Rotation Technology from China

My guess that an algae bio-fuel would consume water, but if the factoy was near an ocean desalinization could remedy this problem. And, desal costs are falling.

Thank you for reading my article.

I’m going to advise you to consider an alternative to the obviously ‘correct’, ‘safe’, answer you’ve already identified.

The last paragraph of my article suggests we should all focus on ‘total cost of ownership’, rather than fixate on mpg. For the next few years gasoline is going to be cheap, so fuel is probably going to be the least of of your significant costs, certainly relative to depreciation on a new car. So I suggest you look again at what is on offer pre-used, as you already have with the Camry deal. But now look further up-market, at the cars redundant bankers are dumping. For example, if you can live with the image, check what you would have to pay for a BMW 328i. A quick look on autotrader.com shows asking prices just below (and above, naturally!) your Camry, for 2007 cars with less than 30,000 miles. Bear in mind that a 328i is designed to last longer and ‘take more stick’ than a Camry and should lose significantly less money when you come to trade it in for your new plug-in version of the Honda Insight(?), in 2011(?). Note the EPA highway estimate for a 2007 328i is 28 mpg, manual or automatic, which is not bad for a much better car.

I think that would be the smart play, substituting with something more to your taste if you don’t like a BMW, and buying time and saving value until your ideal car arrives. But there’s nothing much wrong with the Camry choice, either. Apart from the image thing…

Have fun choosing,

Chris

- I have to buy a car in the next month (before March).
- I want it to be green, fuel efficient, and inexpensive to run.
- I know many new vehicles are coming out in 2010-11-12,
that are plug-ins but I can’t wait.
- I’m looking at the 2009 Prius, Camry Hybrid, Civic Hybrid,
Altima Hybrid and the Jetta Diesel.
- I’m thinking it might be good to get something that can
later be converted to a plug-in?
- Do you think that Obama’s plan will allow tax credits on
all of the above vehicles? As far as I know, only the Altima
currently has a credit.
- The above cars are all more or less in my price range; I
know the Camry is more, but I know of a good deal on a
2007 loaded hybrid with 16,500 miles – for $23,500 and
I like it because driver seat adjustment/comfort is a factor
that is important.
- Finally, given the economy, it is a good time to get a good
deal on a car and I just sold my house, so I want to buy a
car before I look for a new, smaller place.

Thanks so much for any advice you may have!

To throw darts blindfolded seems silly w/c is what some like to do when they call themselves green. If AP is right you have private investment with no policy or subsidizing by the gov. that would be one thing but we know that will never be the case w/ biofuels. Short term ideas get us nowhere and there is a lot of public tax dollars thrown in to the wind w/c avg Joe in America starts to believe in stereotypes of those who want to reduce greenhouse gases as wasting his money.

Again hybrids are a tiny part of the market so why not devote the time and resources into developing this into a major sector of the car buying market? As for coal again why not start developing more alt energies or independent grid options for consumers? This takes time & lots of resources & does not happen overnight! To say that EV’s are the final answer is silly w/c in my view its just a middle step to water vapor or hydrogen vehicles but the key is that this would improve on the energy system that helps power our homes and businesses, spurring more innovation in the energy sector and reduce greenhouse gasses.

Phasing in a revenue-neutral gas tax encourages all of the alternatives, perfect or imperfect, by making petroleum fuels less competitive over time. Returning the money at income tax time as a “Strategic Fuel Tax Rebate” would also keep it from harming the economy.

There would be little need for favoring one bio-fuel over another with government subsidies (less government, lower taxes), because they would all have a better business plan and be able to attract private investment – if they are really viable. The private sector is much more able to evaluate that than the government. The government should only set the stage, not pick the winners.