If you had the option of an Electric powered Boxster...

[sd_boxster]

Anyone who buys a car to save the planet is a tool. Buy a bike if you want to make a difference.

I think a properly done electric Boxster would be a kick. If they offer one someday, perhaps I'll choose the panda-cub upholstery option to ensure nobody mistakes me for an ecomentalist.

[landrovered]

I would get the electric for no other reason than to tell the Pious (Prius) owners to eat my shorts. Well, come to think of it I can do that anyway because I don't like them. Thanks for helping me clear that up.

[Perfectlap]

I think people will be singing a different tune about an electric (or at least hybrid) line of Porsches once gas over $6 in the not too distant future. I tend to think that top drawer sports car engineering demands cars that contain more composites and draw as little fuel as possible. Obviously the costs will be high but we need to get on with it already, all I see is cars that aren't much different from what they were 12 years ago with no big changes for another 5-10 years.

[Boxtaboy]

Yes, please don't changeover to electric. Gas is already over $8/gallon in other parts of the world, and hopefully, not everyone is jumping over to Hybrids there either.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/news/international/usgas_price/?postversion=2008050109

Besides, http://www.hybridautoreview.net/buying-a-hybrid-will-not-save-you-money.html

[Brucelee]

I think if energy costs rise (as opposed to taxes added only to gas) to cause $6 a gallon prices, then similarly, overall energy prices will also rise, ie the cost of electricity and other energy types of energy sources.

Am I missing something on how this all might work?

[jcb986]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

I think if energy costs rise (as opposed to taxes added only to gas) to cause $6 a gallon prices, then similarly, overall energy prices will also rise, ie the cost of electricity and other energy types of energy sources.

Am I missing something on how this all might work?

Gas at $6 bucks a gallon. Then electricity will go because of the oil cost. Then everything that is shipped, flown or driven will go up. Add in health care jumping 15-25% per year. I am buying more bullets, can goods, dry foods for the collapse. Because the American people can not afford this kind of jump. If you haven't noticed, just about everyone is struggling these days.

[Oaktown 986]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I think people will be singing a different tune about an electric (or at least hybrid) line of Porsches once gas over $6 in the not too distant future. I tend to think that top drawer sports car engineering demands cars that contain more composites and draw as little fuel as possible. Obviously the costs will be high but we need to get on with it already, all I see is cars that aren't much different from what they were 12 years ago with no big changes for another 5-10 years.

I live in California where development of CLEAN POWER is constantly blocked by environmentalists. Nuclear? Too scary, unless you're France. Hydropower? We worry about our exotic smelt.

Electricity here is too expensive to make it worth it.

[Perfectlap]

Nuclear is a lot more complicated than just calling 1-800-Nukuler.
The financial risks are huge. You know how they tell you that your budget of $300K to build a house better be more like $500K? Well try that with a nuke plant.
That's not exactly something that attracts very risk averse investors in a credit unfriendly future. One construction or engineering mistake...poof...there goes your break even.
Even if you wanted to undertake a wholescale flipping of coal to nuke power tomorrow you couldn't do it because the existing backlog from Europe and other economic powers is huge. I think the wait for the domes from manufacturers in Japan is up to eight years or something. Much like hybrid electric cars aren't much of a cost savings to the buyer in the long run-- its not what the buyer is really thinking about at first. Sorta like financing a car or home and squabling over the monthly payment at the dealer or mortgage broker only to later realize they paid a fortune in interest, enough to buy another house and many cars. It does however get us off the uncertainty of global demand and NYMEX energy traders just looking for an excuse to spike crude oil prices from one week to the next. Nuclear seems to be the only option. A rock and hard spot situation for sure.

[Mike_Yi]

I have no interest in electric cars. A large part of driving comes from the sound.

I don't understand how nuclear is scary. The US has had one accident since the 50s in the private sector. The military has been using nuclear power without any accidents that I am aware of.