<p>Electric cars -
As I stated on another similar thread, there’s a huge amount of investment in this area by commercial businesses right now. They’re working very hard to develop battery technologies that will prove viable in cost and practicality (long range, quick charge, long life, reasonable reliability). In actuality, battery technology just doesn’t seem to be quite there yet but with the huge investment I think it will be within 5-15 years at the outside.</p>
<p>Couple viable battery technology with nuclear power and we’d have a viable solution for our mobility.</p>
<ul>
<li>Diesel cars
I also posted about these on the other thread. The high efficiency, low emissions, easy-starting, quiet diesels have started to arrive here. There will many more in the next year or two that can pass even California’s tough emission standards. Some of these will produce better real-world mileage than the Prius. There’ll be even higher mileage diesel/hybrids coming as well.</li>
</ul>
<p>Things are looking up - there’s a lot to be optimistic about.</p>
<p>(Meanwhile, I’m still driving my 42 y/o car every day)</p>
<p>I know we think that making more electricity to run cars is better than a gas car. But there are OTHER factors. Research how those batteries are made. Ore drilled in canada, processed in England, Set up and assembled in Japan. Then the extra drilling, transport, etc… of the coal and other fuels. Sorry, but there’s a lot more to the equation than simply stating that a power plant is more efficient, therefor it’s better than the car causing the pollution. </p>
<p>Oh, and I still don’t buy most of the CO2 arguments anyway, so don’t worry about trying to use that in any points being made. I only support alternative energy and replacing fossil fuels, because it’s great for the economy. It’s an industry that CAN’T be outsourced overseas; it creates a lot of jobs; and it helps in the political arena.</p>
<p>Sorry Christcorp, but your “not buying” those arguments makes them no less relevant, especially since I suspect (though I could be wrong) that you’re not a climatologist and your opinion is therefore… less than authoritative.</p>
<p>The building of plants cannot be outsourced, but plenty of things in regard to the development and operations sure can be. Don’t underestimate the tenacity with which firms will seek to cut costs.</p>
<p>Another question has to be, how do you use your 2008 purchasing power to encourage green development?</p>
<p>Assume for the sake of argument that the batteries of a Prius give it the exact same net environmental impact as an Escalade, and they are the same price. Further assume, because it’s true, that most consumers believe that the Prius is lower impact. Which purchase incentivizes companies to invent better batteries? Conversely, which purchase tells companies that consumers don’t take the environment into consideration when they purchase cars?</p>
<p>It’s academic for me, because I’ve just chosen not to have a car. But companies pay close attention to expressed consumer preferences when they decide where to invest R&D dollars. There’s future value in signaling to companies that you’re an environmental consumer who’ll buy the greener cars they develop in the future.</p>
But the most major impact will be economics. When manufacturers produce vehicles that people want people will buy them and most people will opt for a more economical product that still meets their needs. The cost of gasoline for most people is a factor and becoming more of one every day as the price goes up. If I was interested in the Escalade for whatever reason and had a choice between one that attained 30mpg vs 15mpg with acceptable performance, I’d pick the 30mpg one even if I weren’t trying to be a greenie. </p>
<p>People are already doing this and you’re right, the feedback loop of sales revenue incenting improved development of even more efficient vehicles helps everyone.</p>
<p>My point is that there are a lot more people willing to buy more efficient vehicles because of the impact on their wallet than to make some ‘green’ statement although it’s fine if people want to purchase based on green statements as well.</p>