A blind man can tell you that hybrids are dangerous.

The National Federation of the Blind has complained to Ford, Honda and Toyota that their hybrid cars are so quiet that blind people can’t hear them.  Now, of the 4900 pedestrians killed by cars last year, exactly none were blind people killed by hybrids.  But hybrid technology is extending to urban transport (Scania is testing hybrid buses in Stockholm) and overnight delivery (FedEx is testing delivery trucks in Denver).  Something must be done to make these things louder; how long before someone gets hurt by this menace?

And then there’s ethanol, which is proving to be a threat to the American way of life.  Beginning this season, the IndyCar Series will race on 100 per cent ethanol. And the American LeMans Series will race on a 10 per cent ethanol blend.  Even NASCAR is considering switching over.  So what’s wrong with that?   Some folks believe that, as the “corn basket to the world”, the US can’t grow enough corn to satisfy the need.  Cattle ranchers, chicken farmers and pig producers have all testified that if ethanol production increases, they won’t be able to feed their stocks.

Thank goodness Congress has stepped in.  House bills 161 and 587 aim to repeal tax incentives for producers of ethanol.  If you are a “large” producer of ethanol (sales of $1Million or more; ExxonMobil sales are $377Billion), don’t expect any more handouts from Uncle Sam.  Hopefully that will slow down this worrisome trend.

Here at quickSilver, we’re sticking with our good old Saab (27 MPG) and Land Rover (12 MPG).  Honest American gas guzzlers.