Originally Posted by BBQMan

Hybrid cars will help in working towards energy independence. Electric cars do nothing to help. Despite all the talk about solar, wind power, geo-thermal, etc; we still have three and only three primary sources of electrical power - fossil fuel power plants (coal, oil natural gas, etc), nuclear power plants and hydro-electric power plants. Hydro sources have been fully exploited in this country, we have not built a nuclear plant in decades and coal has been ruled out by the incoming administration. The present grid does not adequately support our needs today and cannot add the load needed to seriously assist in a move away from fossil fuel propelled automobiles.

Increased use of natural gas to replace electricity in applications including the home and transportation does make sense. Approximately five times the natural gas is used to generate electricity and then do the work (propel vehicles, heat homes, dry clothes, etc) as is needed to do the task directly.

Without getting into a discussion about 'climate change', it is apparent we need to choose between energy independence and drastic reduction of CO2 emissions. We cannot have both. Until our leaders are ready to discuss this honestly and stop hiding behind mythical new technologies, we will never deal with the problem.