The Detroit News reported yesterday that the presidential limousine and some law enforcement vehicles will be exempt from the President's directive that all federal vehicles purchased starting 2015 be advanced technology models. How advanced is the technology if the President won't use it in his limousine and his security vehicles?
The article goes on to explain why the President supports hybrids and why he can't have a hybrid. Evidently it has to do with the weight of the presidential limousine--the car is reinforced to withstand various nasty things that might happen to it. That's all very well, but this is my problem--a standard is being set, a rule is being made, and immediately someone in power does not have to abide by that rule. There is one standard that is imposed on the 'common man' and another standard for the 'uncommon man.' There may be a logical reason to exempt the presidential limousine, but is there also a logical reason to require federal vehicles to be hybrids?
The technology for electric cars is not perfect--there was an article at a website called The Car Electric about the impact of cold weather on electric cars. Cold weather significantly impacts the distance the car can go on after charging the battery both because batteries are less efficient in cold weather and because of the drain on the battery caused by using the heater to keep the driver warm. The electric car simply moves the source of power from oil to electricity. The electricity still has to be generated and is much less efficient for powering a vehicle than the traditional gasoline. Green cars may be in our future, but I am not sure they will be electric.
My final question on this requirement for 'green cars' in the government is simple, "If green cars are such a great idea, why are we waiting until 2015--well after the 2012 elections?"
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