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How PHEVs and EVs Will Sabotage America's Drive for Energy Independence

The movement toward PHEVs and EVs is at least going in the right direction. Just like everything else, from microwave ovens to computers, when demand exists (i.e. potential profits), research and innovation will then become focused on improvements to the technology. In ten years we may be talking about current battery technology the way we talk about floppy disk drives today.

However, in the short term, until newer techology becomes available, we need to be developing ALL available sources of energy (geothermal, oil shale, wind, nuclear, solar, coal, responsible off-shore drilling) to get our country less dependent on foreign sources. Unfortunately, our government is only focused on extremely expensive ultra-green policies that will only drive higher prices, eliminate jobs, and stifle economic growth.

How PHEVs and EVs Will Sabotage America's Drive for Energy Independence

The movement toward PHEVs and EVs is at least going in the right direction. Just like everything else, from microwave ovens to computers, when demand exists (i.e. potential profits), research and innovation will then become focused on improvements to the technology. In ten years we may be talking about current battery technology the way we talk about floppy disk drives today.

However, in the short term, until newer techology becomes available, we need to be developing ALL available sources of energy (geothermal, oil shale, wind, nuclear, solar, coal, responsible off-shore drilling) to get our country less dependent on foreign sources. Unfortunately, our government is only focused on extremely expensive ultra-green policies that will only drive higher prices, eliminate jobs, and stifle economic growth.

Oil Crisis: Congressional Finger-Pointing Growing Old

Finally, someone in any kind of substantial media that points the finger back at a government that has done nothing with a "lens to the future" for a long-time. Instead we get SOX (burdensome regs), steroids inquiries, and endless bickering. The last series of oil shortages should have spurred someone into action (ala Brazil) to introduce a short-, mid-, and long-term energy policy that never leaves us at the mercy of a foreign supplier.

It would certainly be refreshing for someone to introduce a plan that utilizes short-term oil use from less restricted drilling, utilization of oil shale deposits (1 TRILLION BARRELS), and coal-to-gas technology combined with incentives to radically improve fuel economy. And utilization of existing natural gas deposits to get rid of heating oil consumption for home heating would be a nice step to reducing diesel prices. You could even argue for some cellulose-based ethanol added for the short-term consumption.

Mid-term goals could include developing plug-in hybrids (and corresponding battery technology) and high efficiency engines with ongoing development of fuel cells. Development of geothermal (never goes off), solar, wind, and nuclear sources to increase sustainable electrical production to support improved electrical heating of homes and offices (phase out natural gas) and to support electric vehicles.

The long-term goal, of course, is energy independence with primary emphasis on electric (from sustainable sources) and fuel cell vehicles and electric home and office heating. By 2030, we could be virtually oil free (except jet engines--but who knows) and energy independent with millions of new jobs created in these alternatives. But with some work and creative thinking, we can become energy independent with reduced greenhouse emissions (that's for the green crowd) and do it without driving the economy into the ground.