Shifting to what? First, let me explain my thinking on Eco-friendly cars (i.e. hybrid vehicles, full electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles) and their so called battle with oil vehicles. Eco-friendly vehicles are seemingly non-existent, yet people seem to developing an increasingly massive awareness about them, especially here in North America. If you have been to an auto show in the last 3 years you will know that fuel saving, eco-friendly cars are dominantly displayed at them. Yet, we just don't see that translating onto the roads. Why is that? Well, your self-titled socially responsible, eco-individual will tell you that it is because the big oil corporations are continually behind closed doors making sure that vehicles that use less oil will never become mainstream. Then, on the other side, you have the V-8 petrol heads saying that driving a vehicle is meant to be an exhilarating experience and the reason why people don't buy hybrid vehicles is because they are completely exhaustively boring.
You may or may not fit somewhere in between those two definitions. I myself have my own opinion. The reason why we don't see very many eco-friendly cars on the road is this (for these arguments I am going to be referring to hybrid vehicles because electric cars are not practical for everyday use since they can't travel very far and hydrogen cars have a lack of infrastructure to fill them):
1) They actually are not that eco-friendly (if you don't believe me, consider that a Toyota Prius, throughout its manufacturing process, will contribute as many green house gases as the making and fuel consumption that a typical oil burning car will. And you don't even want to ask what happens to those giant batteries).
2) The MPG of a hybrid is not the end of having to fill up at the pump. If you are driving only on the highway, you are better off driving a V-6 with 350 horse power, and if you are driving in the city you are better to be driving a clean diesel powered car.
I think that most consumers after they do their research see these same points that I do.
Here is where we seem to be short-sighted though. I am fairly confident in saying that the eco-friendly cars we see on the road today are nothing more than a trend and a quick cash grab for manufacturers. I don't think it is difficult to conclude that the large vehicle manufacturers have in their locked up rooms right now a vehicle that does not need oil to run, can be powered for very long distances and causes no harm to the environment.
Don't believe me? In 1969 we put a man on the moon, in 1945 we figured out how to take a simple atom, split it in two and consequently have the ability to destroy the world. It is tough for me to believe that the combustible engine, which is proven to be one of the least efficient engines, is still the best source of power for vehicles. Call me crazy!
Once you are comfortable with the fact that the sale of cars and oil is a business then you can start to think a little more clearly. For example, let’s look to technology. Five years ago you couldn't buy a camcorder that shot video in HD, now you can fairly easily. But, five years ago a company like Sony knew that they could make camcorders that shot in HD. This is why we have these labels in the tech market referred to as generations: the I-pod gen 1, the I-pod gen 2, the I-pod gen 3... and that will keep going. There is more than likely already an I-pod gen 10 in the works, but think of all the sales they will make off the gen 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
I believe the same thing is being done with the shift from oil to another form of fuel for vehicles. It would make absolutely no sense for an oil company to shift from working with oil to another form of fuel overnight. There is too much oil left, and there are too many vehicles that use oil. It makes no sense for manufactures to start only making non-oil vehicles. It would just be too advanced for the mind set of consumers. Consumers need to be eased into transitions.
But the shift is happening and if you look closely you can see it. The introduction of hybrid cars is not a shift, don't be blinded by that. News like this the start of major changes Abu Dahbi
Oil is not running out any time soon and hybrid cars are not going to take over the market share either. But don't think that multi-billion dollar oil companies and manufactures don't have a clue what is going on. They know exactly what they are doing and when they want to do it, and don't think you are going to see anything drastic until the oil supply starts getting low. When that day comes on a Friday, guess what will happen on Monday....
An all new way to get your family around without oil!!
Have a great week!
Matthew George
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I like it.....! I agree...Eco friendly not as you say.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking out loud here when I read.......but the way things are going with electricity it will probably cost more for you to drive an electric car than your typical combustion engine......how come......cause when the electric company does what they ALL plan on doing, where they have to continous access to your personal load demands at home via AMI (advanced metering initiative, soon to be on all homes - translation - it will be like your using your phone for long distance...call after 6). But back to the car, when you make your personal stop at starbucks and plug in to charge......you will be billed at home......sucks!! The price of electricity has no other way to go than up..........the electric infrastructure needs to be upgraded to meet the new load requirements from electric cars and such......where does the billions of dollars come from.....you and me.
Keep writing Matty, I like reading.