Posted on 01/09/2007 3:54:12 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
DETROIT -- The Big Three auto makers have asked the federal government to spend roughly $500 million over five years to subsidize the development of advanced batteries required to power future vehicles such as the electric prototype generating buzz for General Motors Corp.
In a follow-up to a November meeting between President Bush and their chief executives, GM, Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group last month submitted a white paper to a White House technology adviser saying the U.S. is trailing Japan in development of batteries for fuel-efficient automobiles and could suffer economically if the government doesn't help accelerate domestic research efforts in this area, company officials said.
The proposal is being reviewed by a technology advisor to Mr. Bush and the Department of Energy, said Scott W. Schramm, DaimlerChrysler's manager for regulatory and technical affairs. Spokesmen for the White House and the Energy Department couldn't comment yesterday afternoon.
The Detroit auto makers are worried they could be locked out of a key component for future vehicles if Japan maintains its lead in developing high-powered, lightweight batteries needed for gasoline-electric hybrids and pure electric vehicles.
Their request also underscores the longer-term competitive difficulties their financial troubles are causing. All three are losing money in North America. GM and Ford are both expected to report losses for 2006. Chrysler had an operating loss of $1.5 billion but parent DaimlerChrysler remained profitable. In contrast, Toyota Motor Corp. has billions to pour into new technologies and fund development projects with myriad suppliers.
Mr. Schramm said Chrysler, Ford and GM haven't always been able to get the technical help they would like from Japanese suppliers that have been developing the lithium-ion batteries that auto makers think will be light enough and inexpensive enough for next-generation vehicles.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Just wondering what you thought of this...
That they need to sink or swim on their own merits.
Moreover, electric cars merely move pollution to the country --- where there are power plants.
ping.
However, producing electricity from renewable resources and nuclear (both of which have low amounts of pollution) is easier than producing hydrogen renewably and then finding a way to store the hydrogen and then increasing the efficiency of fuel cells.
I'm sure Bush will comply.
And the CEOs for the Big 3 combined get paid how much...?
***Moreover, electric cars merely move pollution to the country --- where there are power plants.***
That is true, and something a lot of the scientifically challenged Greens don't seem to understand.
If we ever succeed in getting a large part of the country driving electric vehicles, the cost of the upgrades needed for the distribution of the power necessary for charging all these vehicles will dwarf the cost of battery development!
fyi, the gm pontiac torrent and the chevy equinox have chinese engines.
the big 3 could cut white collar salaries and union wages and use the money to invest in developement.
Nah, govt. hand outs are much better.
Not if they are mostly charged overnight.
The solution is to buy Japanese batteries.
Yes, Detroit has the Big Three Welfare Queens.
Speaking of welfare queens, Toyota has sold so many Prius that Uncle Sugar is stopping her welfare Check.
Now we can see how they can compete in the real world.
barbra ann
Free market principles and risk-taking are dead in this nation. The days of inventors toiling away in their garages, kiss them goodbye.
One of the finest US companies there is, Johnson Controls, is already doing a good job with lithium ion batteries. I don't understand the need for subsidies.
DETROIT, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Major advances in lithium-ion battery technology will enable global automakers to introduce a new generation of highly fuel-efficient, "environmentally friendly" vehicles in the near future, according to officials at Johnson Controls. Engineers and scientists at the company's joint venture -- Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions (JCS) -- are gearing up to supply lithium-ion batteries for tomorrow's hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs).
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Last week, JCS was awarded an advanced battery development contract by General Motors to design and test lithium-ion batteries for use in the Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV.
Since the launch of the JCS joint venture in January 2006, the company has made significant progress in the drive to position lithium-ion technology as the power-storage solution of choice for future, energy-efficient cars, trucks and vans.
"HEVs and PHEVs that leverage the benefits of lithium-ion battery technology represent the next step forward in developing sustainable transportation solutions for the global economy," said Alan Mumby, who leads the JCS joint venture and also serves as vice president and general manager of the Johnson Controls hybrid battery business. "We are thrilled to be a key player in enabling tomorrow's 'green' technologies."
According to Mumby, lithium-ion battery technology will become the technology of choice over nickel-metal-hydride, because it offers significant advantages in packaging, energy storage and energy-delivery performance.
Johnson Controls is showcasing a wide array of its power-storage solutions, including the latest advances in lithium-ion technology, at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The company's exhibit, in room D2-15 at Cobo Center, features a display of a production-ready, lithium-ion vehicle battery system. It's integrated into a prototype, hybrid-electric SUV.
Toyota and Honda make great products.
Detroit does not.
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