Comments on: Cartoon Tuesday: No Rebate Required http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:49:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/comment-page-1/#comment-50763 gecko Fri, 23 May 2008 12:30:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/#comment-50763 Rails can also provide power, minimizing storage requirements, a major issue with electric powering which is far superior to powering by burning stuff using internal combustion engines since electric motors provide greater torque and no direct emissions. Ironically, electric motors are required on each wheel of the locomotives pulling the huge trains bringing coal to electric-generating plants. Internal combustion engines do not have the torque and are used only for generating the electric power required by the electric motors directly driving each wheel. Rails can also provide power, minimizing storage requirements, a major issue with electric powering which is far superior to powering by burning stuff using internal combustion engines since electric motors provide greater torque and no direct emissions.

Ironically, electric motors are required on each wheel of the locomotives pulling the huge trains bringing coal to electric-generating plants. Internal combustion engines do not have the torque and are used only for generating the electric power required by the electric motors directly driving each wheel.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/comment-page-1/#comment-50564 gecko Wed, 21 May 2008 11:02:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/#comment-50564 oops, meant gecko oops, meant gecko

]]> By: dreamon http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/comment-page-1/#comment-50563 dreamon Wed, 21 May 2008 10:57:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/#comment-50563 Regarding the bike-friendly places you mention and you did leave out China, it seems that car sales still keep increasing, in any case: Real seats. Maybe web Aeron-type for a start; recumbent low air-resistent where air-resistence is the major energy sink; 400-watt to 500-watt electric motors for urban environments; 1500-watt motors for longer trips at up to about 80 miles per hour. This is the the power of normal electric hair dryer or about 2 horse power. Simple stuff like that. Oh yeah, use rails for collision avoidance, steering, keeping vehicles upright, minimal environmental footprints (surface areas in inches rather than severl feet or more); better accommodation of snow and rain. Regarding the bike-friendly places you mention and you did leave out China, it seems that car sales still keep increasing, in any case:

Real seats. Maybe web Aeron-type for a start; recumbent low air-resistent where air-resistence is the major energy sink; 400-watt to 500-watt electric motors for urban environments; 1500-watt motors for longer trips at up to about 80 miles per hour. This is the the power of normal electric hair dryer or about 2 horse power.

Simple stuff like that.

Oh yeah, use rails for collision avoidance, steering, keeping vehicles upright, minimal environmental footprints (surface areas in inches rather than severl feet or more); better accommodation of snow and rain.

]]> By: Vroomfondel http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/comment-page-1/#comment-50562 Vroomfondel Wed, 21 May 2008 04:21:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/#comment-50562 Gecko, I always thought that bike-friendly places like Germany, France, Denmark, and Japan were part of the developed world. Then again, maybe shortish trips to the office or the grocery store don't require serious transportation. In any case, I'm curious: What light improvements do you have in mind? Gecko,
I always thought that bike-friendly places like Germany, France, Denmark, and Japan were part of the developed world. Then again, maybe shortish trips to the office or the grocery store don't require serious transportation. In any case, I'm curious: What light improvements do you have in mind?

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/comment-page-1/#comment-50555 gecko Wed, 21 May 2008 02:16:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/05/20/cartoon-tuesday-no-rebate-required/#comment-50555 Bikes are great! But, they don't meet developed world expectations for "serious transportation". Ever so light improvements will make this a reality. Bikes are great! But, they don't meet developed world expectations for "serious transportation". Ever so light improvements will make this a reality.

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