Say it again


Another news story confirms something I said
From my Common sense global warming FAQ:

Electric cars have a limited range and speed. To increase both, the cars have been pared down to the absolute minimum. There is some evidence that pure electric cars aren't as safe in an accident. Because the range is typically under a hundred miles and the cars take several hours to recharge, pure electrics are useless outside of city driving.

From my entry Tradeoffs :

Engineering is about tradeoffs. It's possible to make a car that gets a hundred miles to the gallon, but it will have no mass to protect the driver and won't be able to do the start-and-stop driving that most need.


From the news story Tiny Cars Fail Front-End Crash Tests at cbsnews.com. Emphasis in original.

Micro-cars can give motorists top-notch fuel efficiency at a competitive price, but the insurance industry says they don't fare too well in collisions with larger vehicles.

In crash tests released Tuesday, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers of 2009 versions of the Smart "fortwo," Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris could face significant leg and head injuries in severe front-end crashes with larger, mid-size vehicles.

"There are good reasons people buy mini-cars. They're more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests," said Adrian Lund, the institute's president.

He told CBS News, "We know people are trying to save money in this economy; it's just not healthy decision to do that by buying the smallest cars. ... Small cars are at a disadvantage in almost all crashes."

Almost like I knew what I was talking about, isn't it?

The sad part is that when the government is "in charge" instead of the free market, no one tells you about the tradeoffs until it's too late to do anything about it.

Free to choose doesn't just mean more freedom.

Over time it means better, cheaper products. Hmm, maybe I said something about that too. Companies have a choice, make a better product today or watch their competition steal their market tomorrow.

The free market makes it possible. Unburdened by regulation and unshielded by special exemptions, companies HAVE to develop ways to make it better, cheaper, faster, or more desirable than the competition can. If a company can't deliver something unique to the buyer for the price, the company goes under because the buyer goes somewhere else.

I'm not saying that electric cars aren't a really good idea. The geek in me longs for a car that has the engine, transmission, and brakes all built into one unit attached to each tire. It will save maintenance and give you full time four wheel drive.

What I am saying is that as it stands today, battery technology just isn't there. And by paring everything down to save weight, the cars are less safe in an accident.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Wed - April 15, 2009 at 01:43 PM  Tag


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