Quantcast
petrol

A way to rescue Detroit?

 5 Comments
By Steve Balogh in Business, Energy, Green Politics, Hybrids, Transportation | January 11, 2009

I’ve pondered this for a couple of years now, but here’s an idea for the incoming Obama administration:

How about (instead of billion dollar handouts) the U.S. government puts in a large – say several hundred thousand unit – pre-order for electric, or plug in hybrid vehicles?  Chrysler would get the U.S. Post Office order (think jeeps), GM could get the federal government fleet, and Ford could get to work on electrifying heavier duty trucks.

Back of the envelope math:

for every $4 billion in bailouts, a hundred thousand EV could be produced.

Certainly the post office angle has merit.  Large roof available for thin solar, centralized parking and refueling, and pre-determined routes that are travelled each day.

 

post-office-van

Thoughts?

[very cool concept delivery truck (although a Scion) from njection blog]

5 Comments

  1. Canadian Traveler said,

    January 11, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    Fantastic post! Yes, this is our BIG opportunity to get control over these money hungry oil burning auto manufactures. Just maybe, Obama will force this move and give the public what we really want CLEAN BURNING TRANSPORTATION. It’s a win win situation that will protect our environment, get us out of the middle east and stop feeding all our hard earned money to the oil companies.

    again great idea and I’m onboard!

  2. Erik van Erne, Milieunet Foundation said,

    January 12, 2009 at 3:29 am

    Yep and CruiseCar started already to green and clean Hollywood:

    http://www.stichtingmilieunet.nl/andersbekekenblog/?p=6191

  3. Cindy said,

    January 16, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    Interesting idea.

    Rather than just throwing money at them and saying fix it yourself, the government could be showing them the way to fix it, not to mention setting an example for the rest of the world. It brings to mind a certain biblical story about a hungry man and a fish. Good job!

  4. Susie said,

    January 18, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    Agreed. As Ford/Lincoln was tapped to make the new limo, other companies could be tapped to replace vehicles; I think it’s much better to use the money to actually BUY something than to let people use it at their own discretion–we all see where their discretion has gotten us.

  5. Susie said,

    January 18, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    Er, I meant GM–Cadillac. :) Not Ford/Lincoln.. had a brain freeze!

Leave a Comment

« Wind Turbine Attacked By UFO, Investigation Underway
Is it time to sign up for E-billing? »