Audi electric car in 5-10 years: realistic or not?
It is encouraging to hear an optimistic prediction from the transport sector, one of the systematic polluters of our planet. Top Audi executive Rupert Stadler has made the heavy prediction that in 5-10 years from now, zero emission cars will be possible. In the meantime, diesels and hybrids will dominate.
The part referring to diesels and hybrids is quite clear. Things definitely go that way. But the fact that a fully electric car will be practically feasible needs more details on how recharging and range issues will be tackled. Surely, better batteries are coming, plus the fact that the Project Better Place efforts in Israel and Denmark will highlight deficiencies that will have to be corrected.
If the transport exhaust problem was solved immediately, we would all be happier people. At the moment however, there is no obvious solution. And this because with electric cars our cities would become less smoggy, but the damage would be passed on to energy factory chimneys. Zero pollution cars would make the guilt of polluting go away and most people would surely ignore the fact that they batteries are charged from the burning of some sort of fuel. Even under current circumstances, people do not mind sitting in their cars stuck in traffic and many cities are considering introducing or tightening parking laws or access by car. Imagine what it would be like with electric cars…
Stadler claims Audi has a good plan, better than those of competitors Mercedes and BMW. The German car industry is at the moment at a very critical point. About one in four jobs is directly or indirectly linked to transport, when a large part of German cars are luxury models that have bigger than average engines and sip more than average fuel. Although hybrids will join model ranges ranges soon, there is no magic solution in sight. So what is the best tactic for German car company managers? For the moment, showing sensitivity is useful for gaining time to find solutions. But soon words will not be enough as EU legislation is tightening its grip and consumers might well change their buying habits…
Link: Reuters
[...] Posted by Dimitrios Matsoulis on May 7, 2008 It is encouraging to hear an optimistic prediction from the transport sector, one of the systematic polluters of our planet. Top Audi executive Rupert Stadler has made the heavy prediction that in 5-10 years from now, zero emission cars will be possible. In the meantime, diesels and hybrids will dominate. (continued) [...]
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