Here is VW's 5-10 yr vision. What is Toyota's?

All cars imported to Europe have a hefty tariff on them. I don't doubt that Germany could tax it a little more. I think the incentives on the Model S in Norway are more generous than in California though.

 

I work in the desert, passing through the massive wind turbine farms of Palm Springs and Palm Desert every week. And I also pass by HUGE solar farms of all types in the Colorado Desert and have become very familiar with all forms of solar plants -- and there are many types.

All survive only due to subsidies, even when undertaken on a almost laughable scale. Small scale stuff is even more inefficient. We would need some kind of a break through to make either viable economically.

Study the issue.

 

how would you compare the subsidies to fossil fuel subsidies?

 

30 models doesn't sound realistic in that time-frame. Heck, I would have a hard time just naming 5 VW models now.

At least they didn't make a completely absurd goal like Germany saying they want 100% EV by some date. Shooting for 100% of anything is a sure way to fail the goal. Setting achievable goals is the key to sustaining motivation towards the goal.

Setting a 100% goal is like not having a goal at all.

Not only is that a relatively modest increase in electricity usage, but the grid wouldn't even need to expand power production much to accommodate the increase since most of the charging would be done off-peak, when loads of excess generating capacity is available. Maybe we would only need to build 2% extra generating capacity to accommodate the 10% increase in electricity consumption?

I often wonder why this is the case. On a micro scale, solar roof installations in Hawaii can break even in a fraction of a decade. Of course this is made possible by high utility rates and high solar radiation, but why utilities can't scale the concept up and have a viable solution is beyond me. Heck, even horrible places to install solar, such as in the Oregon valley, the break even point is less than 20 years.

Is it simply that large scale renewable energy has a large upfront cost with a long payback period, or does it never pay off no matter how long it's in service?

I say we remove all subsidies and see where the market goes. If we want to reduce CO2 emissions, then governments should either set the limits, or implement some sort of cap and trade program.

 

Can't Wyoming find a customer closer than 730 miles away for their power? Seems crazy to ship it so far. Maybe sell some of it to Salt Lake on the way to Vegas. Neat to hear, regardless.

Does the Hoover dam not produce all of the energy Vegas needs?

 

I've been to Wyoming twice this year visiting family in the heart of the coal industry there.

I complained about their economy being based almost exclusively upon a such a product and how many wind-turbines we drove by in Minnesota on the way there... without seeing any in Wyoming... despite the seemingly endless winds and lack of employment opportunities.

Wind energy is such a logical solution.

 

The level of Lake Mead has been dropping, and it won't go back to its high levels in the foreseeable future. So while Las Vegas electric demand is going up, Hoover Dam's output is dropping.

 

I've driven only once in Wyoming and initially thought it was crazy having an 80 MPH speed limit considering the extremely windy conditions (Oregon max is 65). With just a 20 MPH headwind, it's like getting the fuel economy of going 100 MPH while only traveling 80. After a while I realized why the speed limit was so high; the seemingly endless and barren land dulls the senses to the point that you just want to speed through.

The best use of some of that land must be wind energy. I wonder if wind power could ever reduce the damage caused by strong winds by any measurable amount?

Hasn't Vegas gone LED yet? I remember feeling the heat from incandescent bulbs while walking Fremont street when I was in high school, but I would be surprised if they haven't upgraded yet.

 

Have you been to LV recently?
There are tens of millions of LEDs on (almost) every available surface.
And they make every indoor space 30 degrees colder than the outside temp in the summer

Mike

 

To be honest.
I love VW's.
Love their iconic, classic products. They've been a great automaker for a long, long time. BUT...

Really who cares what they say their "Vision" is?
They've lost my trust as a company. They knowingly set out to defraud the entire VW buying public, at the expense of the environment and the ultimate expense of their own reputation.

And IMO that's huge. I can't say, I wouldn't ever again consider a VW product. But I need more proof, more time, before I trust the company again.

Given what they did, I'm somewhat surprised the scandal died down as quickly and quietly as it did.

Yes, every automobile manufacturer outlines company goals. NOT every automaker purposely and knowingly design their auto's to misrepresent their clean air emissions capabilities.

Someday, I may be able to forgive this. Not yet. Not today.

 

I made a quick pass through last year, but I don't recall noticing what technology was primarily used outdoors. Wanted to visit Hoover, but didn't have time. Same story with Fremont. Mostly I couldn't take my eyes off my wife.

 

okay, no argument. you are a fortunate man. tell her for me.

 

Okay, I'm going to roll with the topic change here. I own 40 acres of land in Wyoming. Why? A base for vacation exploring. Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. Devil's Tower. Fremont Canyon. Hell's Half Acre. The Oregon Trail. Independence Rock. Bighorn Canyon. The slower you go, the more you see...

Oh, and living near Chicago most of my life, I absolutely love the solitude.

But I agree with the wind energy. It never stops blowing. They have approved this monster wind farm.

Now back to the regularly scheduled topic...

 

Yellowstone and the Tetons are what lured me to drive through Wyoming. Hated Yellowstone, but loved the Tetons. I'm sure I'll visit again someday.

This is mostly what I remember the drive resembling. I also remember miles of snow fence, which I had never seen before.

 

That looks immensely better to me than this....

 

but how far is starbucks?

 

Assuming he is near alpha centauri, lieutenant starbuck is about 4.3 light years away, fighting cylons.