Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/21

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Subject: [Leica] A First (very OT)
From: jbilin at axionet.com (Jacques Bilinski)
Date: Thu Apr 21 21:02:54 2005
References: <BE8D72C6.4BE2F%joseph@yao.com> <004c01c54687$d68273d0$1ae76c18@ted> <p06210216be8d94811fff@10.4.1.193> <4cfa589b05042110541eaa822b@mail.gmail.com> <p06210218be8daf4e67fb@10.4.1.193> <4cfa589b0504211613df6dcef@mail.gmail.com>

>Lead-acid storage cells aren't really that filled with awful
>chemicals. A bit of acid and some lead plates with calcium and some
>other goodies mixed in for good measure. There are some new
>technologies are promising better power densities.
>  
>
The main battery of the Prius uses NiMh chemistry. These are considered 
quite environmentally benign, much more so than Pb acid batteries.

>I see that some folks are finding ways to plug in their hybrids (as
>can be done in Europe) so they get over 100 mpg.
>
This only makes sense if you do a lot of short trips. I've heard the 
total energy storage of the Prius' battery is equivalent to only 1/2 
pint of gasoline.

> I'm all for this. I'd
>rather have vehicles use mostly electric power and then focus on
>efficient and low-pollution at the power generation site than lots of
>small power generators that are less efficient and which pollute more.
>
Lots of small generators (one per home for example) can make a lot of 
sense if the waste heat can be used for heating. In that case you are 
basically getting 100% efficiency. 


Replies: Reply from mail at gpsy.com (Karen Nakamura) ([Leica] A First (very OT))
Reply from simon.ogilvie at gmail.com (Simon Ogilvie) ([Leica] A First (very OT))
In reply to: Message from joseph at yao.com (Joseph Yao) ([Leica] A First)
Message from tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant) ([Leica] A First)
Message from abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge) ([Leica] A First)
Message from abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge) ([Leica] A First (very OT))