Reply #47: Test bed? I doubt it. [View All]

[longship]

Chrysler did a test bed turbine car in the 60's. They were inexpensive and were put out to the public. Unfortunately, the turbines didn't work out, but that didn't stop Chrysler from trying a very revolutionary design.


Another test bed was the GM EV-1 which was available for lease.

Of course, we know what happened to them.

I'd argue that the original Prius was a test bed as was the Honda Impulse. These cars are still on the road, serving their owners with cleaner and much more efficient transportation. What's wrong with the US manufacturers that they can't get off the hump and do something for people?

I lived in the city of Detroit for nearly the first forty years of my life. (In fact, those Chrysler Turbines were built a few blocks from my home.) From a close vantage point I watched the meltdown of the auto industry first hand and cried as a beautiful, wonderful city descended into chaos, losing over a million citizens in less than two decades. There was a saying in Detroit in the 1980's, "Will the last person leaving Detroit please turn off the lights when they depart." All this because of the Big Three's inability to look further ahead than next week's profits.

When I look at this rich man's toy, I see the same damned thing happening. While the Japanese are doing the right thing at the right time, The Big Three builds only bigger, gas-guzzling iron and expensive toys for the wealthy. I wonder what wonderful municipalities will suffer the brunt of the collapse when the Big Three again implode.

Stupidity is doing the same thing expecting a different result.