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Konraden, There is no reason we could not increase MPG radically. That's a game changer. By doing that while changing the gas market share, we'd change the fossil fuel life immensely.
I would love to see cars taxed, where property taxes are charged, by WEIGHT. That would be fairer as weight wrecks roads, and also shift the market towards cars with higher MPG.
It's about replacing the power in gasoline. It's always going to be about that. Until we devise a way to replace gasoline with something nearly, or more powerful, we won't ever leave it until we're fighting in the Thunder Dome.
We can lighten vehicles, reduce load-sizes, streamline bodies, automate driving even, but we're still stuck either using gasoline, or (currently) inefficient batteries. Batteries add 1000-2000 pounds to a car. Crafting a body out of carbon fiber might lighten the weight at tremendous cost.
Like I said, this is an uphill battle. We need something miraculous to replace gasoline, and batteries really aren't there, not at 2000lbs.
Forced to make a product by Obama. Few would EVER want it.
Also is a shame Obama took the company from the owners who had stock, gave them pennies and gifted it to the Unions who ruined the company and who already were paid compensation for their work.
I for one will NEVER buy from them again and between this and the government unions we pay mountains of tax over I am fed up.
Some cities are being FORCED to buy them as fleet cars and when you hear of that success later, know it was forced by cities from the Federal government. That also is IMO illegal influence by government; but what do I know I guess?
what cities have been forced to buy them?
i have 3 friends who have bought the first year model and love them. production shut downs aren't uncommon in new product cycles. they're trying to align production with demand, which is slightly lower than they initially expected. with gas prices where they are, sales of fuel efficient vehicles have been up more than 25% this year so far.
The consumers have spoken. The volts failure is an example of good ole American consumerism.
I don't think I could stand on my head long enough to see how giving gm taxpayer dollars and swindling its rightful owners while programs like s.s. Slip further into insolvency ,is patriotic
The Prius's first year it sold 5,600 units. over a million have been sold since.
Temporary lay-offs seem to be quite common in the factories where I grew up. If you are over-producing, you need to slow down production until demand warrants an increase. It happens several times a year at some of the PepsiCo facilities.
"Do you not realize our nations fortune is being sucked out of us and going directly to the Middle East?"
What are you talking about? Oil is traded in US dollars which allows our debt to be bought up by every country that needs to purchase oil. If the world didn't need oil anymore our currency would be used to wipe with as that is all it would be worth. Hell probably not even that much. You may get your wish if Russia and China keep playing games using Iran as the bad guy.
"Do you not realize our nations fortune is being sucked out of us and going directly to the Middle East?"
What are you talking about? Oil is traded in US dollars which allows our debt to be bought up by every country that needs to purchase oil. If the world didn't need oil anymore our currency would be used to wipe with as that is all it would be worth. Hell probably not even that much. You may get your wish if Russia and China keep playing games using Iran as the bad guy.
Our nation's wealth has already been spent. We are running on IOUs and the collection agency isn't amused.
If you are cheerleading the problems with the Volt, I have to doubt both your patriotisim and intelligence.
One has to wonder if you were as upset when Ralph Nader mounted his campaign against Ford and the Pinto.
Consumers do not like the Volt, as proven by the sales figures. It doesn't help that this administration is using GM's Volt as a shining example of Obama's "brilliance",...when the real results are more like his "brilliance" with Solyndra.
This administration is selling the Volt like a green turd in a pickle jar,...as evidenced by Obama's comments that he would "buy one when he is out of office". Watch and see what he does.......
They were building too many and nobody was buying. I did see one the other week, though.
Supposedly GE was forcing a buy of them for company cars to help prop up sales of them. I guess it wasn't enough.
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