REDDING, Calif. — If you’re in the market for a new car, should you go electric, hybrid, or stick with a traditional gas-powered? A retired Chico State chemistry professor has spent a lot of time researching the options.
Dr. Jim Postma recently gave a presentation to the Redding Rotary Club. He delved into the history of electric vehicles, which dates back further than many might expect, but despite the technology being over a century old, he believes fully electric vehicles aren’t ready for widespread use just yet.
“The electric car may have a niche in today’s world, but it still has a long way to go,” Postma said. “It’s a bit of a disappointment that government subsidies, both for car buying and for providing recharging infrastructure, have so distorted the market. It’s really hard to evaluate what it will take to create a truly useful system of electric vehicles.”
For now, Postma believes hybrids are the best choice. “They do make sense in today’s world because there’s always a gas station nearby. That range anxiety electric car owners deal with—wondering if they’ll make it before the battery runs out—disappears with a hybrid because you can always rely on the gasoline engine to take you the rest of the way.”
When asked about his own choice of vehicle, Postma revealed he drives a Ford pickup. “Ford makes a good version of an electric F-150. It’s actually quite an impressive vehicle,” he said. “But I grew up in the furniture business, and we always had a pickup nearby. It’s just natural to have one when you need it.”
Taking a practical approach, Postma added, “Better gas mileage would be nice, but there’s always a need for a pickup.”
