Would rather convert the hardware to smaller, more efficient hybrids evolving into plug-in hybrids evolving into all electric. That's the path we are on... I don't understand the advantage of a detour to natural gas. What is gained?
Well, it helps Pickens' pocketbook, that's true.
But we can move very quickly to wind and achieving his 20% figure isn't out of the question. The interim move to NG would, it seems to me, provide some pretty quick relief as far as the dependence on foreign oil -- which is killing us in more ways than one.
Within a few years time, I would think there could be enough new vehicles and conversions to materially reduce our dependence -- but that cannot start until the infrastructure is in place.
It seems like a multi-pronged approach to the problem -- reduce oil dependence via hybrid/electric, but that's going to take a little time, meanwhile, transition to NG for another piece of the fleet, etc. If you could reduce consumption by 20% via transition to NG and 20% by hybrid/electric, you've eliminated a huge portion of our petroleum dependence. And it does seem that could happen pretty quickly.
Also, NG is viable for larger vehicles right now -- buses, trucks, etc., and AFAIK we're nowhere on hybrid/electric technology for these guys. |
