House Clears $3 Billion For Auto Technology Research [The Spending Never Stops!]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives approved a $3 billion proposal on Wednesday to further spur research into advanced batteries and other technologies to power electric cars and other vehicles.

The bill, proposed by Michigan Representative Gary Peters, would also establish a technology program for commercial trucks, transit vehicles and heavy duty machinery.

The government has in recent months sharply boosted funding for battery research as U.S. automakers seek to reverse their fortunes and increase production of hybrids and introduce electric cars.

Japan leads the industry in advanced battery production and gasoline-electric hybrid sales.

Under Peters' bill, the Energy Department would lead a new $3 billion research initiative over five years.

The agency also oversees a $25 billion loan program aimed mainly at helping domestic and foreign manufacturers retool factories and make more fuel efficient cars in the U.S.

Funding for advanced technology programs are also designed to help U.S. automakers meet tougher requirements on fuel efficiency and emissions beginning in 2012.

Peters' plan would also boost manufacturing in Michigan where the near collapse of the U.S. auto industry this year has jolted the state's economy.

There is no companion legislation in the Senate but supporters are hopeful that the 312 'yes' votes in the House will send a strong signal for Senate lawmakers to act.

It will not stop as long as the Dems are in control of both houses of Congress.

I have my doubts if the current crop of Pubbies in these two houses would slow it down if they were in charge.

When and if conservatives ever regain control of the House they will need to repeal much of this. Things like healthcare (which will pass and not start till 2014) could be repealed ... but some of the others will already be spend and will never be saved or asked for repayment.

What technology? If this much money was spent on improving steam power, an EXTERNAL combustion power unit, we would see some decent improvement in efficiencies.

First, build a completely enclosed heat reclamation condensation unit, then have the steam drive a double-expansion, double-acting reciprocating unit (this was developed by Abner Doble back in about 1923 or so). With a ceramic firebox, using 21st century technology, a steam-driven automobile with absolutely the cleanest, sweetest exhaust around, powered by propane or even compressed natural gas, could be on the road in two years time. The big objection to steam was the rather wasteful loss of energy by allowing so much escaping steam, and the slow start times. With a flash boiler, that heats only a very small amount of water to instant superheated steam, operation of the vehicle could get under way in less than a minute, probably quite a bit less than that. With a high-efficiency heat exchanger condensation unit, almost all of the heat energy even in spent steam could be reclaimed. Allowing the high-pressure steam that drives the primary pistons, to be further expanded into lower-pressure pistons, acts to extract a great deal more energy from every unit of superheated steam that is produced in the boiler. By shifting the valving on the piston-driven reciprocating unit, the steam pressure would provide a most excellent regenerative braking system, driving the steam pressure back up in the pressure vessel. The heightened pressure assures a swift launch.

Lighter and producing fewer complex emissions than an internal combustion engine, this could be a way to get back into REAL engineering in drive lines and power generation.

And do it in near silence, with both enormous stall speed torque, and enough throttle response to induce breakaway wheel spin at 70 miles per hour.

Steam engines don’t HAVE to be locomotives.

The 7 conditions (Warning signs)
that foster & fuel fascism are:

Instability of capitalist relationships or markets
The existence of considerable declassed social elements
The stripping of rights and wealth focused upon a specific segment of the population, specifically the middle class and intellectuals within urban areas as this the group with the means, intelligence and ability to stop fascism if given the opportunity.
Discontent among the rural lower middle class (clerks, secretaries, white collar labor). Consistent discontent among the general middle and lower middle classes against the oppressing upper-classes (haves vs have-nots).
Hate: Pronounced, perpetuated and accepted public disdain of a specific group defined by race, origin, theology or association.
Greed: The motivator of fascism, which is generally associated with land, space or scarce resources in the possession of those being oppressed.
Organized Propaganda:

a) The creation of social mythology that venerates (creates saints of) one element of society while concurrently vilifying (dehumanizing) another element of the population through misinformation, misdirection and the obscuring of factual matter through removal, destruction or social humiliation, (name-calling, false accusations, belittling and threats).

b) The squelching of public debate not agreeing with the popular agenda via slander, libel, threats, theft, destruction, historical revisionism and social humiliation. Journalists in particular are terrorized if they attempt to publish stories contrary to the agenda.

dovetails business & government

promotes chauvinist demagogy

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