Comments on: Obama Makes Pledge for Greener Cars

By: AP

AP — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:05:28 +0000

Cool Electra, I don't think the "old auto industry" has anything against green cars. What they don't want is green cars that are so expensive to produce that the manufacturer can't sell them at a profit. If stricter CAFE regulations take effect, and fuel prices stay low, no one (besides posters here) will pay for the technology required to meet CAFE, and automakers will be out the profits they need to fund research and development.

The best way to promote green vehicles isn't with regulations, it's by increasing demand with a higher gasoline tax.

By: Cool Electra

Cool Electra — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:24:47 +0000

I cannot help but feel a real sense of optimism about the green agenda. I think Obama has, to use his own word, the “audacity” to challenge the hegomony of the old auto industry and usher in a new era of green energy.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:55:16 +0000

I didn’t say they didn’t love it too, but I was also pointing out that for someone that actually takes it to the track…..they may need a few back-up teslas. That is also pretty scary that their breaks can fail so easily….even when just sitting there charging.

By: ex-EV1 driver

ex-EV1 driver — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:34:28 +0000

Bryce,
Top Gear, while entertaining, shouldn’t be taken as gospel. All the serious automobile rags have loved it when they drove the Tesla Roadster. Even better, I loved it when I drove it. It will blow most hot rods away.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:53:52 +0000

They didn’t fake it, but the Tesla didn’t actually die, they just calculated that under their driving conditions, it would not have reached the purported 200 mile tough driving range. They actually specifically say in the video….”we figured it would have this range”

By: jvoelcker

jvoelcker — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:08:10 +0000

@Bryce: I believe Top Gear later admitted that they had faked the “had to push it back into the garage” bit, saying essentially that they’re about entertainment, not veracity.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:02:29 +0000

ev1 driver……..Top Gear tested the Tesla Roadster

They liked the acceleration, the handling was awful, and it died halfway through driving. Luckily they brought two to test knowing that recharging would take forever……that one was broken without ever driving it really though. They tried to switch to the other one after a charge…..which took a couple of days, but the breaks went out. They liked it…..they just wish it wouldn’t have been so shoddy…..and generally dangerous to ones health. Handling could definetly be improved too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYTkg4OFRW8

By: AP

AP — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:54:45 +0000

His objectives are hard to argue with. The real proof will be how he acts. My hope is that he relies heavily on the "market forces" part (a higher fuel tax) and much less on the "government oversight" part (CAFE?). Manufucturers will create fuel-efficient vehicles if consumers reliably demand them, whether or not CAFE exists.

We are the only country who has tried to reduce fuel consumption with fuel-efficiency standards, and we are the only one that has failed to achieve it. Ditch CAFE; use a revenue-neutral fuel tax.

By: David

David — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:57:47 +0000

I may not agree with every policy of Obama’s, but this certainly is a better direction than we’ve been heading.

By: ex-EV1 driver

ex-EV1 driver — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:49:39 +0000

Need2Change,
Hot Rodders need to change from those wimps you mention. They need to start saving up for their Tesla Roadster Sport editions so they can have real hot rods. Those are just old jalopies