Green is the new black? Moving globally towards transport solutions with less impact on the environment, it seems that our utes and trucks will be replaced with greener machines. Are Australians ready to accept this change?
Recently I was in Chatswood parking lot -Sydney- attempting to snag a spot when I saw several spaces reserved for environmentally friendly cars. And suddenly, what has become lately an increasing suspicion of mine, seemed to be real; green is the new black.
As society is becoming more aware of the climate and environment it seems that our utes and trucks will be replaced soon with cleaner, greener machines. And yet, not everyone has been converted to the ways of the hybrid. A detour taking us away from this path is also represented by the introduction of the Hummer and consequent 'Hummerzine' obsession which has followed, funded by teenagers on their way to the school formal.
The hybrid market has attempted to cater to a wider audience, branching off from the initial Smart car which looked like it had been back- and front-ended, to bring us the sedan Toyota Aurion, luxury Lexus LS 600hL and sports car Smart Roadster.
Still, the hybrid-obsession has not made its full impact in Australia. Other countries have adopted hybrid trains – known as “Green coats” -, trucks, police cars, buses and trains; Australia however has not. In fact, hybrids had a relatively late start in the game, appearing in the market quite at the same time of Hummers; Australia only started manufacturing the environmentally friendly machines in 2007.
Maybe it is the love of the traditional ute-and-dog persona that prevents Australians from accepting any new way of life. Green is the new black, and it is also seen as the new fad by those who are waiting for it to disappear so they can return to their Holden SS Commodores in peace.
Perhaps what Australia really needs is a hybrid ute.
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More information about this topic in our transport section.
What is a hybrid ? Will adding a "Hydrogen-On-Demand" system to an existing Aussie Ute or yes - dare we say Hummer (and thereby increasing its fuel-efficiency by 30-40%, and cleaning its emissions by an even greater percentage - the real goal! - ) qualify it as an environmentally friendly vehicle ?
Did you know that trucks now meet higher emmission standards than any diesel locomotives in the country. The rail system does not have to meet any standards if the same chassis is used when the trains are repowered, so they use the old chassis and fit pre emmission engines????? True. Trucks meet Euro 4 standards and some even Euro 5 standards already, which actually puts out cleaner air than you breathe if you were in the centre of sydney on a busy day. Also has anyone priced or looked at the cost of disposing of the batteries in the hybrid vehicles once their life cycle finishes. It is huge and will actually end up a big concern in 5 or 6 years........
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Will adding a "Hydrogen-On-Demand" system to an existing Aussie Ute or yes - dare we say Hummer (and thereby increasing its fuel-efficiency by 30-40%, and cleaning its emissions by an even greater percentage - the real goal! - ) qualify it as an environmentally friendly vehicle ?
The rail system does not have to meet any standards if the same chassis is used when the trains are repowered, so they use the old chassis and fit pre emmission engines????? True.
Trucks meet Euro 4 standards and some even Euro 5 standards already, which actually puts out cleaner air than you breathe if you were in the centre of sydney on a busy day.
Also has anyone priced or looked at the cost of disposing of the batteries in the hybrid vehicles once their life cycle finishes. It is huge and will actually end up a big concern in 5 or 6 years........