
> then they don't make any cars now, do they? Yes, if Exxon were
> to ignore a switch to some alternate fuel, and cling to oil only, they
> would loose out, but they would change to follow some profitable
> path.
>
> The possibility that Exxon would suffer, is hardly going to stop
> someone who could profit from supplying "cleaner" energy.
>
> You left wing conspiracy theory nuts, who believe there are
> rich and powerful "Barons" who have complete control over
> the marketplace, are forgetting that there are plenty of "Baron
> wantabees" out there who would love to knock over the
> current "most powerful". It's the people who buy things, that
> decide who is going to be your "Baron", if people bought
> enough solar power and batteries, you might soon have your
> "Electric Car Baron(s)". Then petrochemicals might become
> the province of the current "oil barons" and we won't waste
> the oil by just burning it.

Now, now, now. Lets not go about flinging wild accusations ant every
Tome Dick and Harry who might think along different lines.

Even you would likely have to admit that the power of the 'people who
buy things' is subject to the whims of manuiplation.

> Unless you are living in a commune in California or Taos New
> Mexico, I expect you aren't so interested in the National
> Security that you will give up driving your gas powered car, or
> pay too much of a premium for an electric.

Skillful redirect! My original supposition was in regard to National
Security, which even in my kooky commune I hear is all the rage these
days. Whether I'm inclined to want to try and drag the country kicking
and screaming to something other than imported petrol is not at issue.

In one way, you are correct however, the market will correct the
situation. Rising gas prices will do one of two things. Either people
will flock towards more efficient cars, or they will dig in their heels
and cut spending in other areas.


> By the way switching to battery "powered" electric cars would
> not do much to lower the need/demand for oil. You need to be
> able to charge those batteries, and most people won't want to
> pave their backyards with solar panels to have enough charge
> potential to run a car every day. If they only drive a couple of
> miles a week, they could get by with just covering their roof.
> Most likely they would be using electricity off the utility grid.
> (natural gas and diesel fueled generators in many places)
>

Whats the fixation with electric cars? I'm suggesting that the entire
government might find to be a worthwhile part of the entire Homeland
Security scheme to redirect funds towards efforts towards an overall
reduction in imported oil. And as our electric grids are still the envy
of the third world, there is fair amount of things that could help a
great deal in that regard.

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