The electric car has many passionately positive drivers, but it met the needs of only 90% of the driving public, said the manufacturer, in whose eyes the most serious drawback was probably the lack of service revenue. A mechanic in the film explains the 5,000 mile maintenance as rotating the tires and filling up the window washer fluid reservoir. That compares to new plugs, new air & water filters, antifreeze, fan belt, timing belt, transmission fluid and at least four quarts of oil.

It’s no wonder that hydrogen fueled cars are more favored by Detroit, because they will continue to require many of these maintenance items. But how many hydrogen fueling stations will need to be built, compared to the already omnipresent electrical outlets in all of our homes and most or our garages?

In Al’s favor, I must say that his fantasies, being sexual rather than military, would be less dangerous to this nation and others than the fantasies of our current President.

* For the Romans, FIDES was an essential element in the character of a man of public affairs, and a necessary constituent element of all social and political transactions.  (from http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/fides.html)