Down the wrong road?

Re “Indian firm unveils the world’s cheapest car,” March 24

The reality is upon us: The bulk of the world’s population -- in India and, most likely, soon in China -- will have access to personal motorized transportation. Tata Motors’ Nano will reportedly sell for as low as $2,200.

This car is not fueled by electricity or hydrogen; it is fueled by that dastardly hydrocarbon. The U.S. and the EU may well spend trillions on the development of “green” cars, but the numbers of those vehicles will pale in comparison with the number of gas guzzlers in India and China. People in those nations will likely be able to afford $2,200 for a car, but not a $20,000 hybrid. We may feel good about driving hybrids ourselves, but we will remain a drop in the bucket.

If we even hope to reduce carbon emissions from cars, should we not accept this reality and, instead of pouring money into the development of electric cars and hydrogen cars that most of the world’s population cannot afford, invest in the development of biofuels that might remove as much carbon from the air as they emit out the tailpipe?

Forrest Bonner

Huntington Beach