Slow down, you're killing the planet

Dr Who said:
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I Don't agree with taxing a problem to make it go away, it doesnt work
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As is fairly apparent from the small sample here, there are probably a significant number of people who simply will not use an alternative unless they are forced to do so.

Dr Who said:
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what we need is investment in infrastructure to increase the viability of alternatives.
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Absolutely; the Government should be pouring money into the rail system, cycle routes and other environmentally friendly forms of public transport.

The cuts in the rail network introduced by the Tories and in particular by that crook Ernest Marples selectively implementing Beeching's recommendations to favour road construction will be come to be seen as one of the greatest acts of vandalism in the history of Great Britain :(
 
I think we can consdierably reduce C02 BY FILLING IN TEH JEFFING POT HOLES!

When we have roads where you need to stop becasue of wall to wall parked cars and opposing lanes cannot pass each other without waiting, there's a problem. I often sit in a row of cars 10 or more just becasue a bus is coming the other way on a 30mph straight main road but two vehicles can't pass without someone getting crushed. That and people are usless at knowing the width of their car.
 
The cuts in the 60's did reflect the problems of British Railways at that time, and the need for a better road infrasturcture. Sure with Hindsight we can see that public transport would have been better and should have been better supported, however, a lot has changed in the last 45-50 years, so we cannot just blame one government in isolation, many govts since would have been able to change what happened back then, and closer to the time, it would have been more viable.

My main issue is that if you want to solve public transport issues, it should not be in the hands of private companies. They won't cross subsidise to keep the uneconomical routes open, which a Nationalised Govt backed organisation would. The financial climate in the 1960's was a whole different ball game.

However, if we did have a nationalised public transport system, how long would it be before the Unions took control? National strikes every time they felt agrieved or some co-worker they had never heard of got the sack?

This was the problems that faced many of our nationalised industrys in the past, and ultimately led to their downfall. Have we learned from this? If we do take the rail system out of the hands of Imbeciles like National Express coaches, will we have a long term viable service?

The investment in TFL to prepare for 2012 shows that we have the knowledge and will to improve public transport facilities, but will the service actually be any better? Personally the use of the Tube in the rush hour, in summer, is one of my least favourite modes of transport ever, even my stint on Egyptian trains is rated higher, at least they knew how to install Air Conditioners!
 
Dr Who said:
No for Vans

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You've scraped through by the skin of your teeth m'lad :p
(What's the lorry limit? 56mph over here?)

EDIT: Might as well put my 2p's worth while I'm here...

I'm 99% sure that air travel's putting more CO2 in the atmosphere than cars - any chance of encouraging trains/ferries over them instead of punishing motorists instead? How about offering help to places like China in getting their emmissions down? Obviously a delicate political situation but it'd do more good for the planet.

Unfortunately, we're a scapegoat.

And +1 for improvements to infrastructure, it's sorely needed.
 
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Dr Who said:
I can recommend "Who Killed the Electric Car" as compulsive viewing, and battery technology has moved on a lot since then!
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I just picked that up for £1 from morrisons. 2007 publish with an extra 15mins of fuelling the future which is pretty good.
 
Will we be seeing LiPo Battery tech in cars? LiPo Batteries are normally a lot lighter than NiMh equivalents. LiPo is slightly more volatile, they do go up well :p
 
Janesy B said:
Will we be seeing LiPo Battery tech in cars? LiPo Batteries are normally a lot lighter than NiMh equivalents. LiPo is slightly more volatile, they do go up well :p
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Lipos are the way forward, look at what they have done to the size of your mobile and other personal items such as Ipods cameras etc.

Of course the issue with batteries is what happens in an accident, anything which shorts the cells can have disastrous results!
 
Janesy B said:
Will we be seeing LiPo Battery tech in cars? LiPo Batteries are normally a lot lighter than NiMh equivalents. LiPo is slightly more volatile, they do go up well :p
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they dont take voltage abuse anywhere near aswell either.

Lithium iron is the big boy at the moment. Well until 2014 and NiMh with 30yr lifes are back on the market for 'Vehicular use'. The quoted energy densitys of any lithium chemistry still isnt that much higher when you see the production stuff.

Tom Hanks is still blasting around in his Rav4 EV.
 
Dr Who said:
Lipos are the way forward, look at what they have done to the size of your mobile and other personal items such as Ipods cameras etc.

Of course the issue with batteries is what happens in an accident, anything which shorts the cells can have disastrous results!
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I have RC cars with these batteries and they can be a liability. If they are charged correctly they are fine, you abuse it, it will blow up in your face. We have to charge them in special pouches to help negate this risk.

The reason I ask about LiPo is that they are lighter, have no memory effect, can provide more power and all in a smaller form factor. Issue is that they need to be pampered a bit more.

 
62mph is higher than UK motorway speed limit?
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60mph for Goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight, coaches exceeding 12m, cars towing caravans or trailers (including car derived vans and motorcycles).

Who needs to resit their theory test?

Of course the issue with batteries is what happens in an accident, anything which shorts the cells can have disastrous results!
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We all know a tank behind the passenger compartment with 60+ litres of Petrol is much safer.
 
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Janesy B said:
I have RC cars with these batteries and they can be a liability. If they are charged correctly they are fine, you abuse it, it will blow up in your face. We have to charge them in special pouches to help negate this risk.

The reason I ask about LiPo is that they are lighter, have no memory effect, can provide more power and all in a smaller form factor. Issue is that they need to be pampered a bit more.

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Easy answer.

Mobiles and laptops dont use LiPo.
 
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