Posted on 01/11/2012 5:36:27 PM PST by matt04
The US auto industry remains unsold over the future of "green cars" such as electrics and hybrids, as carmakers struggle with the first steps in a market most agree shows promise over the long term.
Automakers wheeled out a variety of new hybrids and plug-in electrics at the annual Detroit auto show this week, touting their great energy savings along with new, freshened designs.
But despite that apparent commitment, behind the scenes, the manufacturers remain split between doubts and optimism over their potential.
Ten years after the Toyota Prius hybrid swept into the market, only about three percent of all cars sold in the United States are electric or gas-electric hybrids, said David Cole, director of the Center for Automotive Research.
"Initially there was probably some excessive exuberance about the green auto," he told AFP.
"But the economics are not attractive yet for the average consumer."
Nissan has sold only 9,700 of its all-electric Leaf in the US market, and General Motors has sold just 8,000 of its rechargeable hybrid the Volt since its launch at the end of 2010, below the targeted 10,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
In other words, they are unsure because they don’t know if Obama is going to be reelected and subsidize green cars.
With Barry about to send the cost of electricity through the roof, I’d stay away from this crap.
The solution is drilling...here in the USA
Ping.
5 powertrain options. 3 engines 2 hybrid. Kind of like a 67 or 68 Nova. You could get something as small as the 6 ( the Iron Duke in 68?) all the way up to a Yenko with a 427 swap. It is different times, but the same concept, a menu of powertrain options.
Is is green? Yes, possibly to green for many here. Is their a performance version? One we know of one rumored coming which would make it 6 total.
The problem is with the real greens is they don't want to give you an option.
And they go off on tangents that do not work sometimes from an engineering standpoint and financial one.
You should see the insanity with electric airplanes right now, same disease, don't even get me started on that one...
Google LPG+direct Injection+conversions...
IMHO that is the future...
Well, if they want to buy an overpriced car, they shouldn't need the tax credit, they can afford it.
Vote=Volt, my bad.
They have a “hip”, warped sense of what the people want, mainly because they do not connect with real people.
Henry Ford didn’t have the same problem- he was out in front of the curve and the demand came.
They have been jacking with the electric car crap for years now, and people are every bit as resistant as they were 20-30 years ago.
Remember, it’s Government Motors, which has nothing to do with customer desires. Hell, if they wanted to satisfy customer desires they would be Ford or Toyota or something.
Yup, I grew up driving these:
.
Now the government wants me driving these dopey excuses for an automobile:
A "full size" car today was considered a compact car in the '60s.
I was at a shopping mall and saw an electric car, a Nissan Leaf, plugged into a charger in one of 3 electric car spaces in the very front of the parking lot-—prime parking and free fuel!!!!
It occurred to me that shoppers driving combustion engine cars are subsidizing these electric engine cars thru higher prices to cover higher utilities. I see this as a growing problem if there are more of these cars and electric rates rise. Why is it reasonable to allow these cars to park in best places and charge for free, when everyone else has to fend for themselves regarding paying for fuel or a parking space?
I have heard that this combination of prime parking places and free charging is also being provided at some Chicago parking garages.
If an electric car is plugged into a charger, seems to me they should pay and there should be meters?
Thots?
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