Feds Pledge $30 Million To Rev Up Development of Plug-in Hybrids

[56 Starchief]

1/18/08 Edmunds InsideLine

Feds Pledge $30 Million To Rev Up Development of Plug-in Hybrids

DETROIT — The federal government used the setting of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show on Thursday to announce it is funneling $30 million into the push to bring plug-in hybrid vehicles to your driveway.

Full story:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=124411

[WARNING-EDITORIALIZING BELOW]

Definitely NOT enough money at ALL towards this project...considering the tax cuts for the oil companies. This continues to prove that the government is passing the energy crisis off as the car makers' fault, when it really the energy source that is powering these vehicles that is the issue (aka CAFE will just extend the time we are on oil - exactly what the oil companies want). I can't wait for the day a Tahoe has no carbon emissions...

[END OF RANT]

[megeebee]

'Bout time.

And it's better than nothing.

With the importance of the auto industry to our national economy, I'm suprised at the lask of interest shown from Washington to its plight.

Then I remind myself who runs the place.........

[ctaylorzl1]

30 million is a drop in the bucket. It all comes back to Big Oil making huge $$$, and if hybrids or alt-fuels take off they wouldnt be making the profit they are now. Thats why there are so many govt. emmision standards the bring down fuel economy. They all have their hands in each others pockets. This 30 million is a fake show of good faith. What needs to happen IMO, is that instead of spending tons on high-mpg hybrids and what not, spend the money on making a cheap alternative fuel that is very compairable to gasoline, and dosent take much if any modifications to exestive engines. I wouldnt mind getting 10mpg if the fuel for it was 1.00 dpg. Ethanol is a good start, I just think we could do something better. (but I could be wrong)

[Hitman1970]

Considering Uncle Sam will pay more $$ for the development of one blackbox on one major weapons system, that amount is a joke. Still better than nothing I guess as long as there are not too many strings attached.

[rob2299usa]

weak.... this is the government trying to look like they're actually helping the cause.

[camaro_freak]

thanks BIG BROTHER!

You will increase CAFE causing vehicle prices to rise and they only throw 30 mil at the problem to help offset that increase. The manufacturer and the customer end up footing the bill.

Seems to me it would have been smart to make REALISTIC fuel economy increases for CAGE over a longer time period. Therefore the 30 mil might have actually had an impact and not a "drop in the bucket" subsidary promise that underdelivers.

[eaton53]

They need to kick in a couple of bil a year in tax credits to make sure the required tech is successful.

Of course it would apply only to domestic automakers.... if you want a tax credit for a foreign car, get it from the homeland of the company that built it.

No better tax policy than taxing foreigners living abroad...

[roteague]

Originally Posted by megeebee

'Bout time.

And it's better than nothing.

With the importance of the auto industry to our national economy, I'm suprised at the lask of interest shown from Washington to its plight.

Then I remind myself who runs the place.........

I agree, it is better than nothing - but, I'm sure there will be strings attached to the money. I think it also shows how little the government really understands about the auto industry - they have no clue how much it really takes to design and build a modern automobile.

[minnfang]

Total drop in the bucket - somebody just wanted a little press time. I'll blow a gasket if this is another one of those programs where a bunch of it goes to a foreign company.

[Ambalanche]

This is a joke! I'm sure they got a standing "O" when they announced this! Like someone said before, they spend more on one Plane in the fleet etc!

Where's the secretary of Transportation?? This is BS! How are they going to divy up this 30Mil? If it was 30Billion I'd take notice!

[usa1]

$30 million is not even worth doing. It's a insult to the industry.

What bugs me is that Bush and the congress are talking about a $150 billion stimulus package. This will amount to check in the mail or a tax rebate so people can spend more on junk they don't need. That'll help the economy long term. Yup.

Mark

[MechEng]

$30M is more like a drop in the ocean. GM alone is spending billions on plug in hybrids.

[tgagneguam]

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I feel conflicted about the government extending even $30 million to the auto industry for different reasons. I think there are potentially more sensible ways in which the government can extend help to industry than simply writing out a check. I think that there are more substantive ways that government can ensure a strong economy than sending out a $150 billion in checks to citizens to gain favor short-term with the public. I suppose everyone has their favorite place for the government to park cash, but I'm not so sure simply handing industry money is sensible. After all, I'm struggling to figure out what the $13 billion given to Big Oil to develop alternative fuels has produced.

Originally Posted by roteague

I agree, it is better than nothing - but, I'm sure there will be strings attached to the money. I think it also shows how little the government really understands about the auto industry - they have no clue how much it really takes to design and build a modern automobile.

You think the government should write a check without any strings attached? Without any consequences? Here's $30 million, knock yourselves out?! I'm betting you don't pay real federal income taxes, cuz I think there needs to be a whole lot of strings attached whenever the government hands out finite tax dollars to anyone. But that's just me.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by MechEng

$30M is more like a drop in the ocean. GM alone is spending billions on plug in hybrids.

Precisely. They are spending the money, and when their efforts produce a viable product in the long-run, GM, and not the government, should profit from it.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

You think the government should write a check without any strings attached? Without any consequences? Here's $30 million, knock yourselves out?! I'm betting you don't pay real federal income taxes, cuz I think there needs to be a whole lot of strings attached whenever the government hands out finite tax dollars to anyone. But that's just me.

CAFE regulations are the strings attached

Im sure manufacturers will face fines if the MPG rating doesn't match the requirements set out by CAFE.