This Spring (2009) I'll teach a Sociology course titled Energy, Environment, and Society at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Last semester this turned out to be a popular and lively course.
One of the topics that earned much discussion last semester was the demise of the EV-1. Students were interested in when another electric car would be available and whether there exist real alternatives to fuel-guzzlers. They see fuel-cell cars as being a bit down the road and maybe likely to be shoved aside by electric cars, as do I. They were suspicious of my 2006 Lexus RX400h, a hybrid SUV. I'm keeping it for long-distance expressway travel, heavy-duty hauling, and ferrying the four grandchildren around, but the SmartCar will become my home-to-campus car. I do view the Lexus as a transitional car between the internal combustion engine and an electric car. I've ordered a Smart ForTwo Passion Cabriolet, but I don't expect to see that until June or July 2009.
Without turning it into an advertising promotion, would someone in the Hartford area who is lucky enough to
have a SmartCar be willing to come to class to discuss why you bought the car, what your experience has been, what kind of reception the car has gotten from family, friends, and strangers, what if any concerns you have, etc.? Then, show the students the car. PowerPoint slides would be great. Many of them will have seen a SmartCar by then, but few of them will have thought about buying one or another car of about equal size and fuel efficiency. I'm also trying to find an owner of a plug-in electric car to speak on the same day.
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