Oildummy.com

Well, spring is officially here and summer won’t be too far behind.  With gas prices already at $3-plus and experts predicting $4 this summer, Americans are definitely going to be feeling squeezed.  I think we’ll see more and more people trying to make big changes in their personal habits (at $4 a gallon it will be necessary for many).  However, nobody said making changes has to be a drag…

The best way to cut our vehicles’ fuel use is to leave them parked in the driveway.  That said, a perfect way to conserve this summer is to replace fossil fuel transportation with good old human power by riding a bicycle.  Every time you hop on a bike instead of taking the car you are doing the earth and yourself a favor. 

If you don’t already have a usable ride, there’s no reason to go out and buy a $600 Schwinn.  A $100 Wal-Mart bike should suit most people, and with a little TLC should last a long time.  Just like a car, bikes require regular maintenance to keep them efficient and easy to ride.  Unlike a car though, almost anybody can easily learn for themselves how to care for their bike and keep it in top shape. 

As if the fuel-saving implications weren’t enough of a motivation, the health benefits more than make it worth the effort.  What could be better than helping the environment, getting exercise, and saving money all at the same time?  For me, those are three important things benefited by one easy switch.

 So go on out there and get biking this spring and summer.  I live about 12 miles from town, so it becomes harder for me to ride to work/errands, but I plan on getting my bike cleaned and tuned up and take it to school in the fall.  I could definitely use the money savings there. 

A small Norwegian car company, Think, is aiming to lead the future vehicle revolution with the development of the Think City. Every aspect of this little car is significantly different than the typical automobile. Perhaps Think can play an important role in the evolution of the automobile industry.

At first glance, the City seems to resemble the Smart fortwo. The similarities don’t run much deeper than that though. Whereas the Smart is powered by a traditional internal combustion engine, the City runs on 100% electric power. An overnight charge will give you around 124 miles of city driving, which is plenty considering the vehicle’s intended use (its top speed is only about 60 mph, pretty much limiting it to local driving). I think this really sets the Think apart from the Smart. Considering its size, the Smart is not a very efficient vehicle, and the Think is far more environmentally friendly (especially with Northern Europe’s wind power).

Drivers of the City will be able to connect with their cars in entirely different ways. Each car is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing owners to electronically stay informed on things such as the battery charge and the maintenance schedule.

Even the production and distribution of the vehicles is an innovative process. Think wants to eliminate the showroom and not build a vehicle until it’s ordered. Prospective buyers can check out a car through car-sharing networks before placing an order. As with any electric car, the battery is by far the most expensive ingredient. Think plans to lease the battery that comes with the car, and offer owners the chance to replace it when it starts to lose capacity.

Think doesn’t have near the budget of a GM or a Toyota, but they do have innovative ideas and creativity to boot. They’re also attracting investors who are drawn to their potential. Much like Tesla, they’ll run into the common issues of any small automaker, but with the current state of affairs (oil at $110 a barrel, among other things), I think they will be a hit. Follow the latest news on the City at Think’s site.

One of the more innovative companies I have seen in the environmentally conscious field has to be Zipcar.  Zipcar is the largest car-sharing service in the world, with locations throughout the US as well as several in Canada and the UK.  The premise is simple: for many people living in urban areas, the hassles of owning a car easily outweigh the benefits.  By sharing cars, people can reduce many of those hassles while continuing to meet transportation needs.

Zipcar basically works like this: You sign up and then receive a Zipcard.  Then, choosing a vehicle (which range from Prius’ to BMW’s and even trucks) at a location that suits your needs, you reserve online or by phone for the exact time you need it.  To pick up the car, all you have to do is hold the Zipcard up to the windshield and a sensor will unlock the doors.  The key should be hanging from the rearview mirror so you’re all set.  Members don’t have to worry about gas or insurance, as they are included. 

By using car-sharing services, we can reduce a lot of privately owned vehicles (Zipcar estimates it’s 20 for every 1 Zipcar), and in effect reduce a great deal of harmful effects on the planet.  Since members have to pay each time they drive, they most likely aren’t going to unless it’s necessary.  They will ultimately utilize other means of  transportation more often.  As a result, traffic congestion, air pollution, and fossil fuel use should be positively affected.  Car-sharing is ultimately the most efficient way to drive for many people, but it’s not without obstacles. 

The service has to be extremely streamlined for it to attract and retain customers.  If I were a member, one of my biggest concerns would be being able to find a car in a place and time that I need it without having to reserve it 3 weeks in advance.  Also, I would be extremely upset to have my car reserved only to show up and find that the previous driver didn’t make it back in time.  I know that they are charging fairly heavily for it, currently $50 an hour plus the normal hourly fee, but I’m sure it still happens. 

Other problems inevitably arise with Zipster’s driving habits.  So you’re driving a BMW that’s not yours without worrying about gas, insurance, or the car’s long term health; it’s not hard to spot the problem there.  There’s really nothing to prevent Zipster’s from driving like absolute  lunatics and basically treating the car like your typical rental.  That’s certainly a problem as one of the goals is to reduce the amount of fossil fuel use, which is tough to accomplish as members are free to cruise carelessly. 

For me, it would take a great deal of trust before I could sell my car and rely on a car-sharing network such as Zipcar.  We’ve got places we need to go, and we don’t have the time or patience to deal with hassles and poor customer service.  To their credit, Zipcar must be doing pretty well with their car-sharing process as they’ve continued to grow and expand since their inception.  Kudos on their innovative ways and their success so far.  Hopefully they can keep it up.