Re: Fuel Efficient Cars (was Oil Economics)

From: Kai M. Becker (kmb@kai-m-becker.de)
Date: Fri Feb 07 2003 - 06:39:53 MST

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    Dehede011@aol.com schrieb:
    > Transportation is a necessity and cars the most flexible way of
    > traveling.

    Both depends on several factors. First, do we really want to travel
    every time or do we have to because there's not better alternative? One
    hour between home and work, twice a day, too much traffic, the time lost
    for better things, that's not freedom, that's stupid :-) Second, the
    more traffic, the less flexible the system becomes and the more we have
    to pay in terms of time and money, i.e. the use/hassle ratio drops.

    Wanted features of private cars: Always available (mostly...). Can reach
    almost every place. Almost independent of external control systems (not
    in large cities). Can be equipped with individual features. Also carry
    our personal environment (feeling of safe surrounding). Many different
    models for different requirements.

    Unwanted features of private cars: Standing unused most of the time,
    requiring space unusable for other things (and expensive in heavily
    populated areas). Expensive in Aquisition, necessary capital bound or
    rates to pay. Looses most of its value rather fast, i.e. burning money.
    Maintenance requires personal time and money. We only have what we have
    bought, regardless of actual requirements (minibus for the kids, sports
    car for fun, pickup for shopping, small car for town trip). Uncontrolled
    traffic tends to break down in crowded areas. Driving requires a lot of
    attention, the time is lost for more interesting things. Speed is not
    appropriate for longer trips (>1000km) and very slow in cities.

    I would like to have a transport vehicle when I need one and with the
    features I need at that time. I don't want to care about fuel, parking
    space and maintenance, but send the vehicle away when I don't need it
    any longer. I'd like to drive it when I want to and leave the controls
    to the vehicle when I've better thing to do. And I only want to pay for
    the transportation, not for possessing the vehicle.

        Kai



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