The German research firm R.L. Polk is projecting that there will be one billion cars on the road worldwide by 2010. As amazing as that sounds, Polk is also projecting a 20% increase on that figure by 2015.
Growth in North America is only 8%, yet in Asia it is an astounding 43%...
The implications of this will be profound this century. Is there any wonder as to why there is so much concern about oil reserves and global warming?
Full story here.
Full story here.
ateixeira says:
12:56 PM, 01/17/08
And the $2500 Tata car will be about 25% of them. :D
firstwagon says:
01:47 PM, 01/17/08
Ironically this will be what gets the world off oil and on to some new technology (yet to be decided).
As long as oil is plentiful, there really is nothing that can compete. However as more and more fields run low and demand builds, the price will start ramping up to the point where something else will take it's place.
flicmod says:
02:13 PM, 01/17/08
Well, let's all hope that either we refine a technology that helps to ween us off of oil or that we're not prevented from drilling in the Arctic Ocean before we reach the point of collapse.
firstwagon says:
04:12 PM, 01/18/08
There won't be a collapse no matter the doom and gloom types tell you. If you look at the projected life spans of oil fields they vary from years to decades to centuries. Oil supplies will fade away gradually over a long time. As it does the price will rise to the point where it isn't used for fuel anymore, just other products that use it by the oz, not the gallon.
As for new technology, the beginning is already here. Cars like the Prius are the 1st step. Next will be the plug in hybrids which will be a bridge between the gas car and the electric car. As demand for the battery packs increases, R&D (and competion) will improve them more and more until the range is such that the gas engine is no longer required.
It won't happen overnight but then it doesn't need to.
As for where all the extra electicity will come from, well that's an even tougher question that's yet to be determined.