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GM Cornered Into Defending the Volt
Al notes a story in Technology Review reporting on a CMU study (now over a month old) claiming that the Volt doesn't make economic sense, and GM's response. The study suggests that hybrids with large batteries offering up to 40 miles of range before an on-board generator kicks in simply cost too much for the gas savings to work out (PDF). Al writes: "Unsurprisingly, GM disputes the claims, saying 'Our battery team is already starting work on new concepts that will further decrease the cost of the Volt battery pack quite substantially in a second-generation Volt pack.' Interestingly, however, GM admits that the tax credits for plug-in hybrids will be crucial to making the volt successful. Without those credits, would an electric vehicle like the Volt be viable?"
So, basically, we have a choice between efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles that will require an investment in research that will eventually have many other uses. Or, we can choose gas guzzlers, which apparently make more "economic sense".
Or, there's a third choice, which is scrapping an economy that makes such idiotic decisions. I go with choice number 3, get rid of capitalism, because with it, we're doomed to repeat the same idiotic mistakes because they "make economic sense".
I can't really fathom why GM thinks electric vehicles would make sense for America. In Europe, gasoline prices are typically doubled by taxes, and we are used to smaller cars, so we are going to get mass market adoption long before the Americans. During this time of crisis, GM should focus on what it does best - providing Americans with ridiculously big and thirsty cars - and leave high tech and innovation to the Japanese and Europeans. GM neither has time nor money to enter new niche markets.
meanwhile, when you throw your beer can from your hunting blind, you're an asshole. you have no freedom, nor did you ever have the freedom, to do that.
If it's MY deer blind on MY land and MY beer... you bet your ass I have a right to do that! It's MINE. Now when you come and tell me what I can and can't do with MY stuff on MY property... you are truly taking away MY freedom.
When you tell me what I can own and what I can do with, you are taking away MY freedom. Property rights are just as important as privacy rights. When you start telling what I can buy, you are taking away my property rights. When you start adjusting the thermostat in my home, you are taking away my property rights (AND privacy rights).
Now I understand that there are certain concerns that need to be addressed. Speed limit and drunk driving laws are necessary for public safety, just as it is important to know who you are before you board a plane. These are real and immediate threats to personal safety. Global Warming and the climate, on the other hand, is very poorly understood. The climate has actually been COOLING for the past several years against the advice of our most recent models. In the future, it will warm again, just as it has warmed in the past, well before the SUV. So why would you take away my property and rights to live as I see fit (read: freedom) over something has been happening naturally long before man existed?
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
wrong and an asshole. congrats!
With the first link, the chain is forged.
Hey Obama, if you're going to go down the Hugo Chavez style socialism road, the at least for God sakes do it intelligently and do it right (personally, for the record, I'm still for capitalism, but the leader isn't on my side).
Why doesn't Obama declare a national emergency and then the Government simply buys out the fucking EV-1 production line, rehire all workers and engineers who developed it, buy out the oil/GM patent troll Cobasys line of NiMH battery patents and rebuild a proven 200 mi range EV-1 electric car? For God's sake, the charging stations are still sitting idle at our local Costco, ready to go...
Why the fuck are we shelling out billions to GM to build more Hummers and SUVs, while we can kill two or more birds with one stone and revive the EV-1 and end our reliance on oil. Let the oil companies get some other business model for profit...
What??? Market forces can't solve every problem??? Are you honestly saying that the behavior of a huge conglomeration of greedy, stupid people (that includes everyone I know, and myself, of course) doesn't combine to result in effective, ideal solutions to serious problems?
Oh, I know why. It's because the jackbooted thugs in the government are meddling with their regulations. If we'd only cut the corporations loose from any responsibility whatsoever, there'd be no problems to speak of.
For sure.