Stranger Than Fiction

A very interesting article in the New York Times about the comparison to the television show "The West Wing" and what's happening in the election with Senators Obama and McCain. I like the last line from the Telegraph, "Barack Obama will win: It’s all in ‘The West Wing.’ ”

Enjoyable October

(I call this picture, "I Live in California and You Don't")

I'm experiencing a Northern California fall, it's a cool and blustery 80F (30C) evening. I guess that's the positive aspect of global warming. Plus gas prices are down. If the U.S. economy doesn't go through a nuclear winter, life could be good.

Chevy Volt's Energy Cost

Topic: Cars

Here's an interesting article from MarketWatch regarding how much it will cost to charge the batteries overnight for the upcoming Chevy Volt.

I still don't like the look of the production version, but still love the technology.

Interesting statistics from the article:

• Off-peak (10 pm to 6 am) cost to charge: $.80/day, $24/month, $292/year
• Peak cost to charge batteries: $2.40/day, $73/month, $876/year
• Gasoline cost for my Mustang (at $3.70/gallon): $7.93/day, $237.86/mo, $2,886.52/year
  
• If every car, pickup and SUV in America were a plug-in hybrid, the power grid as it stands now could fuel 84% of them if they charged during off-peak hours
• A computer and monitor on all day long is about the exact same cost as filling up your Volt

Chevy Volt Mileage

Topic: Cars

I just read from Joseph Romm of the Guardian "Is the Chevy Volt just hype?" regarding the projected 40 mpg on pure electricity between charges. Mr. Romm argues that the Volt doesn't need this much range since on average, most people only drive 20 miles per day. This theory seems to be getting traction and I want to disspell it. The problem is that 40 mpg is the optimum in perfect conditions. That's assuming there is only 1 person in the car, the driver doesn't have a lead foot, the road is completely flat, the outside temperature isn't 120 or -20 degrees, the heater or air conditioner isn't at full blast, and other variables that effect mileage. If you add 2 or 3 of these scenarios, you'll probably only get 25 to 30 miles between re-charges. If you're skeptical, read the consumer affairs article regarding Prius owners. I don't believe GM is over-engineering the Volt but wants to make sure that it at least makes 20 miles between re-charge.