Chevy Volt inspires financial vows from Barack Obama
By Matt Jansen
The Michigan economy has struggled for a while now with a declining auto industry and Barack Obama knows that. That’s why he’s making some bold promises to support the auto industry with government loans and consumer tax credits, and he mentioned the Chevy Volt by name.
Even though fuel prices are in a downward trend, just a few weeks ago they were reaching all time highs. That makes fuel efficient vehicles, or vechicles that require no gasoline, very popular options. Finally carmakers in the states are starting to get it and Barack Obama drove home that point when he said:
I know how much the auto industry and the auto workers of this state have struggled over the last decade or so. But I also know where I want the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow to be built: not in Japan, not in China, but right here in the United States of America. Right here in the state of Michigan, according to The Detroit News.
And he also emphasized the technology driving innovation in the industry right now, including the Chevy Volt, “I believe we are entering a similar era of expanding consumer choices, from higher mileage cars, to new electric entrants like GM’s Volt, to flex fuel cars and trucks powered by biofuels and driven by Michigan innovation.”
With many voters focused on gas prices as a primary decision maker in the upcoming elections, Obama is addressing a hot issue very directly. But, as with any candidate, fulfilling promises after in office is the real measure of success.
Alternative energy is a relatively new focus in Michigan, with supporters like Governer Jennifer Granholm who says “the energy sector is the most prime for job creation… and it’s our sweet spot in Michigan.”
If GM continues to deliver on its promises, and beats (or integrates with) other technologies like Eestor’s ultracapacitor battery then it has the potential to dominate the new hybrid electric car paradigm.
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Stumble It!
August 5th, 2008
I laugh when I observe the results if Obama’s dream of 1 million Volt-type plug-ins by 2015 : zero effect on gasoline demand. Why? Well, for starters, by 2015, the U.S. private transportation fleet will expand by oer 1 million gas powered vehicles, negating any effects form the 1 million plug-ins. But even if their were NO additionas to the fleet AND the plug-ins used NO gasoline whasoever, the would only reduce gas consumption by less than 1/2 of 1 percent and crude demand by less than 1/4th of 1 percent.
Obama also didn’t know whathe was talking about when he claimed 150 MPG from theVolt – it will get far more than that – you can prove it will achieve at least 275 MPG while commuting, even if no one recharges at work.
As for Jansen’s claim that the EEStor devices would be used in a hybrid, that indicates a lot of ignorance about what they can do – no one would build a hybrid if they had available a device that costs 1/3rd of current batteries, lasts indefinitely, recharges instantly and weighs and is sized less than 1/3rd of current batteries -
they would obviously build a battery-only electric. A hybrid would make zero sense with such an electrical storage device.
August 5th, 2008
In response to Thomas Grey:
1) Wow – zero increase in gas demand!
2) It would still make sense to keep the range-extender until petrol stations could offer charging services.
August 6th, 2008
GM will never integrate Eestor “technology” because Eestor is a scam – please, anyone show me on shred of verifiable evidence that Eestor has produced anything.
August 6th, 2008
Get off your ass and look it up.
Their findings have already been verified
by independent 3rd party research.
August 6th, 2008
jt
The purity of the products material by a 3rd party is not a working proto type. That is the problem with eestore. They have not produce a proto type that does anything at all. So, Eestory is right that they have not produced anything except a high quality material: not a difficuilt thing to do.
August 6th, 2008
Anyone herd of drone bomber planes being flown over Iraq from a pilot sitting safely in front of a computer screen? It’s my guess (speculation) that these drone planes are using some form of energy storage unit in order to fly long distances and silent running.
Lockheed martin one of the nation’s biggest defense contractors has access to the Eestor technology through a multi million dollar contract signed in January.
SCAM!
Please we can only hope not. This technology is exactly what the world needs.
August 6th, 2008
Whether or not EEStor pans out is irrelevant: There WILL be new battery technology developed in the next 5-10 years that meets or beats their claims. In 10 years we may be arguing over the new EESU-2 with 5x the storage of the current generation EESU promised. And freshens your breath.
Obamessiah is simply pandering to the gullible rubes out there: “VOTE FOR ME AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO ELECTRIC NIRVANA!!!” It’s not been demonstrated that the guy knows how to plug in a toaster and he’s going to “lead” us to energy independence. Well…someone else made that promise once. In 1977 Jimmy Carter pulled on his Cardigan, told us to lower our thermostats to 68 in winter, and that by 1980 we would reduce our dependence on foriegn oil to -zero-. The man didn’t have a clue what he was talking about and he at least had an engineering degree. All Obama has is a teleprompter and a good speechwriter.