“The only way to break this cycle of spiking gas prices — the only way to break that cycle for good — is to shift our cars entirely, our cars and trucks, off oil,”

So said President Obama during a speech in Illinois, where he outlined a plan to provide $200 million a year for 10 years to a fund that would promote the development of alternative fuel vehicles. The funds would be provided by royalties from oil drilling on the Out Continental Shelf.

One notable omission from his remarks was the absence of any mention of hydrogen vehicles. Using his noted flair for rhetoric, Obama laid out his vision petroleum-free future while ignoring the fact that multiple OEMs are gearing up for a big push into fuel-cell technology

We can support scientists who are designing new engines that are more energy efficient; support scientists that are developing cheaper batteries that can go farther on a single charge; support scientists and engineers that are devising new ways to fuel our cars and trucks with new sources of clean energy — like advanced biofuels and natural gas — so drivers can one day go coast to coast without using a drop of oil.

One insider suggested that the lack of love for hydrogen has been a result of “not invented here syndrome” that is a hold over of the Bush 43 administration. While Dubya was fond of hydrogen as an alternative fuel, Obama and former Energy Secretary Steven Chu are said to be unfriendly, bordering on hostile, to the idea of hydrogen fuel cells. Unfortunately, many feel that a government partnership with the private sector will be the key to a hydrogen infrastructure breakthrough – but those parties feel that this is more likely than a cost effective, right-sized battery pack capable for a 500 mile range.

“When I ran for office, I went to Detroit and I gave a speech to automakers where I promised that I was going to raise fuel standards on our cars, so that they’d go further on a gallon of gas.  I said we should do the same thing on trucks.  I have to tell you, when I said it, I didn’t get a lot of applause in the room, because there was a time when automakers were resisting higher fuel standards — because change isn’t easy.  But you know what, after three decades of not doing anything, we got together with the oil companies, we got together with the unions, we got together with folks who usually do not see eye to eye, and we negotiated new fuel economy standards that are going to make sure our cars average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade.  That’s nearly double what they get today — nearly double.  (Applause.)

Now, because of these new standards for cars and trucks, they’re going to — all going to be able to go further and use less fuel every year.  And that means pretty soon you’ll be able to fill up your car every two weeks instead of every week -– and, over time, that saves you, a typical family, about $8,000 a year.”

A typical American family can’t save $8,000 a year on gas because a typical family in American doesn’t spend that much on gas a year in the first place. Using the president’s math, the average car gets 55/2=27.5mpg. The average driver drives about 12,000 miles per year, which works out to 436 gallons @ 27.5 mpg. Even at $4/gallon, that’s still only $1745/year. Cutting that hypothetical typical American driver’s gasoline bill in half will save $872.72 a year, not $8,000.

Reading over the transcript of the president’s remarks it’s possible the he simply misspoke. According to estimates, the new CAFE standards will save about $8,200 over the life of the vehicle, not in one year. Earlier in the speech Obama praised Freightliner’s participation in the federal “SuperTruck” initiative, whose target is saving $15,000/year per large truck. A big over the road truck travels so many miles in a year that a significant improvement in fuel economy could save that much. A typical American family, though, doesn’t drive their car 100,000 miles a year. So maybe the president confused savings per year with savings over the life of the vehicle and didn’t just make a bad math error.

On the other hand, there is one way that the president’s math works out. His recent press conference remarks about rising gas prices not being good for him politically are true. However, the president is talking about the savings that will take place in “the middle of the next decade”, meaning 2025, thirteen years hence, when he’ll be long out of office and earning six figure honoraria for his speeches. An average family could indeed save $8,000 a year if gasoline rises to $37/gal by 2025. While I believe that the president’s policies are aimed at making traditional energy more expensive in order to make alternative energy more financially viable, I sincerely doubt that even he would want a nine fold increase in the price of gasoline over the next decade.

Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, a realistic perspective on cars & car culture and the original 3D car site. If you found this post worthwhile, you can dig deeper at Cars In Depth. If the 3D thing freaks you out, don’t worry, all the photo and video players in use at the site have mono options. Thanks for reading– RJS

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney published an op-ed in the Detroit News calling the auto bailout “crony capitalism on a grand scale.” Boasting of his Michigan roots, Romney takes the Obama administration and the UAW to task for what he suggests is a symbiotic relationship between the two that allowed the union to get stakes in GM and Chrysler. In short, nothing new from the man who is running an election that is a referendum on Obama’s presidency.

Readers of TTAC will recognize that Romney’s explanation of the bailout and his own suggests are a sort of “For Dummies” executive summary of what went on, and his suggestions for improvement, like the feel good rhetoric about the resurgence of the Motor City are nothing we haven’t heard before. Buried towards the end is the one major piece of the article, with Romney suggesting

The shares  [in General Motors belonging to the Treasury] need to be sold in a responsible fashion and the proceeds turned over to the nation’s taxpayers

As U.S. President Barack Obama landed in Shanghai for a weeklong visit to his largest creditor, China, the news awaited him that China’s Ministry of Commerce will investigate the U.S. government’s financing and rescue plans for the American auto industry, Shanghai Daily reports.

The move is part of China’s probe into possible dumping and subsidies on U.S.-made vehicles imported to China, the ministry said. Trade officials will be looking for dumping practices and for unfair government subsidies.

Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said China’s probe will look into 24 items which include the U.S. government’s rescue and restructuring plans for the auto industry as well as government subsidies on new-energy vehicles and its “cash-for-clunkers” incentive program.

The concerned U.S. automakers have the right to defend themselves with evidence presented to Chinese investigators by registering within 20 days after China started the probe of U.S. auto imports on November 6, and corrective action must be taken within 60 days after a case is registered.

The investigation applies to sedans and off-road vehicles with engine displacements of 2.0 liters or more, and the whole process of the probe and ruling is expected to be completed within 12 months.

The probe is widely seen as a tit-for-tat measure after Obama imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese tires and steel pipes. These investigation have become a common occurrence: The U.S. has carried out 13 investigations against Chinese products this year for alleged dumping and illegal subsidies.