UAW Boss Gives Volt The Gettelfinger

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

As spring blossoms in beautiful Detroit, Volt Reality Syndrome is starting to kick in with a vengeance. The latest victim is UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, who tells Reuters "When GM brings out that electric car, they're going to be taking a huge loss on that for a number of years." Of course reality is kind of Gettelfinger's thing. "Everybody is racing to get there, but there are some tough issues and cost is definitely going to be an issue for the consumer," says Ron, of the brave new hybrid/alt energy future. "It's pretty clear to me that, if it's not technically feasible and economically feasible, then you're not going to get there from here." Bold words from a bold man, but where's the proverbial beef? Whither the future, Mr. Gettelfinger? "There's nothing like the internal combustion engine," says Ron. "We've got 100 years with that baby." Although Gettelfinger comes across like your great-uncle who's convinced that they never should have done away with lead paint or child labor, he actually has a decent point. Most cars on the market could be made significantly cleaner and more efficient without resorting to complex hybrid drivetrains.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Potemkin Potemkin on Apr 03, 2008

    The oil is going to run out, bio-fuel can't be produced in sufficient quantity, solar and windpower depend on the weather, coal is dirty, hydrogen maybe. If you are looking for an alternate energy source why not nuclear? Nuclear energy provides lots of electricity to charge those batteries with little pollution. Greenpeacers need to get over their fear. With the right reactor (like those used in Canada)it is a safe source of power.

  • Jeff Puthuff Jeff Puthuff on Apr 03, 2008

    Thorium reactors show promise as a future energy source. Thorium is easier to mine than uranium, its byproducts have a shorter half-life than uranium (hundreds versus tens of thousands) and thus storage does not have to be designed to last for those thousands of years (Yucca), and its use does not produce weapons-grade plutonium. I believe the concept is also known as a Light Water Breeder Reactor, if you care to search for more info. High oil prices are making investments in alternative energy (including nuclear) research more reasonable, so bully for that.

  • WildBill WildBill on Apr 04, 2008

    Coal is our most abundant and most currently used fuel for electical generation. Until enviro-wackos and our gutless legislators and regulators come around to more nuclear usage, we are stuck with it for a long, long time.

  • Joeaverage Joeaverage on Apr 07, 2008

    Thanks I'll take a solar roof and an EV to haul me and mine around town with zero oil consumed doing that. I'll keep an diesel on standby for out of town trips too.

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