Nova--Car of the Future

[desdemona]

This was a neat episode of Nova. Click and Clack the Tappet brothers ride in and talk about everything from the huge horsepower (that engine is bigger than my car, why do you need all that horsepower) to hydrogen, to ethanol, to plug ins, to lighter cars (carbon fibers).
This was nicely done, imo. If you haven't seen this, I would guess it is going to be on again Saturday. You gotta like Click and Clack from NPR or they'll drive you nuts.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/car/

--des

[xcel]

Hi Des:

___I thought it was a great show! My mom called me just before it started to make sure I was watching and I said I was given the previous thread shown called Sputtering Ahead - the Car of the Future. I couldn’t wait either

___There was not much new a CleanMPG’er did not know about already but still a nice rehash. I liked how much time they spent on the Prius as I am sure Toyota loved that part too ...

___Also, did you notice the font used in the title? It was the same one the CleanMPG logo is made from

___Also, I do not know if Front Line follows NOVA in NM but it was a great over view of the politics of Global Warming called Hot Politics. It is replaying at 02:00 AM tomorrow morning on my local PBS affiliate but if you can catch it as a re-run in your own locale, watch it as it was also another great show!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[desdemona]

Originally Posted by xcel

Hi Des:

___I thought it was a great show! My mom called me just before it started to make sure I was watching and I said I was given the previous thread shown called Sputtering Ahead - the Car of the Future. I couldn’t wait either

___There was not much new a CleanMPG’er did not know about already but still a nice rehash. I liked how much time they spent on the Prius as I am sure Toyota loved that part too ...

___Also, did you notice the font used in the title? It was the same one the CleanMPG logo is made from

___Also, I do not know if Front Line follows NOVA in NM but it was a great over view of the politics of Global Warming called Hot Politics. It is replaying at 02:00 AM tomorrow morning on my local PBS affiliate but if you can catch it as a re-run in your own locale, watch it as it was also another great show!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

It was a great rehash. I didn't know about the "light cars" but did about everything else.
I thought the whole thing was very smart, nuanced and so on, which is such a rare thing, but I guess typical Nova stuff.

Yep, Toyota was happy, the guy from the Arizona tech place even drove a Prius. And the hybrid stuff showed a Prius.

I didn't notice the CleanMPG font!

I did see the Frontline episode as well.


--des

[brick]

I caught the show and really enjoyed it. Nothing we don't already know, like Wayne said, but it was good to see a rational conversation on the technology. And that exchange with the GM rep almost killed me.

"500 horsepower? Who needs that $&*t?"
"It's the most popular car at the show."
"Yead, but who needs it?"
....
"No, we don't mean to give you a hard time."
"It's ok, I'm used to it."

Yeah, no kidding you're used to it when the car we need is fictional and the cars you're trying to sell are ridiculausly fuel thirsty. (Last night I followed up with "Who killed the electric car?" Talk about deserving of a hard time...it's going to take a week and most of a case of beer for my blood pressure to come back down!)

[Shiba3420]

Originally Posted by brick

"500 horsepower? Who needs that $&*t?"

A horse ranch?

[ericbecky]

___There was not much new a CleanMPG’er did not know about already but still a nice rehash. I liked how much time they spent on the Prius as I am sure Toyota loved that part too ...

I agree it was a nice rehash.

The nicest part for me was that my oldest son (11) was so enthusiastic about watching the show. He made a big point that we all sit down and watch it as a family. , and it sparked lots of discussion afterwards.

[HemiSync]

Originally Posted by brick

I caught the show and really enjoyed it. Nothing we don't already know, like Wayne said, but it was good to see a rational conversation on the technology. And that exchange with the GM rep almost killed me.

Yes I was rolling at that conversation but you left a smug comment out by the rep, here is the full transcript

While viewing the Volt -

RAY MAGLIOZZI: It's right next to the Ford Mustang with 550 horsepower.
BETH LOWERY: Yes. And the Camaro convertible. Isn't that great?
RAY MAGLIOZZI: Yeah.
BETH LOWERY: America is all about choice. If you want a Camaro, buy a Camaro.
RAY MAGLIOZZI: But if we're about hugging trees...
TOM MAGLIOZZI: With 500 horsepower? Who the hell needs 500 horsepower?
BETH LOWERY: Obviously not you.
TOM MAGLIOZZI: Why do you make such sh-t? I mean it's ridiculous!
BETH LOWERY: You mean these popular vehicles that are on the floor?
TOM MAGLIOZZI: Yeah, these popular vehicles. Five hundred horsepower...jeez!
BETH LOWERY: It creates a little excitement, doesn't it?
RAY MAGLIOZZI: You're good, Beth.
TOM MAGLIOZZI: Thanks a million.
RAY MAGLIOZZI: Thanks for your time.
BETH LOWERY: Thanks.
RAY MAGLIOZZI: Sorry for giving you a hard time.
BETH LOWERY: That's okay. I'm used to it.

She made herself look like a total @$$ with that comment.


If a person can't catch it on PBS, they can also watch it on at PBS.org as they have it divided up in 6 chapters viewable with QT or Windows Media. Not sure if that link will work for people outside of the US but I am sure someone will tell us.

[-mr. bill]

The link won't work for people outside the US (says the WGBH member who can't get to it this week):

We're sorry, but due to rights restrictions this program is only available for online viewing in the United States. You appear to be connected to the Internet from outside this area.

If you feel that we have made a mistake in detecting your location, please send in your comments. For viewers in Canada who may support nearby public television stations in the United States, we appreciate your support but regrettably cannot legally offer this programming online outside the United States.

If you would like to purchase "Car of the Future" on home video or DVD, please visit the WGBH Boston Video shop.

-mr. bill

[ILAveo]

Originally Posted by HemiSync

Yes I was rolling at that conversation but you left a smug comment out by the rep, here is the full transcript

While viewing the Volt -

RAY MAGLIOZZI: It's right next to the Ford Mustang with 550 horsepower.
.............
TOM MAGLIOZZI: With 500 horsepower? Who the hell needs 500 horsepower?
BETH LOWERY: Obviously not you.
TOM MAGLIOZZI: Why do you make such sh-t? I mean it's ridiculous!
BETH LOWERY: You mean these popular vehicles that are on the floor?
TOM MAGLIOZZI: Yeah, these popular vehicles. Five hundred horsepower...jeez!
BETH LOWERY: It creates a little excitement, doesn't it?
...........

She made herself look like a total @$$ with that comment.
.................

Beth is in a tough spot--a 550 HP car is about adolescent power fantasies that are less subtle than an Israeli armored bulldozer. The exchange, including her pi$$ing back at Tom, really made me laugh.

Almost nobody, even in heavy construction, needs 550 HP --The largest John Deere excavator, one that's really too big to haul down the road, only has 525 HP (and I've never worked with one that big). If you need to excavate a road or basement you're probably looking at 100-200 HP. Tandem axle dump trucks run 200-400 HP. The Pershing tank rated 500 HP. The large D9 Caterpillar bulldozers the Israelis use to clear rebellious Palestinian neighbohoods are rated at 474 hp. Gotta like it when Tom and Ray shoot straight about horsepower.

[HemiSync]

Great comparisons!
I had to keep reminding myself, "its a passenger car" and it has 550hp. Yikes!

Well obviously I don't need one either, thank goodness.