The Research Process: Up, then Down Some More.

So far, my research has been semi-fruitful.  I read my whole book over break, and I have a bunch of great articles, but I realized today that most of what I've been reading towards will not answer my why question.  So now I am doing a speed-research.  I've found about 7 more sources, in addition to the others, which I have converted to my goal.  But I still don't really have a person to interview, nor have I looked at questions yet.  This is becoming a little stressful.  However, I do have some interesting information concerning my theme.

Ford came out with a small electric delivery van around the same time that GM came out with it's EV1.  Only 100 of these vans were built.  They were not produced because the sodium sulfur battery sometimes burst into flame during charging.  That seems like a bit of a problem.

Ford then stopped looking into batteries and started investing in hydrogen powered vehicles.  The problem is that hydrogen fuel cells are fragile, and the alternatives to them are much easier to continue in.

Basically, we are nearing the end of our ability to make gasoline more efficient.  But Europe has changed their cars to diesel, which is more efficient.  While diesel does produce some pretty nasty gases, there is technology available to sequester them, even use them to help power the vehicle!  That wouldn't take any additional infrastructure; we already have gas stations that offer diesel.  Also, bio-fuels are greener and can be blended in with gasoline to help improve greenness, performance, and doesn't take additional infrastructure.

Basically, the car companies don't want to produce an electric car until the infrastructure to support the car and fuel it are in place, and there is a significant demand for them.  The infrastructure won't get there until there are actually cars on the road that need that service.  It's a vicious cycle.  And while hydrogen seems like the greenest and most helpful, it requires different kinds of filling stations, new technology and new mindsets of consumers.  And that just isn't viable right now.  But we can take steps, like using hybrid technology.  Would you be willing to buy an electric car, knowing that the infrastructure to support your car would pretty much just be in a plug in your house?