Originally Posted by
31wins
hybrid and pure electric cars aren't cheap.
GM says the Chevy Volt will retail for around $50,000 and have a range of about 600 miles. They're pushing for a $10,000 tax credit from the feds, they think they need that much to sell enough units.
$50,000 is cheap?
All these alternative fuels are just that, alternatives. They're the alternatives cuz they cost more than cheap oil. Until oil is more expensive than the alternatives (permanently), consumers will not pay the premium for alternative (expensive) fuels.
No kidding, I'm not sure what he's referring to. Of course we have the technology to make cars that do what he (Aerospacepilot) says, but he doesn't ever mention the cost. The Telsa sports car will go what, 200 miles on a charge, but even then it costs over $100k. That's just "slightly" out of the realm of the majority of people buying cars. I can go get a late model 40 mpg Saturn for $3k on craiglist in my area, $97k (difference in cost) buys a LOT of gas, even at $7/gal. Over 550,000 miles worth of gas in fact. No to mention the opportunity cost of financing the $100k. For me and my driving habits that's about 180 years worth of gasoline. No way would I spend even $20k on a hybrid at this point. I'd rather go diesel and burn biodiesel. A small diesel in a small car will get 60-80 mpg highway. Then make synthetic diesel out of algae or coal and presto, problem solved with no major infrastructure changes.