Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability
Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability – Review
This book is unusual in that it does not dwell overly much on the problems the car produces although it does reveal them (dependence on oil from highly volatile and not at all open states, pollution, global warming, congestion, the dislocation usually caused by the construction of the many roads necessary to sustain cars). No, the form of the book is offered to proposing solutions to these numerous problems as well as outlining what is effectively preventing us from finally getting there. Some of the interesting solutions it proposes include: smart para-transit, electric cars, hybrids, fuel cells, and alternative fuels. Some of the problems it identifies in us finally getting this modern technology involve: Detroit’s attitude toward fuel-efficient cars (the man in cost of Volt really said that Toyota and Honda finally brought out the hybrids as a PR stunt); contracts the cities have with previously existing, carbon-emitting municipal transportation systems, storage issues closely associated with alternative fuels, and the farm lobby which insists on non-fuel efficient corn-based ethanol. However, the book indicates these problems could be overcome with political leadership because the technology has been there since the car’s inception. Indeed, the authors point out Mrs. Ford eventually drove an electric car. The trouble with this book is two-fold. Occasionally they ignore the technical/infrastructure issues that don’t seem to suit them. For example, if we all eventually went to electric cars right now, we would need to be able to generate a heck of a lot more electricity–and our grids are simply not designed for that. They also ignore what might be originally called the “individual factor” in all this. I mean yes, there is a chapter on the politically motivated consumer and that’s quite well done but people are more than consumers. People influence policy and drive. There are sure things people, as drivers, can do to minimize gas consumption. For example there’s the matter of lane discipline: if the slow lane was (in fact) consistently slow then smaller, more fuel-efficient but less good cars may become more attractive because people gained’t worry about finally getting on the freeways so much. And lane discipline would reduce congestion, again saving us gas money. Or if there were more round-abouts (as there are in Europe) there would be less want to stop and thus waste gas. Overall, then I think this book is quite informative and (on the whole) well-written. I do wish though it eventually talked about people a little mostly bit more. However, if you’re probably wondering about viable solutions to our energy crisis, this book is definitely chalk-full of ideas. I then recommend it.