Yes, a third-rail approach (like some trains and subway cars) could work. Designated lanes with lower lines would also work, but they would need to be high enough not to be dangerous. Of course, someone standing in the back of a lifted pickup could probably grab the overhead lines (I live in Florida so this would be a…

Figure out some way to embed the charging tech in the pavement, which would make it practical for lower-height cars and trucks as well, make it a toll lane to cover the costs of the vehicles consuming electricity therefrom, and I think you have a fantastic solution to the range-anxiety problem.

I have always felt that graduated licensing should involve having to spend your first year driving a motorcycle, something reasonable under 500 cc and under 300lbs. Nothing prepares you for defensive and attentive driving like riding a bike.

Well trains are so 18th century this is new and disruptive and blah blah blah.....

$19Billion is coincidentally roughly how much VC money uber has flushed down the toilet so far.. with no real hope of ever making a profit, OBVIOUSLY they are valued (by who exactly?) at $100+Billion

I had a 1972 Ford Ranchero with a 351 and a 4-speed. It was not capable of hauling heavy cargo, and it did not handle as well as a car, but it suited my purposes. I used it for camping, hauling a kayak, and transporting a bicycle. It was also great for moving items like kitchen appliances and furniture; and it was fun…

Neutral.

In 1977, I was working on a pipeline crew. Since we were constantly on the road, none of us had any knowledge about current events, and we had no idea what movies were popular. I was responsible for setting up equipment, so I would arrive several days ahead of the heavy machinery and the majority of workers. Since I…

Morality and power without accountability. A hero’s journey. Badass magic swords. A space opera with American values steeped in pseudo World War imagery. Slave Leia. Scruffy looking charming rogues. Big explosions, witty repartee.

Yes, and there is also a great railroad museum in Strasburg, PA - the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. It is just southeast of Lancaster.

They have one of those at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA (yes, that Scranton) (also, if you’re even remotely interested in trains, Steamtown is worth a visit) (also the coal mine tours in Scranton are pretty neat) and it’s hard to express how COLOSSAL these locomotives are. It’s awesome.

I totally agree. It would be nice to have the different drive options. The naturally-aspirated, flat-six, however, is my first choice (if available).

Yes, this clearly looks like the work of Florida Man. We can’t let Virginia steal our favorite superhero. This calls for a “stupid and futile gesture” in retaliation. 

On an iPhone, you can activate “do not disturb while driving.” This feature detects when you are driving (I assume by monitoring your speed), temporarily blocks calls, and sends a message to the sender telling them that you are driving. If you are not driving (say, if you are a really fast runner), you can override…

I remember when driving was actually all you wanted to do. To enjoy the freedom it brought. To take a look at your surroundings and see what’s new or take in an unseen sight.

We also need major improvements in the electrical delivery system. According to most estimates, the electrical grid in the United States is between 30% and 40% efficient. In other words, we lose about 2/3 of the electrical energy that we produce. With a more efficient electrical grid, we could greatly reduce the power…

Here we are arguing about this, when personal vehicles only account for 15% of emissions. (A little more than half of the “Transportation” sector for people ready to hit reply and cite that more comprehensive statistic)

Too bad, you would have liked it. Many years ago, I bought a 1972 Opel GT, and took it on a rambling, sixteen state, cross-country trip. It was reliable and fun to drive.

There was also a time when the Jeep Cherokee came in a 2-door model. The wheelbase was only 101 inches - just a little longer than the Eagle Summit.

It was also very reasonably priced – about $12,000 in 1989, if I am remembering correctly. I bought a new one and spent many hours pulling people out of the sand on Oregon beaches. It was also very capable on mountain roads in the Cascades. We eventually moved to Vermont and sold it with 160,000 miles on it in 2005.