Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Exciting

Reports are circulating that the next generation Toyota Prius will be capable of over 110 miles per gallon. Notwithstanding all the caveats - the technology is immature, expensive, and optimal fuel mileage is difficult to achieve in real world driving conditions - it's still very promising to see these strides being made in what is really the infancy of the hybrid automobile market. Higher gasoline prices will hurt some in the short run, but in the long run the pressure for more fuel efficient vehicles will only help drive the development and production of even more practical and effective hybrid vehicles. If Detroit had a clue, they'd be pushing to take the lead in what is clearly the future of automobiles. In the meanwhile, look to Japan to continue blazing away.
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What??? Are you not impressed by Bush's ironclad goal of getting 3% of our national energy resources from switchgrass by 2075? By the way, that doesn't count the breakthrough's in technology to harness tumbleweed, scrub-brush power or the energy produced from sweaty dumb white guys patrolling the border with mexico.

12:23 PM
Anonymous said...

I think this is a perfect place to add this link http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=3038004707352&lang=en-US&mkt=en-US&FORM=CVRE3
regarding Brazil's ability to reach energy independence:

"A three-decade-long alternative energy campaign has outfitted Brazilian filling stations with fuel pumps that offer pure ethanol, a blend of gasoline and 20% ethanol called gasohol, or even natural gas. This year, Brazil will achieve energy independence — a goal the United States has been chasing without success since the energy crises of the 1970s."

I doubt Detroit is listening Big-D...but that's ok as more Hybrid models from Toyota, Honda etc are being built and sold in the US, Detroit auto makers will have to face the music.

1:46 PM

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