The Future is Hot
When you read things like this, it should make you stop and think about becoming a tree-hugger. It also makes you realize that those of us who consider ourselves pretty smart, aren’t so smart because there are people in the World so much smarter than you and they work on things that matter. It’s too bad we’ll never make it to that Star Trek Utopia on Earth deal. Well, maybe we will if we blow ourselves up first too…
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This post has 7 comments (now closed):
JFCC
Wed :: 24 :: May :: 2006 :: 10.40 am
At least the gas prices have pushed the hybrid market. That gas-guzzling SUV you loved five years ago suddenly isn’t as appealing.
Sean
Thu :: 25 :: May :: 2006 :: 12.31 am
Not really, from what I have read, many of the new hybrids being released aren’t selling very well because the difference in gas mileage compared with the price difference for the car isn’t great enough. I think some of the models, like the Honda Accord are going to have their production cut back. The car manufacturers need to price them lower instead of only offering the hybrid systems in their highest level trims, thus as their highest priced models.
JFCC
Thu :: 25 :: May :: 2006 :: 08.31 am
Well if that’s true, it’s pretty typical corporate thinking–let’s not make this new technology affordable right off the bat, let’s squeeze every drop of money out of it that we can.
Then again, do hybrids tend to suffer less wear and tear over the life of the car? I would think it might, since there’s less combustion going on…if so, that might make the price a little more reasonable. Even so, they should make low-end hybrids.
Sean
Thu :: 25 :: May :: 2006 :: 10.52 pm
Yeah, when you think about it, what does a person who can afford the highest level trim of a car care about having a hybrid? Well, unless you are a Hollywood type tree hugger like Ed Begley Jr., you can afford whatever the price of gas is, so that’s why you want your Escalade or H2.
I realize that bringing new technology to market is initially expensive so you normally load that into the higher margin vehicles, but this technology would better suit the lower end since these buyers would see a financial benefit by owning the car. This isn’t power windows or locks or some other luxury item…
As for less wear-and-tear lowering the costs, I don’t know about that. For one, since these new engines are so new and technology advanced, you will no longer be able to bring them to your local garage for service. You’ll have to go to the dealer for service and it is likely to be more expensive than the normally expensive dealer servicing. Then you have to worry about changing the electric cells over time and I’m sure that’s not cheap.
I guess that’s further argument for getting more into the market so that supply and demand can run its course and drive prices down for all these things.
JFCC
Fri :: 26 :: May :: 2006 :: 04.45 pm
Well, here’s one way to look at it: one way or another, everyone’s going to have to get a hybrid at some point because there will be very little gas left.
It would just make the world’s transition off an oil-based economy a hell of a lot easier if the biggest gas-guzzling country in the world were willing to make a few sacrifices (read: cheap hybrids) in order to get the transition going earlier, instead of waiting until the last minute or until it’s too late, like humanity always does…
Sean
Fri :: 26 :: May :: 2006 :: 11.09 pm
Absolutely. We should have already been switching to all electric, hybrids and natural gas. Hydrogen scares the crap out of me. Hindenberg on the highway! The country (and World) are in for a rude awakening over the next 30-50 years…
JFCC
Sat :: 27 :: May :: 2006 :: 09.30 am
I agree hydrogen probably won’t work for cars. What we need is to pool a lot of resources into figuring out fusion. With fusion energy we get incredible power, less toxic waste and even less risk of a meltdown, and enough electricity to power a nation of electric cars as well as all the desalination plants we’ll need for fresh water in 50 years.