Ford - Much more fed money needed for battery research
To power with American batteries"Despite $25 billion to help automakers retool plants, a $7,500 tax credit and billions in stimulus funding for charging stations and related infrastructure, automakers continue to lobby the federal government for more aid to spur sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles," notes Kicking Tires this morning.
And while giving the closing speech at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress yesterday, Bill Ford Jr echoed this sentiment, calling for greater government involvement regarding electric vehicles, particularly battery research, according to the DetroitNews.
Nonetheless, as Kicking Tires suggests, and has been discussed endlessly on this blog, doesn't it all really come down to the price of gas?
Labels: electric cars, lithium battery, plug-in hybrid vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:58 AM
4 Comments:
No, it comes down to the price of the vehicle, not the price of gasoline. I WAS shopping for a Fusion Hybrid. However, due to the fact the only offer allowed by the dealer(s) was window sticker plus, I won't be buying a Ford. I've NEVER paid sticker or over sticker price for a vehicle and will never! Plus none of the Fusions were base model, all had options adding thousands to the price, putting them well into the +30K range. Now I can get a similarly loaded Hyundai Sonata SE for $7000 less. I estimate at $4.00/gal I would have to drive the Fusion roughly an additional 50,000 miles before ever getting to the break even point because of the fuel mileage difference. And at roughly 12000 miles 50/50 rural/highway a year, that transmits to (+)4 years more of having to own the vehicle. Not to say about the additional repairs, etc. with owning a vehicle over 7 years.
So with the profits Ford is making, the question is: Why should the taxpayer spend another dime to help profit a corporation???
There's no doubt Ford would like to have it's cake and eat it too.
- On one hand they want gov't help to build EV's and make them cheaper.
- On the other hand they want gas prices to stay low so they can continue to make money selling Ford F-150's.
In a perfect "Ford" world they will sell large quantities of trucks AND EV's....
I think what FORD is saying.. if you pay close attention to the words ... the batteries needed are not ready yet and until they're ready for prime time.. it's going to be a niche market and risky business.
I think Toyota is saying the same basic thing but in a slightly different way.
the expectations has far outpaced the realities .. so far.
I agree with the writer. It all comes down to the price of gas.
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