Now that making cars cleaner and more efficient is a mainstream proposition, the only questions are how each carmaker plans to do it. BMW's Efficient Dynamics has allowed it to lower it's CO2 emissions more than any other automaker. In a show of how seriously all automakers are taking the issue, The Economist revealed a study of fourteen automakers from GM to Suzuki found that only Honda posted an emissions increase from 2006-2007.
Essentially, the automakers are trying to figure out how to please the government and the public at a cost that allows them to stay in business. Competing -- and expensive -- technologies are all in the race now, although everyone seems to have agreed that ultimately, electric cars will be the norm. Luxury carmakers can pad prices to cover or subsidize the tab of frugal technology. When the mid- and low-price automakers are making cars that get 80 mpg that the average couple can afford, then the landscape will be much more clear.
No matter what, none of this spells the end of the internal combustion engine: said VW's head of group research, "It is important to recognize that there is not a single solution, and that the internal-combustion engine will continue to dominate for at least 20 years." Follow the link to read the full piece, and you might want to start stocking up on multi-plug outlets... Thanks for the tip, Forrest!
[Source: The Economist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hatchbacks are cool @ Sep 18th 2008 7:56AM
I think that automakers are making too big of a leap to alternative engines . They should put money into small cars ( hatchbacks and coupes) instead on making large SUVs or crossovers . Then work to make electric batteries more efficient. Hybrids are not even that green , hydrogen is a long way away, and electric batteries are just a temporary alternative to petrol and diesel
James Sonne @ Sep 18th 2008 8:35AM
How much longer shall we wait? We've had a century of petrol powered vehicles, and there is a plethora of small cars out there that get great gas mileage. Honda Civic DX, Mazda 3, Chevy Aveo, Kia, Hyundai ... or go buy a 1992 Honda Civic, or a 1989 Honda CRX that gets 50 mpg on the highway. There are a million small cars on the road, go buy one. We don't need more of them built, we need more money spent on battery/hydrogen research and development.
Batteries are not a temporary alternative to petroleum, they are how Hydrogen vehicles will run, too. A Hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity, not an explosion. That electricity is stored in batteries or capacitors (the latter being totally impractical for extended use for obvious reasons).
Electric plug-in cars are the segway to the alternative of hydrogen, which is more cost effective than sending electricity across copper wires strung along streets. Without investing in battery technology now, we won't have what it takes to make hydrogen cars effective in the near future.
Sonne Times: Political and Social Commentary
http://jsonne.blogspot.com
hatchbacks are cool @ Sep 18th 2008 8:52AM
First i would like to point out that i live in the uk and there a far more small cars on sale here than there are in the usa. Yes i partly agree with you effective battery power is here now . But it's unlike to be used in cars widespread untill 2018 .
Rate It Green @ Sep 18th 2008 1:28PM
Car makers have the technology and the resources to do the right thing and start implementing them into their cars on a mainstream level.
It's time to make this happen.
j
http://www.RateItGreen.com