Comments on: DOE Doles Out $30m for PHEV Research http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:26:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: John Horner http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/comment-page-1/#comment-509011 John Horner Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:34:09 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/#comment-509011 I'm still waiting for the New Generation vehicles promised by the big Clinton era Private-Public partnership. I’m still waiting for the New Generation vehicles promised by the big Clinton era Private-Public partnership.

]]> By: Redbarchetta http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/comment-page-1/#comment-508391 Redbarchetta Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:47:16 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/#comment-508391 Great more money pissed down a rat hole. Didn't they already prove to be totaly irrisponsible when they got BIllions of our tax dollars a decade ago to make hybrids. Actually it doesn't bother me that Ford gets it aleast they have had the Escape hybrid on the market for some time, but GM, stupid politicians giving away our money for executive bonuses. Landcrusher is right, free market my ass. Great more money pissed down a rat hole. Didn’t they already prove to be totaly irrisponsible when they got BIllions of our tax dollars a decade ago to make hybrids. Actually it doesn’t bother me that Ford gets it aleast they have had the Escape hybrid on the market for some time, but GM, stupid politicians giving away our money for executive bonuses.

Landcrusher is right, free market my ass.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/comment-page-1/#comment-506411 Kevin Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:37:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/#comment-506411 If we're going to spew out corporate welfare, I think the $30 million would be much more productively employed by Toyota! If we’re going to spew out corporate welfare, I think the $30 million would be much more productively employed by Toyota!

]]> By: Landcrusher http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/comment-page-1/#comment-506371 Landcrusher Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:35:12 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/#comment-506371 Once again, can someone explain how this is NOT theft? It's one thing to do a university grant for something that the market won't likely generate cash for, but that may have good social return. However, how do you justify this? Doesn't this directly punish the independent companies working on these things right now in search of profit? If I had a small company working on this stuff, I would be royally pissed. Hell, I am royally pissed already, and all it cost me was my measly share of the $30 million. Wait, that's not true. It cost me my share of the $30 million, PLUS the damage to the market. What great scientific breakthrough will we not enjoy because the future inventor will now be waiting for a government grant because he can't get private funds because no one wants to compete with Uncle Sugar and his corporate clique? Bastards! Once again, can someone explain how this is NOT theft? It’s one thing to do a university grant for something that the market won’t likely generate cash for, but that may have good social return. However, how do you justify this? Doesn’t this directly punish the independent companies working on these things right now in search of profit? If I had a small company working on this stuff, I would be royally pissed. Hell, I am royally pissed already, and all it cost me was my measly share of the $30 million.

Wait, that’s not true. It cost me my share of the $30 million, PLUS the damage to the market. What great scientific breakthrough will we not enjoy because the future inventor will now be waiting for a government grant because he can’t get private funds because no one wants to compete with Uncle Sugar and his corporate clique?

Bastards!

]]> By: KixStart http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/comment-page-1/#comment-506031 KixStart Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:12:54 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/doe-doles-out-30m-for-phev-research/#comment-506031 Can Toyota, Honda and Panasonic get a piece of that action? The Feds DID offer a subsidy for hybrids, in the form of a tax credit to consumers (in other words, the Feds helped auto manufacturers out on price). Toyota took maximum advantage of this and it helped sell the first wave(s) of Priuses. Ford and Honda got a chunk. Ford might sell enough Escape hybrids to use up their allocation. However, that tax credit expires before GM gets a decent quantity of hybrids into the field, just a piddling amount of the near-useless BAS system vehicles and an inconsequential quantity of overpriced two-mode super-piglets. It certainly makes sens that, having completely pissed away their opportunity, they'll come begging for another. Remember, when GM declined to get in the race years ago, they were also declining an opportunity to get the feds to help them roll out the new tech profitably. They knew it, too. I'd like to see another round of purchaser credits. To reduce the cost of my '09 Prius. I'm not waiting until <strike>2010</strike> <strike>2011</strike> whenver for a Volt. But the technology is now mainstream and the rationale for helping launch it is a thing of the past. Can Toyota, Honda and Panasonic get a piece of that action?

The Feds DID offer a subsidy for hybrids, in the form of a tax credit to consumers (in other words, the Feds helped auto manufacturers out on price). Toyota took maximum advantage of this and it helped sell the first wave(s) of Priuses. Ford and Honda got a chunk. Ford might sell enough Escape hybrids to use up their allocation.

However, that tax credit expires before GM gets a decent quantity of hybrids into the field, just a piddling amount of the near-useless BAS system vehicles and an inconsequential quantity of overpriced two-mode super-piglets. It certainly makes sens that, having completely pissed away their opportunity, they’ll come begging for another.

Remember, when GM declined to get in the race years ago, they were also declining an opportunity to get the feds to help them roll out the new tech profitably. They knew it, too.

I’d like to see another round of purchaser credits. To reduce the cost of my ‘09 Prius. I’m not waiting until 2010 2011 whenver for a Volt.

But the technology is now mainstream and the rationale for helping launch it is a thing of the past.

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