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Originally Posted by BFT3K
Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the White House roof, and offered tax credits to anyone who purchased solar energy systems. When Ronald Reagan took office, one of the first things he did was remove the solar panels from the White House and terminate the tax credits.
As long as big oil runs the government (especially the republicans, but both parties are guilty), then the idea of harnessing the power of the sunlight for energy is a major obstacle. Not because it is not possible, but because no one can sell sunlight (or wind, or many other safe, clean renewable sources of energy).
The solar panel solution is 100% do-able as long as the technology is mandatory. For example: no new building can be built without solar panels (again, probably not gonna happen).
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Politics and economics don't mix. Let's leave government intervention to the communists / totalitarians. Free markets have proven to be the greatest creator of wealth and quality of life vis a vis any other economic/social/political model.
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Originally Posted by BFT3K
Chevron purchased the battery technology patent from the EV1. Does Chevron sell batteries? No, of course not, but that just shows you how scared big oil really is of solar energy.
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Big oil isn't "scared" of solar evergy or any other potential energy source. They are in the energy business and they are public companies who have a mandate to grow profits. When there are profit centers in 'alternative' energy sources, they will invest tens of billions in those technologies to grow their businesses.
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Originally Posted by BFT3K
If all parking garages areas were covered with light roofs covered with solar panels, then each meter could provide a plug for our vehicles which we would pay for in coins, like we currently do now at parking garages and parking meters. That is just one of MANY ideas that answers the question regarding how to charge your vehicle when needed. Solar powers on the vehicle itself would solve another, as would wind turbines that charge your car batteries while you are moving as yet another!
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I am all for 'green' architecture / engineering. It acknowledges reality and seeks to maximize efficiency - both concepts that I enjoy.
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Originally Posted by BFT3K
If there was no such thing as oil we would still be driving and flying as we do today... we just wouldn't be using oil to do it.
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If this were a philisophical discussion I might entertain this 'though experiment'.. unfortunately it is only applicable in some other parallel universe and not the one we currently exist in. Hell, maybe in that universe we can all run really, really, really fast AND have wings.. these assumptions are just as valid in the above context.
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Originally Posted by BFT3K
It is already late in the game, but we really need to make huge changes in this world, and since big oil has been screwing us for so long, and running interference with regards to squashing new and better technologies, then maybe we need to say the hell with big oil and GM, and other car manufacturers, and band together towards a better future.
Where there is a will there is a way. I refuse to buy into the idea that change is too tough, and that oil is still the way to go. Oil sucks, ethenol sucks, hydrogen sucks, hybrids even suck. As far as I can see, all of those solutions continue to line the pockets of big oil (for many many reasons, too long to list right now), so the electric car, powered by reuseable batteries, charged by the sun and wind, is absolutely the radical and clean move ahead.
Oddly enough the electric car actually predates the gasoline powered combustion engine, but that is another story...
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No, it's not another story. It was never commercially successful because it was an inferior product. It is a perfect example of the free market system weeding out products that do not satisfy consumer demand. Consumer demand is based on value and electric cars simply do not provide the necessary value to be a viable product.
Also, this magical vehicle you speak of is not technologically out of reach - it is just too expensive to justify it's existence for mass production. The only forces in play here are economic forces. So unless the economic foundation of the Western world crumbles, you won't see this vehicle at your local dealership anytime soon... and it isn't because of 'big oil' (which is such a weak term might I add.. it's a buzzword used to indoctornate the masses with activist propaganda).
I hear alot of political / media rhetoric in your words. "...we need to make huge changes in this world.." "...big oil has been screwing us..." etc.
These attitudes / opinions are just hot air. Political/social extremists are motivated by their own narcissistic passions and not by solutions to problems. Lets not forget that the day the "oil problem" is solved is the day when anyone who campaigns on the platform / makes money from it is out of business. Adctivists need the problem to keep going on, the last thing they ever would want is an actual solution!!