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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Wreck the environment - drive an electric car ]]></title>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126]]></link>
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    <language>en-us</language>
    <lastBuildDate>2013-06-18T15:06:04-07:00</lastBuildDate>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[the changing electricity production landscape]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-96065]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Everything we manufacture plus the road we drive on has a pollution component. Someone mentioned car pooling. I have a family, car pooling does not work for most of the activities we are involved with unless you consider my family a car pool. Why not eh! Electric vehicles should help when it comes to overall pollution output but changes will need to be made in power generation and they are happening already with more to come.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-96065]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[babaluuu]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:40:00 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Genuine Car Parts Seller : http://www.vastautoparts.com]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-90085]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[A great post. Thank you...]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-90085]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[AutoParts]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:14:05 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Wreck the Environment =Print Rubbish]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-89313]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[How that headline shows the Oil Industry is squirming and the Power Industry writhing in discomfort since now,at last,there are alternatives which the ordinary person can take.A roof of solar panels and an electric car-which hardly needs any maintenance. Suck it in those who chose not to adapt  but to fight to conserve your destructive processes.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-89313]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[mjoldis]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:21:09 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Cost of solar panels]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81709]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Are you kidding, are you ignorant or are you paid by the energy industry to spread FUD?In the last 20 years solar panels have dropped from 20$ per watt to as little as 50 cents per watt and continue dropping, trust me solar will supply electricity for your house and your EV, which means no long tailpipe.Three years ago the first modern solar panels reached 30 years of age. universities around the world tested them and 95% still had more than 80% of their rated capacity, so these solar panels will keep supplying power for your first, second, third, and fourth EV and possibly even more.The GM EV1 and Toyota RAV-4 Electric had 95% less maintenance than an ICE vehicle, no wonder the oil and auto industry hate EVs.antiguajohn]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81709]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[antiguajohn]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:40:46 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[not yet cost effective however]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81611]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[But the cost of solar panels are coming down, so this may be cost-competitive within a few decades.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81611]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[kricci]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:43:45 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[EVs and Hybrids]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81466]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[STATISTICS, WE ALL KNOW IS A DONKEY. iT WILL CARRY YOUR TRUTH AS WELL AS FALSEHOODS, WITHOUT ANY DISTINCTION.. There are ever so many alternative sources of power, other than the Thermal one.It is improper to cite the Thermal Power as the proof that EVs and Hybrids are not viable. The  Range anxiety will soon be a thing of the past..Remember the days when we had to drive thirty miles to fill our car. It was just forty to fifty years back Likewise, the EV re=charging points will son spring up all alo9ng the Highways and their bye-ways.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81466]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[CEEYESSAAR]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:44:17 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Electric vehicles, renewable energy and recycled materials]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81355]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[The aim in the UK is to generate 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Electric vehicles will be powered mainly from off peak electricity, which will help to level the loads from intermittent supplies. There are also efforts to develop small scale renewable energy technologies, so that electric vehicles can be powered by onsite wind or solar energy.   The data in this report is based upon electricity generated by a generally inefficient, wasteful European electricity grid, which has evolved due to the availability of cheap fossil fuels.  The electric vehicle assessed is based on a chassis designed for an internal combustion engine, rather than a purpose built, lightweight chassis designed for electric vehicles.  The report states that the production phase of EVs proved substantially more environmentally intensive than that of ICEVs. Nonetheless, substantial overall improvements in regard to global warming and terrestrial acidification and other impacts may be achieved by EVs powered with appropriate energy sources, rather than from electricity produced from oil, coal, and lignite combustion. The authors do state in their concluding remarks that the electrification of transportation should be accompanied by a sharpened policy focus with regard to life cycle management, and thus counter potential setbacks in terms of water pollution and toxicity.  The indirect nature of these emissions which are embodied in internationally traded commodities such as copper, nickel, and electricity challenges us as a society. It poses the question of how serious are we about life cycle thinking, and how much control and oversight we, customers, and policy makers believe should be exerted across production chains.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81355]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[fuelcellpower]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sat, 20 Oct 2012 02:14:52 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Hate the headline]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81266]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[For someone not reading the article, but glancing at the headline, their subliminal takeaway might be &quot;EV's are bad for the environment&quot;.  The truth is, it depends. For tens of thousands of us EV owners, we are GOOD for the environment because we either purchase electricity from primarily hydro and natural gas powered generation, or we have solar panels, or both.  It's too bad that a decent article like this has to sell itself via a sensational and untrue headline.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81266]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pixel_Dude]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:32:20 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Well, then, it was all worthwhile.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81219]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Or not, as they really didn't succeed in raising their populations.  One shudders to think what a couple of hundred-million people living productive lives instead of being intentionally slaughtered might have achieved.  IMHO, the citizens of communism really didn't get very much in exchange for their sacrifice, both the living and the murdered.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81219]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JohnMcGrew@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:44:17 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Malthus not Mao]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81235]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Mao and Stalin may have killed a lot of people but they worked toward and succeeded in raising the populations of their countries. T.R. Maltus has been wrong for 200 years as the population has grown several times since &quot;An Essay of the Principle of Population&quot;  and I doubt this will change.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81235]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[shaunehunter]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:13:56 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Solar]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81226]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Ever hear of solar power. A solar array on your home and solar powered charging stations.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81226]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[snowinaz]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:03:37 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[EV repair]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81132]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[EV's should need little in the way of repair unless they are in an accident.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81132]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[riverat1]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:00:16 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I find it disturbing...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81047]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[...to have to consider Stalin &amp; Mao as ecological heroes.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-81047]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JohnMcGrew@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2012 05:50:55 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Electric Vehicle batteries = needed energy storage]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80984]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[That presentation of that particular study was rather negative and narrowly constructed: it really only considers the status quo for EVs and not the most likely path for the near future, which is much more positive than implied here.  For example, yes it costs the environment a lot to mine the rare-earth and heavy metal minerals for new battery technology-- but soon it is very likely that batteries will be recycled to conserve these resources when the EV markets gets large enough.As for powering our EVs by building more coal plants-- that would be environmentally stupid.  The study is correct in concluding that charging our EVs from existing coal power plants is not a net win for the atmosphere or environment generally.  That will have to change soon.  We should be replacing the oldest coal-fire plants with nuclear power plants already-- and adding new nuclear power plants to charge all those EV batteries-- and then the carbon footprint for driving would indeed go way, way down.Finally, it should be noted that the biggest problem with expanding large-scale onshore wind electricity generation, which is almost cost-competitive in some parts of North America and Europe with natural gas powered electricity  (aside from the aesthetic and environmental impact of using up a lot of land for wind turbines of course)-- is that fact that wind is highly variable, and so typical electricity grids cannot use it for more than about 20% of their power load.  This would not be the case if 30% to 40% of a nation's electricity were being used to charge EVs-- those batteries can be designed to charge from an intermittent or variable power source just fine.  Unlike for example the internet, the streetlights, or your home microwave oven which will definitely suffer if the electric power grid supply varies, with large fluctuations.  I foresee a plan in the near future to coordinate EV charging city-wide through the Internet or a similar structure, so EV battery chargers switch on when the winds are high and then idle when the winds are low.  This could easily be done with existing technology at an affordable price.  Hey... maybe I should patent that before you read about it here.  (ooops, too late.  Acknowledge me as your inspiration in the credits on your patent application please.)   To conclude, EVs WILL reduce the fossil fuel footprint of any nation that gets serious about building wind turbines and nuclear power plants instead of coal or gas plants to provide the extra electricity to charge all those new EVs.  Solving the world's climate and environmental problems requires a systemic approach, and no one piece of the solution will work as well by itself without the other pieces.  This study-- or this review of this study-- seems to emphasize the negative problems of today without noting that EVs provide a very near-term path to a better future not far away, using existing technologies.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80984]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[kricci]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:52:13 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Not married, huh?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80983]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Some of us prefer to live in decent neighborhoods with good schools.   Often those are worlds apart from those who will employ us.  And &quot;us&quot; sometimes means more than one.Even if we could move in the same direction and solve the inner-city school and crime issue, my employer's municipality prefers to maintain slums rather than allow neighborhoods to be renewed.Love to carpool.   Gives one an excuse to leave on time.   But not every job is so forgiving.Looking forward to better socially-networked realtime ad-hoc hitch-hiking, though I don't know how Mrs. FSP will take to it.  (&quot;You did what?&quot;).]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80983]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[FoodStampPlanet]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:41:49 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[EV's poluters, not]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80954]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Everything we manufacture plus the road we drive on has a pollution component. Someone mentioned car pooling. I have a family, car pooling does not work for most of the activities we are involved with unless you consider my family a car pool. Why not eh! Electric vehicles should help when it comes to overall pollution output but changes will need to be made in power generation and they are happening already with more to come. Wind and solar, some of the newer nuclear technologies that are safer than what are currently used, tidle power, ocean current power, power from magnetic interactions between earth and sun. There are plenty to make use of without resorting to eating more coal and more petroleum based fuels. It will just take time to develop them. Hopefully that will press ahead before we are all dead from the emissions currently being produced.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80954]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[radiodog4@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:43:48 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[There are other problems]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80953]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Pollution from cars is only one of the world's problems. Most of them are created by people and the need to consume. The only solution is less people; anything else is just a temporary fix. Even less people will not fully solve the problems, just slow them down...the world as we know it will not last forever, sooner or later there will be no humans. Does it matter if the end is in 200 years or 200,000 years?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80953]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[RobSlack]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:40:34 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[There are no fallacies in EV]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80949]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[JohnMcGrew&gt;&gt; here is where you are wrong.Moving to EVs have no fallacies, just a misunderstanding here and there.and an overzealous  have-no-shame entrepreneurs  that are trying to get rich on this new trend.And will (and do) go overboard with promises that they can never keep.Yes, EVs have been promoted as 100% environmentally good and sound,  which is of course is not 100% correct.but let us review a few thing here.1. it is true that process of manufacturing EV is not 100% environmentally friendly.BUT so is the process of manufacturing current IC vehicles .Most manufacturing processes are the same for both types, things like all the parts , paint, wiring  are mostly the same.And will stay the same for some times to come. So no significant improvement is visible (right now)Keep in mind however that due to significant differences between ICE driven car and EV, new designs and materials can be considered and used for EV that could possibly make the manufacturing of this vehicles more environmentally sound in the future.The differences in weight distribution (lets us consider EV with in-weel motors ,as I think this is the best kind of design)EV motor is lighter and with an in-weel design does not take up space in the car body allowing for more cargo space and passenger space in the cabin.Since the car frame does not have to carry the weight of the engine, crash dynamics changes as there is no need to consider bulky and heavy hunk of metal going into passenger space during the crush  the frame can be designed lighter but strongerSo over all weight of the car can be reduced.2. second point that keeps coming up is the batteries.Again, yes manufacturing the batteries is not very environmentally friendly.  But neither is manufacturing all those lead-acid batteries used in conventional cars today.Along with all the liquids needed for proper operation of todays cars. (motor oil, transition oil, antifreeze etc. )Going with EV eliminates a good portion of this chemicals.EV motors do not need motor oil. They use more solid lubricant that does not need to changed as often as motor oilSince there is no transmission, no transmission  fluid is needed.No antifreeze as electric motors use air cooling and heat sinks.Now for the important things]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80949]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[vl1969]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:00:14 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Decrease your fuel consumption by HALF!!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80936]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Move closer to work, or carpool with one other person.  If you're driving an EV, but commuting by yourself 50 miles a day, then don't pat yourself on the back.  You're no environmentalist.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80936]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[dmm99]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:57:22 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Let's not forget the changing electricity production landscape]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80926]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[@JohnMcGrew - Great point about controlling emissions from a power plant instead of 100,000 tailpipes.  I've made that point myself in other forums so it is good to see others recognize that point.Here in Iowa, the case against EVs because of our traditionally coal-fired electricty grid is weakening.  By the end of 2012, the power company reports that 30% of the production will come from the thousands of wind turbines populating the farm landscape.  Obviously that is a boon to the clean air crowd.  To be fair, however, the downside of an EV here is the increased load on the battery during the winter months at the same time that battery efficiency is decreased in cold weather.  In addition, my auto mechanic told me that it also costs more to repair a hybrid (and presumably an EV) because the equipment to do so is quite expensive and the cost can't be spread among a large number of vehicles.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12126-80926]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[wally_altoona]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:51:53 -0700</pubDate>
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