http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily...p+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives The idea of converting existing vehicles from gasoline to electricity...and then to have batttery exchange stations is yet another good set of ideas...the objective being to reduce the current costs of car operations by 50%... Also to cause change..taxes on gas powered vehicles rises by 60%...etc..to promote change.... Also the idea of battery swapping stations...rather than gasoline stations...promotes battery convenience.... Good ideas..
What works for Israel doesn't necessarily work for us. Besides, this is propaganda. This kind of technology is useful for a highly dense, low-mile country like Israel but in the vast and wide-open United States, we need something a lot better than converted to electric cars run from current technology and designs. I guess it's a nice thought, though, if it helps bring global crude demand down a bit.
Excellent Commentary All ..................................................................................... Good comments.. What definitely seems to be taking shape is that there will be a mix of solutions....some will fit large cities...some will fit small cities..some will fit short and long distance needs... To be sure transportation will be changing...and it definitely looks like electricity is the major direction... It does seem that the world needs to move towards a resource that is always going to be around....rather than a depleting and destabilizing one such as oil... Electricity is now very broadly distributed...now the mission is to create vehicles that will generate similar usage characteristics... that oil has given the world for the last 100 years... What the world needs is an evergreen... non-disruptive source, that this time around will last far more than 100 years.... The ideas sure are coming out of the woodwork, but this time around have some serious funding behind them...and apparently more likelihood of being around... This idea of producing fuels on agricultural land just seems too inefficient...and plants are subject to climate , disease , etc..It does not matter as to plant type....and land procurement just seems to be inefficient and less likely... The answer seems to be most present in solar, wind, and motion....with excellent storing capabilities....