Is there an issue more important than energy independence, right now?
Oil dependence aids terrorists, funds dictators and gives millions around the world a reason to point their finger at the imperialist, capitalist and evil American empire. Gas guzzling greed has produced complacency and ignorance that has stunted automotive development by focusing on speed and power rather than than on efficiency and clean technology. This greedy, ego-driven focus - produced by cheap oil dependence - has severely weakened the U.S. auto industry and now threatens the U.S. economy.
And for what? So, that yours is bigger than mine?
American automakers, their unions and representatives in Washington complain about imports and outsourcing, yet turn a blind eye to our extremely dangerous oil imports. How can one import be so good, yet another so bad?
One political party protects the oil industry, the other political party protects the gas-guzzler builders. Yet, our environment and National Security continue to deteriorate as politicians blame each other for a problem each party has contributed in creating.
Now politicians on both sides of the aisle are preparing to make energy independence the core issue for 2008 - at least in terms of political soundbites.
Why are waiting until 2008? I don't care about the next election, right now. I don't care about lame ducks, right now. I care about today, right now.
Right now, Congress could renew tax credits for Toyota hybrid cars. Right now, we could give small business owners the same tax incentives to buy clean vehicle technologies that we currently give small business owners to buy the worst gas-guzzlers.
When America went to the moon, it inspired the development of so many technologies and industries. Right now, striving for energy independence could do the same, while increasing National Security and fighting global warming.
Why isn't America doing more? Shouldn't we be doing everything we can, right now?
--> More on hybrid tax credits, etc.
And for what? So, that yours is bigger than mine?
American automakers, their unions and representatives in Washington complain about imports and outsourcing, yet turn a blind eye to our extremely dangerous oil imports. How can one import be so good, yet another so bad?
One political party protects the oil industry, the other political party protects the gas-guzzler builders. Yet, our environment and National Security continue to deteriorate as politicians blame each other for a problem each party has contributed in creating.
Now politicians on both sides of the aisle are preparing to make energy independence the core issue for 2008 - at least in terms of political soundbites.
Why are waiting until 2008? I don't care about the next election, right now. I don't care about lame ducks, right now. I care about today, right now.
Right now, Congress could renew tax credits for Toyota hybrid cars. Right now, we could give small business owners the same tax incentives to buy clean vehicle technologies that we currently give small business owners to buy the worst gas-guzzlers.
When America went to the moon, it inspired the development of so many technologies and industries. Right now, striving for energy independence could do the same, while increasing National Security and fighting global warming.
Why isn't America doing more? Shouldn't we be doing everything we can, right now?
--> More on hybrid tax credits, etc.
Labels: Congress, energy independence, Hybrid Vehicles, tax credits
posted by Dahcredyns at
11:32 AM
5 Comments:
You might want to watch this. I found it quite encouraging. It makes you wonder what the car companies are waiting for:
Charlie Rose - Amory Lovins / Ian Schrager - Google Video
Great video. Thanks for the link. How much more simple could it be? Create significantly lighter vehicles, add plug-in hybrid technology and we can change the world, create jobs, etc - all with technology that basically exists right now.
I also liked the anti-nuclear reasoning.
I haven't really been opposed to nuclear, simply because I just don't know enough. However, I'm sold on his idea that it is unneccessary, not profitable and just too dangerous.
why buy a hybrid
Current 40-50 MPG Production Cars are Available not in America made by GM
Vauxhall 50.4mpg US
Opel - General Motors Company
Fiat 34.4 city 51.40 hwy combined 43.5 mpg US
Renault 37.2 city 57.60 hwy combined 47.90 mpg US
Citroen city 51.40 68.90 hwy combined 61.40 mpg
http://www.opel-europe.com/agila2008/
www.opel.com is operated by General Motors Europe
The new Opel mini-monocab bears balanced proportions, soft curves and a distinctive side graphic. Its passengers still sit high and upright, but the roofline has been dynamically lowered and blends into a smooth arc toward the rear. This helps create the Agila's aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.32 - a relatively low figure for a vehicle of this size.
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/
Vauxhall Corsa The 1.0 is suitably miserly, giving 50.4 mpg and emitting a low-tax 134g/km of carbon dioxide; the 1.2 and 1.4, thanks to Vauxhall/Opel's new Twinport fuel intake technology, deliver 48.7mpg/139 g/km and 47.9mpg/142g/km respectively.
The diesels? 61.4mpg/124 g/km from both the 75bhp and 90bhp 1.3 CDT, and 58.8mpg/130 g/km from the 1.7 CDTi.
www.fiat.com
Fiat returned to its original mission: to build automobiles with attractive designs and exciting engines The new 500, which was named “2008 Car of the Year”, is living proof of this. Fiat Bravo 1.6 Multi-jet 16v: ecology and power. The latest generation turbo-diesel, available in 105 bhp and 120 bhp versions. 56 mpg US
Models Miles per gallon (MPG)
1 - 83.10 mph CITROEN C1 MPG
2 - 83.10 mph TOYOTA Aygo MPG
3 - 80.70 mph FIAT Grande-Punto MPG
4 - 78.40 mph VAUXHALL Corsa-MY
5 - 76.30 mph FIAT New-Panda MPG
6 - 76.30 mph PEUGEOT MPG
7 - 76.30 mph CITROEN C2 MPG
8 - 76.30 mph CITROEN C3 MPG
9 - 76.30 mph VAUXHALL Corsa-MY2006 MPG
a number of these are very small diesels and you're talking highway fuel economy.
if it takes more oil to produce a gallon of diesel versus a gallon of gasliine, what really is the point of diesel?
more important, today's hybrid vehicles are bridging the gap to plug-in hybrids EVs.
Let's hope commentators and business experts who believe hybrid car sales are down because gas is cheap (for the moment) are wrong. I hope my fellow Americans are more forward-thinking in the major purchases than whether gas is $2.00 or $4.00/gallon. It may be just above $2.00/gallon right now. But we all know as soon as U.S. and world demand rises, pulled from the doldrums as countries come out of the recession, gas is going right back up to where it was.
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