Well, you know, the lust for massive, roaring, high speed, high acceleration
cars (a lust carefully cultivated by the automobile industry) isn't going to
go away overnight.  (What macho American male is going to want to drive
around in a vehicle that won't accelerate to 60mph in 5.7 seconds and go
120mph: insecure little boys of any age with penis envy and mature,
thoughtful Vanagon drivers who can think for themselves.)  Manufacturers are
going to accommodate those lusts, even in hybrids.

I was reacting to the flat statement that technology can't solve our fuel
problems.  I say, again, of course it will!  I can't be responsible for
vehicle manufactures that simultaneously earn a "green" merit badge at the
same time they appeal to the little boys.

By the way, I ride my bike for most any trip under 5 miles, particularly if
the return trip doesn't involve carrying 12 foot 2" x 4" 's back from Home
Depo.  Even "old" technology works to reduce my fuel consumption.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young
Lafayette, CA 94549
----------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Sinclair" <alan@DETERMINISTICNETWORKS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 5:32 PM
Subject: Re: Maybe now is the time to fill the tank of your extra car or
"parts vanagon"

> Unfortunately even hybrids are not answering the call to reduce gas
> consumption.  Except for the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight,
> hybridization is being used to give more power, not less consumption, as
> reflected in the State of Calif's decision to allow only those two
> vehicles to enjoy the carpool lanes on freeways when driven solo.  We're
> just a greedy lot, on the whole.
>
>
> Tom Young wrote:
>
> >Well, *of course* our fuel consumption problems can be solved by
technology!
> >If every new car purchased in America for the next 10 years was a hybrid
you
> >don't think fuel consumption would decline dramatically?  Off course it
> >would!
> >
>
> <snip>