Plug-in Hybrid Future: Andy Grove get it!

[joe1347]

washingtonpost.com

An Energy Policy We Can Stick To

By Andrew S. Grove
Sunday, July 13, 2008; Page B07

We must sharply accelerate the conversion to electricity. To start, the U.S. government should lead the way by requiring that a growing percentage of new cars be built with dual-fuel capability. These cars would have an electric engine and an auxiliary gasoline engine. The car would run on electricity and after the batteries were depleted would switch to the gasoline engine.

Our biggest problem, however, is how long all this takes. No matter how fast the production of dual-fuel cars is ramped up, replacing the bulk of the approximately 250 million cars on America's roads will take a decade.

We must mobilize all segments of our economy to accelerate the process.

Editorial by Andy Grove - former head of Intel - in todays Washington Post. Everybody except the entire Bush Admin seems to understand that Plug-In hyrids (PHEV's) are the key to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, stretching dwindling oil supplies, cutting green-house gas emissions, reducing pollution (smog), and even reducing the cost to travel (i.e., charging a battery is much cheaper than gasing up).

It' now a simply a question of leadership out of Washington D.C. to get the conversion to PHEV's moving.

[Rybold]

It's interesting how back during WWII, the nation came together for the common goal of survival.
Today, even though it is obvious logic that we send billions of our hard earned dollars out of our country and over to our military enemies and [potential] military enemies for oil, and that there is plenty of data in support of global warming, a LARGE number of Americans [irresponsibly] ignore the consequences and selfishly continue to drive around in SUVs not because they can't trade them in but because they "want to." Back when I was in college, I remember that the kids that partied and hungout with their friends all the time were the ones that ended up failing and dropping out. The kids that were responsible were the ones that survived. Sadly, I see the same mentality when most Americans weigh keeping their SUVs versus responsibly preparing for their childrens' future. (And no, I'm not talking about just their grandchildren; I'm talking about their children)

Andy Grove, former head of Intel? And Google is working on solar. It fascinates me how the brains in Silicon Valley that brought us computers (remember when we didn't have PCs and the internet?) and brought us the internet, now have their minds also set on global warming and development of renewable, sustainable sources of energy.
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[Sheepdog]

This nation came together during 9-1-1 pretty well I remember as everyone, including me, exclaimed that we were New Yorkers after that in support.

I have no doubts that the peoples of America can and will wake up and will survive. The problem is, as I see it, that for so long the government and those who work our problems and wars, etc; have just taken care of our issues and the common man has not had to change his life to the extent that they did in WW2.

It will take a Presidential speech to that effect, and no President wants to make that speech. It is political suicide to tell the citizenry that they have to work hard and give something up. We need it and most of the population would do it, but some of the vocal minority types would kvetch and spit and make it impossible for the ploitical process to operate as before.

It isnt about Repubs or Dems. It's about maturity- which some of the spoiled US citizenry does not have. Most have not fought in wars, or watched terror attacks, or even served anything other than self interest their whole lives.

It will take a leader that is OK with a one term office. He will pay for the hurt the population has to endure to help fix things and he will bear the brunt of the blame for the issue that the country has built for itself for many years. Thats how we do things here. We like to blame our leaders for our failings.

[orracle]

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

This nation came together during 9-1-1 pretty well I remember as everyone, including me, exclaimed that we were New Yorkers after that in support.

I have no doubts that the peoples of America can and will wake up and will survive. The problem is, as I see it, that for so long the government and those who work our problems and wars, etc; have just taken care of our issues and the common man has not had to change his life to the extent that they did in WW2.

It will take a Presidential speech to that effect, and no President wants to make that speech. It is political suicide to tell the citizenry that they have to work hard and give something up. We need it and most of the population would do it, but some of the vocal minority types would kvetch and spit and make it impossible for the ploitical process to operate as before.

It isnt about Repubs or Dems. It's about maturity- which some of the spoiled US citizenry does not have. Most have not fought in wars, or watched terror attacks, or even served anything other than self interest their whole lives.

It will take a leader that is OK with a one term office. He will pay for the hurt the population has to endure to help fix things and he will bear the brunt of the blame for the issue that the country has built for itself for many years. Thats how we do things here. We like to blame our leaders for our failings.

Carter said it and was vilified for it. Reagan laughed and said never mind and was loved for it.

[RonH]

Originally Posted by joe1347

Editorial by Andy Grove - former head of Intel - in todays Washington Post. Everybody except the entire Bush Admin seems to understand that Plug-In hyrids (PHEV's) are the key to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, stretching dwindling oil supplies, cutting green-house gas emissions, reducing pollution (smog), and even reducing the cost to travel (i.e., charging a battery is much cheaper than gasing up).

It' now a simply a question of leadership out of Washington D.C. to get the conversion to PHEV's moving.

Sigh. Who will we blame when Bush is gone? But fortunately, the dems will take over in 6 mos and it will be all better, a golden age of doing the right thing. Pfft.

[joe1347]

Originally Posted by RonH

Sigh. Who will we blame when Bush is gone? But fortunately, the dems will take over in 6 mos and it will be all better, a golden age of doing the right thing. Pfft.

Do you believe that we can drill our way out of the looming transportation fuel crisis? Bush certainly does - and more drilling (for more oil) is the ONLY public energy policy being advocated or promoted aggressively by the Bush Admin. Not counting occupying Iraq.

Also remember who killed off the plug-in hybrid US government funded Supercar program in 2001, passed tax incentives to encourage buying >6000 lb SUVs, and fought against increasing CAFE fuel efficiency standards.

If anything, I was overly generous asserting that the Bush Admin lacks leadership in promoting PHEV's. Instead, a more accurate statement would be to assert that the Bush Admin has done it's best to encourage consumption and discourage the development of high mpg vehicles.

As pointed out in the Andy Grove editorial, everybody knows what needs to be done, it's 'simply' a question of leadership.

[Sheepdog]

Originally Posted by RonH

Sigh. Who will we blame when Bush is gone? But fortunately, the dems will take over in 6 mos and it will be all better, a golden age of doing the right thing. Pfft.

wether it's the dems or repubs, we best hope the new President has the stuff to make the hard speech to America. And the right stuff to put our energy future on the front burner and turn up the heat!

[RonH]

Originally Posted by joe1347

Do you believe that we can drill our way out of the looming transportation fuel crisis? Bush certainly does - and more drilling (for more oil) is the ONLY public energy policy being advocated or promoted aggressively by the Bush Admin. Not counting occupying Iraq.

Also remember who killed off the plug-in hybrid US government funded Supercar program in 2001, passed tax incentives to encourage buying >6000 lb SUVs, and fought against increasing CAFE fuel efficiency standards.

If anything, I was overly generous asserting that the Bush Admin lacks leadership in promoting PHEV's. Instead, a more accurate statement would be to assert that the Bush Admin has done it's best to encourage consumption and discourage the development of high mpg vehicles.

As pointed out in the Andy Grove editorial, everybody knows what needs to be done, it's 'simply' a question of leadership.

Whether the Bush administration is all alone in the wilderness is beside the point. They're irrelevant at this point. You took an editorial by a pretty smart guy who I believe didn't mention bush once and rather than discuss the merits of the editorial took some shots at Bush. That's okay, it happens a lot here.

Oh, and bonus points for working Iraq into your rebuttal. I'm now convinced.

[joe1347]

Originally Posted by RonH

Whether the Bush administration is all alone in the wilderness is beside the point. They're irrelevant at this point. You took an editorial by a pretty smart guy who I believe didn't mention bush once and rather than discuss the merits of the editorial took some shots at Bush. That's okay, it happens a lot here.

Oh, and bonus points for working Iraq into your rebuttal. I'm now convinced.

Nonsense. Bush has been in office 7 1/2 years and has done nothing towards solving the myriad of problems associated with US oil consumption and as pointed out above, Bush Admin policies have in fact made the situation worse. When the US needs leadership, all we get out of Washington is more lies. Unlike what the Bush Admin is currently advocating, we can't drill our way out of this problem. Andy Grove understands what needs to be done. The technical merits of the article don't require discussing since it's clear that PHEV's are the solution. The debate instead is more along the lines of the costs and new public policy initiatives required to quickly move America to an all PHEV fleet, which Andy Grove also touches upon along with describing the technical merits.

[qbee42]

This thread is a good example of Americans not pulling together for the common good. Less than ten posts and it has turned into a pissing match over politics.

Tom