Mental ramblings of a geek dad

If you’re like me, you’re thinking you are getting “hosed” to say the least.  Your vehicule is not that much more fuel efficient than 10 years ago and the pump is murder for your wallet because of market speculation..  Any good coming out of this?

Yes, finally western civilization is “planning” to break its dependency on oil, especially foreign oil.  We’re years away from something tangible no doubt, but government + oil/gas are not the only ones working towards reducing petroleum consumption.

Car manufacturers are trying to get the “next best thing” out like hybrids but really it only re-enforces short-term solutions which have not been “eco-proofed”.  How does one recycle a Prius battery?  That’s a whole other debate by itself.

GM years ago touted an electric car which seemed to be a brilliant concept but I think they killed it themselves, the piece was in Wired (link).  Few parts, almost no lube, brilliant concept, you could change the body for another.  Now that’s something I’d buy!  Why was it killed you ask – conventional business models needed to be sustained is my guess.  With no parts, little maintenance, the automaker’s empire would crumble since it lives off service and parts.

And what about race car technology?  Incorporating the R&D at an aggressive pace and designing in the same lines would make much more efficient cars.  Just take weight reduction, I’m sure there are a few hundred pounds to be shaved off my Mazda6.

So the race is now on, and I’m sure that every car maker has a strategic alliance in its backpocket or more to deliver the next-gen thing.  Plus we need the re-fueling infrastructure like electric or hydrogen pumps.  My guess is that the first vendor to release a ride that will redifine the marketplace, distance itself from classical business models and deliver a true green car will win, there are so many of us willing to buy in that direction.