Cars, I’ve always loved them. Thinking way back to when I was a young child, some of my fondest memories are of spending time with my dad while he worked in his garage. He had one of those long-term projects – restoring an old, forest green 1967 MG sports car. Everything was done by hand, thoughtfully, mindfully, and lovingly. I learned so much from him, and of course, the subject of cars was our main topic of conversation. My dad talked enthusiastically about old cars, current cars, future cars – anything to do with cars really, and me listening and absorbing his passion. Right from my first four-gear, two-door, red Nissan Micra right up to my current Honda Accord Hybrid the love of cars has continued to bond my dad and me.
One thing my dad and I never spoke much about on those lazy weekend afternoons sanding down the paintwork on that MG, was the impact of these cars and vehicles on the world around us. The cost of fuel is skyrocketing around us with dwindling supplies of crude oil. Climate change has emerged as a real and present issue. Technology I never dreamed of as a child has catapulted us into an exciting and inquisitive society.
I realized that as a citizen of the world, I needed to understand what was happening around me. As I understood more, I realized too that more than just research was required. I know that climate change, carbon emissions, and fossil fuel reliance are big topics but it’s becoming more and more apparent that I can’t ignore these big topics just because I feel like my sphere of influence is so small.
Looking Forward
Something that unsettled me was how my love of cars could fit into this future that was unfolding around me. It was natural for me to become more and more invested in the exciting advances which were being made by car manufacturers such as Tesla, Porsche, and more recently Hyundai and Honda. The scene has changed so significantly from the early efforts of Toyota way back in the 90s with their hybrid-electric Prius. Nowadays, electric mobility options are rivaling and exceeding their gas and diesel counterparts.
I started writing this blog as a way of collating the information I found on the subject. I wanted a record of up-to-date information to refer to and, if possible, hopefully, provide a reliable database for other like-minded individuals. At the end of the day, this is a creation that has come about through the combination of my two life interests: managing climate change and cars. Now, thankfully, they are not mutually exclusive concepts.
It’s my goal to continue researching, continue understanding and ensure I don’t get left behind with important updates in the face against damaging climate change and the automobile industry. I hope this blog provides an open platform to share ideas, inspiration, and understanding. The future doesn’t have to be scary, and I firmly believe that it is not too late for us to orchestrate a better outcome for generations to come.