The internal combustion engine has been used successfully for 100 years. It’s simple. It’s reliable. It’s able to haul great loads. It can carry people long distances. It’s cheap to build and cheap to fix. Importantly, there is existing infrastructure for it across the globe. And it has proven upgradable. For instance, we now use catalytic converters to reduce acid rain. We’ve developed clean diesel technologies, direct injection, turbocharging, idle stop/start technology, cylinder deactivation, and variable compression for higher efficiency and more power.
These advances in technology have prolonged the life of the internal- combustion engine. And new technologies will prolong its useful life.
Yes, its dirty. But it’s a proven method.
Now let’s look at the electric car.
For the mass production of electric cars, we must assume the invention of a long-lasting, reliable, and affordable battery.
We must assume that electricity will be readily available.
We must assume widespread charging-station infrastructure will be built across the world.
We must assume that electric cars will be able to haul a reasonable payload... think trailer or RV.
We must assume they will be cheap and easy to work on.
And if we assume all this, we must then assume that a large portion of the 2 billion gasoline- and diesel-powered cars on the road by 2035 will eventually be replaced by electric cars.
That’s a lot of assumptions.
Based upon existing technologies and using Occam’s razor, the
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