A Coming Future When Cars Are Not Privately Owned

Although this article primarily discusses deficiencies in the development of second generation (cellulosic) ethanol, the ending asks a far more important question dealing with traffic congestion. Ford Motor Co. Chairman William Clay Ford Jr., states that traffic congestion will soon be just as critical of a vehicle issue as emissions are now.

"During his speech, Mr. Ford cited predictions that the world's automotive fleet, now about 880 million vehicles, would grow to 2 billion by midcentury.

''One of the things we absolutely know as we move forward is that congestion is going to be as big a problem as pollution,'' Mr. Ford said.

Fifty years ago Henry Kaiser said that the only limiting factor on auto sales would be the presence of enough roads to drive them on. Even more telling is when Mr. Ford states that the current model of the privately owned automobile will change.

"Pointing to efforts under way in India and South Africa to encourage consumers to use bicycles, mopeds and public transportation instead of automobiles, Mr. Ford said, ''The idea of individual car ownership as we know it today will change, too.''

Ford wants ''to be part of that -- not to be frightened by it, but to participate in it,'' he said."

If automakers follow through on any of these ideas, it would certainly bring forth a landmark shift in world society. These ideas represent a far, far greater shift than what is promised by plug-in hybrid vehicles, which merely alter the fuel, but not the form of transportation.