GM is still pursuing the Volt, a car that will be a better hybrid. The Volt will be solely propelled by electricity. This is what is so awesome! The current hybrids that are on the road are propelled by a gasoline motor. So while they can improve fuel mileage they will never be a solution to the problem, oil. The Volt will be able to run 40 miles on a full charge, then a small engine will kick on to run the car? No, the engine is only a generator, so the car can have enough energy to run. The platform was designed to allow multiple types of generators. Currently it will have gasoline and biofuel, but this will easily be transferred to a fuel cell or anything new coming in the future!
Some will argue that this is no better for currently for the car to be off oil, it needs to be reliant on Grid power. While I understand how this poses a problem for the grid itself, aka excess reliance on the already overloaded system, the joy of the issue is that the USA does not need to import coal to power the grid. This really could be the ticket to get our reliance off OPEC.
The car will charge in about 8 hours on a 110 volt system, and 3-4 on a 220 system. Most people will be able to charge their cars during off times, overnight when people use considerable less percentage of the grid. Now consider this, this car will be affordable to buy and cheap to run. (Grid power is considerably cheaper than gasoline and cleaner). I can see how if this technology catches on, then the need for middle-eastern oil will really decline!
I agree with my professors and climatologist concerning the damage we are doing to the atmosphere with the carbon cycle being out of balance, however I must admit my primary motivation for being rid of an oil based economy is our unfortunate dependence on the middle east for said oil.
Obama has promised change for America, but the change he is not making happen is change we can do without him anyway! What will get us off oil is big businesses working to find cheaper cleaner solutions to our oil problem. Since gas prices have be exponentially rising this is only a matter of time. The only thing that can get us off oil is for alternatives to oil to be cheaper.
Another great example of business taking advantage of public resentment of oil prices is Nissan. They are developing a 100% electric car that will go 100 miles on a charge. The difference from the Volt is that there is not a generator to recharge while traveling.
Consider the average person commuting in a city, most don't drive more than 20 miles or so one way to get to work. (DC is different than some, as people will commute 100miles to get to the government jobs in town). With a 40-60 miles commute there and back, the volt or leaf would be a great option! This average commuter around here even would be able use extremely small amounts of oil based fuel, it might even be possible to commute entirely off the grid!
Now for the rest of my environmental friends out there as crazy as me, think of this. For the price of a car you could invest in solar/wind technology to charge your EV (electric vehicle). This is more than most people are willing to pay, but it has the potential to halt gigatons of CO2 being poured into the air. I know I am a dreamer, but its really fun to see my dreams coming to life, albiet slowly!
There is even an option for crazy rich sports car lovers! http://www.teslamotors.com/
For the motorcycle lovers out there, here are two companies that are currently manufacturing fully electric bikes!
http://www.brammo.com/store/?country=US&state=VA
http://zeromotorcycles.com/
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