I wish I had more time to ponder/discuss this speech, but I’ll just post the link right now…
This isn’t to lay the blame for our energy problems entirely at the feet of our President. This is an issue that politicians from both parties clamor about when gas prices are the headline of the month, only to fall back into a trance of inaction once things calm down. And so we all need to get serious here. Automakers need to get serious about shifting their technology to greater fuel-efficiency, consumers need to get serious about buying hybrid cars, and Washington needs to get serious about working together to find a real solution to our energy crisis.
Such a solution is not only possible, it’s already being implemented in other places around the world. Countries like Japan are creating jobs and slowing oil consumption by churning out and buying millions of fuel-efficient cars. Brazil, a nation that once relied on foreign countries to import 80% of its crude oil, will now be entirely self-sufficient in a few years thanks to its investment in biofuels.
I like the things I hear coming from Barak Obama. A lot.
I’m more excited about fuel cell than hybrids, but something needs to be done. I ditched my 12 MPG F-150 a couple of years ago for the 30 MPG Jetta. I actually started looking into a hybrid escape, thinking I could get 4WD and good fuel for 128. I love my Jetta, but I have flipped the payments and always like saving.
Here’s the kicker though, the exact same vehicle with the hybrid engine cost $8,000 more. I’m not going to pay more money to the automaker instead of less money to the evil oil company.
I’ll go alternative source, but it has to be reasonable, say within 10% the base of the non hybrid.
I thought it was interesting to note that many cars out there now are “flexible fuel” capable, but their owners don’t even know it.
It’s interesting to note how much lower milage is when using E-85, though.