The Future of Cars

We discussed the future of private motor cars, starting a few interesting hares running, and some red herrings. Important points seem to be:

• The separation of expense and use
• That some costs are born by the public
• Arguments for no rel shortage of fuel, and governments' control of availability
• Need to separate pedestrians from vehicles - alternatively making streets for people.
• Uses of frequent buses and two wheelers as alternative to cars.
• Other means of energy storage, lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion, compressed air, CO2
• How improving batteries, improving electronics and improving engines might change the balance
• Why do we live so far from where we want to be anyway?

Links:

1. The Battery University - all you need to know about batteries
2. Plugin Hybrids - have the answers
3. Google Plugin hybrid advocacy
4. Peak Lithium - why PHEVs Plugin Hybrids may not have the answers
5. Fuel Efficient Vehicles - as listed by our government
6. Energy Densities - relevant to arguments about storage media