Google Cars?
On Monday of this week, Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, announced the launch of their 10 million dollar plug-in hybrid electric vehicle initiative (RechargeIT), and unveiled the largest solar charging station in the country.
Google’s support of plug-in hybrid technology gives a healthy boost to the movement to demonstrate that plug-in cars are viable, marketable alternatives to the gas-guzzling cars and trucks currently clogging our roads. But this announcement certainly begs the question: Where have all the automakers gone?
Just to be ironic, let’s do a Google Search for plug-in hybrids. What you will find is a page full of advocacy groups talking about the benefits of ultra-efficient plug-in transportation and only ONE mention of a car company that’s actually considering building them. Oh sure, there have been a handful of prototypes, but not a single operational plug-in hybrid in mass-production.
Automakers have refused to add a plug to their hybrid cars. This means that right now, if you want a plug-in car, you can’t just buy one. You have to buy a regular hybrid and THEN go through the expensive process of having another company convert your hybrid to a plug-in.
In fact, Google’s fleet of converted Toyota Priuses and their plans to team up with Enterprise Rent-a-Car to convert 100 more, will be the largest fleet of plug-ins on the road.
This foot-dragging is especially outrageous because Toyota — supposedly an environmental leader — has done the least of all the major automakers to demonstrate that they’re moving toward the large-scale manufacture of plug-in hybrids.
It’s high time for automakers like Toyota to hurry up and meet Google in the 21st century.
8 Responses to “Google Cars?”
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June 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I own a Prius. I want a plug-in Prius. I already have a pure electric vehicle: a Chevy S10 pickup. I love electric vehicles. Toyota needs to add the plug to the Prius. What are they waiting for? For all the glaciers to melt?
June 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Hurry
June 21st, 2007 at 4:11 pm
It’s about time the Big Boys joined the fight towards more sustainable use of energy.
June 23rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I’m really saddened to see RAN getting in line behind Google. Both this post and the corresponding email sent out last week by “Freedom From Oil” seem to have RAN oozing support for Google. I have two big questions:
First, why is RAN, who supposedly is all about “Challenging Corporate Power” coming out applauding Google? The same giant corporate behemoth Google? The one that is closing in on Microsoft as far as having a near-monopoly on our computer and internet usage? The same Google who supports the oppressive Chinese government and censors search results for them – keeping people’s access to information limited to manipulation and control? The Google that provides Chinese search users with pictures of smiling people when they type in “Tiananmen Square”, while the rest of world actually sees what really happened there? While this may not be RAN’s campaign, RAN should not collaborate with massive corporations that dominate our lives and actively support Chinese repression of grassroots movements and political issues. This seems to be supporting corporate power (or at least pandering to grant money) – not challenging it. At least Greenpeace doesn’t accept corporate donations, and they don’t even claim to be about “Challenging Corporate Power”
And secondly – why is Toyota singled out? What is Ford doing about plug-in cars? Making futuristic prototypes like the Airstream aren’t meaningful steps. Honda? Nissan? GM? Even if GM is supposedly working on the Volt, what about every other model they produce? Steps towards one niche plug-in doesn’t make up for inaction on the rest of their fleet.
Hybrid cars have been on the market for what? 5 years? 6 years? And last year they made up about 2% of overall US car sales. Since the other 98% of cars sold have overall worse gas mileage now than 5 years ago – is our addiction to oil getting better? Are we lessening emissions and stopping climate change? With the fact that more cars overall are sold, even modest improvements in fuel efficiency will not reduce the overall oil usage or emissions. We need less cars, and need to not find ways for car companies to be more profitable. First we need less people driving, and less cars sold. Sure, we do need more fuel efficient cars for the people that still “need” to drive, but it seems lately like RAN is trying to help US car companies sell more cars. Even if they are “better” cars its still more cars. That’s a problem.
Plug-ins aren’t going to be commercially available in a best-case scenario for another 3-4 years. And then do we wait another 5-6 years for them to gain 2-3% of the market? Time is running out! Experts like James Hansen and George Monbiot say we have a decade to dramatically reduce our emissions and waiting for new nice technology to catch on isn’t going to do it. Sure, support developing plug-ins, but be realistic!
RAN should stop obsessing with one niche car technology, and go back to what your zero-emissions campaign used to pursue – a DRAMATIC advance in fuel efficiency across the entire industry and their fleets. And beyond that, why keep supporting people’s addiction to cars and massive car companies domination of our transportation options? Why don’t you talk about (and maybe even organize around!) bikes, mass transit options, urban planning, carpooling, or localized economies? Localized economies would dramatically cut oil consumption, reduce emissions, AND challenge corporate power all at the same time…
David (a RAN supporter who is confused on the direction RAN is heading)
June 26th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Hi, I am shocked that goggle is supporting the Chinese gov’t as I am fully aware of their complicity in HR abuses in Burma, and I am eagerly awaiting for RAN’s reply on the comment above.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I don’t think it’s a bad idea. I think it’s about time the people with the real money get involvd in something like this. We want people to be aware, well the biggest website in the world will be able to help spread that awareness, along with funding for the program which as well all know is much needed. Stop complaining, it seems like we attack big corporations about not getting involved, and then when they do we act like we dont want them around. If I were Google and I read the comment by david, I would take my business elsewhere.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
We need double carpool lanes. Less single driving space and more carpool space means people will have to share rides to work and school. Less people driving means less polution, less money spent on gas, less ware and tear on cars, less miles on car, less depreciation on ones car. Hey how about triple carpool lanes!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Looking for Google Cars and this comes up . . . nice, but certainrly NOT the right destination. Why do you do these things? A waste of time.