Stan Beer
Tuesday, 08 July 2008 16:20
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
Like
most drivers these days, I've been exploring options for cutting costs
which still enable me to run a car. It has been a surprise to discover
that the Australian Government elected last year partially on its green
credentials is actually more friendly to big oil than alternative
energy.
"No way!" I
hear you protest loudly. "You can't be talking about the Rudd Labor
Government, which so proudly proclaimed its environmentalist
credentials when it ratified the Kyoto Protocol in March?" I hear you
ask incredulously. Oh but yes I am.
Since
it took office late last year, after bringing down its first budget,
the current Government has initiated exactly nothing in the way of
progressive environmental policies. In fact, it has done exactly the
opposite.
First the Government has done its
very best to destroy the nascent solar power industry by scrapping the
$8000 solar panel rebate for all except low income families who can't
afford to go solar anyway. Now I find that the Government provides
infinitely more generous subsidies for non-renewable fuel alternatives
to gasoline than renewable alternatives.
I'm
not a fan of hybrid cars, unless you can plug them in and get enough
range to do all electric trips. However, I was curious to check out the
Toyota Prius as a stop gap alternative until plug in cars become
available.
According to the sales data, a
Prius can be driven 100km on just 4.4 litres. That's one tank for a
trip of 1000 km, say Melbourne to Sydney - more than double the fuel
economy of my Honda CRV. This claimed outstanding economy is apparently
due to the advanced computer controlled interaction between a battery
driven electrical motor and the gasoline fuelled internal combustion
engine. CONTINUED
