tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29817490.post6730255957370823415..comments2024-03-28T12:08:01.190-04:00Comments on Lion Lamb Blog -- David Mundy: Reinventing the WheelDavid Mundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701933935604438349noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29817490.post-13727315050061197242011-09-19T11:26:16.276-04:002011-09-19T11:26:16.276-04:00The car is a deeply engrained part of our culture....The car is a deeply engrained part of our culture. I remember the excitement leading up to my 16th birthday in anticipation of getting my drivers lisence. Growing up in a small farming community a drivers lisence was freedom. Nothing was close enough to use alternate forms of transportation. Car pooling was the other choice, but if you were the driver you were in controle. If you owned your own car you were really something!<br />Living in a city like Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver there are alternatives that make sense. Just about everywhere else publice transit has serious limitations due to lack of population.<br />The internal combustion engine is undergoing a multitude of changes. They are seriously reducing the level or emmissions they are allowed to produce. So much so that Caterpillar, one of the most notable builders of diesel engines in the world has ceased production of engines because they are unable to meet current Tier 4 EPA emmission standards. Other companies such as Ford, and GM have added afterburners to their diesels in a effort to reduce harmful emmissions. They actually have a combustion chamber after the engine where Uriah is injected to burn at a higher temperature to burn off particles that were left over from the initial burn in the cylinder.<br />Other companies like Dodge and John Deere are using EGR valves, exhaust coolers, and another turbo, to send the exhaust through the engine again to burn off particles, and gain energy from it. No second fuel (Uriha) needed. The problem is it's expensive and bulky.<br />The point I'm making is that most of us will not stop driving, and there is serious investment, and legislation in place to reduce green house gases.<br />The question is why didn't we do this sooner?sjdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17758834961586883700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29817490.post-84542111642516529452011-09-17T18:57:34.033-04:002011-09-17T18:57:34.033-04:00David - what about the bigger challenge - not owni...David - what about the bigger challenge - not owning a car but taking public transit or cabs or renting/sharing a car for holidays or using electric bikes or walking. <br />For me, it was either rent an apartment or live in a car and I chose to live in an apartment and during the 2 years that I could afford to buy a car - I was so use to walking/public transit/cabs that I decided not to buy a car. Cars are expensive. <br />For some people cars are a necessity of their work life. For other people, cars are symbol of their independance - I have heard a great many seniors in previous congregations bemoan the fates/life when they either had their licence taken away and/or had to give up their car. Not having a car does not make you dependant in life. But I, found the greatest challenge in not owning a car is learning to ask people for a ride to events, parties, church, concerts, plays or family gatherings. The people I ask are more than willing to give me a ride but I feel like I am imposing on them when I ask for a ride.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17876165819814430922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29817490.post-42482629171478313552011-09-17T13:27:22.125-04:002011-09-17T13:27:22.125-04:00Thanks for the lesson in automotive history, David...Thanks for the lesson in automotive history, David. And nice work on the new car. Fare the well, noble wagon ....<br /><br />Certainly, we've all got to do our environmental part when it comes to making wise vehicular purchases. I bought my Highlander in 2002, just as gas prices and Al Gore brought temporarily brought the class to its knees. Next time around, I will be downsizing!<br /><br />That said, if you look on either side of yourself as you rip down the 401, it's pretty apparent that the age of the big car and loaded truck is far from over.IanDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02215355498752040598noreply@blogger.com