Kissed By The Sun
By James Lynne Moore, Jr.. Friday, 5. December 2008, 20:33:53
Breaking News! A solar-powered car that runs up to 55 miles per hour, travels 185 miles on a charge, doesn't use a drop of petrol and motored around the world.
Sure, it is a Swiss-designed beta version with flimsy plastic doors, three wheels, room for only two and devoid of a cup holder, but --- once again --- we have evidence that it is possible, that we have the technology, if not the political will, to break free from our fossil fuel addiction....forever. And we just might stave off global calamity after all.
The story of the solar-powered vehicle was buried on the 21st page of the front section of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Friday, December 5th.
Meanwhile, American auto manufacturers traipse before Congress begging to be absolved from their financial sins and boneheadedness.
(Why don't we just insist that the oil companies bail these guys out, since they are co-dependent? It seems to me that IF we put these jackasses on taxpayer-funded life support Americans need some assurances that 1) we get a decent Return On Investment, and 2) American car companies take heed of the future and start leading in alternative fuel technologies instead of trying to stymie their growth --- e.g. "Who Killed the Electric Car?")
I think I have written and said something about this before, but I am going to say it again. Ever since I was a boy, I have read these news stories about these remarkable, ingenuous, fuel-saving or fossil fuel-eliminating technologies, but THEY HAVE NEVER COME TO FRUITION. Even hybrids, in my opinion, are a weak concession toward improvement. An electric car that uses GAS! Brilliant! And gets...drumroll please...45 miles per gallon! Whoopee! My secondhand Dodge Omni got 45 miles to the gallon in 1985.
Political will, consumer demand, corporate conspiracy are all at play here.
But we do not have the luxury to play this game any longer. They can build solar-powered cars. They can make them practical. They can make them luxurious and comfortable.
And, you know what else? I bet they can even install a cupholder.
Sure, it is a Swiss-designed beta version with flimsy plastic doors, three wheels, room for only two and devoid of a cup holder, but --- once again --- we have evidence that it is possible, that we have the technology, if not the political will, to break free from our fossil fuel addiction....forever. And we just might stave off global calamity after all.
The story of the solar-powered vehicle was buried on the 21st page of the front section of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Friday, December 5th.
Meanwhile, American auto manufacturers traipse before Congress begging to be absolved from their financial sins and boneheadedness.
(Why don't we just insist that the oil companies bail these guys out, since they are co-dependent? It seems to me that IF we put these jackasses on taxpayer-funded life support Americans need some assurances that 1) we get a decent Return On Investment, and 2) American car companies take heed of the future and start leading in alternative fuel technologies instead of trying to stymie their growth --- e.g. "Who Killed the Electric Car?")
I think I have written and said something about this before, but I am going to say it again. Ever since I was a boy, I have read these news stories about these remarkable, ingenuous, fuel-saving or fossil fuel-eliminating technologies, but THEY HAVE NEVER COME TO FRUITION. Even hybrids, in my opinion, are a weak concession toward improvement. An electric car that uses GAS! Brilliant! And gets...drumroll please...45 miles per gallon! Whoopee! My secondhand Dodge Omni got 45 miles to the gallon in 1985.
Political will, consumer demand, corporate conspiracy are all at play here.
But we do not have the luxury to play this game any longer. They can build solar-powered cars. They can make them practical. They can make them luxurious and comfortable.
And, you know what else? I bet they can even install a cupholder.
WIDGETIZE