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March 2009 Posts
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Join your hosts, Bo, Ryan, and Kim with special guest hosts Gavin Shoebridge (NZ) and Nikki Bloomfield (UK) as they discuss EVs and the industry in their parts of the world. Where does the US stand in terms of adoption and acceptance of this technology?
Don't just listen to the EVcast -- experience and be a part of it! Join us at 1:00pm Eastern, M-F, in our live video broadcast and chat along with us!
Nikki,
I must confess I didn't listen to the podcast yet but my question is on a renewables related issue.
In a recent Independent article the journalist, George Monbiot, was critical of Gaia hypothesis scientist Freeman Dyson for comments he made on environmentalists and global warming. He touched on a subject that has been a bit of a sore point in the UK and that is the backlash against wind turbines.
I wanted to know what your thoughts were on the article and the situation over the backlash against renewable energy in the UK.
Rick, from the oil capitol of the world Houston, TX.
quote comment add new comment
Rick,
There's a lot of NIMBY about Wind Turbines: Not In My Back Yard. It's getting better, but a lot of people feel that wind turbines spoil England's "Green and Plesant Land". To be honest I feel it's a load of rubbish; Wind turbines are truly beautiful.
It's slowly getting better. A few years ago there were hardly any wind turbines. Thanks to EcoTricity and other generators we have more...
Nikki.
Also, does anyone over 5 years old in the UK take TVMOB (The Viscount Monckton of Blenchly) seriously?
PS: When I first saw his picture with that pith helmet on I mistook him for a former Python alumni but those guys are actually funny and TVMOB isn't.
Rick, from oil capitol of the world Houston, TX
Erm... Who?
Sorry thats that's Lord Monckton 3rd Viscount of Brenchley, not Blenchly. That is his self-named title. He is more widely know in the UK as former Tory MP Christopher Monckton. What I'm going to say might get me in trouble in some parts of the EV Cast group but here goes. Christopher Monckton is a global warming denier. He also financed the distribution of Channel 4's "The Great Global Warming Swindle" to schools around the UK.
So does anyone take him seriously or is he your answer to Sarah Palin?
See Here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/mar/09/climate-change-deniers-monbiot-cards?picture=344343784
and here: http://desmogblog.com/lord-monckton-and-rep-john-shimkus-declare-global-warming-emissions-plant-food
PS: I was going to ask you about former London mayor Ken Livingston's forward thinking but deeply unpopular congestion charge but you answered that question in the podcast for me. Thanks! ¡Muchas Gracias! Merci Beacoup! Grazie! Cam On! (in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Vietnamese)
Rick, from the oil capitol of the world, Houston, TX.
Sarah Palin . . . ugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WSifLbn3UQ
Jeremy Clarkson is not the only car critic that is not optimistic about the future of electric cars. "Wheels With Ed Wallace" a radio show broadcast out of Dallas, Texas on Saturdays hosted by Ed Wallace is not very optimistic either. It would be interesting if you could interview one of these guys to see what it would take from their perspective to make EV's much more attractive than ICE cars.
I enjoyed the show thoroughly today, even if it was a bit chaotic. I'm very sorry for the poor Skype connection though. Can't explain why it was so bad. Oh, and the webcam plugging in/out noise. I won't use the laptop again that's for sure. I need a decent headset/microphone too.
I wanted to point out that while I absolutely detest what Jeremy Clarkson made up about the Tesla, and the following tunnel-vision praise of future Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, I must admit that I still love Top Gear. Ultimately it will be the consumer that decides which vehicle is best, not Clarkson. While he's a funny man and I enjoy his antics, he'll be driving a gas car as long as he lives.
I'm not sure if I like or dislike London's congestion charging. If the public transport system is as good as I imagine, then sure - charge motorists like a wounded bull. However if the public transport system is as poor as New Zealand's - then trying to "tax people out of their cars" onto a system that is less time efficient is a dreadful and greedy idea. They've been thinking about similar ideas in Auckland for years but the argument against it is that there's no alternative to take. You have either a bus that's full and late, or a train system that only covers a fraction of the city and more often that not, is non-functioning.
I did have a few serious points to make on the show about EVs in kiwiland but I ran out of time due to Nikki's incessant ranting (hehehe) and the sheep jokes via the online chat. And Rick Astley of course.
Don't forget, if you haven't bought a DVD, feel free to here: http://kiwiev.com/DVD%20Page.htm it's $15 USD all up (that includes airmail anywhere!) and that way I can start Kiwi EV 2! Eventually.
Oh, and next time I promise I'll have a better microphone. Somehow.
Cheers folks! Gav
Gav may not be aware that there is now a second EV conversion company in Australia.
The second company converts a Mazda 2 to electric with a range of 200KM (125 Miles) and calls it the evme. I think the founder Phill Coop would make an interesting interview. URL for evme is http://www.evme.com.au
I think the aforementioned chap is a bit of a UK Sarah Palin. But he can't see Russia from his house, so no-one cares.
There are a lot of distractors who claim global warming isn't real. There's even been some EV supporters deny it... Figure that one out!
Gav- I'm SO sorry for being such a blabbermouth. I also say "erm' too much. Methinks I need to work on my radio presence ;) I promise to shut up more next time! :)
Dag,
That was funny! Someone here used the exorcist music on his radio show only it was for the Governor of our neighboring state of Lousiana, (the gambling capitol of the world (See Kinder, Lousiana, Oooooh, I like it like that!)) Bobby Jindal who claims to have exorcised demons from their victims. Exorcism now?! Go figure?!
Episode not downloadable (ep 208). I've tried both itunes and direct from your site. mp3 player freezes up and has to be rebooted to play other things... until I delete #208. All others are fine.
You folks have a great show. By the way, Bright Automotive... stems from Amory Lovin's group and as such, should be watched carefully... he is one of the foremost thinkers/activists/writers/doers in the field. World famous dude... spend some time on his website
http://www.rmi.org/
This group has been ongoing and credible since the 70's, probably the foremost thinktank most responsible for nuclear's demise, conservation activities, redesigning buildings, and most importantly, reexamining the "total" costs and benifits from various technological choices.
They're bang up sound. I worked with GAO (gov't accountability office) for 13 years and we often found them to be amongst the few independent thinkers redirecting how one should be making choices. If they are getting into this, they will make it happen. I'll send you some links to speaches Amory has made regarding automobile redesign when I have a few more moments.
living on hope,
Dana
