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Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Since they plan (if it works) to sell it in the aftermarket, not that many cars will have it, so the car washes have nothing to worry about. The bigger threat is environmental regulation which has already put many of them out of business when they couldn't afford the water cleaning/recycling systemems now required by law in many areas, including here in the Seattle area. Some cities are even helping the car wash industry by banning car washing at home, because the soap runs into the stormwater system and affects the fish (salmon here).
Some cities are even helping the car wash industry by banning car washing at home, because the soap runs into the stormwater system and affects the fish (salmon here).
did they also ban putting chemicals in the lawn which get into the water reserves or do they care more about fish than humans?
For anyone who lives north of about North Carolina, this would be fantastic until the bottom of your car rusts out from salt. Unless they're going to paint the underbody as well.
IMO It’s nothing more than big promise that fail to deliver.
This actually may be a thing to look for.
I've seen at the local Science Museum, some 1st generation samples where some totally day-to-day items (table cloth, sheet of metal, piece of glass), with a super-hygrophobic coating. This nano-particle coating has shapes that aggressively repel the water's polarized molecules.
You can see how water droplets 'bead' up? Well, this coating causes the underside of the droplets to bead all the way around, so it doesn't wet to the surface at all. Pour water on them and 100.000% rolls off.
However, I don't now how much easier a coated surface would be to clean non-water items, as it doesn't do the same for other liquids, like oil (road oil), or mixes (bird poop).
My brother lives on a ranch in Texas and his long driveway is dirt. Near his place is a car wash by the name of "Pirate's Cove" he visits every morning to wash his black pickup. It costs an alarming amount. They have vacuums there for your convenience if you want to use them. All for $15 a month. They will detail your vehicle inside and out for $50. He never needs that.
Not all of us can do that. Many of us live in apartments or other situations that preclude taking a hose to our cars. Others of us have nowhere to park our cars except blocks away from our homes. Feel lucky that you have this option.
I am still waiting on those flying cars to replace cars of today. The delay since mid 70's seems long.
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