The documentary Hitting the Road seeks to explore the growth of the global automobile industry and the impact it has on our planet. Focusing on two brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, viewers are taken through a journey of exploration and discovery.
The opening chapter focuses on what projections suggest about the amount of cars on our roads by 2050 – an estimated two billion vehicles. This staggering figure is two and a half times more than what is currently in existence today. The brothers then use this information to guide their expedition as they search for the car of the future.
As part of this quest, they also look at Iceland’s efforts to reduce dependency on imported oil through hydrogen fuel cells – something which would be vastly beneficial for both air quality and climate control. Additionally, they examine potential new ways to make ethanol-based biofuels which have much lower greenhouse-gas emissions but may come with some hidden costs.
It’s not just alternative fuels that these brothers investigate either as they also observe how engine efficiency can result in more powerful vehicles without necessarily improving fuel economy. Furthermore, they discuss how plugging hybrid cars into power plants could drastically reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. However, transitioning away from traditional fuels requires more than just individual action; concerted government involvement is also needed to affect lasting change.
A thought-provoking film which highlights both environmental concerns surrounding current car usage as well as possible solutions for a greener tomorrow, Hitting the Road is an eye-opening examination as we strive towards a cleaner world for all generations to come. So if you’re interested in learning more about global car usage and our responsibilities towards protecting our environment, then make sure you don’t miss out on this enlightening documentary!