Q: I’m interested in buying a new car, and am considering an electric vehicle (EV), but am worried that they are too expensive, or I’m going to run out of battery charge and be stranded. Should I still consider an EV?
A: Absolutely! Read More
A Welcome Voice of Corporate Leadership
April 24th, 2013
A theme that I have been writing and speaking about a lot recently is the obligation of industry CEOs to lead their companies in reducing heat-trapping emissions and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy – not only because of the essential societal benefits but because it’s good for business. Read More
Deflating the Wall Street Journal’s Hot Air on Electric Cars
March 13th, 2013
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently published a very misleading op-ed on electric cars. Given their similar history on climate change and oil subsidies, I’m sure this shocks you as much as would a dog bites man story. But the frequency of opinion pieces in the Journal and other publications that are peddling bogus memes around electric vehicles (EVs) calls for continued push back. Read More
President’s Proposed Energy Security Trust Could Help, But Much More Needed to Address Oil Use
February 15th, 2013
During President Obama’s State of the Union address, he spoke to the importance of cutting America’s oil use. As part of that, he proposed the creation of an Energy Security Trust that would use revenues from oil and gas production to invest in research for clean vehicle technology. The goal: to “shift our cars and trucks off oil for good” and “free our families and businesses from the painful spikes in gas prices we’ve put up with for far too long.”
So, would a proposed trust help or hurt efforts to cut oil use? Or is it too soon to tell? Read More
Oil Companies are Laughing All the Way to the Bank as Different Electric Vehicles Jockey for Position
February 12th, 2013
I’m a big believer in competition and robust debates. Competition is at the core of America’s DNA, and the foundation of science is asking difficult questions and challenging the answers. But, when it comes to the future of electric cars, the brewing battle between backers of plug-in hybrid, battery, and fuel cell electric vehicles could leave oil companies as the big winners. Read More
Car Sharing Going Mainstream: Will Electric Cars Go Along for the Ride?
January 28th, 2013
The recent Avis-Zipcar deal got me thinking about the future of car sharing and the possibilities for electric vehicles. The acquisition of Zipcar by Avis, along with car sharing endeavors by other traditional rental car companies like Enterprise and Hertz, indicates that car sharing is an idea that is here to stay and likely to grow. As car sharing becomes an increasingly popular travel choice for more Americans, is it also an opportunity to help accelerate the growth of the electric vehicle market in the U.S.? Read More
Ship It Green: Electrification of Delivery Trucks
December 19th, 2012
$1.5 billion in a single day. That’s the estimated value of internet purchases made on Cyber Monday this year, up 17 percent from last year and the current record. Most of those purchases, ranging from iPads to Furby’s, will have traveled thousands of miles by ship, train, or truck before making the final leg of their trip in a local delivery truck. Of course, internet shopping prompts the question: Is getting the package delivered to your house better or worse for the environment than picking it up at the store? Read More
LA Auto Show: Showing the Way to Doubling Fuel Economy
November 30th, 2012
New fuel economy and greenhouse gas rules were finalized by the Obama Administration this past year that go out to 2025, more than a decade away. The standards have enjoyed strong support from consumers and automakers alike. But as with most big steps forward, there are always some naysayers. To the naysayers, I say come to the LA Auto Show. The variety of technologies automakers are employing to make big gains in fuel economy are wide-ranging. And it is with this menu of technologies that automakers can meet the standards set for 2025 and beyond. Read More
Electric Vehicle Milestone: Tesla Model S Wins Car of the Year
November 15th, 2012
It’s unanimous, at least amongst the judges at Motor Trend Magazine. The all-electric Tesla Model S has captured the coveted Motor Trend Car of Year Award, following a similar declaration from Automobile Magazine. Read More
Hypocrisy Rules the Editorial Page at Wall Street Journal on Federal Support for Energy
November 1st, 2012
While Johnson Controls is working to be a part of the solution to our nation’s oil problems by expanding their investments in battery technology, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page hit them for getting federal help. This is a hypocritical attack from a paper that ran editorials in March 2012 and February 2011** pushing contorted arguments in attempts to justify federal support for oil companies, support that’s been rolling in for nearly a century. But given the Journal’s history of misleading on important issues, I guess I should not be surprised. Read More
