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There’s no
question that the sustainability movement is moving forward full-force,
and one of the drivers—pun intended—are environmentally
conscious automobiles. Considered just a few years ago as trendy
cars driven by only a small percentage of the population, these
so-called “green” automobiles have become heavily demanded
symbols of progressiveness among Earth-conscious consumers. And
the hybrid models are selling faster than companies can make them;
most dealerships have a waiting list. All things considered, the
growing popularity of these automobiles is an indicator of change
in sustainable business.
In this issue’s cover story, Peter Asmus and Bruce Piasecki
take a look at the big leaders in the automotive industry’s
green movement. The authors write that companies such as Toyota
and Honda—whose Prius and Insight models, respectively, were
the first hybrid cars in the United States—are experiencing
a surge not only in popularity because of their increased environmentalism,
but also in their bottom lines. For instance, in 2005, Toyota boasted
a record $10.5 million profit, while GM—which has not yet
sold any hybrid vehicles to its retail base—struggled with
a $1.6 billion third-quarter loss. As the authors write, “Toyota
is showing the world how to exploit green technologies, first to
gain market share and then leapfrog above its competitors to the
top.” Who could argue that?
In contrast to the well-known hybrids, many readers may be surprised
to find out about a lesser-known Earth-conscious automobile, the
flex-fuel vehicle (FFV). In one of this issue’s feature stories,
Lisa Duchene reports that there are literally millions of drivers
on the road today who are unaware that their vehicles can operate
on the environmentally friendly E85 fuel, a mixture of ethanol
and gasoline that greatly reduces automobile emissions and pollutants.
At this point in time, even if drivers were aware of their car’s
capability to drive with this innovative fuel, they couldn’t
just drive to their nearest gas station and fill up with E85. That’s
because there are only a handful of filling stations that carry
it.
But as Duchene writes, more than 30 ethanol plants are under
construction nationwide, adding to the 93 ethanol plants that already
exist. The future’s looking bright.
On a similar note, more state governments are becoming increasingly
conscious about automotive emissions. And they should be—one-third
of all carbon dioxide emissions come from tailpipe exhaust, making
it the leading source of air pollution. Jeff Orloff writes in one
of the magazine’s Frontlines articles that more states are
starting to follow California’s lead in its efforts and legislation
to reduce auto emissions in the state. Because California has been
practicing its right under the federal Clean Air Act to call for
stricter emissions regulations, the state is seeing change. And
experts praise California for its leadership in environmental issues.
As Roland Hwang of the Natural Resources Defense Council said, “If
it weren’t for California, the environment would be much
worse in this country.”
The truth is, if it weren’t for exhaust-spitting automobiles,
the environment would be much better. But not having cars in this
world is not an option. So luckily, we are seeing the next best
thing: an improvement in how automobiles are made, how they are
used and how they affect the world we live in.
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