Sunday, July 1, 2012

Does Google have the solution for Energy Independence?


Where does the US get their oil?  Depends on where you get your information, but the numbers appear to be in the following range:

·      Domestic 40-50%
·      Friendly Countries; Canada, Mexico and such: 25% - 35%
·      Risky Countries; Persian Gulf, Nigeria, Venezuela: 25% - 30%

For the purpose of this article I am going to separate driving into two categories: 
1)    Places where my human form is needed; Personal Mode
2)    Places where anyone can be on my behalf; Errand Mode

Here are some examples of each:
1)    Personal Mode
a.    Work
b.    Church
c.     Golf
d.    Entertainment
2)    Errand Mode
a.    Grocery Store
b.    Hardware Store
c.     Pharmacy
d.    Walmart

There are no real statistics so I monitored all the driving my family does for one month and found that about 38% of all of our driving was for errands.  I’ll call that typical.

Now to Google:  Google has developed a technology for mapping which auto drives cars.  What if a special vehicle was made that used this technology?  This vehicle would not carry humans, but would be capable of carrying 2-3 cubic feet of goods.  This vehicle would be electric, have no emissions, and could get the equivalent of 150-200mpg. 

Imagine that instead of going to Target, Lowes Hardware or your Pharmacy that you simply go on-line, select what you need.  Instead of driving a gas vehicle (at 20 mpg) to get the product the product is delivered to you within an hour in an electric delivery vehicle (EDV).

EDV’s would be owned by businesses such as Walmart, Lowes  and your local grocery store.

The model is already known to work. Millions of people order from Amazon and take delivery from UPS.  With the EDV concept instead of two days delivery, your order would be delivered within two hours.  Local retailers would be enthusiastic, realizing this mode would allow them to re-gain market share.

With Google’s technology the US can take a huge step in Energy Independence and Carbon Emissions.  Time to get started…Google.