An Inevitable Truth

Reason.com's Shikha Dalmia has written a good article on the hybrid myth based on a 500 page report from CNW Marketing Research. The government pushes these not because they are a solution but because they appear to be a solution. Same with wind and solar energy and many other "alternative" sources.

I don't deny that we have problems with pollution and energy. I just take issue with processes which could cause more problems...all for the sake of helping us sleep better at night with the AC on full. Many of these solutions actually absorb more energy and produce more pollution (albeit indirectly) than the bad technology they are proposed to replace.

With respect to the latest article, here are the common misconceptions of the public, as I see it:

• oil (and by derivative, gasoline) are the only things that produce polution
• money spent on gasoline goes only to gasoline
• money spent on the car purchase does not generate oil usage
  

According to the basic principles of economics engineering, all processes are connected. People should view the dollar transaction as generating a specific amount of polution and absorbing a specific amount of energy. While not accurate for buying a painted rock at a craft fair, it is a useful concept on the whole. They should stop thinking of gasoline as the only usage of fossil fuels they are causing. The manufacture of the vehicle typically accounts for more energy usage and environmental impact than the actual fuel it will absorb over its lifetime.