The king of Ku and the ruler of Fan were sitting together. After a little while, the attendants of the king said,

‘Fan has been destroyed three times.’

The ruler of Fan rejoined,

‘The destruction of Fan has not been sufficient to destroy what we had that was most deserving to be preserved.’

Now, if the destruction of Fan had not been sufficient to destroy that which it had most deserving to be preserved, the preservation of Ku had not been sufficient to preserve that in it most deserving to be preserved. Looking at the matter from this point of view, Fan had not begun to be destroyed, and Ku had not begun to be preserved.

–Zhuangzi, by Zhuang Zhou, trans by James Legge

Over the past day or so I have read several articles taking note that the sale of electric vehicles has slowed at dealerships.  What to do with EVs on the lot that are not moving!?  The vehicles are at a price point that many customers cannot afford.  There are issues relevant to ownership too.  The range of an EV limits it to local use.  And there’s the availability of fast chargers, which at best, is much slower by comparison to filling up when a gasoline powered vehicle registers close to empty.

According to what I have read from online news services many are speculating about what the future holds for General Motors, for Ford Motor Company.  These companies are backing away from planned investment in an EV future.  Companies, being substantial institutions will attempt to survive at any, and all costs.  There is no doubt about that.  All institutions are animal like, and do not go quietly into that dark night.  No matter.  Nothing, absolutely nothing can last forever.  So, what merits our efforts at preservation?

The ancient Taoist master suggests what is worth preserving cannot be destroyed, is intrinsically personal,  and is integral to your person.

Which illuminates the question: What within me, if anything at all is worth preserving?