Cars (and vehicles in general) are rightly considered to be one of the biggest constributors to global warming and a general decline in the environment. The fuel that they burn leaves gases that harm the planet (including us!).

The above is a fact that no sane person can deny*. Hence the build up of interest in greener cars. Thanks to advocates like Al Gore, people are warming up (no pun intended) to the idea of global warming being a menace created by humans and most importantly, a meance that can be controlled. One of the most powerful moments in Al Gore’s award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth is when he compares the rising auto industry of Japan to the dwindling auto industry of North America. Japanese are way, way ahead in terms of producing cars that not only are easy on the environment, but serve a growing and close-knit market of self-aware, caring individuals.

Toyota has been making Prius since forever it seems! Honda has caught up with their Honda FCX Clarity.

Honda’s FCX Clarity (set to be released in the US Both cars are more pleasing to the eye, and both car companies are from Japan. The eco-aware North American and European consumers are left with little choice but to go for the Japanese cars. Of course, nothing wrong with that. US Presedient Elect Obama’s car is a hybrid and environment is on his agenda.

It will be interesting to see how these two companies inspire (out of sheer business competition, if nothing else) other car companies to start producing responsible cars. It now makes business sense to go green and this early in the game, will almost always prove to be a unique selling point.

Know more

• Check out more details on Honda FCX Clarity (LINK)
• You may read up more on Honda FCX’s technology news (LINK)
• Check out the new Honda hybrid set to be released in 2009 (LINK)

*The exact implications of global warming, also implied in Al Gore’s documentary, are still debated. An instance of such debate can be found in Michael Crichton novel ‘State of Fear’ where the pro global warming argument is debated against.

Just check out how mmm, un-green the car looks! (read: great lookin’ car!)

Ford Escape Hybrid, 2008

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But it was not always like that

The new President-elect did not always drive this green beast. When he was in the car-making haven of the United States, Detroit, telling the American automakers to cut down on poisonous emissions from cars, he himself drove around in a gas-guzzler.

But my oh my, what a beautiful gas-guzzler it is!

The problem with driving an eco-friendly car is not that people do not want a hybrid or something in those lines. It is just that say, a Toyota Prius looks like, frankly, a dork car. That elusive political will has been missing for way too long. Now that the auto world has waken up and is rubbing their eyes to the new realities, it is people like Obama who will (hopefully) provide the much needed political will to make eco-conscious cars that are actually beautiful.

And this is exactly where the difference between the good and the better really is; Obama was smart enough and did not have a ballooning ego to not review his commitments with respect to his actions. He talked about fuel efficient cars but did not have one. So he changed. He got a car that is relatively at least, much more eco-friendly. Yup, change he can.

Perhaps someone driving a hybrid can drive the American nation to a far better place. More mileage, more traction and a helleva lot more safety.

End note: American cars in Pakistan

We have quite a few American cars roaming the streets of our country, but I wouldn’t call it a fair share. Seemingly, for good reason. The first and foremost being the one main factor that Obama promises to address: fuel consumption. Fuel here is expensive (comparitve to our earnings) and driving cars that get famous because they consume like a mmm hog is a sure-shot dealbreaker. But I am sure quite a few of us have spotted the covetted Hummer pulling out of a petrol station (how appropriate!). I have heard that there is an Escalade in Islamabad as well. That is a sight for sore eyes for sure.