Posted on 10/17/2012 10:46:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
(Excerpt)
President Obama has put $5 billion in taxpayer money behind his goal of having 1 million electric cars on U.S. roads by 2015. The Republican presidential ticket says it's money wasted on "losers."
Whether the technology itself is a loser or consumers are merely slow to adapt to new things, car buyers so far haven't embraced electric vehicles in numbers close to Obama's goal. Electric-vehicle sales since 2011 totaled fewer than 50,000 through September, just 5 percent of the president's target.
"The reality is - that business model isn't there yet," said Brett Smith, co-director of manufacturing, engineering and technology at the Center for Automotive Research in Michigan. "It isn't there yet for volume. It isn't there yet for reaching the mass consumer. And it probably isn't going to be there for a while."
Obama's $5 billion investment in electric cars includes loans and grants to car and battery producers, spending on charging stations and $7,500 tax credits to car buyers. Recipients of loans and grants include Nissan Motor Co., which got a $1.4 billion loan to build the Leaf and its battery pack in the United States; Fisker Automotive, which Republican Paul Ryan criticized in last week's vice presidential debate for building its first model in Finland; Tesla Motors; and A123 Systems Inc., the battery maker that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday. Great expectations
As recently as June, General Motors Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson predicted that 40,000 plug-in Chevrolet Volt would be sold this year. The automaker delivered 7,671 Volts in 2011 and 7,997 in its first 13 months of sales. Through September, GM had sold 16,348 Volts this year. After inventories swelled to 84 days' supply in July, GM in August said it would halt Volt production for four weeks ..
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Ha, ha, my mother-in-law won’t own a computer or a microwave oven. She thinks they put out “rays”. :-)
Yes, and if they make sense from an economic standpoint. Electric cars are absurd.
Hmmm ... electric cars are expensive. People that can afford expensive cars can afford these gas prices. Maybe that has something to do with it?
Make them affordable w/o looking like an egg with wheels and maybe ... just maybe people will buy them.
I’d love to have one. Specifically, the Tesla Model S. Sweet car ... but dang - $$$$$$$$$$
Didn’t the Volt owner understand that he has a gas engine and fuel tank to operate on when the battery is discharged?
I just acquired a Nissan Leaf (probably the only conservative in the country driving one). I got it on a TWO year lease (never thought I’d lease a car), but I got it for $30/month more a month than the gas that I was paying. Plus my employer will pay for the charging at my building, so the cost to charge is going to be VERY minimal for me (weekends, etc). I just went from $.17/mile for gas to $.025/mile electric assuming that I do ALL the charging on my own and not through my employer. Felt like it was almost a draw when you take into account maintenance on my current car that was needed. I did it for the economics, not to save the planet.... :)
Hey if the economics work, go for it.
I’m you understand that the company (Nissan) is subsidizing this lease to “move the metal” as they say in the industry.
The free juice at work makes it a great deal.
Electric motors make their max torque at zero speed, so you’re in good shape for the stoplight drags.
I’m not in favor of everybody driving a govt mandated electric car but I’m glad to see a FReeper posting some actual experience and cost numbers rather than random comments.
You sound like a central planner. I couldn't even begin to tell you what my coworkers, family and friends auto commute requirements are.
No, just a thinker. I don’t want big government involved in this.
I want folks to make their own choices. Obviously if they’ve got long commutes, these cars wouldn’t work for them. I understand that, and I support their specific choice based on their needs. A lot of inner city folks could use this sort of car. I would like to see one or more of the cars succeed.
I’m not in favor of all cars being green. I do think some green cars in the right circumstances could be a part of the overall solution to U.S. self-sufficiency.
The Fisker Carma (gag me with a pitchfork) looks great. I hear it has real problems though. And it has gone under from what I understand.
It’s displays blinked. It’s inside was super tight, due to the batter down the center.
I sure like the exterior styling. That isn’t going to move you one foot though.
I suppose I should be shocked, but that’s about par for the course isn’t it.
Thanks for the mention.
Edmund's has a true cost to own web site. The Volt is on par with a Camry hybrid only after subtracting the $7500 tax credit. A Golf diesel has a similar TCTO as the Camry.
In California I could get $7,500 federally and $2,500 from the state. Of course that’s deductions...
If I thought the Volt would be improved drastically each year over the next five years, I might buy into the idea that supporting it would serve to help develop a new niche vehicle class.
I don’t expect the Volt to be improved much if it lasts a few more years. It’s a waste of money to subsidize it.
There are those who make the case that it would never be a good thing for the government to subsidize a vehicle. I think they’re on sound ground with the argument.
Sorry, you are so right...What I meant were cars like the “Leaf”..all electrics. I get confused about the “green” agenda cars, but I did read this conversation, and it sounded reasonable to me.
The Volt received Motor Trend's car of the year award and all the various tax credits. It still hasn't come close to matching the sales numbers of the Pontiac Aztec which was a total disaster for GM. At some point somebody has to say this car isn't ready for prime time. The only hope for it is if gas goes north of $6 a gallon..
I don’t disagree with that. I wish the science behind cars like that was farther along, but I think you’re right here.
Thanks....I dont believe in “mandated” cars either, but as you know, this was my choice, not theirs!
.
IF what they say is true and a full 0-100% charge is in the $1.00/charge range, my costs per mile go down from 17 cents/mile to 2.5 cents/mile (minus the lease payment)....Plus, as i say, I hope to charge at work quite a bit to start with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.