Electric cars! I know, I know, you’re thinking about
the old slow Prius in traffic this morning or the (shudder) Honda Insight of
decades past. But that thinking might just change in the next couple of years.
Check out the Greenbuild 2012 Green Car Tour lineup. Conference attendees will have an opportunity to drive one of 14 new electric
vehicles, from the new Volkswagen Bug to the much touted Nissan LEAF to more exotic
fair like the Fisker Karma. (I mean, have you seen the Karma? Gorgeous.)
Honda gets the award for having the most cars in attendance,
with six models in play. One of their Civic designs has even moved away from the electric concept,
riding instead on natural gas.
The wide selection of models seems to say that, while it has
taken a bit, car builders have decided to give green a look. Whether it is a
more environmental customer or the President’s new 54mpg standard for cars in
the U.S. it is hard to tell. Nevertheless, car makers are giving electric cars a
try, even if it is just a toe in the water, it could be your future faster than
you think.
The current fuel economy rules for automakers selling cars
in the U.S. stands at an average of 27.5mpg. That means all cars across an
automaker’s lineup have to average 27.5. So for every truck introduced into the
U.S. market that is running at 20mpg, an econo car running at 35mpg must also
be introduced.
As the MPG laws creep up on automakers, hybrid vehicles will make a difference. At least if they still want to offer big trucks in their lineup. And while 2025 sounds like The Future, it is only 13 years away.
Will we see you at the show? Nov. 14-16 in San Francisco!
Read more about the 54.5MPG decision here http://www.cnbc.com/id/48829545/Getting_to_54_MPG_Will_Change_What_We_Drive
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