What do 100,000 Volts, Leafs or Prius hybrids per year really mean?
No impact on foreign oil dependence for 2 decades?For several years now, Toyota has sold more than 100,000 Prius hybrids per year in the US. In fact, Toyota has sold more than 1 million hybrid cars in the US alone.
Yet, what effect have one million hybrids had on US foreign oil dependence? None.
Soon, GM will launch the highly-anticipated Chevy Volt, yet it might be a decade before GM is selling 100,000 Volts per year. Likewise, late this year Nissan will begin US production of the Leaf electric car. When Nissan's new production facility is fully operational, it will produce up to 150,000 Leafs per year.
Yet again, what impact will these vehicles have on foreign oil dependence?
Unfortunately, according to numerous studies, ALL electric vehicle sales in the US, combined, won't have any noticeable impact on foreign oil dependence for probably another TWO decades, and even then the effect might still be marginal.
Certainly, automakers have to start electrifying the automobile somewhere, and the Prius, Volt and Leaf are all noble and important products. Nonetheless, their impact upon the environment and foreign oil dependence will remain meaningless for decades.
Is this really the best that America can do?
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, electric cars, Foreign Oil Dependency, Hybrid Vehicles, nissan leaf, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:47 AM
5 Comments:
Here's an idea: How about a weight limit on cars?
So much safety equipment in smaller cars is needed, largely, for crashes with larger, heavier vehicles.
Most automotive energy is used just to move the weight of a vehicle. Hence, Americans are wasting immense amounts of energy moving vehicles much larger than regularly needed. Moreover, small cars need to be made heavier to be safer for crashes with these large vehicles.
Why should all of us have to pay more for what others are doing?
Large heavy vehicles cause more wear and tear on roads, and make all other vehicles less safe. Why aren't heavy vehicle drivers forced to pay the brunt of those costs?
With a weight limit, cars could be stripped down a bit, making them cheaper, which would also make hybrid and EV technology less offensive in terms of upfront costs.
Likewise, SUV and trucks can still be built, but they have to make weight. Therefore, automakers would have to use exotic materials to make these vehicles light enough and those who really need these vehicles would have to fork over the extra cash, but if the REALLY need them, then its just a cost of doing business.
Hybrids need a much bigger market penetration than the current level of 3% to ave a significant impact.
Fuel economy standards, a migration to CNG for commercial vehicles, and expansion of mass transit will have much more impact on foreign oil dependence in the short term.....
toyota's 30 percent hybrid by 2020 was a pretty visionary plan. hopefully they can survive the recall scandal and achieve it.
sure would be nice if other automakers planned to be as aggressive. still a chance with Honda, but i'm not sure about any others.
Just wait until gas hits $4 a gallon again. And then $5. And then $6. Just wait, just wait, it's gonna happen. You know it as well as I. Then take a look at the auto industry and see the changes.
Don't discredit Ford just yet, they have been fairly ambitious lately with hybrids and are putting in solid effort now as well. I am more excited about plug-ins or full electric vehicles but I also believe hybrids have been a great stepping stone and learning technology towards these more electric driven cars.
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