Originally Posted by Michael

We don't have to think of energy issues only on large scale industrial terms in all situations. Individual consumers can unplug themselves from the electricity grid with home solar and wind systems. The lower cost nanotech-film solar panels are in production and should provide the opportunity for solar energy capture even on cloudy days. They are also pressing the research beyond lithium-ion batteries with good result. We will soon have plug in electrical vehicles with stronger, longer lasting batteries. Combine the solar panels with electrical plug in car, and you are independent of the grid and the gas pump.

In the meantime, there is the first generation Prius that was retrofitted for plug in electrical that got up to 180 miles per gallon. I posted an article in the Environmental Forum if you are interested.

And why don't we have these 180 mpg cars in mass production in 2008 when they came up with this innovation in 2005?