tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780236463293911208.post4061810226071749569..comments2008-11-11T13:28:54.353-05:00Arihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09365867649035611248noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780236463293911208.post-88599761563328216292008-11-11T13:28:00.000-05:002008-11-11T13:28:00.000-05:00Interesting thesis, Thomas..and I do agree with the viewpoint that lighter, recyclable vehicles are the future. In fact the key to "green cars" are not various hybrid variations or even electric power but vehicle mass and materials. One only has to look at Gordon Murray and his T25 to know he does point at the future but the future is 30 years away because people...consumers...don't get it. <BR/><BR/>Ask yourself this question: if you commuted to work today or say went to a big box retail outlet or what have you, how many vehicles driven had a singular occupant even though that vehicle could hold 1 or 3 or 5 other occupants. I bet the answer would be 70% of those vehicles would have that singular occupant or...why does it take a 4000 lb vehicle to drop off a child to school a half mile away?<BR/><BR/>I read a lot of comments on the present state of the N.A. car industry and so many, many of them are plain wrong that the finger pointing actually sustains the status quo.<BR/><BR/>The key to all this is not Detroit, its not Obama, its not the unions...its the customer or consumer. And that customer or consumer needs to be educated or take on a whole new mindset.<BR/><BR/>I am sitting right now in the regional area of where the birth of the global automotive industry took place and mass production was exploited but not necessarily invented. And what is the biggest challenge facing Ground Zero - Change. Change of attitude; Change of ideals and change of vision. Some of the Local Motors staff also come from areas where that change of attitude never took place and the result is grim. As you have stated, I would not look to GM, Ford nor the government for that change. They've been proven a failure.<BR/> <BR/>Start with the people and then go to the companies rather than the other way round if you want permanent results, otherwise we can recycle this post 10 years from now. Lightness is the key.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17620403627054374236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780236463293911208.post-77939100347676458472008-11-11T11:39:00.000-05:002008-11-11T11:39:00.000-05:00I agree with Jay and Thomas. I like to take my clues from nature. Just like forest fires and hurricanes, sometimes the area just needs a good cleaning out to get a fresh start. It hurts in the short term, but it is the only way to sustain it over the long term.Robin Spinkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11784278217188539504noreply@blogger.com