John Ryden is an Engineer with a background in Finance and Economics. Here he will discuss how energy production, energy use, and conservation affect us and the rest of the world with a focus on the economic implications.

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Bush signs $25 billion loan guarantee to auto industry postponing their collapse

Off shore oil development is back on - for now

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Tesla Motors – All Electric Car

6 comments

June 12, 2:15 PM

by John Ryden, Global Warming Examiner

Tesla Roadster

Tesla Motors is selling an all-electric car. It is different from a hybrid electric in that it does not have a gasoline engine to provide power in case you run out of electricity from the battery. But it does have a rather large battery that gives it a range of 220 miles on a single charge.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having an all electric car. The disadvantage is the need to find a place to recharge. It takes up to 3.5 hours to recharge the battery. The car has a 53 Kwh battery. This is expensive. The car goes for about $109,000.

The advantages however, are numerous:

The car delivers outstanding performance. Electric motors have tremendous torque compared to gasoline engines. This is true in almost all motor speeds. The best torque is obtained at slow speeds so the car has great acceleration. Only one gear, just step on the accelerator! This car will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. That’s the same performance as a Lamborghini for a lot less money.
The cost of the electricity for the car is about $4.60 (@8.7 cents per Kwh) for a full charge. For 220 miles, that’s about 2 cents per mile. If you charge off-peak, you may pay as little as 1 cent per mile. That compares with about 50 cents per mile (premium fuel / rough estimate) for a Lamborghini. A more basic car getting 25 mpg would cost 16 cents per mile.
Other than the battery, weighing about 990 lbs., the other components of the drive train are very light. The motor is a little over 100 pounds.
It is environmentally clean; no pollution. If your electric power comes from solar, wind, or nuclear, you are not adding any carbon to the atmosphere.
It’s a very quiet car.

This is leading-edge technology. It is expensive, but for someone looking for a cool, high performance car this should definitely be considered. Less expensive all-electric cars should follow this trailblazer as battery technology continues to improve. Drive up in one of these and you will definitely be the topic of conversation.

The unveiling of the Tesla Motors Electric Car [video]

Topics: Global Warming , Carbon Dioxide , electric car , hybrid electric , Tesla

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Bush signs $25 billion loan guarantee to auto industry postponing their collapse

6 comments

October 1, 3:12 PM

President Bush signed the bill authorizing $25 billion in loan guarantees to the auto industry. U.S. auto companies are being hammered by high gasoline prices, weak consumer spending, the credit crisis, and tough competition from foreign imports.U.S.... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , oil , gasoline , GM , consumption tax , John dingell , loan guarantee

Off shore oil development is back on - for now

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September 30, 3:47 PM

Little noticed during the congressional debate on the financial bailout plan has been the passing of continuing resolution for funding the government into next year. With the partisan rancor in congress and the upcoming election, a lot of spending bills... Read More
Topics: Bush , oil , Alternative Energy , nuclear , McCain , oil shale , Obama , Nancy Pelosi , California , offshore drilling

Chavez to sell China oil currently going to US

2 comments

September 24, 4:42 PM

Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, is currently in China making deal to supply China with up to 1 million barrels of oil per day by 2011. Under the agreement, China will invest $4 billion in Venezuela’s oil industry to secure this supply of oil.... Read More
Topics: China , oil , ExxonMobil , Mexico , offshore drilling

Arctic sea ice second lowest coverage on record

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September 23, 5:11 PM

NASA reported that Arctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for the year on September 16th. Each year the sea ice cover contracts during the summer and then grows again during the winter. The maximum extent is in March of each year.This year the sea... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , Greenhouse , Arctic , Methane

Global warming costs from Hurricane Ike

1 comment

September 17, 4:51 PM

Damage in Florida from Hurricane Andrew in 1992The amount of damage from Hurricane Ike is going to total in the tens of billions of dollars. I have seen estimates where the insured costs are likely to be as high as $20 billion.This is going to be... Read More
Topics: hurricane , hurricane ike

Hurricane Ike – in harms way

3 comments

September 15, 3:22 PM

Hurricane Ike has moved out of Texas, but left a wake of destruction in its path. It appeared that the hurricane started moving North just before landfall. This moved the eye right over Galveston. I was watching some of the Fox live coverage with Geraldo... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , hurricane ike

Hurricane Ike storm surge could be greater than Katrina

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September 12, 7:54 PM

Hurricane Ike is heading towards Galveston, Texas. The storm is a Category 2 storm, very close to Category 3 strength. The storm is huge. Hurricane force winds extend up to 120 miles from the center. Tropical Force winds extend out to 275 miles.The potential... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , hurricane , ike

Natural gas producer promoting – natural gas

1 comment

September 12, 4:01 PM

CNG-NOW!Chesapeake Energy Corporation is promoting the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to gasoline in cars. Chesapeake Energy Corporation is the second-largest independent producer and third-largest overall producer of natural gas... Read More
Topics: Global Warming , Bush , Carbon Dioxide , natural gas , natural gas vehicle , CNG

Congress to develop energy policy

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September 10, 12:06 PM

Democrats in Congress have been put on the defensive by the electorate who collectively seem to understand that we need to develop our country’s oil and natural gas resources. The idea that not drilling off-shore will somehow solve our energy... Read More