Super Eco

Photo credit: jurvetson, Flickr

Novelist and futurist William Gibson said, "The future is already here. It's just not very evenly distributed."  That's a spot-on observation about the world of alternative energy vehicles. Old fashioned gas guzzling internal combustion engines are everywhere now, but will soon be as out of date as the horse and buggy. This year there are more choices than ever in the hybrid auto market. Competition from Honda's Insight is driving down the cost of the current model of the Toyota Prius. A new version of the Prius will be available later this year that gets even better gas mileage than the current version.

The hybrids are rated at between 40 and 50 miles per gallon. That sounds pretty efficient, but the 1969 Volkswagen beetle, you know—the one with the big stick-on daisy on the door and the gag-gift wind-up key on the back—that "toy" carried four people and got between 30 and 35 miles per gallon. One would think that in forty years gasoline engines could have continued to improve.

Hybrids have emerged as the best way to reduce auto emissions now. They will have a hold on the market for a few more years. But the electric cars are coming and that 50 miles per gallon will look sick compared to the energy costs and environmental friendliness of the electric cars. Tesla, the only company with a production EV on the market right now, has a big waiting list for their hundred thousand dollar roadster. They've just announced their S Car, which brings to mind an old joke about snail races with the punch line, "You should have seen that S Car go." But I digress.

The Tesla S car, the Chevy Volt, and other EVs will be here soon. Gas prices will be going up. Tax incentives for clean emissions will be in place. There's a big change coming in the auto industry and it's right around the corner. I learned today that the Volt isn't expected to save GM. That's okay. Something else will. Hopefully GM will save the Volt