Journal 15, December 5th

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8395971.stm

Lately the amount of options available to consumers when buying a eco-friendly car has dramatically increased compared to previous years but until there is more infrastructure to support this new technology this phenomenon will remain out of the mainstream market. One of the causes of this recent transition can be blamed on the introduction of high taxes and more stringent legislation aimed at penalizing gas-guzzler drivers by governments in countries around the world. Another recent contributer has been the wide variety of green cars including hybrids, electric batter powered, and other experimental models that have become available to the public in just the last few years. Unfortunately although there is a wide range of models for customer to choose from the existing infrastructure for powering these vehicles cannot compare to the world wide network of gas stations available to petroleum powered cars. Also the technology of these green vehicles is incapable of comparing to the convenience of traditionally fueled cars. For example charging the lithium-ion battery of an electric car can take up to eight hours. Luckily there have been many novel ideas to solve these problems that would allow electric and other types of fuel to become more mainstream. These ideas include new technology such as wireless charging to make fueling more accessible. However until this infrastructure is implemented these new forms of fuel will have trouble competing in the consumer market.

Technology like novel fuel types have the potential to shape society as a whole. As this technology becomes more prominent society will have to evolve to accommodate this type of innovation so that people can take advantage of the benefits of these devices. Even before this technology becomes accepted society will change implementing the infrastructure that is required to make it acceptable to everyone who can take advantage of these new tools.

Reference:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10122072-54.html?tag=mncol;txt