re: Electric Cars

That technology simply does not exist. The EV1 was an experiment, and frankly, if failed on practicality tests.

1) Limited range – I wouldn’t want to cross the desert in one of those things. Hell, some people couldn’t even use it to drive to work. And, what happens in cold weather? You know, when your batteries don’t work as well because of the cold? (I fully acknowledge that you might not be as familiar as I am with this issue, as you are from NC via Texas, and I am Michigan born and bred, but trust me, batteries just don’t hold their charge in the cold.)

2) Limited size – What happens when you have 3 kids? Are you going to fit them, all their gear, and your spouse in that tiny car for a ride to Grandma’s? It’s simply not built for families, because the second you start adding seats, you add weight, and limit the range even MORE.

Further, as a doctor, you have to be aware of the amount of damage a large semi would have on a compact car, which is what electric cars would be. Would you want to transport your newborn in one? How about a grandchild?

3) what happens when electric cars are retired to the junkyard, with half a ton of toxic waste on board? Battery fluid is extremely toxic, and would need to be disposed of before the car is recycled into anything. What you you do with a thousand pounds of toxic waste?

For the above practical reasons (and many others, I assure you) the project was scrapped. THAT is what is wrong with electric cars.

First, Detroit has to take some risks. Nowhere in the United States has there been any industry that has been more averse to risk than Detroit.

Your statement is patently false: there is one industry more risk adverse: banking. I’d suggest that the current crisis in the auto industry could have been averted if the banking industry and the US Government had minded it’s p’s and q’s and not created the credit crisis.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have several cars that are almost the same as the Pontiac Firebird and the Chevy Camaro … or the Chevy Tahoe and the Cadillac Escalade. Just make one car and make it right.

GM hasn’t made the Camaro OR the Firebird since 2002. They’ve only introduced the newest Camaro for the 2009 model year, which would beg the question: can you please define “several”? There are only two other cars out now like the Camaro: The Mustang and the Challenger. One is Ford, the other Chrysler, and the Camaro, obviously is a GM product. Why can’t they compete for sales? Who cares how many cars they sell, as long as the demand requires the supply?

As far as the distinctiveness between brands, are you honestly telling me you can’t tell the difference, just by sight, between a Daewoo and a Cadillac? How about a Hummer and a Buick? That idea is just plain silly, Doc.

What is the difference between Buick and Oldsmobile?

The answer to this is simple: GM stopped making Oldsmobile products in 2004.

Let Cadillac do your luxury line and let GMC build all the SUVs. Let Oldsmobile have all the electric cars and give Buick all the hybrids. Let Saturn have the economy cars.

What if I want a Saturn SUV? What if a million of my friends want a cheap Cadillac? Are you saying that GM shouldn’t respond to demand with an equal supply, leaving sales dollars on the table? THAT is crazyness.

Build less variety and build better.

This comment is my favorite. According to JD Power, the top three makes for Overall Dependability are Lexus, Mercury, and Cadillac. Two American makes, one Japanese. You can disparage the wide variety offered all you want, that’s a simple supply and demand argument, but don’t tell me that US automakers cannot build cars with quality on par foreign rivals. That argument just doesn’t hold water.

Make a commitment to the United States and United States auto workers. If the United States taxpayer is being asked to bail out the auto industry, then the auto industry must make a commitment to the United States.

Are you seriously arguing that the Big 3 haven’t made a commitment to the US or to the US work force? The industry that won WWII? The Engine of Democracy? The same industry that is saddled with crippling legacy costs? The same companies that pay upwards of 25 dollars an hour, while their Japanese counterparts pay 17 dollars an hour in their own US assembly plants for the same job?

How about this, then: if the US is REQUIRED to make those commitments, how about the US taxpayer be REQUIRED to support the US auto industry?

Let’s start with you, Doc. What kind of car do YOU drive?

I agree that car-pooling will never work. We have tried that before. It didn’t work.

Thanks for your comments.