E85 Boondoggle of the Day: Free Tank of E85 With Each HUMMER Sold!
Today's proof that the ethanol revolution is being kept alive by the GM kool-aid sippers comes from Texas, where the first dealership-owned E85 station just opened. Installed at a cost of a mere half a million dollars, the Classic Clean Fuels (not spelled with the always-klassy "K"?) nine-pump station serves up E10, E85 and biodiesel in suburban Dallas, right next door to the HUMMER dealership that owns it. "We'll offer a biofuel powertrain in every model we build by the end of 2010," HUMMER General Manager Martin Walsh said. "A Hummer's off-road capability and care for the environment are in no way mutually exclusive. This is simply one more step in our effort to promote responsible adventure." A two-hour 85-cents-per-gallon sale on E85 and a free tank of corn juice with the purchase of any new HUMMER are only the beginning of the marketing possibilities, as GM Media Online strains to use one dealership's actions as a measure of the success of the company. "This signals that GM and our dealers are trying hard to give our customers choices," says GM VP for R&D Larry Burns. "Down the road, we may even want to consider hydrogen dispensers at dealerships." Because building fuel-efficient vehicles is just too obvious.
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Good one Busbodger.
Busbodger, I like your last post, but I have a little trouble with this: "We could wait until the price of oil is $300 a barrel but why wait? Well the companies that could change things are waiting in the name of profits I suspect." This sounds like you think there is a better way, but that we must wait for Exxon or others to do all the work to get it done. Nothing could be more anti-American in my mind. If you are sure there is a better way, then get out there and get it done yourself. This is America, and no one has a monopoly on the better mouse trap for anything. This is a put up or shut up kinda place. I am no fan of Exxon, but many of the oil companies are working pretty hard on ensuring they are still producing the best energy products available. Their investments in time and money are in all alignment with their best estimates of profitablility and success. If you don't want someone telling you how to spend your money and your time, then you shouldn't be telling them what to do either. If you have proof that some people are using unethical tactics to keep the oil industry in the black, then print it. I will be one of the first ones with a rope for the lynching.
Landcrusher, I mean instead of subsidizing a war in a foreign land in the name of security, let's subsidize some real changes right here in America. What's the total cost up to now - half a trillion bucks? What do you suspect the final cost will be? Double that? $500 billion dollars would have put solar on what percentage of American rooftops? A better solution would be to put installations on the public buildings first. Let them back feed their power to the grid. Aid our own energy needs here to remove us from the Arab situation. I didn't believe the reasons that our gov't used to send our troops to war. My belief is that we went to war to grow a friendly nation that also happens to be important geographically, politically (after the war), and also happens to have a large oil reserve. A toehold in the middle east. The Saudis were once upon a time someone we could rely on but the Iraqi option was better if riskier. Was Saddam a bad man? Yes. Was a war the best way to handle that situation? No. Was it the only way? No. Take that $500 Billion dollars and make good things happen here that have a future. What are Detroit and the oil companies doing? Figuring out ways to see us more of the same stuff they have been selling us for 50 years. They just have to keep the price low enough and keep the product interesting enough. Just like vehicle safety equipment, we'll have to legislate changes in those industries unfortunately. Believe me when I say I don't want any more gov't programs. I don't like Nanny programs but this is what I think will be required. Ultimately the top folks in th auto and oil industries know way more than I do. They can better see the future. I am sure they will continue to sell the same stuff to us until they can not sell another unit or another gallon. At that point they will suddenly reveal new products and new revenue streams allowing them to sell alternatives to us. Ever notice how GM never ever mentions the EV1? It's as if it never existed. Yet they are leading us on with promises of a totally new hybrid concept (VOLT) which if it ever makes it to the showroom floor will be the same idea with a small gas engine in it. Why is this so difficult? Why don't I put my money where my mouth is? I am in my own slow ways with a mere mortal budget. We are changing how much and how we consume at our house. We have plans to put solar on our house as soon as our budget allows. All I can do now is study it. I am also studying about battery powered cars. Again - I lack the funds to do it out of pocket. I figure $10K for solar on the house, and $10K for converting the car. Anything less is a car with low-tech batteries that wear out every 15K miles, and a low power solar system that won't accomplish much.
Once again, I applaud your efforts to do what you think is good at your house, but I have problems with your rhetoric. "I am sure they will continue to sell the same stuff to us until they can not sell another unit or another gallon. At that point they will suddenly reveal new products and new revenue streams allowing them to sell alternatives to us." There is so much wrong with this, I won't be able to get it all in one post. What is more likely: 1. A conspiracy among oil companies is keeping any of them (or any of their bright employees) from offering a better energy solution. 2. They don't have a better solution, and do not currently see the path to get to one that is doable enough that it is worth betting the farm on. None of their employees know of one either because (last I checked) they aren't running out to grab up investors and start a company that would make microsoft look like a mom and pop operation if it were successful. And yes, as soon as the oil business is no longer profitable, they will all start trying to sell us something else. That's is what they are supposed to do. It's their job, duty, and responsibility. And yes, as marketers, they will be telling us how much better the new thing is, even if it isn't. What would you do with your business? Give up? Most of the major oil companies are dabbling in other energy solutions to ensure they don't miss the next wave of technology. As soon as the better way comes along, they will all be scrambling to convert their businesses.