Of course, this continues to miss my point, which is, we made
significant strides in efficiency and tailpipe emmissions *already*!
Comparatively, the jump from current cars->hybrids would be roughly
the same as going from an average car of 1969->an average car of
1985. And yet, despite that big jump, the problems of dirty air,
social injustice, dependency and war caused by the deathmobile
continue to worsen. Back in the early 70s, enviros looked to
catalytic converters and higher mileage standards of the
technological future to solve all our problems, just as they look at
hybrids and their "cleaner" tailpipe emissions and more "efficient"
function now to deliver us from evil. They never take into account
how these techno-fixes merely enable *more* bad behavior--i.e., more
driving. And yes, driving cars is the problem, no matter what they
are fueled by or how efficiently they function.
It is too bad I can't get anyone on these lists to read the only
reasonable view of our obsession with high speed travel I've ever
read: Energy & Equity by Ivan Illich (1977?).
-Mike
At 12:39 PM -0500 9/2/05, Schimpff, Jeff A wrote:
Mike,
No one can dispute the fact that hybrids are not going to solve traffic
congestion problems, which are expanding much faster in Madison and Dane
County than anyone is willing to pay for more futile lane miles.
However, remember that in such congestion a hybrid is going to be
creeping along, and running up to 25 or 35 mph, as well as idling,
solely on its battery-powered electric motor. If everyone else drove a
hybrid while we continue to save even more oil and money by riding our
bikes on most trips, then the air in Madison would be healthy to breathe
more of the time, not just from 11p.m. to 7 a.m. when the regional air
flow is from the north or northwest.
That would be a great improvement over the mess we have now.
Jeff Schimpff
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