>>>>>>GM expects 230 MPG for the Volt - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32370233/ns/business-autos/
>>>>>
>>>>>Interesting article...
>>>>>
>>>>>One thing that is not mentioned much about electric vehicles...
>>>>>
>>>>>1) Pollution - the batteries have to be recycled or discarded eventually - what is the effect on the environment from this chemical energy source?
>>>>>
>>>>>2) The Power Grid - how to deliver the energy to the batteries when millions have the cars and our power grid is not designed to handl this power load?
>>>>>
>>>>>3) Energy source for the batteries? No new nuclear power sources and no new coal powered plants..... and if so.... the effect on the environment in the long run?
>>>>>
>>>>>4) Effect on the economy? Big Oil goes belly-up - but we use oil based products in our everyday lives extensively - loss of Big-Oil means much higher prices in our everyday goods we use....
>>>>>
>>>>>5) Transportion of goods - electric cars are no good for transporting goods from one place to another - much higher prices on consumer goods in the long run...
>>>>>
>>>>>So......... electric cars will lprobably mean MUCH higher prices in everything else offsetting any savings gain from the use of electric energy...
>>>>
>>>>That is a BIG concern - Especially moving from gas to coal power which is what it is in most cases. If it isn't solar or wind power then nothing changes except the starting locaton of the polution.
>>>
>>>Exactly.... my solution is a crash building of Electric Nuclear Power generation plants and an overhaul of the power grid to handle the increase demand in electric power..... and a crash program on how to recycle the spent nuclear material (such as France does, if memeory serves me well... ;-) to get over that problem. Rather reuse it than store it away or launch it into space...
>>>
>>>Than that can get us over the hump and we can then to reseach into affordable solar electric power cells for the cars to replace the gas engine in the Volt and recharge directly from the sun during the day.....
>>
>>If that happens I'm betting England and Ireland will not be big markets ;-)
>
>Another thought..... when people park at work, the tops of the buildings could be covered in solar power cells to charge up the Volts during the day...... free power!

In your dreams. You think the government won't tax sunlight? You think the oil companies won't lay claim to the sun? Hah!