GasBuddy News Article

votes

Electric Avenue is More than a Detour ...Auto Makers

Globeandmail.com -- By Simon Houpt and Joanna Slater

Excerpts

"Hype over the new battery-powered Volt from GM may be surging but every major car maker has jumped onto what some are already calling a global revolution."

"And, he adds, there’s a patriotic reason to drive an electric car.

“With the founding of this country, we did not want to be dependent on any foreign government or kings."

"...the potential market for electric vehicles may not yet be deep, but it is unexpectedly broad."

(And yes, while he recognizes Canada isn’t a Middle Eastern kingdom, he’d rather the U.S. buy oil from us..." )

"Mr. Trepp ...“I’m a born-and-raised Republican, but things like the B.P. oil spill, if that doesn’t underscore our need to start thinking in this direction, I don’t know what I don’t know what would,"

Read the Full Article

Submitted Aug 01, 2010 By: UncleCurt

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: Electric Avenue is More than a Detour ...Auto Makers	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)

First

Next Last

Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,655 Points:672,720 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2010 10:17:47 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse OK!
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,793 Points:633,350 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2010 6:41:02 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Art48: some people just can't handle a change of mind.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,793 Points:633,350 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2010 6:40:10 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Most ppl on this board recently indicated in a self-polling that they drive less than 200 miles a week. E-cars would be great for that, esp if solar stations provide electricity while someone is at work.
vandamme All-Star Author New York Posts:799 Points:98,040 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2010 8:12:46 AM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse A Leaf is good for most all the driving I do. If Obama subsidizes it, so much the better.
Art48 Champion Author Sacramento Posts:2,451 Points:81,365 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2010 12:38:03 AM Ignore Art48 Report Abuse Bubba44612 - I guess you haven't gotten a chance to see one. Golf carts they're not.
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,676 Points:918,925 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2010 12:07:51 AM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse At $40K for a golf cart not to many people will be driving them in the future.
Art48 Champion Author Sacramento Posts:2,451 Points:81,365 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:57:00 PM Ignore Art48 Report Abuse Voltus - "did we forget that car battery components are more scarce than oil itself?" Did we forget battery components are recyclable, oil isn't.
915Chief Champion Author San Diego Posts:3,650 Points:716,025 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:56:32 PM Ignore 915Chief Report Abuse uh-huh....isn't it ironic that a lot of these cars may be recharged by electricity from coal plants?
opecsucks76 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:1,460 Points:448,795 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:49:12 PM Ignore opecsucks76 Report Abuse Great song by Eddie Grant.
VDubBill Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,007 Points:487,935 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:48:08 PM Ignore VDubBill Report Abuse Are we gonna rock on down to Electric Avenue? [Edited by: VDubBill at 8/1/2010 11:49:34 PM EST]
lross94 Veteran Author Lexington Posts:279 Points:489,135 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:41:21 PM Ignore lross94 Report Abuse The electric car will never replace the gasoline engine. The patriotic act would be to remove the drilling bans we have in place and start drilling for oil. That would spur the economy unlike we have seen in a long time. Companies would start hiring workers, gas prices would come down and then we could start to work on the research needed to find what is going to replace the gasoline engine if we ever get to the point that we need to replace it.
esquared Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,943 Points:1,145,075 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:39:53 PM Ignore esquared Report Abuse Can the Electric Slide be far behind?
Sody33 Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:13,110 Points:1,507,725 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:39:26 PM Ignore Sody33 Report Abuse We need to use all the different ways we can. Electric for in town, hybrid or LP gas or Hydrogen for long distances, but less and less oil so that we can help heal Mother Nature. She is mad at us.
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,805 Points:1,585,790 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:37:21 PM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse Lots of possibilities... but limited range capability may and will keep many buyers locked in to traditional modes of transportation.
BEngr Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,711 Points:614,110 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:28:13 PM Ignore BEngr Report Abuse I think all electric cars are too expensive, have a limited driving range, and are too small because if you were in an accident, the odds are you will suffer greater injuries. Also if it needed to be charged while away from home where would you pug it in?
Buck_on_Bass Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,806 Points:600,855 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:25:58 PM Ignore Buck_on_Bass Report Abuse With the Mini-E being leased, one wonders why BMW is not offering more Mini-E's for lease or sale.
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:10,684 Points:1,164,030 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:16:45 PM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse Just get on with developing an affordable hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
Jeeputtputt All-Star Author Cincinnati Posts:716 Points:182,695 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:15:04 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse peddles, (for points) [Edited by: Jeeputtputt at 8/1/2010 11:16:37 PM EST]
IamWhoIam Champion Author San Francisco Posts:11,955 Points:1,202,430 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:14:11 PM Ignore IamWhoIam Report Abuse It is one of the many alternatives and should not be left out of the mix. There will be more and we should be very open-minded about this as the pollution is getting worse, the ozone is messed up, the glaciers all over the world are melting way further back from where they have been in millions of years so we need to go carefully and softly into the future and not tread on the snake that would kill us off.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:3,148 Points:623,460 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:10:49 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse electric is a good alternative for a small group of consumers
Dancin Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,221 Points:1,784,145 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:05:48 PM Ignore Dancin Report Abuse Skip the electric car. Ontario, Canada can't afford to charge it.
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:3,509 Points:713,240 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:05:08 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse EV's will cause electrical system problems.
Jo120 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,464 Points:1,313,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:04:24 PM Ignore Jo120 Report Abuse Where's the infrastructure to go with it?
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:1,360 Points:513,020 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:04:01 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Electrics can be recharged at night, off-peak for the grid, so capacity is there.
Voltus Champion Author Miami Posts:3,327 Points:654,005 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:03:30 PM Ignore Voltus Report Abuse did we forget that car battery components are more scarce than oil itself?
DosEquis26 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,947 Points:1,093,785 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:51:07 PM Ignore DosEquis26 Report Abuse we're going to need a lot more nuclear power plants.
BlueVanGroup Champion Author Colorado Posts:2,270 Points:577,385 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:49:50 PM Ignore BlueVanGroup Report Abuse How about we let competition bring out the best technology and leave politics out of it?
MINER Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:8,442 Points:2,472,170 Joined:Jul 2002	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:44:55 PM Ignore MINER Report Abuse I'm almost ready to put an order in for one, they have me convinced..I do believe there is a better chance for me to make my own electric, than no chance for me to make gas...
signwiz Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,101 Points:939,125 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:42:45 PM Ignore signwiz Report Abuse Keep in mind this is a swap of one energy source for another, plain and simple. Until electric power tips the balance of production over to renewable sources, it's not that large an advantage in the end.
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,552 Points:509,865 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:42:38 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse We will see.
UseLessGasFolks All-Star Author Iowa Posts:594 Points:358,610 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:41:44 PM Ignore UseLessGasFolks Report Abuse I agree "there’s a patriotic reason to drive an electric car."
SeerLV Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:3,498 Points:717,685 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:31:50 PM Ignore SeerLV Report Abuse We need to get off foreign oil.
ScottTee Veteran Author Detroit Posts:339 Points:144,585 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:31:27 PM Ignore ScottTee Report Abuse time will tell
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:1,667 Points:1,264,185 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:30:55 PM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse We will see if this ever happens, I doubt I will ever see it.
jay4 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:5,792 Points:1,326,080 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:21:54 PM Ignore jay4 Report Abuse Of course self-reliance is a noble goal but we've always relied on other countries to provide, capital, investments, technology, raw materials, etc.
Goatroper Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,071 Points:418,140 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:21:49 PM Ignore Goatroper Report Abuse Auto makers will follow the money, there's no patriotism in it at all.
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,285 Points:1,421,795 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:17:30 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Unless the technology significantly improves (speed and range) and a vialbe electrical charging infrastructure is developed, electric avenue will be a detour regardless of the number of manufacturers who have jumped on the band wagon
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,382 Points:589,760 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:17:12 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Politics and government need to stay away!!!
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,952 Points:880,765 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:11:18 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse The consumer will determine the sucess of the electric car.
bobsalwaysmt Champion Author Long Island Posts:2,421 Points:155,680 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:09:49 PM Ignore bobsalwaysmt Report Abuse All about POLITICS!
nehemiah Champion Author Portland Posts:1,027 Points:136,495 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:09:05 PM Ignore nehemiah Report Abuse anything will help us to give money overseas and keep money here in the US
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,953 Points:1,411,610 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:07:49 PM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse Hope Volt, etc al make a difference!
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,340 Points:663,205 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:06:49 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse The Free Market will determine if this will succeed........
my2002m Champion Author Tulsa Posts:1,342 Points:703,490 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:05:42 PM Ignore my2002m Report Abuse They have a long ways to go.
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,132 Points:1,504,315 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 10:03:47 PM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Hope Volt rocks!
zeddieiv Champion Author Columbia Posts:3,575 Points:1,067,485 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 9:49:02 PM Ignore zeddieiv Report Abuse Don't bet the farm
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:1,234 Points:846,705 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 9:45:50 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse We'll seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....?
TheSnowstorm Champion Author Montreal Posts:4,463 Points:1,005,630 Joined:June 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 9:41:37 PM Ignore TheSnowstorm Report Abuse Show me an electric vehicle that can work equally as well a gas or diesel vehicle in a typical Canadian winter.
heysailor Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:4,670 Points:1,359,070 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 9:40:28 PM Ignore heysailor Report Abuse Fuel cells. No cords.
Jeff1944 All-Star Author South Dakota Posts:845 Points:214,830 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 9:39:42 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse Patriotic to buy electric. Eh gosh . . . remember the Edsel?