MI dependency
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S the OPEC countries announce yet another increase in the basic price of crude oil, hich is estimated to add a further five pence to a gallon of fuel, the road transport dustry in Europe again turns its attention to the use of electric vehicles. This is far Dm a new exercise, but it could easily end with the same result as so often in the past no action.
Too often we have accepted fuel increases and overcome the consequent problem 'passing the operating cost increase on to the customer. There comes the straw that eaks the camel's back. That time is perilously close now.
The economy of the Western World is tied so closely to fuel costs that it can no nger be ignored or passively accepted. The Arab States must live by their natural sources, but so must we. By-products of crude oil are not our only source of fuel. One of our natural resources is our technological expertise. We must use it to velop alternative energy sources and these need not be oil dependent. The development of electric powered vehicles must be stepped up. Even the desert ll run out of oil. There is also always the possibility that the Iran/Iraq confrontation II escalate or be re-enacted elsewhere.
We cannot allow the vagaries of the people of the Middle East to influence too .ongly our standard of living. Our engine and hide manufacturers must redouble eir efforts to develop electric powered units. Where research and development has been owed to decline it must be regenerated; here it is moving it must be stepped up. me is running out.