I like the idea of electric vehicles, I just wonder if its too soon. It seems to me we need to get a handle on how we generate electricity. The chart below shows the source of the electricity that Puget Sound generated for 2011:
(Click on the chart for more details) Here in Washington, we are lucky to be able to get half our power from our dams. But even here, 32% of our electricity is generated from coal. PSE’s goal for 2012 is to get 3% of its energy from renewaable sources, primarily its wind farms.
So where are we going to find the replacement for Coal in the next few years? Obviously wind will get a larger share, but its a ways off from being significant. One would have to believe the winner will be Natural Gas, as cheap as it is and its alot cleaner than coal.
So I plan to keep an eye on the progress we make towards eliminating coal before I get on the electric car bandwagon. I am not saying I am against electric vehicles – but lets make sure we dont swap gasoline for coal. I really like my hybrid car – it is extremely efficient in its use of power and I get 40 – 44 miles to gallon. Lets focus on getting more cars to use gasoline efficiently while we tackle this electricity generation problem.
The trouble with cars is not how we power them but that we let any idiot drive. How many times have you read that someone with 6 DUI’s kills someone on the road. The punishment a 6 month suspended sentence. Why don’t we confiscate any car they are driving. When Aunt Mable tells Billy Boy he can borrow her car she loses it! If we had fewer drivers that would solve many of our problems. Why doesn’t the government get behind this program? They need everyone to have a driver’s license so they can track them. I recently renewed my license and they made me take off my glasses. Why? Facial recognition programs need to see my eyes!! Now with manakins in the mall with cameras soon when you enter a store It will say “Welcome Mr Wise, we have a special on video games” That is what is scary to me.
I hope to have a post in the coming weeks on the Google self driving cars – that may address your issue – I think it has some interesting possibilities.
Me thinks, Mr Wise, that thou doth digress!