First Name | Timothy |
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Last Name | Wells |
Email Address | theseeker@gmail.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | Please don't back down on ZEV mandates. |
Comment | Gas at the pump may still be fairly cheap here in the USA in comparison to the rest of the world, but the hidden costs of occupying foreign countries, and protecting that supply of gasoline makes the price much higher, both in money and human lives. The CARB is in a unique position to help instigate positive change, and should not water down any bill that would push forward the shift from an oil based economy. The demand clearly exists for electric vehicles, and the technology is here right now to make them. Breakthroughs in creation and storage are not required, such as the case with hydrogen fuel cells. yes, battery technology and costs mean that for a given price EVs might only be good for 80-90% of the population, but battery technology will only advance more rapidly once the market is there with the higher demand. It will also take time for the changeover to happen, so advancements in technology will only increase the usefulness of the vehicles produced, and appeal to ever larger segments. The use of exceedingly clean and reliable vehicles will have a negative impact on the automotive parts, labor, and emissions testing jobs market. However, as owners of EVs realize that if they produce their own electricity they can do better than driver cheaper, they can drive for free, new local jobs will be created in the clean energy markets like wind and solar power generation manufacture and installation. Upsides of an electric automotive society: · No automotive air pollution in city centers. · Better quality of life due to higher aur quality. · Cleaner streams, water tables, rivers, and oceans due to less vehicle fluid runoff and fewer oil tankers to spill. · Nighttime charging of EVs creates more even load for electricity producers, allowing more efficient operation. · Increased co-generation of power to shore up the grid and offset increased electrical usage. · No need to occupy foreign countries to secure resources. · Catalyst for creation of better and cheaper clean alternative energy production technologies. Downsides? of an electric automotive society: · People are generally afraid of change. especially when vested interests spread a lot of FUD about it. · New tax laws will need to be written eventually to supplant the gasoline taxes. (Probably assessed at registration time based on odometer readings.) · Many well established companies will have to start from scratch creating new types of products, or be left in the dist as new startups eat their lunch. Overall I'd say that the tremendous benefits to the environment, public health, foreign policy, and society in general far outweigh the potential annoyance of disrupting the status quo, and shifting profits from established industries to ones that are less harmful to their customers. If anything I'd say the regulations are too lax, not too stringent. People will buy any car you convince them that they need, and auto makers would have NO problem selling all of the electric vehicles they make if they actually advertised them and touted the benefits to the consumer, despite all of the drawbacks to their current associated parts supplier and oil industry partners. Tim wells, About to start converting a car to an EV because none are made by the auto industry. |
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2008-03-23 02:05:51 |
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