# Smart, cheap, or something else? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331 "2024-07-16T16:38:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/41 "2024-07-17T22:40:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > He’d probably save even more money if he rode the bike to the places he actually intended to go to, so he wouldn’t even need to charge the car at all. or rig up a solar carport as a retiree-fun-project that should keep you mentally and physically fit… and be done with it for life… (the “solar” part of it can probably be done (DIY) for $1-2k) … but thats me (cheap **and** smart) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/42 "2024-07-17T23:51:41Z")
For under $200 US (and some faffing about), he could have combined his preferences: > **[Amazon.com: Pedal Generator, 350W Portable Foot Pedal Generator, Hand Crank...](https://www.amazon.com/Generator-Portable-Emergency-Interface-Household/dp/B0CL4X6F2R)** > > Product name: Three-phase permanent magnet brushless generatorAdvantages: high permanent magnet efficiency, brushless and maintenance-freeVoltage range: DC 0-50V (Style 1: 0-24V; Style 2: 0-40V)Product features: The higher the speed, the higher the... Get the exercise and charge for free! ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/43 "2024-07-17T23:59:00Z")
Where I live, the chargers at Walmart are not free, nor are they marked for patrons only. The only thing I see wrong here, is if your friend leaves their car longer than necessary keeping the spot from being available. One thing you may not consider, is that some homes are not really set up to safely charge. I have a Prius that I don’t plug in because there is no place at my home to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/44 "2024-07-18T00:53:26Z")
Some people are obsessive-compulsive about “saving money” all the time, regardless of their income or net worth. My father has this disorder. He’ll drive 30 miles out of his way to save a nickel a gallon on gasoline. It was hell growing up; the horror stories I could tell. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/45 "2024-07-18T12:32:50Z")
I’ve also noticed that some someone just do not see their time and effort as things that have value. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/46 "2024-07-18T12:50:32Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Some people are obsessive-compulsive about “saving money” all the time, regardless of their income or net worth. My brother’s son insists on pooping on company time. I know this because he talks about it, sends selfies, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/47 "2024-07-18T13:20:39Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > For under $200 US (and some faffing about), he could have combined his preferences: > > [Amazon.com: Pedal Generator, 350W Portable Foot Pedal Generator, Hand Crank Generator DC,Emergency Power Supply,Provide DC 12V Interface,Car Charger 5V Output, for Household Outdoor Mobile,Style1 : Patio, Lawn & Garden](https://www.amazon.com/Generator-Portable-Emergency-Interface-Household/dp/B0CL4X6F2R) > > Get the exercise and charge for free! 350 W is pretty optimistic, there… I’m sure the machinery is capable of that, but it takes a fairly serious athlete to sustain that level of power on a bike, for any extended period of time, and that’s also dependent on being able to get the right posture (it doesn’t look like that device comes with a seat or handlebars). And an electric car battery can be as much as 100 kWhr, which means you’d need to run that thing at peak for 300 hours in order to fully charge a car. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/48 "2024-07-18T13:27:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > you’d need to run that thing at peak for 300 hours in order to fully charge a car. Considering that the winning cumulative time on the most recent Tour de France was a bit over 87 hours… that’s a lot of pedaling just to charge up a car. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/49 "2024-07-18T13:27:51Z")
I remember when I was a kid, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry had an exhibit where you could pedal a bike and try to light a light bulb. I’m sure bike/electricity generation/light bulb technology have progressed since the 60s, but as I remember, you had to pedal FURIOUSLY to even get the bulb to glow. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331/50 "2024-07-18T16:49:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > > Some people are obsessive-compulsive about “saving money” all the time, regardless of their income or net worth. > > My brother’s son insists on pooping on company time. I know this because he talks about it, sends selfies, etc. Ew. Gross. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cheap-or-something-else/1004331.md?page=2)