Hyundai seeks LPG option

Hyundai Motor Company announced plans to start retail sales of its first LPG-electric hybrid vehicle in July 2009. This will be the world’s first hybrid vehicle powered by liquid petroleum gas. So as gas prices continue to climb along with demand for fuel, the pressure is mouning for automakers to give the people a vialble alternative.

Liquid Petroleum Gas is the latest attempt to curb our enthusiasm for oil. One thing is clear, a hybrid of some sort will emerge as the leading technology and it will consist of battery power plus some other fuel which could be gas, hydrogen, ethanol, diesel, natural gas, or liqud petroleum.

One can only wonder what the roads will look like in 10 years and what people will drive. In this supersized, fast-food nation of ours, are we looking at a future without SUVs, without manual transmissions (because CVTs are so much more efficient and nobody likes to shift their own gears anymore), and without gasoline-driven V8s?

I suppose it has to happen, but what about the fun factor? How will the few remaining enthusiasts, who don't have millions of dollars to splurge on toys, get our kicks on the road? Maybe the car of the future is actually a video game that let's us simulate burning rubber and shifting gears.

Who said technology is such a wonderful thing? Maybe our future is a hybrid, but not between batteries and fuel, but between The Jetsons and Mad Max.