Of course, part of what the documentary is quite clearly saying is that there is no easy answer for how we are going to travel from one place to another in the future.  However, the episode does seem to be certain about one thing – it will take a lot of effort, and quite probably a lot of pressure from multiple sides, to move car makers in the direction of more "eco-friendly" vehicles (they give good lip service to their "green" efforts, but the piece makes it appear as though Detroit offers little more than lip service). 

Tom and Ray, the centerpieces of the show, are, more often than not quite genial and vaguely amusing.  The main downfall of the episode though are the handful of moments where it seems as though the Magliozzis are reading scripted dialogue… badly.  They may be witty and know a lot about cars, but the episode does make it clear that they are not actors.  I should also state, in all fairness, that Tom and Ray also provide many of the episodes amusing moments and, in their spontaneous moments, are great fun to watch. 

Even if the episode provides no firm answers (and there really are no firm answers it can provide), it does cause one to think about our future and what we might do to rectify our mistakes.  And that, it seems to me, is the purpose of Earth Day.

Nova – "Car of the Future" airs April 22 at 8pm, though, as always, one should always check their local listings.