Quote:
Originally Posted by hevster1
Hybrids are not necessarily the answer.
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hevster1....you are correct.
That being said, although "Hybrids" are not *necessarily* the answer, they are - in my opinion - a "necessary" step in the evolutionary journey to the "next" step.
I would venture to guess that if (even just in the USA) that if you could replace the current crop of vehicles with a hybrid (make / model doesn't matter) that would provide a 50% improvment in FE, that our dependance on foreign oil would drop to a level that would result in lower oil (per barrel) prices from "elsewhere".
Drilling in the USA is "step" (please don't misinterpret my comments as "killing coral reefs" or "cutting down trees" just to get to a few addtional barrels of oil - we still must be "ecologically sound" in our drilling - and I am a supporter of a sane and safe method to do so).
Wind and Solar is also a "step". While these may be "side steps" they are improvements in our energy profile - or "footprint" - of consumption and must be considered and used where appropriate.
The couter-argument to this is that as you increase the FE of vehicles (in whatever class they fall - from small cars to busses and trucks) AND our dependence on that foreign oil dimishes to the point that the "per barrel" cost drops and the prices at the pump more closely align with "$1.00" -- our *desire* for a better solution also deminishes since we are no longer "feeling the pain".
That doesn't mean that we should just "do nothing".
We are "creatures of comfort" and as long as we are comfortable with the "status quo" we will not change our ways. It seems that history has shown that our greatest achievement as a society have come from times / conditions / situations when we are the most uncomfortable - and I'm not talking about "oil" here. Maybe it's time for a little pain so we can advance science - and our own thinking - to provide a better solution --> as the "next" step in the evolutionary journey that we - together with the rest of the world - are travelling together.
....stepping off of my soapbox....
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