Moonage Political Webdream

As the price of oil skyrocketed, the pie in the sky hopes of the environmentalists and the pragmatists such as myself started to appear more realistic of finally seeing society accept the concept of alternatives to relying on petroleum.  Yesterday was another important step in that direction:

In an announcement made at 11 a.m., Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, told the world Toyota will produce its new hybrid Camrys at the Toyota plant in Georgetown. Fletcher made the announcement from Japan.

Production will start late next year. The plant will build about 48,000 of the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. It’s the company’s first hybrid auto production in North America.

Now, IMO, this puts Kentucky ahead of the curve.  And, it puts Toyota ahead as well.  For Kentucky, it’s producing a product that will most likely be sold about everywhere en masse but Kentucky.  That means money coming into Kentucky.  For Toyota, it establishes them as a leader for the future.   

The Camry is a highly popular car, that pic you see is not the usual Camry, it’s the hybrid.  Hybrids no longer look like something from the 25th century, they look like cars.  Given the price of gas, these things are gonna sell.

IMO, this is the beginning of the true revolution in the automaking industry that will lessen our dependence on foreign crude.  It won’t end it, but it will both send a signal to the Middle East that we are serious about lessening, if not ending, our slavery to OPEC, and, it will send a signal to the average Joe that hybrids are not a joke any more.  And, lastly, as the auto industry realizes that people truly want hybrids and they can sell, newer, more efficient, and, for the hog minded, more powerful hybrids will emerge.

Now all they need to do is make a Camry that runs exclusively on ethanol and electricity and I will be in fifth heaven.  And when they do, watch the price of oil drop to about $20.  When Bush gave his speech on future energy needs in the US, and proceeded to get some of it passed, the price of oil dropped 10% immediately.  I have a feeling that if this Camry sells like I expect it to ( more than 48,000 ), the price of oil will drop again.  The only way OPEC can thwart the popularity of these cars is by dropping the price of oil to about $25 a barrel.  And, I don’t rule out them doing just that.

Technorati Tags: Businesses, Oil Supply

Tags: Businesses, Oil Supply

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