Re:Cost of converting entire U.S. to electric cars? Zero.
by Prrometheus on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @10:30AM
(#200989)
>Why should now be any different? If the federal government mandated all new vehicles being electric only by 2014 (grandfathering in all existing vehicles), we'd make it. And the problem would gradually resolve, like every other problem.
How about if we wait for the technology to be ready instead of setting an arbitrary deadline? And what's so important about switching to electric cars that it can't wait 10 years?
Re:Cost of converting entire U.S. to electric cars? Zero.
by edw519 on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @10:35AM
(#200998)
Sometimes, the arbitrary deadline is the thing that forces the technology to be ready.
Do you think JFK had any idea if the technology would be ready when he declared the goal of a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s?
We need more vision and less debate.
Re:Cost of converting entire U.S. to electric cars? Zero.
by Prrometheus on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @10:56AM
(#201022)
> We need more vision and less debate.
If "vision" means rash feel-good actions and "debate" means thoughtful consideration of all view points, then I respectfully disagree with you. I think we need more debate and less "vision".
Re:Cost of converting entire U.S. to electric cars? Zero.
by hugh on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @08:54PM
(#201627)
Do you think JFK had any idea if the technology would be ready when he declared the goal of a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s?
Yes. Do you think he got up and made that pronouncement without at least asking, say, Wernher von Braun whether that would be a realistic goal?
Re:Cost of converting entire U.S. to electric cars? Zero.
by astine on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @12:52PM
(#201162)
I think that he had a pretty good idea.
Re:Cost of converting entire U.S. to electric cars? Zero.
by helveticaman on Tuesday May 27, 2008 @01:24PM
(#201197)
I'm not sure all of this type of initiatives have happy endings.
In the ecology movement of the late 1960's, the federal government mandated removal of all lead from gasoline by 1975. We made it. (Anyone remember "Leaded or unleaded"?)
In the first oil scare in 1973, Detroit responded by pulling 2 old inventions off the shelf, front wheel drive and fuel injection. Effectively doubling the world oil supply within 5 years.
Why should now be any different? If the federal government mandated all new vehicles being electric only by 2014 (grandfathering in all existing vehicles), we'd make it. And the problem would gradually resolve, like every other problem.
The only thing stopping it is special interests. Anyone in congress supporting this would probably cut off his own fundraising lifeline.