The solar powered Prius

As if a rollover while driving wasn't devastating enough—let alone the bird poop up top and random kung fu masters driving motorcycles over your car—now you've got to worry about keeping the solar panels on the roof of your car clean too? Still, we've to to take our hats off to Steve Lapp's solar-modded Prius, which runs now 10% more efficiently than it did before on mere regenerative juice.

[Via Treehugger]

[jonathan N @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Toyota Prius sucks. This is an UGLY, SMALL, car that looks like a reject from GM's Concept papers.

Thank god I make enough money to not worry about the $2.50 gas prices.

As long as I can put gas in my Escalade, its all good to me.

[jocko @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Nice attitude -- why don't you write a check directly to Osama bin Laden, and skip the middle man?

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I have to agree with #1 to an extent, especially with the ugly comment. I was all set to lease the $26K Prius (complete with the nav and all the other upgraded goodies) but was completely turned off by the really ugly and cheap feeling interior, the absurd rear-view-killing semi-hatchback and the flat out crazy lease payments.

I went across the street to the Mercedes dealer and leased a C280 with a sticker a full 10K higher, for $150 less a month.

[J @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Very cool idea for a very cool car. I wish they would offer that as an add-on option.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

unfortunatly the 10% more juice is with the old prius. the newer models have been alot more efficient

Jonathan N:
it is people like YOU that we have to pay 2.50. I myself got a lexus hybrid even though yes i know it is ironic but where I live, it is needed.

Ryan:
You would had made up your $150 more a month for the hybrid in no time becuase of the "cheap gas"

[Glancing Aft @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Jonathan N,
what better way to show of your manhood then drive around an Escalade... you tool

[jonathan N @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#2 Osama Bin Laden's bank accounts have been FROZEN by America, and the EUROPEAN UNION. That is why terrorists are currently attempting to barter with diamonds, weapons and gold boullion.

"Writing checks to Osama" is a typical Right winger, uneducated, south-western American, White anglo saxan christian's way of saying...
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE WORLD'S MONETARY SYSTEM WORKS.

I bet you still think Iraq had WMD too !


Perhaps I should comment on how you're support for Chinese made devices is putting more money in the PRC governments hands so they can build more nuclear ballistic missiles to threaten America?

[G. Snyder @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

# 3 - Out of curiosity, what state are you in. The local dealers in VA have said that Toyota will not lease the Prius - it is for purchase only.

Also, you leased a C280? Recently? They have not made a C280 for some time now (as in '99 I beleive).

[asher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

yeah #1. I'm so for you and your ability to just suck up the planet's resources! Screw the dumb ass who wants to try to make a positive impact. He's such a dork. I'm inspired. I think I'll just turn the A/C up to full and turn on all the gas burners because I like the pretty light they make. While I eat off of designer rainforest paper plates.

[jonathan N @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#5

It is because of people like me:
buying GM and FORD cars, instead of running out buying the latest piece of Japanese/ Chinese shrapnel that keeps America's economy afloat.

Those American Car companies help make america a strong economy and a strong country. I want my country to be the strongest in the world. You are willing to save $1 on gas at the expense of the American economy.

I would NEVER buy a non American made Car no matter what the cost of gas or the vehicle. If I have to pay more for gas I'll just work harder.
GM's next Escalade is suppossed to get 20 MPG due to GM's VVT technology. When that hits, I'll trade mine in.


While you suckers are meandering around in your little Toyotas and Hondas, I'll be sitting high and mighty with my American made SUV which BTW would totally cripple you in the event of a car accident.
Ever see what happens when a Prius rear-ends an American made SUV?

It goes under the tire!

[Dennis - Help me fight for my son @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Rainforest paper plates? Where do I get some?

I have a Suburban, same gas mileage as the Escalade, and to me, WTF? You are hammering on jon (and me now, probably) about gas and natural resources and crap; what about our politicians driving the Escalades? I don't see them driving the hybrids/environmentally friendly cars.

I hate the gas prices, but like jon, its my choice to drive my 'burban and pay the prices. Hell, I couldn't even fit in a Prius; I'm a big boy. And, yes, the AC is cranking while I throw foam bigmac containers out the window with my whale-skin leather...

[jonathan N @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#9

I am 6'7 tall. I wouldn't fit in one of those LITTLE kiddie Cars because of the POOR legroom, POOR headroom and POOR 2nd row seating. Most of the people in my family are quite tall.

Japanese and Euro imports are made for PUNY people who average 5'9 tall.

If you want a little baby car, thats fine by me. In fact, the more people who buy hybrid vehicles will only make thing better for me since the demand for oil/petroleum will decrease and so too will the price of gasoline.
I wish all of you would go out and get energy savers tommorrow !

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

10

No it isnt because of you that keeps the american economy afloat... infact it is people like you that SINKS the american economy.
if you work harder to make more money, you better start working 24/7

[Jon Konrath @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

So he's adding an extra battery (more weight, takes up more space in a car with almost no extra space) and then adding solar panels (more weight, worse drag) and this makes the car more efficient? That battery is probably not safe in a landfill in three years when he needs to replace it, and don't forget the parts cost money (which is earned in an energy-burning office or maybe an oil-slurping factory) and are made with petroleum-based plastic and assembled in a power-hungry factory, probably using more energy than the panels could produce in a lifetime.

It would be more than 10% efficient if the guy carpooled instead, or maybe bought a cheap bike.

[josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

nice trolling, #1

[dcwirtz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#10 A HUGE percentage of 'Japanese' and other foreign cars are American made. Would you consider buying those? If not, would you buy American cars produced in Canada or another foreign country? What's your definition of American made?

BTW...I've been getting over 27 mpg in my non-hybrid CR-V for the last 106,000 miles. I've considered getting a hybrid but there since most of my miles are highway miles, I probably wouldn't see those slightly better mileage figures that current hybrids offer.

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Most "Japanese" cars sold in the US are made in the US now, and the US automakers outsource to Mexico quite extensively.

Anyway, I drive a crappy fuel ineffecient American car, but that's because I'm poor and can't afford a good car.

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#13

I don't consider $2.55 a gallon - even $3.00 a gallon too much for me. My Escalade EXT costs me exactly $65 to fill up for one week (assuming I drive every single day) and I allways fill up on Sunday.

Certain days I take mass transit to my job in Manhattan because its faster and I save energy for that week (especially in the winter).

I don't care what you think about my comments, but you should understand that thats the way the upper middle class and rich feel about it in America.

The only people crying about gas prices are the lower middle class and the working poor who have to choose between filling up their inneficient vehicles OR buying food that week from Walmart or wherever the hell else it is they shop.

The way I see it, if you can't afford gas, don't buy a car; live in an easily accessible area for mass transit and STOP TRYING TO LIVE LIKE THE UPPER CLASSES DO UNTIL YOU CAN AFFORD IT!

When you star making what I do per year, then you can move up the ranks.

[Question Answerer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Rather than these expensive hybrid cars I'd like to see something like the Honda Jazz in the USA. It's a nice mid-sized hatchback which gets 60mpg from it's conventional petrol engine and it costs half what a Prius costs.

[Zack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Am I the only one who can appreciate this article for what it is meant to be? It's cool: that's all there is to it. The guy stuck some solar panels on his car. It would be even cooler if he had figured out how to run Linux on the car's dashboard display, but still. It's a freakin technology article, meant to show off technology, and yet you insist on flaming each other over petty political issues. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go mock trolls on Slashdot.

[robin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

this is funny. I've seen something like this on a pure electric vehicle before.

those solar panels probably cost somewhere between $400 - $700 to buy. I doubt that the gas that the owner saves will ever recoup the cost within the car's lifetime, unless the price of gas shoots up dramatically.

A plugin hybrid would do a lot better in terms of saving money than putting a solar panel on that car.

[Jonathan N Wannabe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Jonathan N:

Ever since your inspiring post #1 I've been working hard to "move up the ranks" and start making what you do per year. Unfortunately you never told me how much that is but I think I'm getting close. It's only now that I can afford nice things like Lasik surgery that I've been able to see just how ugly hybrid cars are, how boring Walmart is and how beautiful white republicans driving escalades are. Thank You - I'm eternally grateful.

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Let me explain to you in laymens terms how American outsourcing works.


#1 American companies outsource jobs (i.e. Mexico, China, India, etc)

#2 America pays those 3rd world countries 10 times less than it would pay an America worker.
This allows said company to gain more and more profit.

#3 America taxes those companies which adds to the American economic growth.

#4 Since the American companies are making so much money (paying low wages to foreigners) their growth is exponential and investors choose to invest heavily in those companies which tend to continously expand.

#5 As the Companies grow, They can contribute more to America's Economic growth and military power. This includes production of CONTRACTORS such as GE, GM, and even Exxon.



The only people being hurt by job outsourcing are people who don't have the skills to do another job or people that occupy the lowest end manufacturing/service jobs. These outsourcings don't have a huge impact on the American economy but, the taxes that can be gained by taxing the comapies does.

Buying American made cars ensures that the Americans with higher end jobs (not manufacturing) keep those jobs and foreigners keep getting payed pennies to produce $50,000 vehicles.

My Escalade EXT was made in Mexico for far less than it was sold in America for. I'm ok with that because I know that Im helping America finance the war on, Islamic terrorism and smaller hateful countries that "wanna act up". I work for Lockheed Martin and everyday I am using my human services to finance the American military's dominance in the world.

Protests allways go unheard when an F-16 is dropping JDAMS.

[Tony C @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hmmm... Which Escalade do you have? Because you might have to return it. Some of your precious "American-made" GM gas guzzling SUVs are made in Mexico! Not to mention the multitudes manufactured in Canada, Korea, Europe and Australia.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/index.php?page=factory_guide

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I can afford gas no problem, even if it hits $3.50+. For some of us, it's not mileage and gas prices, it's EMISSIONS. Those things that are slowly giving us all cancer. I have a Corolla (which my 6'4" cousin fits into wonderfully) which gets so close in mileage to the Prius, but I'm still considering the upgrade because the emisssions are so much lower. I live in Oregon, not NYC and we actually have natural forests, not just an area the city put aside to keep green. Call me a hippie if you want, but I kind of like nature and would like to try to keep it green.

[confuted @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

For much of the year, I live in an area where it starts snowing in mid-October and doesn't stop until late April. The average snowfall is 300" a year. No, these hybrids are not an option for me - I need an SUV or a truck, and I'll drive one, thank you. If you want to try pushing your Prius up the ice and snow covered hills when the gerbils under the hood freeze to death, go right ahead.

That said, I don't drive when I don't need to. This summer, I've biked everywhere; I've only been in a car a handful of times, and I have not driven. I put my groceries in a backpack and bike, and that's far more energy efficient than your damn Prius will ever be.

[Skotos @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

In case anyone's curious... I get 62.5 mpg with my 2005 (stock) Prius. It costs about $28 / two weeks to fill and I put about 42 miles on it a day. It's also roomy enough for all who have been in it (including my over 6'2" neighbors), both back and front seats.

Setting aside the argument about what countries make more money off of the dollars I spend for car and gas, I'm happy to know that I'm at least not depleting the world's resources as quickly as I would otherwise. I've got the standard security/economic issues in mind, too, but as a citizen of the world I'm more interested in leaving my kids as hospitable an environment as possible (in my own little way).

Of course, YMMV.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm just going to insert my two cents here:

Why are you proud of paying $2.55 a gallon for gas? I cringe every time I fill up, not because I'm some poor white trash trailer dweller but because gas has doubled in price over the past few years. What happens in another two or three years when it doubles again? The US is lucky to have "reasonably" low gas prices compared to say, the UK, but we're catching up quick.

Oh by the way, your precious Escalade is made in Mexico. You are buying cars that are assembled out of the country and the profits are going to the GM execs without a dime being given back to OUR economy.

Your logic would have been less flawed if you said you only buy Toyota. The profits might be funneled back to Japan but at least they create jobs here in THIS country.

Ass.

[Darrin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'd like to point out that Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, and most foreign car companies operate some of the largest automobile factories in America. Hyundai's new Alabama plant is not only pouring money into our country, but also giving thousands of jobs to Americans. GM is constantly trying to find ways of cutting costs by going to China, Japan, and Korea, except they're doing it underhandedly. How about the Saabaru? Or the Daewoo-made Aveo?

Jonny boy, you've just been caught with your pants down. Don't get me started on your little Napoleon (do you even know who that is?) complex. And has anyone told you that Escalades are SO three years ago?

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#14

A Toyota Prius is a 1.5 Liter, 76 HP car.
This is not a car designed to efficiently go faster than 60 miles per hour so The Solar Panels and battery aren't going to make a big difference. If you take a close look, the panels are angled to decrease induced and form drag.

This car is designed to produce electricity when you are braking. In that respect, while the battery might increase the force needed to pull the car, it will also increase the force needed to stop it. This may actually improve the electricity produced during braking.

Considering how ugly these cars are, I wouldn't be concerned so much by small additions to mass, I'd be more worried abut being seen in one.
I wouldn't wanna be caught dead in one of these.

[Tupper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Thanks Jon, now that I know what your feelings are, I feel better in supporting your lifestyle.

Please continue to raise the price of gas for me and everyone else. I made a choice to work in the Public Library System, so I could give back to the community. Unfortunately my decision to work here also means I have to drive 45mins to work. Because the libraries are underfunded, I can not "work harder" nor longer as my salary is set in stone.

I do drive a 2003 Dodge car that, at the time, was good on gas. I made a concious effort to make responsibe decisions about transportation. When the last gas hike hit in the spring, I decided to quit smoking so I could save some money. However with this gas hike, I don't have the luxury of quitting such habbits, unless you consider food a habbit.

There is a real issue here, and I am afraid that you are not getting it, Jon.

No disrespect to you, or your beliefs, but the level of energy consumption is out of control. Unless people in privlage (like you) start understanding what is at stake, everyone is going to lose.

If you can't see that, you are going to start losing more than just a few dollars at the pump.

[CritSafetyBoy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Actually, in one respect, I am grateful for folks like Jonathan N. I am already tired of hearing people complain about high gas prices, and I fear that those complaints have only just begun. It is as if when the people bought their SUVs, low gas prices were somehow their right by divine fiat. Say what you will, Jonathan takes responsibility for his choices. And I suspect that if gas prices finally outstrip his ability to pay them, we won't hear him whining.

Just my two cents.

CritSafetyBoy, libertarian educated southern white Anglo-Saxon Christian

[Lenord @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Wether Jonathan the Republican is being frighteningly sincere or just trying to satirize American selfishness, this is a pretty nifty idea. It seems like combining a few technoliges like solar power and electric cars with a hybrid would overcome the serious limitations of each, while adding some significant increased mileage.

The typical hybrid's mpg hardly seems to justify their price when compared to a Volkswagen turbodesil or something similar - but if someone were to sell a hybrid that would allow me to plug it in at night to completely charge its batteries, had solar panels on the roof to assist in recharging the batteries while I was driving, and would switch over to a gas engine whenever the batteries were dead, I would be all over that business.

There must be something I'm missing, but I've been wondering for the past few years why no-one's manufactureing a hybrid that can be plugged in.

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I thought you guys were moderating the comments here. Why is this section full of Jonathan N's crap?

[Gary Deen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I appreciate the thought that went into constructing this mechanism.

I too constructed an array to sit on top of my car to run an air conditioner during the day.
It worked. The car could be kept cool while the other cars are extremely hot.

But, please think of this as a hobby. Currently, solar technology is too expensive to
use, with practically no energy gain.

The far better solution would have been to
place within the vehicle a battery capable of
storing the charge of the solar panels (That would be much lighter than the solar array). Then, moving that charge to those batteries.

The resoning is you really don't want to drive around with solar panels. It changes the way you park (Park facing south). It changes the way you drive (Drive in sunlight rather than shade). Design this ultimate solar experience
for your solar array at home in a standard place and port the energy around. You would
really be surprised at how small the battery is to handle the charger this array can deliver.

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#31

thats a decent comment and I respect your beliefs. The thing about it is America is a class society and those with power allways make decisions that improve life for the upper class and inadvertently make things harder on some of the lower class.

I do understand your point of view. That is why I am all for development of energy efficient vehicles and fuel cell technology.
the only problem I have is buying vehicles that are not safe for use on roads with larger vehicles like SUVs and giving my money to contries developing weapons to use against my country.
America needs to get its energy reforms together so I don't have to give a dime to Asia.

[SD @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

>>#1 American companies outsource jobs (i.e. Mexico, China, India, etc)

You forgot to mention those same countries have complete disregard for intellectual property and promptly "knock off" what we have them make, turn around and set up business and sell them back to us for even less money since they have to overhead when it comes to R&D. We in turn buy those items because they are cheaper than the stuff we outsource. Case and point Haier and BenQ among others. Aren't those cheap Chinese made cars supposed to show up on our shores soon?

How does that help the US of A again?

Idiot.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Incidentally, your Escalade performs worse in a collision than a Toyota Prius. Or at least the NHTSA thinks so.

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#36


I am against allowing Chinese made cars into America simply because I know the Chinese:
#1 Aren't going to buy american cars,
#2 CAN't AFFORD American cars and
#3 are making nuclear weapons with the income they get to use against the US.

I lived in ShangHai China for two years when I was at Fu Dan University. China has a few companies with SUVS and cars such as MEI TIAN and GAO XING motors.
both these vehicles were heavily steel and cheap plastic and looked just like Japanese cars since China doesn't respect intellectual property rights. I ended up leasing a chinese GAO XING SUV and I hated it - though it did beat a bicycle or walking.

What you've gotta understand about China is that the average citizen makes less than $7000 a year there (since the Ren Min Bi is only 8% of the US dollar). Most of the people there will NEVER own a car. The majority of cars their are owned by Taxi companies and the super rich which account for less than 5% of China as a whole. The vast majority of China's citizens are riding bokes. And YES, I have seen a Chinese mother "drive" her child to school on the back of a bicycle.
Its not their society we are helping by buying their products, it is their belligerent psychotic PRC military (which has allready threatened to nuke California).

http://www.gertzfile.com/gertzfile/

Chinese manufacturers will take the front of a lexus and the back of a BMW and call it their own design. *&%*$* THIEVES !

The only things I want to see made in China are the cheapest pieces of plastic and metal. If we have to outsource a few manufacuring jobs to china so a couple kids get payed 10 YUAN a day (80 cents) to make a $500 leather jacket, SO BE IT !

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#38 Is sitting on top of a lot of rage.
Perhaps if he hadn't lost his job to India, he'd be able to afford more than a Dodge Neon.

[Guinnis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Well John ideally that is how it should work but it doesn�t. At least not anymore

The company out sources jobs to another country to offer cheaper products to Americans. Either to compete with foreign competition or domestic that has lower labor cost. Once that happens it forces other domestic competitors into the same outsourcing chain. At this point the Americans are receiving cheaper products from all companies. So to compete those companies now start to outsource other back end services like research and development. If you don�t believe that look up the R&D plants that CISCO, KODAK and MICROSOFT are opening in foreign countries.

Your topic about the government makes more money by taxing those companies is false also. The US government has free trade agreements with Mexico and Canada NAFTA and now CAFTA for Central America
1. The US doesn�t make any money from those imports directly.
2. The state economy�s suffer from the loss of taxable wages
3. The Federal government loses money from taxable wages

Your point is that the government makes more off of taxes it places on the company�s for profits gained. That may hold some value but you also have to keep in mind we give tax relief to a lot of the company�s that send our jobs offshore also.

It�s a nasty cycle it really is think of it like this

1. The company out sources jobs to compete with competition so the company moves jobs overseas to compete

2. The employees are now laid off and can�t afford as much so they look for lower priced foreign made products (therefore shooting themselves in the foot in the long run)

3. So now moves in a new employer that can hire you for less so you take it because that�s all you have. Until that job gets outsourced and you keep on moving down the pay scale.

With company�s exporting us jobs now including Research and development the only things you don�t really have to worry about are low level service jobs like Wal-Mart and high level jobs like doctors and lawyers

bottom line outsourcing is destroying the american way of life buy american.

[Darrin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I don't give a rats arse if your Escalade has a "Drexel Meyer" interior. The Suzuki Forenza was designed by Pininfarina and that doesn't make it a Ferrari. Before you spout off any technical wonders of your GM engine, you may want to check out http://www.pistonslap.com . You may not have any Escalade left to trade in!

And don't try to say VVT is some big GM advancement, the cheapest Hyundais have had it for ages. I'm quite proud to own a BMW that was built right here in the United States because not only do I get the quality of BMW but I get the quality of an American-made product, and the knowledge that not only did my purchase employ an American BMW dealer and mechanic, but it also employed an American factory worker who built my car with pride.

I bet you don't pay attention to what's actually going on outside of your Escalade so I'll fill you in. We have a lot of jobless Americans. GM is not helping anyone by moving production out of the country. Thank god for the foreign companies who do want to invest in this amazing country of ours. Clearly we need to rely on them since we can't count on our own to do it.

Best wishes to you and your Escalade. I hope you suffer painfully from lung cancer until your early death.

[Concerned citizen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Alright, everyone needs to give it a rest. There are several needed changes to our way of life and the way we use energy. First, get rid of the SUVs, they suck anyway. Second, start forcing the car manufacturers to listen to the little guy. I have several ideas I would love to implement, but I can't tell any of them for fear of theft of intellectual property.

And by the way Jonathan...the highest tax paying companies in the US from the automobile based industries are the foreign competitors. Stick that in your craw...

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#42

CHECK THIS OUT:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1594030863/102-1849358-5660139?v=glance

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Jonathan N,

Okay, so you're against Chinese-made cars in the US, but apparently outsourcing to the Chinese is okay... (so how is that different from buying a Chinese-made car exactly?)

American corporations make up only 13% of our tax base. This is because of all the tax loopholes and tax breaks they are given. The vast, vast majority of the tax burden of running this country is on the backs of the American worker, so I don't think your outsourcing model is going to work without some tax reform.

[Jonathan N the Republican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#42, -----I've read other posts of yours and the common theme is always hatred.. Why?------

I work for a company that develops military weaponry for America to destroy/occupy/liberate/etc other countries.
If you think my attitude needs adjustment than maybe I should quit my job at Lockheed Martin and join the Kmart team?




#43, That is a very good argument you posted.

I also believe Education jobs, engineering jobs, military weapons development (where I am at Lockheed Martin) and a number of other service jobs should be added to that list.


I do disagree with you a little about destroying the American way of life.
In my opinion, if Americans give up certain low-end jobs it will force them to either elevate themselves to a higher standard of education and work OR they will be left behind and forced to scrounge for employment wherever they can find it.

Sadly enough, this is excatly how communist China's education systemworks which leads me to believe their are overcontrolling oligarchial socialists in high levels of american government.

The other social implications of low-end job loss are drastic changes to family planning and extra generational ducational oppurtunities...
If you had a shitty job, you are more likely to be harder on your child to get a better job in the future and warn them to strive hard to stay away from certain types of low-end work.

If american technology companies can get their products designed, and developed for a lower price in some 3rd world country, it stands to reason that they will be able to use their profits to rapidly improve their products faster.

[Iceman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

If you plug in your Prius, you are using energy that was generated in a power plant. Improving gas mileage by increasing the draw on an already-overloaded coal-burning power plant seems like a really bad tradeoff.

[togran @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Most American cars are now being built using Japanese steel. We may be assembling the cars but they have already stolen the steel industry.

[Sonic the Hedgehog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Solar cells on the car roof? Why not just convert the Prius to a plug-in hybrid (WIRED just published an article about a guy who did this), and mount a solar array on the garage, connected to a storage battery bank. Whatever power the batteries don't need to recharge, you feed back into the power grid. So you use less gas, AND maybe get a refund check from the power company. Then you could plug the Prius into that when you park, slightly de-uglifying the car. Of course, you're going to spend almost $6000 to do that, but folks like Jonathon N can afford that, right?

[Matthew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Jon, you missed responding to post #37 - the one about how most, if not all, especially your SUV - does worse in crash tests than the Prius.

-m.