Car-Free Anxieties

So Nissan will produce an all-electric car by 2010 in the United States. Even counting in the emissions from coal-fired electric power plants, this car will get INCREDIBLE "gas"-mileage (if you don't believe me, check out this incredible Popular Mechanics article that resolves the gas vs. electric mileage-emissions question (see the chart)). The limitations will the charging time and range, but Nissan seems to hint there will be improvement there as well.

Given that the Chevy Volt will be coming out in 2010-2011 (a super-hybrid) along with new hybrids and many smaller cars, it seems a renaissance in American driving is on its way. With gas prices projected to hit $4 by this summer and stay high for the near future due to rising demand and continued political instability in Nigeria, Venezuela, and the Middle East, this is good news for the American consumer. Like in Europe, 2008's high gas prices are beginning to change consumer behavior, including buying smaller cars, taking public transit, and taking shorter drives. Unlike 1970, it seems that current global oil output is at its limits, with price driven by global oil demand and perceived or real disruptions to supply. Barring a global recession, oil prices are likely to remain high (above $3 a gallon) for an unforeseeable amount of time. I guess 5 years, but who knows?

All of this is positive news for the planet. The number of car drivers in America and the world continues to grow, with the developing world expected to double its car ownership by 2020. The $2500 price tag of the Tata, an Indian-built car, will put it within reach of millions. If innovative new cars weren't on the horizon, things would look grim indeed for global greenhouse emissions and the continued growth of the U.S. economy.

As a Texan, I bought a car at 16, like everyone else. Texas is too spread out for walking or biking to take you anywhere useful, so my used Nissan Centra (followed by a used Chevy Surburban) was a key to freedom. I bought a used Jeep Cherokee named Moira to go to grad school in New England, and I have been driving that car for 11 years. She gets 22 mpg, and I offset her emissions by buying rainforest parks through conservation organizations. I have been saving up to buy a cheap, environmentally friendly car for years.

So why do I find all of this ironic? After 14 years of driving, I am going to give up my car and move to New York City for five years of graduate school. Just when new cars are coming on to the market that will be "emissions-free", I won't be able to drive one!

Owning a car in Manhattan is inconvenient in so many ways--very expensive to insure, hard to park, and useless to get around the city proper. It is only convenient to own a car when you want to get out of the City or move large items. I have adult friends from the City that have never owned their own cars. Seeing as how living in the large grey urban castle called Manhattan will be hard for me, I anticipate wanting to get out of the city frequently, but I just can't justify the huge cost of a car on a graduate student budget. Currently, I am investigating Zipcar, renting the occasional car, or even buying a Vespa.

So America, enjoy those new revolutionary cars! I will return to the car-owning world after they have become as old-hat as the Prius. When I drop off my baby in late August, I anticipate shedding a tear or two at leaving the car-culture (and Moira) behind.