We the people are only as free as the options in front of us with respect to resources.
Clearly, our dependence on foreign oil is 'still' an important issue of national security if one chooses to not look the science of global warming in the face.
Clearly, the automotive and oil industries have vested interests in the stagnation of technology such that they can continue to make increasing profits. Only mandates have caused them to change, to innovate.
The change we need is big, and that scares people. People are afraid of the economic impact. There won't be an economy if projections are correct about estimated sea level rises by 2050. It's going to take a large investment of capital, but the payoffs both economically and environmentally cannot be continued to be ignored.