Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles: The Only Roadblock to PHEVs
by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist, The Oxford Club
Several weeks ago, I wrote here about how I believe natural gas makes sense as a bridging strategy to get us from oil over to electric as a source of energy to move us around.
Of course, the most vocal proponent of this has been T. Boone Pickens, with his “Pickens Plan.” Many have argued Pickens is only pushing the plan as a means for personal gain. I don’t believe it, for several reasons:
- First, Pickens isn’t hurting financially. Quite the opposite: He has made a fortune in the crude oil business, and his personal net worth is estimated at around $3 billion. He’s donated over $400 million to Oklahoma State University where he is an alumnus.
- Second, I think he’s one of those rare American business owners who truly wants what’s best for America.
- And now, Pickens is likely dancing in the streets: This week President Obama turned the EPA on its ear and told its new head, Lisa Jackson, to review and (likely approve) California’s request for stricter tailpipe emissions than what’s currently mandated under Federal law. This essentially reverses the roadblock/stalling techniques employed by the Bush administration, and opens the door for more strict emissions rules moving forward.
Obama made his position refreshingly clear after issuing the order: “Year after year, decade after decade, we’ve chosen delay over decisive action… rigid ideology has overruled sound science… and special interests have overshadowed common sense… My administration will not deny facts. We will be guided by them.”
Obama also plans to raise miles per gallon targets to 35 MPG by 2020. Not particularly aggressive, but the carmakers will have trouble meeting it without major design changes to many of their models. True to form, U.S. auto companies are screaming like stuck pigs… faced with the grave reality of their situation.
Once the air clears (pun intended) and the whining ends, what you’re likely to hear is how the big three automakers are rapidly ramping up their Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle research and development.
