Wishing Cutting-Edge Technology in Transportation Were Being Applied to Efficiency, Sustainability

I have a friend in Kansas City (skyline pictured here) I’ve known for many years through my connection to the world of electric vehicles, and he likes to keep me apprised of the developments in technology as it’s applied to transportation generally. Here, for instance, is an article he sent me on developments from BMW that make driving safer by projecting an image of the dashboard such that the driver does not have to take his eyes off the road, and this one, offering the latest in communications technology within the confines of a motorcyclist’s helmet.

I write: Cool stuff. I hate to whine about this, but you know where I stand on all this: it’s disappointing that so little of this technology is focused on the things that matter most in terms of sustainability: better fuel efficiency, alternative fuels (especially electricity generated from renewable resources), and a reduction in VMT (vehicle miles traveled) via mass transit and cities designed for walking and bicycling.