+- +-

+-User

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.
 
 
 

Login with your social network

Forgot your password?

+-Stats ezBlock

Members
Total Members: 48
Latest: watcher
New This Month: 0
New This Week: 0
New Today: 0
Stats
Total Posts: 16867
Total Topics: 271
Most Online Today: 119
Most Online Ever: 1155
(April 20, 2021, 12:50:06 pm)
Users Online
Members: 0
Guests: 37
Total: 37

Author Topic: Electric Vehicles  (Read 46509 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

AGelbert

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 36274
  • Location: Colchester, Vermont
    • Renwable Revolution
Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #480 on: November 30, 2018, 06:35:00 pm »
Quote from: AG
However, that is already happening in Germany and the Netherlands. 👍 It is being done.

Then how do they move freight? The draft from 18 wheelers barrel-assing down the road like they own it is enough to knock a Smart car off the road.

There are two issues here that you are addressing, not just one. Assuming you have no problem with low weight bearing companion lanes being built next to every Interstate Highway in the USA, the main threat to the small EVs and motorcicles and EV or ICE trikes using these lanes is the drunk driver on an average 4 wheeled vehicle, not the 18 wheeler. Truck drivers, as RE will undoubtedly testify, have a much better track record for safety than the average American driver.

True, the 18 wheelers are still out there and if they stray into a light vehicle lane, they can squeeze or squash them like bugs. It is a matter of probabilities. To reduce the probability of heavy vehicles, such as 18 wheelers, splattering light vehicles all over the place, automatic driving software, now being tested in Colorado, Arizona and Califiornia, is what we need to lower the probabilty of freight moving vehicles killing humans in light vehicles to close to zero. As you know, since the 1940's (at least), even before all the interstates were built, the USA was crisscrossed with "Truck routes". These roads were, in theory, made to handle the weight of freight without breaking apart. Cars generally stayed off of them and ran on roads that were not as beefed up for freight loads.

All that changed when the Interstates were built. BUT, as RE will also testify, the 18 wheelers are well known for destroying Interstate roads from overloading. Yes, they have load checking stations, but a lot of cheating goes on.

The point is that the ability of a road to handle weight, not the frequency of accidents where a heavy vehicle destroys a smaller one, has dictated what roads were built and where people drive. I am saying that a light, cheap lane system, plus the autopilot features on many vehicles, including the really heavy ones carrying freight, is the best approach to saving people money while polluting less.

So, the freight carrying vehicle is not the greatest threat. The greatest threat is the crazy/drunk/asleep/coked up driver. Yes, that is true. The only way to deal with this threat cost effectively, without going full fascist on the driving public, is to put barriers along the companion lanes. The cost of all that infrastructure will be more than compensated for by the savings in fuel and lack of pollution from the massively expanded use of small EVs.

Friend, we are really, really out of time on these transportation issues. I understand where you are at. My wife is in exactly the same place. But frankly, I think we are doomed with our current transportation habits.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

 

+-Recent Topics

Future Earth by AGelbert
March 30, 2022, 12:39:42 pm

Key Historical Events ...THAT YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF by AGelbert
March 29, 2022, 08:20:56 pm

The Big Picture of Renewable Energy Growth by AGelbert
March 28, 2022, 01:12:42 pm

Electric Vehicles by AGelbert
March 27, 2022, 02:27:28 pm

Heat Pumps by AGelbert
March 26, 2022, 03:54:43 pm

Defending Wildlife by AGelbert
March 25, 2022, 02:04:23 pm

The Koch Brothers Exposed! by AGelbert
March 25, 2022, 01:26:11 pm

Corruption in Government by AGelbert
March 25, 2022, 12:46:08 pm

Books and Audio Books that may interest you 🧐 by AGelbert
March 24, 2022, 04:28:56 pm

COVID-19 🏴☠️ Pandemic by AGelbert
March 23, 2022, 12:14:36 pm