NASA and its space technology filters down to the Aircraft industry which filters down to the Motor Racing industry, then the Motor Racing industry's technology filters down to the motor vehicle industry and now we're being told that the electric car might not be as 'green' as we've led to believe.
Ben Webster in The Australian wrote some time ago now that a British study has shown that it all not be as 'green' as we've been led to believe.
He wrote: "An electric car owner would have to drive at least 129,000km before producing a net saving in CO2. Many electric cars will not travel that far in their lifetime because they typically have a range of less than 145km on a single charge and are unsuitable for long trips. Even those driven 160,000km would save only about a tonne of CO2 over their lifetimes.
"The British study, which is the first analysis of the full lifetime emissions of electric cars covering manufacturing, driving and disposal, undermines the case for tackling climate change by the rapid introduction of electric cars."
This represents the typical scenario with new technology reports of one kind or another gives recommendations that are for it, then against it - it's a little like "Yes Minister", one can get the results you want from any survey depending on the way you front the questions.
All in all, what it means is that we'll be using our petrol or diesel or gas motor vehicles for some time to come, so don't throw away your current vehicle too soon, you may need it.
Motor Racing is a good guide into the future for the developing technologies that filters down to the motor racing industry and in this arena of interest, I wish to point out a current phenomena that may be of interest to you.
Ever since I was knee high to a grass hopper, and in my teenage years in that wonderful motor vehicle era of the sixties and seventies, the one stanza was that petrol is the cheapest part of running a motor vehicle. In my humble view, that well worn comment still stands.
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Why I say this is that the young bloke next door has recently turned up with a pre loved Fairlane and one of the local lads from the local tyre dealer where I get my new tyres has a pre loved Statesman. Around the corner another chap has recently turned up with another pre loved Fairlane that looks like the same model as the one I drive.
These bigger vehicles on the most part have the same engine as the Commodore or Falcon, as does mine. They have the six digital gear system for freeway running which my experience shows a natural cruising cost of 4.7 per 100k fuel consumption and its got all those extra safety protections front, back and sides.
Drive it carefully around the suburbs and your fuel consumption I've found since 2006 is not that much more than my previous vehicle, a 4 cylinder 8 seater VW van. Now, I don't drive much, whenever I do mission trips, usually it means flying, so this vehicle has only done 102,000 ks (coming up to fourteen years).
These bigger vehicles have the latest and best technology bought down to the "motor vehicle" industry from the "motor racing" industry, they have comfort and what might be deemed the best protection available - yet and now they're selling for a song.
Motor Racing is one of the world's major sports and "what its brought" to the motor vehicle industry for well over a century should not be cast away too quickly as "knee jerk" reactions.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html