[PeakOiler]

The other day on my commute home from work in my 2003 hybrid Honda Insight, I saw a black Dodge 4x4 pickup truck with a window sticker reading:

Death Before Prius

Yikes!

It’s just a reminder that there is a segment of US society that doesn’t give a flip about energy resources, does not want to conserve, probably doesn’t believe in any significant anthropogenic forces responsible for climate change and all I can say is those people must have money to spare or waste, and doesn't care about this planet. It’s really sad.

☹

I have doubts if the majority of the sheeple in this country will ever wake up to the reality of limits.

I will be so glad when my work commute comes to an end later this year. Not dealing with greater Austin’s traffic will be such a relief.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', 'D')eath Before Prius

[dinopello]

When NASCAR goes electric it will appeal to bubba

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')dmunds has learned exclusively that Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, will enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2015.

Paul Ryan, spokesman for the Tesla Racing initiative, confirmed that the long-rumored program is moving forward, pending an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, which is committing to a three-year, $62 million deal that will allow Tesla to develop the racecar, and for sponsorship on one of the two Tesla racers.

Under the supervision of Tesla's in-house engineering team, Lidocad-daleoxide battery technology is being developed specifically for the racecars at a Czechoslovakian research facility, Blázen Dubna, Ltd.

[dolanbaker]

Formula E is already out there, http://youtu.be/BS1ZP1I_9xM

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dolanbaker', 'F')ormula E is already out there, http://youtu.be/BS1ZP1I_9xM

[Shaved Monkey]

Global warming deniers should be declared a terrorist organisation.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shaved Monkey', 'G')lobal warming deniers should be declared a terrorist organisation.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', 'I')t will be much more civilized when all you hear is the tires squealing and the high pitch buzz of electric motors.

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', 'I')t will be much more civilized when all you hear is the tires squealing and the high pitch buzz of electric motors.

[dissident]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shaved Monkey', 'G')lobal warming deniers should be declared a terrorist organisation.

[KaiserJeep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dissident', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shaved Monkey', 'G')lobal warming deniers should be declared a terrorist organisation.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', '[')url=http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/tesla-to-race-in-nascar-sprint-cup-series.html]When NASCAR goes electric it will appeal to bubba[/url]

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', '[')url=http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/tesla-to-race-in-nascar-sprint-cup-series.html]When NASCAR goes electric it will appeal to bubba[/url]

[dolanbaker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', '[')url=http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/tesla-to-race-in-nascar-sprint-cup-series.html]When NASCAR goes electric it will appeal to bubba[/url]

[PeakOiler]

But it's mainly the American attitude that needs adjusting...

[kuidaskassikaeb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t's just a marketing problem. Right now the automakers target a certain liberal yuppie hispter demographic, the same folks shopping for arugala and exotic italian olives at Whole Foods.

Once that market is saturated, and EV's / hybrids come down in cost, then they can make something like a Prius with as much appeal as a Bud Light.

[Pops]

Right on Kub.

I saw an opinion piece the other day ranting about the whole "thank you for your service" bit - chanted to the tune of Toby Keith "uncle Sam's boot up yer ass" and it ties in with what I mentioned before about the ridiculous number of jacked 4x4 coffe cup haulers in the central valley of CA (of all places) that I noticed on my return.

I'm gonna go on a limb and say it is half an outlet for the guilt I think we try to hide for the whole downhill slide of America in the eyes of the world that I'm going to lay directly at Bush/Cheney's feet.

But it also half a finger in the eye of those who say that oil is going away, that carbon is poisoning the planet - It is like the relative who goes off like Limbaugh on a Facebook Rant to his friends and relatives as if he thinks that is the way to win friends and influence people.


It is a tantrum, plain and simple. But wait, it is just starting ...

[kuidaskassikaeb]

Dear Pops:

For those of us with feet in both camps. I think both of us own pick up trucks also, and occasionally mine is a cup holder.

Probably the rolling coal thing started with those old truck pulls, when they made huge clouds of black smoke. Even somebody as liberal as me had enough humanity left to think "cool." Then, of course, I found out that that diesel smoke was probably the worst thing you could put in your lungs. It ruined that for me, and as a liberal we have to ruin it for everybody else. It really didn't start out as a poke in the eye.

But you're right, the rage comes from getting close to a nerve, maybe American decline, like you think.

[Pops]

I am at least partially a gearhead and perhaps more than a little "homesick" for the good old muscle car days of heavy iron and light guilt. LOL

I did buy a big coal burner, 7.3 international power stroke Ford - they were discontinued because they couldn't make the emissions standards. Two reasons: it can pull anything I can load in it, (the idea being loading everything I have in or behind it) and with the 6 speed stick it has a reputation for going forever; at 175k miles it is just getting broke in. If it goes over 200k before I croak I'll be surprised. It's like a pistola or a shotgun, it holds it's value fairly well so it doesn't cost much to just sit there and be ready. I have $10k in it more or less (with some maintenance) and I'd bet in 10 years it will still be worth most of that at 200k.

I hope to get my shoulder worked on this year so I can get a little bitty motorcycle to ease my liberal conscience. My net MPG then will be 50MPG!

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')eportedly Evernham has already addressed one issue facing the Tesla racers, or any electric car: It will need to make noise, both for the crew's safety and the fans' enjoyment. Supposedly Evernham has already purchased a retired Dodge Charger from Penske Racing, and will record the sounds the engine makes on a chassis dyno, and the Teslas will broadcast that sound through tiny but powerful speakers developed by another partner in the project, Bose.