   Encourage all third world or developing countries to use green cars
  Would that be so bad? Is that even feasible? Reading up on the China issue of oil consumption, leads me to the question of why bother buying gasoline only cars, when we already have diesel, hybrid and will soon have UCLD (a cleaner and supposedly more efficient kind of diesel) cars. Granted having these cars alone won't make oil demand drop to new lows but it will take some pressure off the demand. Also the benefits are immediate: low pollution, less gas consumption, more pressure (for lack of a better and more appropriate word) to improve these technologies. The oil companies won't suffer. If anything it'll keep their supply from running out quicker. So why not try implement something like this now? Or at least put it on the table?If our local economists could chime in, I'd appreciate it.edit: changed title, because of obvious reasons.[Edited by - Alpha_ProgDes on June 10, 2006 5:09:14 PM]
  err, wait, you want to force chinese people to drive green cars...while americans still ride these shitty SUVs?   ;  I don't know whether this is relevant or not, but I just recently saw Who Killed the Electric Car. It's bizarre, I had no idea that an exclusively electric car (Honda EV-1, and others, like the Toyota RAV-4EV) had been in production; but were ultimately recalled. I highly reccomend checking it out.I would drive an electric car.More info.Really; why make just China drive green cars? For the amount of locomotion I need an electric car would be more than sufficient. I think for the amount that most people drive, probably 50% or more of the population could get away just driving an electric vehical. I hear that Toyota might be introducing a plug-in hybrid, that allows you to charge it without engaging the internal combustion engine. Hopefully it sees more success than the Electric Car.   ;  Well not only China. I just happened to be reading an article about China, which triggered this thread. I mean China, India, any developing country. Unlike the US and other western countries, the developing countries are not (yet) flooded by gasoline only vehicles. Therefore, the market for the kind of vehicles I listed in the OP can definitely be the mainstream and majority kind of cars in those countries. Whereas the US and other Western nations will have to have a slow to moderate (in terms of speed) transition to from gasoline to hybrid or UCLD cars. Hope I am clearer.   ;Quote:Original post by Alpha_ProgDesSo why not implement something like this now?Well...1. you can't.2. it's wrong.Seriously: Are you nuts?   ;  We should force them to recycle too.   ;Quote:Original post by Matthias LangeQuote:Original post by Alpha_ProgDesSo why not implement something like this now?Well...1. you can't.2. it's wrong.Seriously: Are you nuts?Well if I use 'encourage' instead of 'force', would that make you feel better?And yes, I am nuts. [grin];  Green cars are economic nightmares right now. They are barely worth buying under the best possible conditions (driving a lot, big state subventions, only considering the price of the upgrade from the normal to the green model). It's crazy to suggest people in second or third world countries should buy green cars, just look at the prices of them, it's a more than decade of wages for average people there.   ;Quote:Original post by nicksterdomusWe should force them to recycle too.Better yet, kill them all. That way they can't pollute the world and the "developed" nations can go on doing so for longer.It's a stupid idea because you couldn't force them  to adopt it, unless you intend to invade, take over the government and then force them..... oh wait you're American!Green energy and vehicles cost more than conventional ones, which is exactly why the (poorer) developing nations won't adopt them. It is the developed nations that can best afford it and should lead by example. That is the only (sane) way to convince others to follow.   ;Quote:Original post by skjinedmjeetI don't know whether this is relevant or not, but I just recently saw Who Killed the Electric Car. It's bizarre, I had no idea that an exclusively electric car (Honda EV-1, and others, like the Toyota RAV-4EV) had been in production; but were ultimately recalled. I highly reccomend checking it out.I would drive an electric car.More info.I agree completely.  Quote:Original post by skjinedmjeetReally; why make just China drive green cars? For the amount of locomotion I need an electric car would be more than sufficient. I think for the amount that most people drive, probably 50% or more of the population could get away just driving an electric vehical. I hear that Toyota might be introducing a plug-in hybrid, that allows you to charge it without engaging the internal combustion engine. Hopefully it sees more success than the Electric Car.I think the figure would be much larger, more like 80-90%. How many people drive more than 55 miles per day? (see vehicle range EV1). With it's sales in the tank, I bet GM regrets the day it killed the EV.At any rate, if you grok the underlying message of the film, it's clear why China just can't drive green cars. It's the same reason why we can't. It would be too disruptive of the economic model that we've used to build civilization and I don't mean capitalism, I mean oil. 