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There is no reason whatsoever to utilize taxpayer money in the development of alternative fuels.
I hate to argue with Libertarians because they are always 'right'. But IMO energy is so closely linked to national success and security that I believe it to be in our national best interest to promote alternatives.
What about the use of funds other than taxpayer money? Or is it that you just don't want Gov't involved?
I hate to argue with Libertarians because they are always 'right'. But IMO energy is so closely linked to national success and security that I believe it to be in our national best interest to promote alternatives.
What about the use of funds other than taxpayer money? Or is it that you just don't want Gov't involved?
What about times of war?
I don't think tenured bureaucrats and politicians can or should determine best technologies.
I don't think tenured bureaucrats and politicians can or should determine best technologies.
I don't think that they do. But they may have reasons to push for alternatives to conventional energy, among other things. Especially in times of economic stress, insecurity or war.
I don't think that they do. But they may have reasons to push for alternatives to conventional energy, among other things. Especially in times of economic stress, insecurity or war.
That they are supplying taxpayer money to differing technologies indicates that they are.
I wasn't referring to tax rebates, but rather cash subsidies, grants and loans all with taxpayer money.
The $7,500 federal tax rebate to buy an electric car like the Volt is just part of it, we hand out billions of taxpayer dollars to the all these green energy manufacturers, this cronyism just never ends.
I don't think that they do. But they may have reasons to push for alternatives to conventional energy, among other things. Especially in times of economic stress, insecurity or war.
Sure they do. The feds pick winners and losers all the time. They are at war with coal-fired power plants, forcing them to close their plants. Then the feds pour our tax dollars into solar and wind, and freaking bio-fuels, neither of which are replacements for the loss of coal-fired electrical power.
What a short sighted post. Do you really think a diminishing commodity will stay priced low? The lower demand in oil has helped drive their prices lower as well as lowered our emissions EV are a great product for a sustainable future. Oil is not, at any price.
Short sighted ? Really ?
Most people are keeping cars for 4-6 years, on average.
The gas prices were well below $4 for a couple years now and will likely stay that way for another 3-4 years.
So most people buying now would not see a financial benefit of an electric when comparing apples to apples.
And that's the key, apples to apples.
Look at Corolla - which is not the smallest or most fuel-economic car on the market, but is more spacious than a Volt or a Leaf. Assuming 50/50 city / highway driving, it has average fuel economy of 36mpg. An average American drives 15,000 miles per year. That's roughly 417 gallons of fuel. Even at $4 per gallon of gas it's $1,668 per year.
The basic Corolla is $16k cheaper than a basic Volt. So at $4 per gallon, it would take a Volt buyer who never uses any gas almost 10 years to break even vs buying a basic Corolla. Saving $1,668 every year, and it still takes 10 years to start actually saving any money over what he overpays from the very beginning.
Well, not everyone wants a basic car. Let's say between the tax subsidies and options the difference is only $10k. Still, it's 6 years of using no gas at all until he breaks even vs buying that optioned up Corolla.
So even at $4 per gallon, most people will never see any savings from buying an electric car vs buying an economical compact gasoline powered car of a similar or even bigger size.
10, 15 years from now, the situation will likely be different. But people are not buying cars today to be prepared for something 10 years down the road. They simply don't keep cars that long.
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