Yup, you read it right. Schultz, the former Sec. of State, and Woolsey of
the CIA have come out strongly in favor of hybrid cars, and the rapid
development of plug in hybrids. They also have some interesting things to
say about recent improvements in biofuels, that fix some of the problems
Pimentel cites. Here are extracts from a cogent paper they wrote:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/calcars-news/message/68
With support from people like this, we may actually see this technology
take off. I just wish we could get them to look at cold fusion.
This paper starts off with a statement that will warm Chris Zell's heart:
"This paper could well be called, 'It's the Batteries, Stupid.'"
Here are some good statements from the Conclusion:
"The dangers from oil dependence in today's world require us both to look
to ways to reduce demand for oil and to increase supply of transportation
fuel by methods beyond the increase of oil production.
The realistic opportunities for reducing demand soon suggest that
government policies should encourage hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles,
particularly the battery developments needed to bring plug-in versions
thereof to the market, and modern diesel technology. . . .
The effects of these policies are multiplicative. All should be pursued
since it is impossible to predict which will be fully successful or at what
pace, even though all are today either beginning commercial production or
are nearly to that point. The battery development for plug-in hybrids is of
substantial importance and should for the time being replace the current
r&d emphasis on automotive hydrogen fuel cells.
If even one of these technologies is moved promptly into the market, the
reduction in oil dependence could be substantial. If several begin to be
successfully introduced into large-scale use, the reduction could be
stunning. For example, a 50-mpg hybrid gasoline/electric vehicle, on the
road today, if constructed from carbon composites would achieve around 100
mpg. If it were to operate on 85 percent cellulosic ethanol or a similar
proportion of biodiesel fuel, it would be achieving hundreds of miles per
gallon of petroleum-derived fuel. If it were a plug-in version operating on
upgraded lithium batteries so that 20-30 mile trips could be undertaken on
its overnight charge before it began utilizing liquid fuel at all, it could
be obtaining in the range of 1000 mpg (of petroleum). . . ."
THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Woo woo!
- Jed
