Saving the Ozone - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

simonrex22 · 06-11-2005, 08:35 AM

When do you think its time to start doing something about the ozone. I look at pictures of cities and cant believe the amount of smog that hovers above them. So i figure this is the best place to start. Technology is at the point now where electrical cars can be made affordable and reliable. I think they should start a policy that if you live within the city limits, it should be required to own an electrical car. What do they have to drive, ten minutes to their job. I also think that truckers should be driving Hydrogen fueled cars. I saw a show where they made a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine. The only problem with it was that they would have to have gas stations all over the country for it to be considered for regular cars. For truckers i think it would be easy.

Its going to have to be done sooner or later. I think this would be a good way to start.

The_Dunedan · 06-11-2005, 10:42 AM

The problems with this are many.

1: The "force" aspect. Forcing someone by law ( which is nothing more than threat of violence if they disobey ) to change their chosen mode of transport is morally unacceptable.

2: Electric cars are hardly affordable. The new hybrids have a price that is, I believe, 1/3 higher than their gas-only counterparts. Furthermore, electricity doesn't just come from nowhere; it has to be generated. If you have a tonne of electric-powered cars running around, the amount of power that has to be generated ( usually by dirty power-plants ) increases, which increases the smog generated by those plants. Electric cars also have severe limitations in range and speed; and lemme tell you, in many large cities, going slow is a good way to get killed. Purely electric cars ( as opposed to hybrids ) have extreme issues with operating range; most can only go 60-80 miles before they require a 12-hour recharge. Getting around in the city is hardly a ten-minute proposition: most people who could afford such a vehicle live in the suburbs, and the commute into work can be 1-3 hours, each way.

3: Hydrogen. Hello Hindenberg! I've worked with this stuff before, and it's NOT SAFE. Period. Hydrogen is, of course, an explosive gas which can be ignited by the smallest spark. I don't even wanna THINK about what would happen in an accident involving a hydrogen-powered car.

Redlemon · 06-13-2005, 10:04 AM

Remember, when we talk about ozone, there are two seperate things. One is the ozone layer, which we want to save. The other is ground-level ozone, which we want to reduce. Ground level ozone is created by the reactions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds with heat and sunlight. Ground level ozone is significantly lower compared to 50 years ago. There are still many non-attainment areas in the US (places where the concentrations exceed the EPA-mandated maximum conentration levels), and those are being worked on.

06-11-2005, 08:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
simonrex22 Insane	Saving the Ozone When do you think its time to start doing something about the ozone. I look at pictures of cities and cant believe the amount of smog that hovers above them. So i figure this is the best place to start. Technology is at the point now where electrical cars can be made affordable and reliable. I think they should start a policy that if you live within the city limits, it should be required to own an electrical car. What do they have to drive, ten minutes to their job. I also think that truckers should be driving Hydrogen fueled cars. I saw a show where they made a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine. The only problem with it was that they would have to have gas stations all over the country for it to be considered for regular cars. For truckers i think it would be easy. Its going to have to be done sooner or later. I think this would be a good way to start.

06-13-2005, 10:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Remember, when we talk about ozone, there are two seperate things. One is the ozone layer, which we want to save. The other is ground-level ozone, which we want to reduce. Ground level ozone is created by the reactions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds with heat and sunlight. Ground level ozone is significantly lower compared to 50 years ago. There are still many non-attainment areas in the US (places where the concentrations exceed the EPA-mandated maximum conentration levels), and those are being worked on. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

06-11-2005, 10:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	The problems with this are many. 1: The "force" aspect. Forcing someone by law ( which is nothing more than threat of violence if they disobey ) to change their chosen mode of transport is morally unacceptable. 2: Electric cars are hardly affordable. The new hybrids have a price that is, I believe, 1/3 higher than their gas-only counterparts. Furthermore, electricity doesn't just come from nowhere; it has to be generated. If you have a tonne of electric-powered cars running around, the amount of power that has to be generated ( usually by dirty power-plants ) increases, which increases the smog generated by those plants. Electric cars also have severe limitations in range and speed; and lemme tell you, in many large cities, going slow is a good way to get killed. Purely electric cars ( as opposed to hybrids ) have extreme issues with operating range; most can only go 60-80 miles before they require a 12-hour recharge. Getting around in the city is hardly a ten-minute proposition: most people who could afford such a vehicle live in the suburbs, and the commute into work can be 1-3 hours, each way. 3: Hydrogen. Hello Hindenberg! I've worked with this stuff before, and it's NOT SAFE. Period. Hydrogen is, of course, an explosive gas which can be ignited by the smallest spark. I don't even wanna THINK about what would happen in an accident involving a hydrogen-powered car.