There is one question that continues to perplex me regarding any transformation of the auto industry as we know it: What are we going to do with the existing fleet of automobiles currently functioning as America’s primary source of transportation?
Traditionally, consumers have viewed their used vehicles as down payments on a newer model, but if we switch to an alternative method of powering our cars, the value of our existing fleet will become somewhere around zero.
How will the average citizen afford the new generation of automobiles? And how do we deal with the old fleet in a market where recycling has become unprofitable?
It seems to me that we are missing the boat on the possibility of retrofitting our existing automobiles to extend their usefulness as more efficient, greener transportation.
David Haggard
Kansas City
The government should take over the auto industry. 3 models, 3 colors. That's it.
No grandfathering. You don't comply, the CDF comes and arrests you for Green Crimes.
Of curse those of us that require more than 40 miles on a charge will be screwed. What about the tires that are made from a petroleum based product? None of the enviro hypocrites ever provide insight on that. What about the plastics that are used on interiors that are also petroleum based? What about the CD's that have petroleum based chemicals used in their production? No mention of that by the enviro kooks.
It is funny to see the hypocrisy, we expect mroe manufacturing jobs (polluting the enviro) yet complain about the energy that woud be required in order to support that infrastructure, wind and solar simply are not reliable enough to be 100% self sustaining. Natural gas is an option, again, enviros do not want drilling for NG either. Geo-thermal, requires drilling and although it is relatively clean and efficient, enviros say NO to drilling required to implement.
Posted by: NoMoreMrNiceGuy | December 17, 2008 at 04:48 PM
My jalopy was pretty cold this morning, but I made it.
Posted by: Stifled Freedom | December 17, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Really a down payment on something that looses over 20% after you drive off the lot?
Posted by: T. Hanson | December 16, 2008 at 12:49 PM
The cost of converting current technology based vehicles makes the writers suggestion a ludicrous idea.
Posted by: solomon | December 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM
The way the economy is going....and if the Big 3 go under, it looks like we will be driving the old jalopies for awhile.
Posted by: Stifled Freedom | December 16, 2008 at 10:47 AM