CED held its first-ever ‘un-conference’ last week at the N.C. Biotechnology Center in the RTP. NetCentrics' Dean Hering convened a discussion on “What Will We Drive to Work in 2025?�
Here are some key comments from the interactive conversation:
* Tesla car just came out, just started shipping and filled up their first 100 orders. Bunch of software guys in California funded it, built a car that goes 0-60 in under 4 seconds that’s completely electric. Two-door roadster about $100K. Building a “Camry-killer� by 2007-2008.
* Battery life: how many times do you want to use it all the way down until it runs out? Current Prius is ‘shallow-cycled’ but if you ran it more off the battery it would shorten the life of the battery. Going to a deep discharge really kills off the battery.
* Battery isn’t the only problem with electric cars. Diesel is more viable because you already have the channels in place. You just need to get cleaner diesel. Electric cars work off completely different channels.
* In 2025, will we still have gas cars on the street? Yes, but it all depends on the price of gas.
* What are the energy resources that are most applicable? We waste a lot of money on resources. In Europe, the price of gas has been twice as high as the United States for a long time, but they still drive cars. Is it price, or is it the infrastructure/density of development patterns? The high gas prices will subsidize the transit infrastructure.
* Can areas change their development patterns to help/hurt competitive advantages? Regional initiatives already in place: Europe, NYC, Midwest. No single technology being embraced.
* In America, will we ever give up the big cars? It’s part of our culture. We don’t care about global warming unless it’s a last-minute crisis shift. Until people actually feel compelled that they actually have to change their culture, then nothing will happen.
* If you can figure out a capitalist way to solve it, then people might embrace wind/solar energy. Order of magnitude: annual fuel cost on the sticker, how much do you trade off? You really don’t have to go to the movies that much fewer times.
* Average consumer isn’t going to pay more. Unless gas prices continue to stay high, people aren’t going to embrace “green� cars.
* We let markets determine what we want to drive. You could mandate, offer incentives, sweeten the pie.
* Need to uncover opportunities for entrepreneurs. Economics, threats, technologies, incentives, politics and environmental issues are all wrapped around culture.
* Is light rail in the Triangle’s future? We live in Triangle-shaped doughnut with most of the growth outward, but we are seeing some growth inward.
* Technology will enable whole new platforms.
* Economics is all it takes – why not get big shipping companies and trucking companies to embrace green technology, as opposed to trying to convince 100 million fickle consumers.
* Government will have to intervene on the price issue. Otherwise, OPEC will increase production and lower the cost, thereby increasing demand.
* Key questions: can sustainability become local/regional strategy? Can you create a sustainability revolution?
* Feedback: for future un-conferences, bring in 3-4 people to lead discussions who could serve as resource when questions come up.