Fight the gas prices

[Munkay]

Though lately I've been swayed more towards not only renewable energy, but renewable and clean burning energy. And for the most part that would point towards electric vehicles

On one hand, I agree with the sentiment. I'd love to see some cleaner burning, renewable energy sources become an affordable reality.

But on the other hand, there's a number of caveat's about electric cars. First off, there's the battery issue. Batteries aren't cheap, and have a limited life span on them. Until the costs come down an affordable electric car won't be a reality. Also, batteries are nasty on the environment if they are allowed to leak. Battery recycling programs (of which there are already many in existence) would curb this problem. But I'm not sure what happens when people start abandoning old cars, or crash on the highway and leak battery acid everywhere. By no means am I trying to be hyperbolic - it certainly isn't the end of the world if a battery leaks - but if we are talking about energies that lower the impact on the environment, it's a worthy consideration.

Secondly, there's one big consideration most people don't seem to talk about when you mention electric cars. Where is the energy coming from? Hybrids currently get their electricity when the car brakes. But gas is burned in order to get the car moving in the first place. Moreover, if you plug it into your wall at home the energy is likely coming from a Coal, Oil, or Nuclear power plant. Until that infrastructure changes, electric cars might not be pumping out Carbon Dioxide on the highway, but they're increasing the electric demand and pumping out Carbon Dioxide or Nuclear waste at the plant.

I'm all for advancing electric car technology, but it's got a ways to go before it's a true step forward.

Cheers,

Munk