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 Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:31 am
As many people know, car exhaust is one of the biggest threats to the environment because it is an air pollutant and there's a lot of it. So people are trying to make fuel efficent cars. I'm aware of some coming out in the next 5-10 years. Some would be running on water, or vegetable oil, or some other environmentally safe substance. This is for disussing fuel efficient cars or models you like. And this is just a thought, I know I'm not the first one to think of it but: "If people are making cars that run on water, wouldn't it make sense to make a car that runs on saltwater since we have so much more of it than freshwater?" I'm not aware of any scientists/engineers attempting this.
Oh and another thought: "Do you think Americans (or if you don't live in America, use your country) would only switch to environmentally safe cars to escape rising gas prices?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:54 am
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Le Aristocrat Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:18 am
They are a good idea, certainly better than owning a regular, polluting petrol/diesel car.
How does the car which runs on water work? surprised
If you have a normal diesel car you can quite easily get it to run on vegetable oil, I've heard. I'm sure there were some people who ran their car on leftover frying oil from fish and chip shops. That's recycling, eh? ^_^
Biodiesel cars are a good idea in theory... But... the trouble with biodiesel cars is the land area needed to grow the fuel crops. If everyone switched to biodiesel, the land area taken up would be massive. Would this come out of the area we use to grow food crops or destroy more wilderness?... gonk
I don't own a car for environmental reasons (and also I couldn't afford to run one anyway! >.<), I just wish the Government would make train fares more affordable!
By the way, there should be a poll option for 'doesn't want a car'. razz
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:30 pm
Oh, and electric powered cars are good, IF the electricity comes from a renewable source and not a fossil fuel burning power station. So, if you're going to get one, sign up to a renewable tariff as well.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:43 pm
I think the smart cars are cool and I would like a hybrid. But I can't drive...(darn!) I can take drivers ed in a year from now. I'm not sure how the car that runs on water works exactly but I'm almost positive it has something to do with the engine used. I heard once a group of high-school kids modified a diesel engine and drove it across the U.S. by fueling it with used vegetable oil from fastfood restaurants who were happy to oblige because they would be throwing it out anyways. And I agree with Badgerkin, electric powered cars are good if it comes from a renewable source. is it possible to know where your energy comes from and what type of fuel they use? By the time I'll be able to get a car several environmentally safe cars will be out. And trains are fun but there aren't a lot in the U.S. and where there are they only go to major cities. I've ridden one twice. I have no idea how expensive a ticket is though.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:08 am
It's kind of possible to know where your electricity came from... I don't know anything about how electricity generation and distribution works in America but in the UK we have various different types of power station all producing electricity. These are: fossil fuel burning stations (coal, oil and gas), nuclear power stations and renewables (eg. wind, biomass, hydroelectric) All this electricity produced goes into the National Grid, so when you buy your electricity from your supplier, technically it's all mixed up and the same as everbody else's electricity. BUT, you have the choice about which supplier you buy electricity from. So you can buy from a company which sources it's electricity from renewables. With a bit of research you can choice a supplier which sells your favoured type of renewable power. So, technically you are now paying for electricity generated from a renewable, eco-friendly source. There is another option where you can buy from a company which doesn't neccessarily source all it's electricity from renewables but invests a large proportion of it's profits from customers into building more renewable energy generation eg. wnd farms. Some UK Green Tarrifs: http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/ (I use this one ^_^) http://www.good-energy.co.uk/http://www.greenenergy.uk.com/ http://www.npower.com/At_home/Juice-clean_and_green.html (recommended by Greenpeace) As I said, I don't know how it works in the US. sweatdrop This site might help: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtmlIt has lists of renewable electricity suppliers for each state.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:10 am
Thanks for the extra poll option! blaugh
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:56 am
Thanks 4 the electricity info. I'll see if they have any similar U.S. sties. And your welcome for the poll option mrgreen .
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:02 pm
Although a Hybrid is better for the enviroment then your everyday, average car, if you have a regular small car that gets 30-35 miles to the gallon it is actually better for the enviroment than a Hybrid.
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:45 am
Hybrids are kool. I honestly know nothing about automobiles. All my friend's parents are engineers and my dad's clients are engineers. I brought this up becuz car pollutants are bad 4 the environment. I went to the Detroit Auto Show in January and there was this sweet European car that was only made for two people. it was one of the new "smart cars" it was awesome! mrgreen
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Le Aristocrat Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:18 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:59 pm
No, because America is too selfish and proud. We would all still buy the new, faster bigger hummer because it's "cool".
[don't get me wrong, I live in america, and luv the hybrid and electrical cars, I just don't believe in the rest of the country.
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Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:52 pm
Where I live, I think rising gas prices would definitely be a main reason why people would switch to environmentally-safe cars. 'Tis okay, I guess, since it'd be like hitting two birds with one stone. sweatdrop I mean, every summer it's getting hotter and more humid here and it's not the sun anymore. [ Misha ] No, because America is too selfish and proud. We would all still buy the new, faster bigger hummer because it's "cool". [don't get me wrong, I live in america, and luv the hybrid and electrical cars, I just don't believe in the rest of the country. I see what you mean. Basically, this is because a change of lifestyle would be very necessary. Some people are used to buying cars that would make a good impression on others. But it's much better to have cars that make a good impression on the environment, no? Let's still hope that someday, all would realize this.
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:46 pm
I would want a car that I know doesn't create gas emissions. Who would? It isn't a very pleasant site. Anyways, getting back to the subject at hand, there are many options for cars that are environmentally safe. There's biofuels, hydrogen fuel cells, & hybrids. Hydrogen fuel cells is an option that I would choose. Hydrogen fuel cells combine hydrogen with oxygen, in an electrochemical reaction, creating electricity, heat, & so on. So for example, if anything were to come out of a car's exhaust pipe, only water vapor would come out. It's an amazing idea.
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