We’re going to revel in a bit of a ‘we told you so’ moment, regarding this week’s New York Times report on China’s plan to dominate the global electric vehicle market. Regular Ferret readers will remember we spotted this possibility way back in 2006. It is indeed gratifying to be such an insightful polecat.
Chinese leaders have adopted a plan aimed at turning the country into one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years…The goal, which radiates from the very top of the Chinese government, suggests that Detroit’s Big Three, already struggling to stay alive, will face even stiffer foreign competition on the next field of automotive technology than they do today.
Well DUUUH! This is what happens when you don't change your market strategy for 40-60 years! Step up or step aside.
That's what happens when you concentrate on building SWA haulers. Case in point, my neighbor who just had his house foreclosed on also had a SWA (Single White *ss) hauler. You know, the 4WD F-250 with the Triton V-10, never used to haul anything useful for fear it would scratch the paint and reduce the resale value, never used anywhere four wheel drive would be needed because it would get dirty. I guarantee that its maximum load a couple times a year was two people and groceries. It spent the majority of its life as a SWA status symbol.
It is to be hoped that along with, and preferably before, the arrival of 'leccy vehicles, the authorities on the ground have in place provision of systems to get that energy to the wheels that is environmentally sound.
Otherwise you are in danger of merely placing the exhaust pipe in another location, which really doesn't do much for carbon emissions.