# Coal rollers verses Prius owners **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 9, 2014, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700 "2014-07-09T10:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/61 "2014-07-09T19:24:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Yes, it is, if only because driving a Prius does not constitute assault, vandalism, provocation, reckless driving, or anything that might cause a motor vehicle accident. I dunno, the one time I drove a Prius, there was this in-dash video screen full of annoyingly distracting animations. I had to turn it away - it was getting on my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/62 "2014-07-09T19:59:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What are “coal rollers”? Are there coal-powered cars? It’s a synonym for ‘douchebag’. The Prius battery typically lasts for 100K miles. My Prius is three years old and has about 8-10K miles on it. At this rate, the battery will last for about 30 years, longer than most cars will last. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/63 "2014-07-09T20:03:21Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I thought “Coal Rolling” was about joke links to [Never Gonna Give You Up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coal_anthracite.jpg). Close. It’s joke links to [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIfu2A0ezq0). ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/64 "2014-07-09T20:25:33Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I thought “Coal Rolling” was about joke links to [Never Gonna Give You Up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coal_anthracite.jpg). No, you’re thinking of ‘Nat King Cole Rolling’. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/65 "2014-07-09T20:26:25Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Where do you live and what year is your Prius? Anything 2009 and prior that was sold in North America shouldn’t have an EV mode button. > > Also, in normal operation (Eco mode) the Prius will run on battery power up until a certain throttle input or a certain MPH, so it’s certainly possible to creep around on battery power for a little while, but the EV button allowed people to make short trips at normal road speeds without firing up the ICE. I have a 2010 with an EV button, which I’ve started experimenting with. You have to have your battery charged enough to use it, not go too fast, and not accelerate too hard. I cruised down the street on EV the other day which was cool and silent, but it hasn’t been very useful. Maybe later models work better. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/66 "2014-07-09T20:30:25Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > No, you’re thinking of ‘Nat King Cole Rolling’. First one’s free. Don’t let it happen again. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/67 "2014-07-09T20:52:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > First one’s free. Don’t let it happen again. You’re just pissed because he got there first. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/68 "2014-07-09T22:13:12Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > I don’t think you know how hybrids work. Very few Priuses are “charged” on anything but their own brakes. You obviously fail to understand how the Prius drive system works. There is a generator attached to the transmission back-load, creating a CVT arrangement that captures power in the low range and feeds it back either to the electric drive motor or into the battery. This allows the gas engine to run in its optimum range all the time. Typically, they do not charge the battery except while decelerating, but in theory, they could, except at steady highway speeds. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I dunno, the one time I drove a Prius, there was this in-dash video screen full of annoyingly distracting animations. I had to turn it away - it was getting on my nerves. I found the off switch for that on my mother’s car. It is not immediately obvious, but not too hard to turn off. And, you know, my mother is 82 years old, if one of these dirtbags tried that on her, I would be all up in his shit. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/69 "2014-07-09T23:50:24Z")
lol Prius haters :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/70 "2014-07-10T01:41:58Z")
First time I’ve heard of this. I had know idea such assholes exist. To me, it’s very much like random vandalism. Assholes. The point that the they are making is that they are assholes. They can’t think straight, so their goal is to annoy and endanger others. I guess it makes it easier to pick them out from the general public. Certainly, this is reckless driving, among other violations. Assholes. Clear and simple. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/71 "2014-07-10T02:24:35Z")
> [@andros](#): > > [Petulance made manifest.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/07/rolling_coal_conservatives_who_show_their_annoyance_with_liberals_obama.html) I see. The best revenge would be to popularize [this bumper sticker](http://tennesseerader.com/confederate/clipart/Images_3/Lee's%20Surrender.jpg) among Prius owners. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/72 "2014-07-10T02:42:10Z")
Really, who gives a rat’s ass? ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/73 "2014-07-10T02:45:55Z")
> [@WWhiskey](#): > > Coal rolling is stupid, but is owning a Prius any better? > The batteries in the Prius are very toxic , and in many states, they are coal charged, making your Prius coal powered. > My first thread, hope it’s fun! It’s not. It’s fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/74 "2014-07-10T05:20:00Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I see. The best revenge would be to popularize [this bumper sticker](http://tennesseerader.com/confederate/clipart/Images_3/Lee's%20Surrender.jpg) among Prius owners. Too soon! ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/75 "2014-07-10T05:50:38Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Too soon! lol! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/76 "2014-07-10T06:26:06Z")
All those smart ass Yankees are standing around thinking “I’ll be damned! Robert E. Lee can read _and_ write!” ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/77 "2014-07-10T11:22:39Z")
I encountered my first coal roller yesterday. I had an intense desire to to drag his hoopie ass out of that truck and beat him into a vegetative coma with a coal shovel. This has fuck all to do with anything other that some guys enjoy being attention whoring assholes. Straight pipes and loud sound systems are other variations on this theme. Crimoney…there are people who it not only ought to be legal to kick their ass, it ought to be a moral obligation. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/78 "2014-07-10T14:28:17Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > All those smart ass Yankees are standing around thinking “I’ll be damned! Robert E. Lee can read _and_ write!” Nah, they were probably pretty cool about Marse Robert. I think those expressions are the smart ass Yankees thinking “I’ll be damned! General Grant is…sober!” ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/79 "2014-07-10T15:46:46Z")
One additional point that is probably more serious than this OP deserves… Assume for a second that some study comes out next year and proves that there are a bunch of hidden environmental costs to owning a prius… the battery disposal or something is much worse than we previously thought, and it turns out that it’s actually WORSE than just owning a normal car. Well, that means all Prius owners are just making the environment worse, and are big douchebags, right? Obviously not, for two reasons: (1) Most obviously, intentions matter. Someone who honestly tries to help the environment and fails is a better person than someone who tries to HURT the environment purely out of spite, and succeeds (2) There’s also a voting-with-your-wallet affect. If you spend $20K on a prius, it’s a reasonable assumption that you were motivated at least in part by environmental concerns. That (combined with all the other people buying Priuses) gives businesses an economic incentive to continue to develop and sell other high-price environmentally friendly things to sell… it gives them incentive to put more research dollars into solar panels and stuff, because you buying the prius is further evidence that there’s money to made selling stuff like that, and more people developing and selling better solar panels is, itself, good for the environment. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700/80 "2014-07-10T17:31:16Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I encountered my first coal roller yesterday. I had an intense desire to to drag his hoopie ass out of that truck and beat him into a vegetative coma with a coal shovel. I guess there are a few cells left in my body that aren’t infected by world-weary cynicism, because I’m having trouble accepting that this is a thing. Or at least, a thing that more than one person would actually go to the trouble to do. Rationally, I understand that it’s occurring. But my mind just doesn’t want to accept that stupidity like this can exist in the world, in more than once place. And that people are \*proud \*of it. I’m going to go sit somewhere quiet and try to make sense of it. Or just get really drunk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-rollers-verses-prius-owners/692700.md?page=5)