I agree that replacing the infrastructure that took 150 years to build won't be replaced over night. There will certainly be growing pains involved. Nothing is really ready for a snap change over to EVs. Nor are EVs the total answer to everyone's driving habits and needs. Much of the EV technology is still under development and it shows, such as the removing of licensing approval for the Cruise driverless taxis. It's getting closer but it's not here yet. Tesla has been in court over and over about it's autopilot, which it claims has to be under human supervision at all times, yet that's not what it's marketing implies.

So, where will we be for transportation 50 years from now?

#3 | Posted by LampLighter
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Ideally, we would be where Germany is today. With rail service or bus service to near every small hamlet and village across it's national boundaries. Meaning to travel anywhere doesn't mean you have to own a car. Admittedly, we have much more ground to cover than Germany when it comes to getting to everyone. Those outside the walking distance, still need a method of conveyance to get to a central hub of a small village.

Our problem to me is these continual never ending wars. That's where a lot of our money (and hence inflation) is going in a non-returnable fashion. It's not being invested in infrastructure, which would be what was needed and the years it would take to actually see it done. I suspect the current generation of boomers would not readily accept mass transit but the younger generations would see it as a big benefit or boon. It just takes less money to do mass transit than it does for everyone to have a vehicle.

"Why can't we do that here in the States?"

#14 | Posted by LampLighter
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I've never been to The Netherlands, I have been to Germany. Were the national directive set on that we could.

One of the main problems is Wall Street and it's demand of "what have you done for us today". Short term profits over long term benefits. Among other things, one of the drivers for the EV demand that has been made but not announced to the public (negative PR). Should they ever become the replacement in total for the IC engine, the auto industry would reap another major profit goal. Replacing the majority of vehicles now on the road.

Going against that, the oil industry who would stand to lose a major portion of their profit with a slope of less demand, increasing as the years go by.

As it is, the nation's infrastructure has been put on the back burner for decades as we fight these forever wars with no end, going from one place to the next. This nation built an interstate system and going back in the past a railroad, spanning coast to coast. There is no doubt in my mind, should the national directive go towards mass transit through out, it could be done over decades of time, as it would take that. Fighting battles in court over the land to do this, using imminent domain to buy those out who would not sell, takes a lot of time before construction could even begin.