Your running Mate

hey I am not talking about US presidential candidature instead the running mate here is the vehicle you are driving.

With OPEC raising the oil prices and Iran refusing to increase the oil production we have arrive at a juncture where we need to re-think about our dependence on oil. This is the time to think about Alternative source of energy and more importantly Alternative vehicle.

During '70s GM designed vehicles which could run on electricity but they gave up the project for the rage was Internal Combustion(IC) engine. We have done one full circle and back to the same concept when we want our running mate to be more independent. Hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are the future mean machines.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are much simpler machines when compared to the fossile fuel vehicles. There are no fuel-pumping, injection and mixing, noise reduction or pollution control mechanism needed in EVs. They are infact pollution free vehicle with minimal carbon footprint where 80 percent of carbon footprint of fossil fuelled vehicles is caused by their running. It is here where EVs score emphatically over thier rivals. In EVs, the electric motor sits directly above the axle and transmits power via traction. They have lesser machinery and consequently lesser wear and tear.

The only disadvantage with EVs is that they are battery powered and needs frequent charging. This is primarily to do with battery technology which has not evolved much and scope exists. Due to this limitation it can not be employed in heavy vehicles for public transport.

Last week when Honda launched it Hybrid vehicle in India the tax imposed on it is more than 100 percent since it is an imported model. The goverment can make an exceptions here which is for our better future. Also instead of buying fossil-fuel vehicles it should buy these hybrid and electric vehicles to reduce the carbon emission. The fact is that 40 percent of carbon dioxide generated comes from automotive.

Its high time we choose our running mate carefully.