Why I’m not opposed to rising fuel prices – Philip Greenspun’s electric car post
Written By: Sol Young on May 27, 2008
6 Comments
Image of Ford Reflex, a concept hybrid vehicle with solar panels on the roof
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Philip Greenspun, professor of electrical engineering at MIT (and an avid traveler and fellow aviator), has an outstanding post. He explains some simple math behind replacing every passenger vehicle in America for electric cars. The resulting cost: Zero.
Link to Professor Greenspun’s post
We’re already seeing a move towards smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Solar panels are being installed on roofs. People are becoming aware of their energy consumption.
I often get in to discussions over why I’m not opposed to rising fuel prices. Philip’s post is a fabulous reason why. As fuel prices rise, people will feel the pinch – this is temporarily bad. But the result of that pinch will be drastically innovative solutions.
Going to be interesting to see how this plays out. I changed car a week ago and have been thinking this may be the last internal combustion engined car I ever buy…
I agree crisis will drive innovation, but what innovation? Big oil hs a vested interest in morphing in to big hydrogen. But can they move quickly enough?
Also all this does is move the energy problem from the roads ttto the generator. Roll on fusion…
The main problem I have with this is that it is a concept car (read: We will never see it in production). All the major manufacturers had electric vehicles a few years back and they pulled them from the market (when there was overwhelming demand for the vehicles). Google “Toyota RAV EV” for an example story. I will be first in line if they start selling EV vehicles though =)
I didn't intend the entry to relate to the Ford Reflex. A picture of the Chevy Volt would have been more appropriate (due in production in 1-2 years).
Going to be interesting to see how this plays out. I changed car a week ago and have been thinking this may be the last internal combustion engined car I ever buy…
I agree crisis will drive innovation, but what innovation? Big oil hs a vested interest in morphing in to big hydrogen. But can they move quickly enough?
Also all this does is move the energy problem from the roads ttto the generator. Roll on fusion…
The main problem I have with this is that it is a concept car (read: We will never see it in production). All the major manufacturers had electric vehicles a few years back and they pulled them from the market (when there was overwhelming demand for the vehicles). Google “Toyota RAV EV” for an example story. I will be first in line if they start selling EV vehicles though =)
I didn't intend the entry to relate to the Ford Reflex. A picture of the Chevy Volt would have been more appropriate (due in production in 1-2 years).