going green, technologyA great achievement of the Obama administration as of yet has been the stimulus money that is making companies think about going green. I have been so surprised to see big American automakers step up to the plate and fight not only high gas prices but the hurt on the environment gas guzzlers can cause with new high mile per gallon technology. This kind change in the auto industry is seen from the news to TV commercials. Today I watched a new ad for the 2011 Ford Mustang. Boasting big horsepower numbers, over 300 ponies, they are really hammering home that this classic piece of American muscle also gets 31 MPG. For a car that is fast and known to guzzle gas 31 miles to the gallon is phenomenal.

I have a four-cylinder coupe that is just over 5 years old. When it came out going green was on the minds of people because gas prices were ridiculous. I needed a vehicle that could get me from point A to point B without breaking the bank, which is why I choose such a car. Now it seems like more and more sports cars and trucks are getting similar gas consumption to my small coupe. This is great.

It makes me want to save for that new technology delivered from automakers all over the world. Most impressive though is the change in mindset we have seen with American car companies. We are a country who has never had a problem driving huge vehicles. Our roadways are immense, there is never a time when a big SUV doesn’t fit somewhere and it is just part of how we operate. With companies like Ford coming out with fuel-efficient powertrains, we can keep our cultural identity with large vehicles and be nice to the environment with less carbon emissions. The shift to a future of less gas, more consumer awareness of going green and a country on top of this technology curve is upon us. It is seen everywhere from commercials to news articles to websites like American National Solar at http://www.americannationalsolar.com/.

My goal is to test drive one of the 2011 American muscle cars who have great fuel economy to see if there is a difference from old school power. I don’t think there will be. Our home based autos are looking better and better. What the future may bring is still up in the air but I’m blown away by what’s out there now.