Who's running Detroit? According to Newsweek it's Obama, not consumers

[wtmusic]

"There will be a dichotomy between what the government wants sold in the market to meet emissions and fuel-economy requirements and what the public wants," says Michael Robinet, vice president, global vehicle forecasts, for CSM Worldwide. Fuel-efficient cars, which may be pricier, smaller, and require additional functions like chargers for electric cars, will not be what the majority of Americans wants. Robinet says that could create a situation where dealers are forced to discount smaller cars to get consumers to buy the vehicles that the government wants them to manufacture, rubbing salt in the wounds of an already precarious financial situation for manufacturers. The government, he says, can't just order production of these vehicles and say, "Thou shalt drive a small car because it's good for you." It needs to find incentives to get people in them, namely through a gas tax or a tax rebate."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/231048

yikes...SOCIALISM!!1!

[Warpy]

1. This reads like some macho twit

doesn't want to give up his penis extender of a land barge.

I'm sure there will always be extended cab pickup trucks for him even if the ridiculously oversized SUV gets phased out. He needn't worry about being castrated by having to drive a fuel efficient sedan. Work trucks will always be there for his mechanical Viagra.

[phantom power]

2. I'm trying to figure out this recent "use-the-gas-tax" meme...

from the conservative set. Because these same people, even a few years ago, would have considered a gas tax increase to be Big Govt Stifling The Engines Of The Economy.

Furthermore, the above paragraph contradicts itself. "Give the people what they want!"

but then: "Make the people want smaller cars with a higher fuel tax!"

Errrr. OK?

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3. I think he's saying that government intervention

should happen through tax rebates, not through production mandates.

Let the manufacturers make what they want; encourage consumers to buy green.

[phantom power]

4. Almost as though they are groping their way...

slowly toward the concept that a completely unregulated economy does not always work so awesome.

We should all remain very quiet and avoid sudden moves, or we'll ruin the moment.

[wtmusic]

6. The net effect is almost the same

except for one big difference: consumers can buy any car with a tax rebate, sending money and jobs overseas (in most cases).

Any concept relating to a tax break just gives Republicans a big ol' woody.

[kristopher]

7. Can you say "sabotage"?

A stiff gas tax at this time would be political suicide.

Two recent studies by the same group are interesting though:

Batteries: Lower cost than gasoline?
Mathew Werber, Michael Fischer, Peter V. Schwartz
Cal Poly Physics Department, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, United States
Available online 1 April 2009

a b s t r a c t
We compare the lifecycle costs of an electric car to a similar gasoline-powered vehicle under different
scenarios of required driving range and cost of gasoline. An electric car is cost competitive for a
significant portion of the scenarios: for cars of lower range and for higher gasoline prices. Electric cars
with 150 km range are a technologically viable, cost competitive, high performance, high efficiency
alternative that can presently suit the vast majority of consumers’ needs.


Batteries: Higher energy density than gasoline?
Michael Fischer, Mathew Werber, Peter V. Schwartz
Cal Poly Physics Department, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, US
Available online 1 April 2009

a b s t r a c t
The energy density of batteries is two orders of magnitude below that of liquid fuels. However, this
information alone cannot be used to compare batteries to liquid fuels for automobile energy storage
media. Because electric motors have a higher energy conversion efficiency and lower mass than
combustion engines, they can provide a higher deliverable mechanical energy density than internal
combustion for most transportation applications.

[phantom power]

9. Perhaps, but then again it was also political suicide when gas was cheap.

Because How Dare You Frenchified Socialist USSR Sympathizing Tree Hugging Freaks get in the way of our right to own Escalades? If Gas is cheap it's because Market Forces Made It So And Get The Fuck Out Of The Way Already.

Etc.

[kristopher]

10. Not really

They can incrementally increase the gas tax over a couple of years; however my suggestion would be heavy production incentives to battery manufacturers.

Bring the cost of batteries down as rapidly as possible by encouraging investment in battery and EV manufacturing. If the Big Guys don't want it, it is an opportunity for others (eg Panasonic or Tesla) to enter the market.

[ensho]

5. meanwhile the ice is melting faster and faster

nt

[wtmusic]

8. Allow consumers to steer environmental policy and We. Are. Screwed. nt

[TxRider]

11. Not to worry

If they don't sell the government will give us incentives that make them cheap enough for us to choose them.