The Purpose

I must commit myself to reforming the environment and not man; being absolutely confident that if you give man the right environment he will behave favorably.

-R. Buckminster Fuller

Saving the World in Sparrow Style

Recent politics aside, the stories that consistently top the news are concerns over the environment; Global Warming, Pollution, Over Crowding, Fossil Fuel Depletion, Energy Availability… Do you get a persistent feeling we’re headed south?

According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2007 an unstable economy and high fuel prices resulted in a decline of US oil consumption. This silver lining to the Great Recession’s dark cloud was short lived however. As the economy recovered so did our thirst for fuel and that decline reversed as American’s took to the roads in record numbers.

2016: US fuel consumption reaches an all time high. A staggering 9.7 million barrels of fuel per day.

Production of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and aircraft fuel makes up nearly three quarters of the country’s total crude oil consumption. As we started driving our cars again, the United States once more rose to the top of the world’s consumer list. This dubious distinction was earned with our ability to guzzle crude oil at a rate of 19.4 million barrels per day.

Per.

Day.

Clearly if one wanted to have an impact on oil consumption, the place to start would be in the largest sector of usage, transportation.

Therein lies the Sparrow’s purpose. Small, energy efficient transportation that consumes less fossil fuels and doesn’t create harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile its diminutive size eases parking congestion and opens the HOV lanes to solo commuters (nine out of ten commuters travel alone).

Zippy and fun to drive, Sparrow provides the freedom and mobility that is at the heart of America’s love affair with the automobile. Give mankind the right environment and he will behave favorably… indeed.