Posted on 11/29/2008 9:00:18 PM PST by reaganaut1
THE Tesla Roadster is an electric car that goes fast, looks sensational and excites envy. The seductive appearance, however, obscures some inconvenient truths: its all-electric technology remains woefully immature and don’t-even-ask expensive. If enough billionaires step forward to inject additional capital to keep the doors of its manufacturer, Tesla Motors, open, I’m happy for all parties.
If investors pass up the opportunity, however, why should taxpayers fork over the capital that Tesla needs? The Roadster is not much more than a functioning concept car that sells for $109,000. The company is requesting $400 million in low-interest federal loans as part of the $25 billion loan package for the auto industry passed by Congress last year.
The program is intended to encourage automakers to improve fuel efficiency, but should it be used for a purpose like this, as the 2008 Bailout of Very, Very High-Net-Worth Individuals Who Invested in Tesla Motors Act? Can you conceive any way that federal dollars could be put at greater risk — and for no equity in return, keep in mind — to benefit fewer people?
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
And that alternative is what, in your opinion?
Thanks for asking:
1) A 10-year waiver on “crash safety” rules which encumber vehicles with a bunch of heavy stuff which does nothing to help get from point a, to point b.
2) Open market for individuals to produce ethanol (denatured, for fuel use) from whatever biomass they have available.
3) Remove all enviro restrictions which are preventing extremely high-mileage diesel autos available in Europe made by US manufacturers, from being sold here.
4) Government tax incentives to offer flex-fuel vehicles.
5) Some sort of nationwide flex-fuel backbone.
For a start.
Compressed air is one of the most inefficient methods of storing energy in existence.
Why do air compressors have all those cooling fins on them? To get rid of the heat that is generated. Heat=wasted energy.
The claims made by the compressed air car manufacturers that I've seen simply defy the laws of thermodynamics.
"0 pollution" my a$$. Where did the electricity to run that horribly inefficient air compressor come from?
I would add...use our own available energy sources as well. All of them.
Good. Then get out your G**d***** checkbook, but keep your hands off my wallet.
L
No, I think you’re saying you’re clueless and support wasted public funds. batteries are where the research money should be allocated. Not silly sportscars that no one wants.
This means it will be made with coal or oil. Not real green friendly or carbon neutral.
What makes you think he will not make money that he normally makes from fuel oil used o power electricity generation? Can you be sure of that?
At the rate they are printing money it won’t be very long before a welfare case could afford a $100k car!
Stop all bailouts and subsidies!!!!!!
Prius’ not in waiting. My daughter got a brand new one and I was surprised how roomy and efficient it is. It is mostly quiet and has good pickup. Not the smug car of previous years.
Roomy quiet and has great pickup.
I don’t want anything that doesn’t run on straight gasoline, is either a truck or an automobile that comfortably seats 6and weighs at least 4,000#.
Remove the electric Tonka Toys from the road!
BUMP!
Habitual drunk drivers agree with you. :(
“I’m all for a good electric car, but a million Chevy Volts recharching every night are bound to drive up everyone’s electricity rates... that whole supply and demand thingy.”
Good point. That’s why we need to build more nuke plants. Newt said:
“And if you’re going to go to an electric car model, as many of our friends would like to, you had better plan on having nuclear power, which also has the side benefit that nuclear power is a steady state process so at night, when the electric grid doesn’t need as much power, you can actually use the nuclear power to generate hydrogen, which becomes a major step towards having a hydrogen economy, so a lot of good reasons to go to nuclear power. “
“let’s get them out of the business of forcing American drivers to buy big cars (crash standards)”
get rid of CAFE and the other regulations you mentioned but not crash standards. Regulations are important for maintaining health and safety.
I was at an investor meeting for this car. As I was walking in this thing comes screaming across the parking lot. I later drove it across the parking lot. If you saw this smoking hot car in person you would get goose bumps. This car is beyond cool.
No, I do not intend to buy one. That car was a concept and final production is for those with loot to spare even when they buy something like this. I have a friend that has 8 Segway’s to share with his friends. Didn’t even dent his pocket book.
Anyway, I spoke with Elan, the founder of Tesla, and this car is prove the concept at the target market of up scale clients. They desire and have the ability to produce cars for the general public. The cars will have everything you would find in a Prius.
The only thing stopping them is financing so they can build the factory line and promote with marketing.
No I did not buy one. I drive Ford’s and that is about all I will ever drive.
Still, I am not sure I support the government giving them bailout money,
No Podunk, I believe in research in technology instead of sex lives of bees are some other silly thing the money could/will be spent on.
Podunk??
Ok dumb and dumber. The seventies called, they want their vocabulary back.
This car isn’t research. It’s a rich man’s toy. Let the rich men pay full price for their stupid toys. Leave my tax dollars out of it.
When I was in San Diego last Oct. friends picked me up in one to go to dinner and I was impressed. A great car for city driving, but 90% of my driving is highway, so I would gain nothing. I get 28mpg with my RAV4 and room to carry everything I need. When I bought it, I took the back seats out and they haven’t been back in yet.
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