Comments on: The Top 5 Environmentally Friendly Sports Cars

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:52:12 +0000

Technology always comes from the top down. Are green sports cars really that green? Probably not. Is the technology being developed by these companies going to help? Most likely. Is the development of green sports cars going to change the way the average person looks at energy efficient cars? Absolutely! Let the rich idealists pay to the development and when the tech is cheap enough and efficient enough it will be a mass marketable product.
About electric and hydrogen sources; yes it is true that hydrogen production can and is often a dirty and high energy intensive process (really better to think of hydrogen as a energy carrier rather than an energy producer) and the electricity has to come from somewhere. One of the good thing about electricity is that it can be produced in so many different ways and that not all of those processes produce carbon output. Even if the process that is being used produces carbon at least it has been removed from the tailpipe (reducing smog in urban areas) and moved to a central location where it is easier to clean up.
I just hope that wind and solar power come to be in higher use as time goes on.

By: rolyb

rolyb — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:09:36 +0000

It was widely publicised in the british national press a while ago.Try the daily mail.
Hope this helps.

By: Bury

Bury — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:53:16 +0000

I’ve heard that the Prius takes more energy over its lifespan than a Hummer too, but I don’t believe it. Where are you getting your facts?

By: Rolyb

Rolyb — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:20:50 +0000

We see all this concentration on MPG but no figures on the amount of energy that it takes to manufacture and scrap these vehicles at the end of their life. Until this aspect is taken into consideration all other statistics are completely meaningless.
Using this criteria the toyota prius is in the worst ten and the jeep cherokee is in the best ten of the worst poluting vehicles, you go figure

By: Sudgn Lee

Sudgn Lee — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:58:38 +0000

70kg x 2.2= 154lbs

By: Joe Pike

Joe Pike — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:01:02 +0000

“green” sport car ? I don’t think so. Where does the electricity or the hydrogen come from ? Electricity is from batteries recharged on the grid, so it’s from nuclear or thermal power station. Hydrogen comes from electrolysis of water, a very energy inefficient process. Biofuels are grown after original forest was cut down…. so where is the environment aspect here ? there isn’t any. It’s just that addicts to sport cars try to show they have a concern for the environment. Remember that a car is just a mean of transport, a ton of metal and plastics used to move a 70kg lazy human being. If you want to be “green”, ride a bike, or use a car when you have no other alternative, but surely not for fun or “sport”. Also, where’s the sport in driving, you’re just sitting in a seat. Try cycling, or fit pedals in your “green” car, then we’ll talk again.

What’s 70kg convert to in Pounds? I’m a lazy human.

By: Jono

Jono — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:22:50 +0000

“green” sport car ? I don’t think so. Where does the electricity or the hydrogen come from…snip

Most people, at least in the U.S., are going to continue to drive the most luxurious, fastest, largest car they can afford to buy and afford to drive. But, they love to pretend that they are being “green” and so for that reason electric hot rods will sell to those who can afford them.

By: Eric Boyd

Eric Boyd — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:49:26 +0000

It's interesting to note that three of these five intend to compete in the Automotive X Prize - I guess if you have a greenish sports car, you must think your odds of winning are pretty good :-). If wonder if the Life Car or the Lightening GT will eventually enter as well? I personally think they've all got their work cut out for them to beat Aptera, which isn't a sports car per say but I bet they can make it go real fast with that aerodynamic streamlining! I've been profiling all the X Prize Cars and it's a very interesting bunch!

By: Denis

Denis — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:36:23 +0000

“green” sport car ? I don’t think so. Where does the electricity or the hydrogen come from ? Electricity is from batteries recharged on the grid, so it’s from nuclear or thermal power station. Hydrogen comes from electrolysis of water, a very energy inefficient process. Biofuels are grown after original forest was cut down…. so where is the environment aspect here ? there isn’t any. It’s just that addicts to sport cars try to show they have a concern for the environment. Remember that a car is just a mean of transport, a ton of metal and plastics used to move a 70kg lazy human being. If you want to be “green”, ride a bike, or use a car when you have no other alternative, but surely not for fun or “sport”. Also, where’s the sport in driving, you’re just sitting in a seat. Try cycling, or fit pedals in your “green” car, then we’ll talk again.