There’s a nasty buzz building that gasoline prices may eclipse $4 per gallon here in the states by the time the summer driving season hits full stride. Now I know this is old hat to our European friends, but at what point do we stop driving around pointlessly? Although one might think that electric cars can’t get here fast enough, I saw something a couple of weeks ago that made my jaw drop.

We saw a pair of interesting electric cars at the New York Auto Show. While the 600 HP Hybrid Technologies L1X-75 electric car is one sick overgrown go-kart, it was the 1912 Standard Electric that really caught my fancy. Exhibited by the Lemay Museum and sponsored by State Farm, the Standard Electric stood as clear proof of our wayward ways. This crazy little horseless carriage delivered a driving range of over one hundred miles, nearly one hundred years ago.

I need to update my list of cars that average better than 30 MPG and order a copy of Who Killed the Electric Car. Okay, so I’m feeling guilty. While I don’t drive all that much, my little car pulls down 28 MPG on the highway. But that’s not nearly good enough. I’m thinking that I could do nearly twice that with the right diesel … it’s a shame they don’t import many to the good old USA. Rumor has it that a domestic Honda diesel is still a couple of years off. I’m giving thought to buying a Vdub diesel beater and stowing a couple of 55 gallon drums of 100% biodiesel in the shed.

Sure, I’ll buy that wicked Tesla when my boat comes in, but until then the smell of french fry exhaust is enticing (even moreso, as I rarely eat french fries these days) …

[tags]biodiesel, hybrid car[/tags]