<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Rocker Neil Young says America can take lead in efficient autos]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/lincvolt/ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:19:27 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/lincvolt/1 The Needle and The Damage Done


Giving extra gas mileage to mainlining rock stars only increases their chance of getting to write a book in rehab.


]]> The Needle and The Damage Done


Giving extra gas mileage to mainlining rock stars only increases their chance of getting to write a book in rehab.


]]> Comment #2 by GonzoDon http://www.grist.org/article/lincvolt/ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:08:12 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/lincvolt/2 Five Reasons I Despise SUVs

Their sheer mass exponentially increases the danger to innocent bicyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers of smaller cars who have the misfortune of having to share the same road.

Impossible to see around SUVs if you are trailing in a normal-size automobile, and those SUV dinosaurs are rediculously slow to start moving at intersections -- hence they unnecessarily slow down traffic overall and make auto congestion and accident hazards exponentially worse.

Their massive gasoline purchases help fatten the coffers of ass terrorist thugs and their enabling theocratic regimes throughout the Middle East.

Spewing CO2 accelerates global warming.

Usually driven by yuppie jerks yakking on cell phones -- statistically as dangerous as drunk drivers, but don't dare say that in a Starbucks or you will be beaten to death with soymilk frappucino cups.

OK, I'll add a sixth:

6. Think they are invincible when snow and ice are on the roads.  They aren't.  Once their tires lose grip on slick roads, they are as out of control as anybody else.  Only much more dangerous to everybody else.

There.  Just thought I'd get that off my chest.  

It's easy to make fun of Neil Young and other rich rock stars, but at least those folks are trying to do the right thing.  It's a start.

In contrast, a disproportionate percentage of SUV drivers I see are self-absorbed assholes.  Sorry to be politically incorrect, but it's generally true.  I encourage you SUV-ers to prove me wrong.

]]> Five Reasons I Despise SUVs

Their sheer mass exponentially increases the danger to innocent bicyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers of smaller cars who have the misfortune of having to share the same road.

Impossible to see around SUVs if you are trailing in a normal-size automobile, and those SUV dinosaurs are rediculously slow to start moving at intersections -- hence they unnecessarily slow down traffic overall and make auto congestion and accident hazards exponentially worse.

Their massive gasoline purchases help fatten the coffers of ass terrorist thugs and their enabling theocratic regimes throughout the Middle East.

Spewing CO2 accelerates global warming.

Usually driven by yuppie jerks yakking on cell phones -- statistically as dangerous as drunk drivers, but don't dare say that in a Starbucks or you will be beaten to death with soymilk frappucino cups.

OK, I'll add a sixth:

6. Think they are invincible when snow and ice are on the roads.  They aren't.  Once their tires lose grip on slick roads, they are as out of control as anybody else.  Only much more dangerous to everybody else.

There.  Just thought I'd get that off my chest.  

It's easy to make fun of Neil Young and other rich rock stars, but at least those folks are trying to do the right thing.  It's a start.

In contrast, a disproportionate percentage of SUV drivers I see are self-absorbed assholes.  Sorry to be politically incorrect, but it's generally true.  I encourage you SUV-ers to prove me wrong.

]]> Comment #3 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/lincvolt/ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:17:36 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/lincvolt/3 The anti-SUV SUV

It's the weight, aerodynamics, and lack of soft bumpers and fenders that are causing all the problems with SUVs.

RMI's SUV is different.  Carbon fiber, plugin hybrid, all it lacks is the nerf outside shell.

The core of the vehicle should be carbon fiber body/frame sections, just like the original Hypercar design, but the outside panels should all be made with flexiible plastic over energy absorbing foam.

This would actually save production cost too.  The carbon fiber core body could be angular with no compound curves, greatly simplfying the stamping of these parts.  

The aerodynamic curved outside parts could be easily molded foam and plastic composite, the outside plastic could be colored, so no painting would be needed.  Surface repairs could be done with heat and plastic filler.  

This would stop a lot of injuries and insurance/repair costs too.  Just a slight safety tweak of the Hypercar design, Amory, hehey.

]]> The anti-SUV SUV

It's the weight, aerodynamics, and lack of soft bumpers and fenders that are causing all the problems with SUVs.

RMI's SUV is different.  Carbon fiber, plugin hybrid, all it lacks is the nerf outside shell.

The core of the vehicle should be carbon fiber body/frame sections, just like the original Hypercar design, but the outside panels should all be made with flexiible plastic over energy absorbing foam.

This would actually save production cost too.  The carbon fiber core body could be angular with no compound curves, greatly simplfying the stamping of these parts.  

The aerodynamic curved outside parts could be easily molded foam and plastic composite, the outside plastic could be colored, so no painting would be needed.  Surface repairs could be done with heat and plastic filler.  

This would stop a lot of injuries and insurance/repair costs too.  Just a slight safety tweak of the Hypercar design, Amory, hehey.

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