MellowGuy's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/211293/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/176762-carmakers-continue-to-consolidate?source=feed#comment-792667 792667 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:32:29 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/169982-recycling-u-s-coins-into-silver?source=feed#comment-736191 736191
The US should encourage those in the NorthEast that are still heating with fuel oil to convert to natural gas.]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:11:54 -0400
The US should encourage those in the NorthEast that are still heating with fuel oil to convert to natural gas.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163625-toyota-offloads-financial-arm?source=feed#comment-693965 693965
The USA needs to change its tax structure to have a value added tax (smart sales tax) instead of putting the tax burden on working people.]]> Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:17:57 -0400
The USA needs to change its tax structure to have a value added tax (smart sales tax) instead of putting the tax burden on working people.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/159069-prospects-for-electric-cars?source=feed#comment-654097 654097 Electric motors should also be dropping in price.
Everyone forgets about the converter that changes battery power into the AC power that drives the motors and the price for the converter should be getting less expensive as well as being able to handle more power.]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:13:12 -0400 Electric motors should also be dropping in price.
Everyone forgets about the converter that changes battery power into the AC power that drives the motors and the price for the converter should be getting less expensive as well as being able to handle more power.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/157547-is-toyota-losing-ground-in-the-electric-vehicles-race?source=feed#comment-639921 639921
A neighbor has converted his Prius to a plug-in Hybrid and uses a solar array in his back yard to charge it. ]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:23:14 -0400
A neighbor has converted his Prius to a plug-in Hybrid and uses a solar array in his back yard to charge it. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/156191-latest-on-hybrids-toyota-yaris-for-u-s?source=feed#comment-631690 631690 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:29:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/155875-why-the-electric-car-mileage-debate-is-meaningless?source=feed#comment-628583 628583
Mini nuclear power plants are being designed that can be placed in remote areas such as Alaska to give economical & reliable power.


On Aug 13 09:38 AM huangjin wrote:

> The question is: where are they going to put all the nuclear power
> plants?]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:20:28 -0400
Mini nuclear power plants are being designed that can be placed in remote areas such as Alaska to give economical & reliable power.


On Aug 13 09:38 AM huangjin wrote:

> The question is: where are they going to put all the nuclear power
> plants?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/155875-why-the-electric-car-mileage-debate-is-meaningless?source=feed#comment-628573 628573
Coal, nuclear fuel, and natural gas are priced much lower than diesel fuel which makes a plug hybrid more economical for that first 40 miles or so.

On Aug 13 12:46 PM Gandalph wrote:

> Do the efficiency numbers! The efficiency of a power plant - coal,
> oil, or nuclear is about 40%; the efficiency of the grid is estimated
> at 92%; the efficiency of charging a Li-Ion battery is no more than
> 85% (They get hot!); the efficiency of an electric motor is about
> 85%(They also get hot); call the AC to DC converters 85% (?). Overall:
> 22.5%. Compare with modern clean diesel: ~48%. The electric car
> is a hoax !]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:13:29 -0400
Coal, nuclear fuel, and natural gas are priced much lower than diesel fuel which makes a plug hybrid more economical for that first 40 miles or so.

On Aug 13 12:46 PM Gandalph wrote:

> Do the efficiency numbers! The efficiency of a power plant - coal,
> oil, or nuclear is about 40%; the efficiency of the grid is estimated
> at 92%; the efficiency of charging a Li-Ion battery is no more than
> 85% (They get hot!); the efficiency of an electric motor is about
> 85%(They also get hot); call the AC to DC converters 85% (?). Overall:
> 22.5%. Compare with modern clean diesel: ~48%. The electric car
> is a hoax !]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/152909-cash-for-clunkers-may-cost-up-to-45-354-per-vehicle?source=feed#comment-610045 610045 The program will take the old clunkers off the road which should be a good thing because the clunkers aren't as safe and use more gas.
Deals like the trade in program are just going to give the dealers more profit.
The deal applies to imports as well as domestic makes. It would be better to have the deal only apply to domestic makes.]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:24:43 -0400 The program will take the old clunkers off the road which should be a good thing because the clunkers aren't as safe and use more gas.
Deals like the trade in program are just going to give the dealers more profit.
The deal applies to imports as well as domestic makes. It would be better to have the deal only apply to domestic makes.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/150241-toyota-reviews-u-s-ops-not-profitable-here?source=feed#comment-597277 597277 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:56:53 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/144110-ethanol-s-persecution-complex-to-rehabilitate-its-image-it-must-understand-the-issues?source=feed#comment-553669 553669
Gasoline is improved by the addition of oxygenates, but complete replacement is difficult.

Alcohol is an oxygenate, but it has problems with transportation and corrosion. ETBE is an oxygenate that can be produced from alcohol without the accompanying problems.

The mpg ratings of new vehicless needs to be available for 10% ethanol fuel, and it would be nice to know how milage is affected for older vehicles.

Although I am not for subsidizing imports, the high tariffs on ethanol and sugar are an indirect burden on the American consumer.]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:02:42 -0400
Gasoline is improved by the addition of oxygenates, but complete replacement is difficult.

Alcohol is an oxygenate, but it has problems with transportation and corrosion. ETBE is an oxygenate that can be produced from alcohol without the accompanying problems.

The mpg ratings of new vehicless needs to be available for 10% ethanol fuel, and it would be nice to know how milage is affected for older vehicles.

Although I am not for subsidizing imports, the high tariffs on ethanol and sugar are an indirect burden on the American consumer.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/140900-why-the-government-is-keeping-gm-alive?source=feed#comment-528538 528538
GM, Ford, and Chrysler weren't on an equal tax basis with foreign manufacturers which could have been partially alleviated by a value added tax.

GM shouldn't have been pushing blue sky hydrogen technology when hybrid technology was shown to work in a cost effective manner.]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:04:17 -0400
GM, Ford, and Chrysler weren't on an equal tax basis with foreign manufacturers which could have been partially alleviated by a value added tax.

GM shouldn't have been pushing blue sky hydrogen technology when hybrid technology was shown to work in a cost effective manner.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/139600-new-north-american-rare-earth-production-could-help-toyota-save-gm?source=feed#comment-517930 517930
Cobalt is used in NiMH and Li batteries.

Toyota is using Neodynium in their PM electric motors. Cobalt-Samarium is another possibility but it is more expensive.]]> Tue, 26 May 2009 11:14:26 -0400
Cobalt is used in NiMH and Li batteries.

Toyota is using Neodynium in their PM electric motors. Cobalt-Samarium is another possibility but it is more expensive.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/134503-chrysler-vs-debtholders-who-will-win?source=feed#comment-485545 485545 ]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 11:01:46 -0400 ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/134030-why-3-asian-etfs-are-soaring?source=feed#comment-483284 483284
Since I already have exposure to a couple of Taiwan stocks, I don't bother with EWT.
]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:52:26 -0400
Since I already have exposure to a couple of Taiwan stocks, I don't bother with EWT.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/131356-semi-equipment-companies-need-to-boycott-450mm-development?source=feed#comment-466398 466398 ]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:55:58 -0400 ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/131313-why-china-and-india-want-the-imf-to-sell-its-gold?source=feed#comment-465869 465869
The US and IMF should reduce their gold reserves slowly to avoid depressing the price.
]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:47:45 -0400
The US and IMF should reduce their gold reserves slowly to avoid depressing the price.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/129662-valero-buys-up-ethanol-opportunistic-investment-or-industry-consolidation?source=feed#comment-453424 453424 ]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:29:21 -0400 ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/127465-six-cars-that-represent-the-future-of-driving?source=feed#comment-438167 438167 Hydrogen is expensive to produce, dangerous, and has a short driving range. Fuel cells(expensive!) are are a better way to convert hydrogen to power than an IC engine.
Plug in power add on to a hybrid vehicle would work for me, but for vehicles that need to travel hundreds of miles per day, that might not be suitable add-on.
Compressed methane would work for large trucks, but passenger vehicles need something more like propane which is much cheaper than gasoline.
Ethanol has delivery problems that could be improved by converting it to ETBE.
Reducing vehicle size can reduce energy consumption, but that might require a second vehicle that can haul more people, cargo, and trailer.
]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:17:42 -0400 Hydrogen is expensive to produce, dangerous, and has a short driving range. Fuel cells(expensive!) are are a better way to convert hydrogen to power than an IC engine.
Plug in power add on to a hybrid vehicle would work for me, but for vehicles that need to travel hundreds of miles per day, that might not be suitable add-on.
Compressed methane would work for large trucks, but passenger vehicles need something more like propane which is much cheaper than gasoline.
Ethanol has delivery problems that could be improved by converting it to ETBE.
Reducing vehicle size can reduce energy consumption, but that might require a second vehicle that can haul more people, cargo, and trailer.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/117439-a-simple-post-on-gold?source=feed#comment-370423 370423
]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:34:01 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/116448-could-there-be-a-real-breakout-in-gold?source=feed#comment-366449 366449 GLD) under $800/oz now that it's over $900/oz.

]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:37:21 -0500 GLD) under $800/oz now that it's over $900/oz.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114530-toyota-comes-clean-on-solar-panels-lithium-ion-batteries?source=feed#comment-354757 354757
]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:50:53 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/113916-gold-etf-reaches-new-inventory-high?source=feed#comment-350193 350193
]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:45:26 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/112794-the-intrinsic-value-of-gold?source=feed#comment-342486 342486

]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:36:11 -0500

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/112057-gold-prices-little-correlation-with-its-utility?source=feed#comment-336693 336693
I buy the GLD ETF shares and write options against them hoping that the price of gold won't fluctuate too much.

]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:54:24 -0500
I buy the GLD ETF shares and write options against them hoping that the price of gold won't fluctuate too much.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/110620-does-anyone-care-about-alternative-energy-anymore?source=feed#comment-329450 329450
Insulation is one of the most cost effective ways to save energy costs, but it never gets labeled as alternative energy.

]]> Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:27:14 -0500
Insulation is one of the most cost effective ways to save energy costs, but it never gets labeled as alternative energy.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/110609-the-problem-with-gld-and-slv-etfs?source=feed#comment-329039 329039
]]> Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:26:08 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/109542-half-of-u-s-consumers-delaying-new-car-purchases?source=feed#comment-323477 323477
]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:03:02 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105960-better-to-let-automakers-go-bankrupt?source=feed#comment-306418 306418
]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:07:49 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105406-how-to-save-the-big-3-automakers?source=feed#comment-303342 303342
The switch to defined contribution pensions, such as 401ks will help since the companies won't be gambling away all of their obligations to employees.

Companies that are in financial trouble shouldn't be paying dividends.

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:43:06 -0500
The switch to defined contribution pensions, such as 401ks will help since the companies won't be gambling away all of their obligations to employees.

Companies that are in financial trouble shouldn't be paying dividends.

]]>