That may still be a ways off. Hybrids extend the life of gasoline as a portable fuel source. Cars like the Toyota Prius recharge their batteries through regenerative braking and the gasoline engine. They never need to be plugged in. The major auto manufacturers have put so much development into the gasoline powered car it will be some time before they transition completely away from that fuel source. Honda has hinted about a 100% electric vehicle (EV) to be available in 2015. So perhaps by mid-decade we will start to see a sea change of EV automobiles on road.

Nevertheless, this charging station at GEO is a significant first step in the right direction. Hats off to the pioneers like Mike Leone and Frank Rogers who are bold enough to make their vision real.

I don’t particularly like buying cars. It’s not like going in and buying an iPod Touch or some flat screen television. This is a big financial commitment second only to buying a house. In these tight economic times it is all about cashflow and what you can afford. Do I purchase outright or lease? I thought about ownership and what that means in the case of a car. You lose 25% of the value of a car the minute you drive it off the lot. I also compared the loan payment rates to monthly lease payments. Even with a 2.9% interest rate over 5 years, you are still looking at about $450 a month in payments. With a lease it was closer to $300 per month for 39 months. After 39 months you can turn it in or buy the remaining portion of the lease. By that time there might be a good electric or hybrid car on the market. So I chose the lease option. I went down this morning, signed the papers and drove it off the lot. It was quite a difference going from 1996 technology to 2009. And you can’t beat that new car smell. I love that you can pair your phone to the car’s Bluetooth Hands Free option and connect up your iPod. I know I’m going to enjoy this ride.

After spending many brain cycles on pondering this, I decided to repair the car. The things that compel me to go the repair route first off is cost. I can deal with $2000 much better than $20K. Secondly, I actually prefer to drive my old car around. There’s a certain attachment to it, but there is also a non-attachment. I am not as bothered about the scratches and dings you get at the shopping mall. If it was a new car, I would be bothered and bummed.

As far as new car deals, I don’t really see them. There are some low interest rate deals you can get but you are still going to pay a good chunk of money in a time when there isn’t a whole lot of money to go around. Maybe I should be thinking I should contribute to the economy by buying a car but this is survival, my survival.

Being without your car does make you realize how dependent you are on it. We’ve grown, I’ve grown so accustomed to having a vehicle it is hard to imagine not having one. All the things that need to change once you are without. Carpooling, bus, renting a car are all considerations. It will be at least three weeks before I get my car back so I may be exploring all these options. All this car trama hasn’t made it feel like Christmas for me yet. I did feel a sense of relief though this past weekend when deciding to repair rather than buy. I am saving money that could be put to better use. I am keeping my carbon footprint relatively low by not consuming more hardware. And finally I am squeezing a little more out of what I have, staying within my means. I think those are good lessons for this Winter Solstice 2008.