Worsening traffic congestion underscores need for hybrid technology
According to a very interesting article in BusinessWeek, traffic congestion has increased significantly every year since 1982, and within 10 years the problem is going to increase drastically, even in areas with only medium congestion.
What are the costs? "In 2003, the wasted time and fuel due to congestion cost the U.S. population $63.1 billion. This translates to nearly $800 per traveler and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel!" Unfortunately, the BW article also points out the lack of any easy solutions to this worsening problem. One can only imagine how many billions of gallons we will be wasting by 2010 - scary!
Greater congestion is simply the future, which underscores the need for hybrid technology. When it comes to real world fuel economy, automobiles perform horribly in congestion, yet hybrid cars offer significant improvements in these conditions. More important the potential of hybrids in these conditions is just emerging. Plug-in hybrids could largely function gasoline-free in such conditions.
Isn't it time to really start thinking about the future?
What are the costs? "In 2003, the wasted time and fuel due to congestion cost the U.S. population $63.1 billion. This translates to nearly $800 per traveler and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel!" Unfortunately, the BW article also points out the lack of any easy solutions to this worsening problem. One can only imagine how many billions of gallons we will be wasting by 2010 - scary!
Greater congestion is simply the future, which underscores the need for hybrid technology. When it comes to real world fuel economy, automobiles perform horribly in congestion, yet hybrid cars offer significant improvements in these conditions. More important the potential of hybrids in these conditions is just emerging. Plug-in hybrids could largely function gasoline-free in such conditions.
Isn't it time to really start thinking about the future?
Labels: plug-in hybrids, traffic congestion
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