A recent post in the Auto Racing forum has caused me to think about the recent trend in auto manufacturing, "green" car design. The thread is about Honda's new team and car.

While the post is intriuging it underscores my thoughts that "green" car design is only a trend and not a movement. I mean, let's face it. The carbon footprint of a car as we know it is HUGE! Can you imagine the size of an F1's carbon footprint?! A "green" F1 car? Come on!

The "green" movement has really taken off now especially in the building design and construction industry. While there is some debate as to exactly what "green" means, there have been tremendous paradym shifts in the way we relate to the buildings we design and construct. I simply don't see that ever happening in the auto industry due to our affinity for our cars. Let's face it, we're not taking the bus to the Dragon (or even the grocery store).

On the one hand it pisses me off that auto manufacturers are bastardizing and trivializing the truely "green" movement for profit. On the other hand, maybe the trend can evolve into a movement. I doubt it, but maybe.

Carbon footprints. Wow! I own FOUR cars and none of them are environmentally friendly, let alone GREEN.

*sigh* I think I'll go hug a tree.

 

Remember, it's not only the costs of running the car. Disposal costs have been huge. How many rusting hulks have you seen rotting in giant auto graveyards. Even if we still pump the carbon out of our tailpipes a "cradle to cradle" design can start to reduce the environmental impact of our rides. It's not enough, but it's a start.

Personally, I can't wait to drive my electric, all wheel powered, 0-60 in <3 second, roadster with dynamic computer controlled suspension on the Dragon.

 

I'm sure it'll be painted green.

 

My current pet peeve with the whole "Green" movement is the inaccurate association with E85.

Oh, and I can't wait to see Ron's little red battery roadster getting smaller and smaller in the rear view of my fusion powered drop top. H -> He FTW!

 

Eat my torque, piston boy.

 

Explain please.

 

We're going to stop eating cornflakes so all of our corn can go into making ethanol for our 'mobiles.

 

I know a guy who has lots of corns and often emits methane. Maybe I can attach some wheels on him.

 

E85 is a short term pipe dream.. a quick answer to keep the tree huggers pacified until a real answer to energy consumption and environment friendly vehicles are made.

 

perhaps, but it does burn cleaner and is renewable, or more so than gasoline. I was driving a flex fuel Ram 1500 for a few days while my dodge was in the shop. Good luck finding E85 around here. Limited production and distribution. Until we HAVE to use it, we won't be...