Zoom, no vroom

The Tesla electric sports car has been getting a lot of press lately; FuturePundit takes a critical look at it, adding some observations about hybrids (which, note, the Tesla is not) along the way:

While this car is interesting and will provide a lot of fun for some highly affluent people . . . hybrid vehicles, because they generate mass production volumes, are much more important for driving development of better batteries. Battery makers and venture capitalists are funding battery research in order to chase after really big purchase orders from Toyota, Honda, GM, Ford, and Nissan. Hybrids are the path we will take to eventually reach all electric high production volume cars.

I would go even further: Hybrids are less important for the fossil fuel they save in the short run than they are for the battery technology innovations they will spark. Those innovations will enable mass produced pure electric cars. More efficient ways to burn gasoline just lead to bigger and faster cars with little net gain in fuel efficiency. Pure electric vehicles will enable the use of non-fossil fuels for transportation. That will be the greatest legacy of hybrids.

Other FuturePundit posts on hybrids, fuel economy, and buyers' preference for performance here, here, here, and here.

Posted by David on July 24, 2006 9:42 AM