Chrysler has stepped up and announced three fully electric car models – one of which will be on the road in 2010 – less than two years away.
It took long enough and it may not be enough to save and revitalize the big three, but with Ford and GM working on their own fully-electric models, here’s hoping Motown is finally getting it’s shit together and saying “seeya” to the douche bags in big oil.
Peace out.
-EK.
There are those who suggest dumping dirty fossil fuel burning technology for cleaner, more sustainable and “earth-friendly” technology presents an immediate threat to the economy – presumably the main reason for the present US and Canadian governments have rejected the Kyoto Agreement, as it would “steal money” from rich countries and prevent them from competing on equal terms with those that stayed outside the agreement.
Proponents of that kind of thinking would have you believe that there is a natural incompatibility between strengthening the domestic economy and drastically cutting reliance on petroleum sooner rather than later.
These same people would have you believe that there are no viable alternatives to petroleum at the present time, the most we can possibly hope for, is to improve gas mileage for motor vehicles while we wait for a miracle solution some time in the distant future, you know…after all the oil is finally gone.
Almost makes you think these people have something to gain by clinging to our old, dirty ways, doesn’t it?
Admittedly, the jury is still out on the hydrogen fuel cell technology and the so-called biofuels as short term solutions to reducing green house gas emissions, but an old relic from the past is making an impressive, albeit quiet return…the electric car.
You remember the electric car, don’t you? That thing that Ed Begley Jr. used to putter around in? Those GM cars were pretty impressive at the time, but I’ve got news for you – this new breed of electric car has to be seen to be believed.
Aside from drastically improving re-charge times and and mileage per charge, they look absolutely stunning and out-perform most sports cars on the road today…just take a look!
That’s right, thanks to huge advancements in rechargeable battery technology, companies like Tesla Motors and Zap are at the forefront of these impressive next generation vehicles.
I am an unabashed zealot of these new electric cars and I refuse to hide it.
I mean what’s not to like? They’re fast, slick, better for the environment and mostly American made. While the battery technology is Japanese in origin and (in the case of Tesla sports cars) the body is provided by The British (Lotus) the fact is, this is good old American know-how and entrepreneurship at it’s best and it’s a real positive sign of things to come…
Is there a downside? Well yes, of course, it’s not all great news. In the case of the Tesla vehicles, the price tag is too high for the average person and while the Zap cars address that issue, their cost-effective models may not provide the roominess that many families require…
Nonetheless, even these short-term hiccups must be looked at as part of a largely positive outlook for the new generation electric vehicles, because as more people buy them, prices will come down and the technology will continue to be perfected.
Constantly escalating fuel prices and a need to find alternative fuel options now that we’ve past peak oil production will only add to the attractiveness of this technology, but in my mind, the most impressive thing about these cars are that they are HERE and they are REAL…
Over time, the need to go greener, rebuild the dying domestic auto industry and create new jobs will only brighten the future of the electric car. There may be some push-back from “the good old boys” in the oil and old-school automotive industries, but now that the technology genie is out of the bottle, there is no going back…and they likely know it.
New, viable and sustainable technologies will emerge if we have the will and the vision to do it and companies like these are proving that there is a new economy growing out of the need to go green and get off of fossil fuels once and for all. In other words, we can make cleaner technology and also help the economy at the same time…go figure!
For more information on this impressive green technology – I’ve provided links to their respective web sites below.
-EK.
