How easy would it be to ban gas-only cars
By Susan Wilson
That’s an interesting question. Beginning next year most major car manufacturers in the United States and several overseas car manufacturers will have either hybrid or electric vehicles for sale. One county has proposed banning gasoline-only cars.
According to Reuters,the Socialist Left party in Norway has proposed to ban the sale of gasoline-only cars from 2015 on. Kristin Halvorsen, Norway’s Finance Minister thinks it won’t be all that hard to do.
Minister Halvorsen considers this ban to be important both for the economy and the environment. She sees the ban as a wake-up call for car companies. Automakers facing the current economic crisis are learning that they have to raise their technology standards to survive. By producing hybrid, electric and alternative fuel cars the companies will not only improve their sales but will also be producing cleaner cars.
Ford, Chevy and Chrysler have all heard the call for cleaner more cost efficient cars. Each one has at least one electric or hybrid vehicle that is due to hit the showroom in 2010. Chrysler has five different models that are due between 2010 and 2013. All of these new vehicles could be sold under the proposed Norwegian ban.
Ironically, Norwegian electric car maker Think is moving to America because Norway wouldn’t provide government assistance during the economic slowdown. Think was originally owned by Ford before it became a private Norwegian car company.
Think was started as Ford’s venture into electric cars. The first prototype was built in 1991 and the first car offered for sale was 1999. In 2003 Think was sold. Since that time, Think has been a Norwegian car company.
Think electric cars have been popular in Europe. The Austrian government bought Thinks for their new 100 vehicle EV project. Think was nominated for a Brit Insurance Designs of the Year award.
Another key in the ban is that alternative fuel vehicles can still be sold. That means that biodiesel cars and trucks, as well as, car and trucks that will run on ethanol will still be available for people and businesses that want something other EVs or hybrids.
Car companies around the world are building hybrids, EVs and alternative fuel vehicles. By 2015 more vehicles should be out and available in Norway. Since currently owned gas-only cars will be grandfathered in, Norwegians could purchase any gas guzzler they wanted until the day the ban went into effect.
Every country should be thinking about introducing a ban like this. 2015 should see lot more electric vehicles, hybrids and alternative fuel cars on the market. The technology exists now for consumers to begin switching from gas-only vehicles to one of the alternatives. By putting such a ban in place, car makers would have to focus on improving alternative vehicle technologies.
Related:
Entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
under
Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
Stumble It!
April 28th, 2009
Politicians should be banned. Overpaid idealists with too much time on their hands….
April 29th, 2009
How interesting that the Socialist Left in (hold your breath dear), Norway wants to get rid of gas eaters.
Do you suppose our Socialist Left President and his party would send us all enough money to buy these kind of cars?
And then enforce a national law banning gas users from our streets and highways?
Just think: we could have a war against using gas. Wow. (I’m sure the namby-pambys in D.C. could think up a softer term than that.)
But just imagine the enforcement police: “All right, ma’am”, the officer said from behind his cocked and levelled hand gun, “out of that gas eater. And no funny moves, either.”
Looking back at his partner in their electric eating car, he said, “OK, Barack, call this one in. And have them send a flower powered tow truck to haul it off.”
Imagine the drama.
April 29th, 2009
The idea is a great idea, although we have a majority of gas burning vehicles on the road. With the concern of the people in mind, they should be thinking up a way to convert gas burning vehicles to become zero emission vehicles that does not hinder performance in the process.