So Many Alternatives - Just Can’t Choose Anything

New ways of tackling the problem of greenhouse effect and energy resources exhaustion appear quiet regularly. And get as regularly criticized in all possible ways. Bio fuel is not enough to supply the entire nation’s demand, plug-in cars are too small and have odd design, electric and hybrid cars are not satisfactory speed-wise. Yeah, let’s guzzle gas until scientists and automakers won’t come up with a perfect solution. Or until oil will cost an arm and leg – literally.

Take E85. It has gotten many votes and has almost been recognized as a great alternative to oil fuel. As distinct from gasoline, ethanol is made from plants. 85% of ethanol and 15% of gasoline put together make E85 – an energy source for flexible-fuel vehicles. The problem is that unlike gas stations that you bump into on every corner E85 is not always easy to find. Never mind, you can always check the alternative fuel location beforehand. There is even a mobile phone service for finding the nearest station where E85 is available.

But if you have a look at some studies you’ll discover not so optimistic results and assumptions. Like Professor Mark Jacobson from Stanford University said that he couldn’t see where exactly it had been proved that ethanol was decreasing air pollution. More than that, the results of his study showed that use of E85 could cause respiratory problems (the ground-level ozone, increased by ethanol, aggravates our lungs). The figures he got weren’t very dramatic and required additional research, but were enough to make hypochondriacs worry. And drive attention away from the evils of excessive gas consumption and its consequences.

However, Professor Jacobson puts his trust in battery-electric technology. Electric and hybrid cars have gotten their bit of criticism too, but keep drawing more and more attention and approval. As Toyota hybrid cars are expected to appear in all possible models and hybrid car market is welcoming hybrid SUV models, there has to be the light at the end of the tunnel. Probably the main root of the problem is not in the imperfections of alternative technologies, but in the mass psychology. We do realize we’re going nowhere when consuming too much gasoline, but can’t change our habits. It’s much easier to find faults in everything that might force you to reconsider your routine.

Turning back to electric and hybrid cars. Fuel efficiency depends on your driving skills almost as much as on technology. Some especially gifted drivers can turn even Toyota hybrid cars, famous for their fuel-efficiency, into thirsty monsters. And there’s hardly anything carmakers can do about it. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler Chairman, suggested that special education should be given to teach low fuel consumption driving skills. In fact, Daimler already provides such program for truck drivers in Europe and apparently it pays off.

So maybe instead of knocking to pieces the introduced ideas of alternative technologies we should revise our habits and try to get the most of what is on offer now?