Energy Independence

OPEC dependence greatest threat to economic recovery

How about the OPEC independence plan for economic prosperity?

According to panel of economists

A recent CNNMoney survey of 18 economists found that conflict with Iran is now seen as the biggest threat to the US economic recovery. Such an event it is believed would push oil prices towards $200 per barrel and push the economy back into recession.

Fortunately, most economists don’t believe that such a crisis is going to happen, just that it poses the greatest, realistic threat. Read more…

Hybrid and EV fans: Reconciling with reality

Hybrid hater answer to foreign oil dependence?

Buying hybrids and EVs is one great step, but

So the media is slamming hybrid cars today because of the Polk study on repeat hybrid buyers, or the lack thereof, posted earlier on Hybridcarblog. As I wrote this morning, the Polk study doesn’t mean that much to me for a number of reasons. Seriously, if you want a benchmark, a key metric, do you really need to look further than, less than 3 percent marketshare?

Even more distressing is the forecast that hybrids and plug-ins combined will only make up around 10 percent of sales by 2020, but it gets even worse than that — but not for hybrid fans. Read more…

Citi Study – Hybrids and Plug-ins 7.3 percent marketshare in 2020

Gas guzzlers, hopefully compact ones, still rule in 2020

And new CAFE standards will be profitable for Big 3

In 2020: The battery powered car wars finally heat up I suggested that hybrids and plug-in cars would reach about 10 percent marketshare by 2020, ushering in the real dawn of the battery revolution. According to a new Citi study, 10 percent might be too optimistic. Instead, Citi forecasts 7.3 percent marketshare by 2020.

However, in terms of increasing CAFE standards, Citi projects extra profits, particularly for the Big 3. Read more…

2020: Hybrids, plug-ins and foreign oil dependence

AlQaeda, Iran and Israel, Egypt: The dangers of foreign oil dependence.

2020 is becoming clearer and scarier

Why do hybrid cars and plug-ins matter? Will they create long term jobs in the auto industry? Can they end global warming? Or does it all boil down to the dangers of foreign oil dependence? That really depends on whom you ask, but the majority of Americans would settle on the dangers of foreign oil dependence.

In the last few days, we’ve learned a lot about the auto industry and we now have a better vision of what 2020 is going to look like and how it will impact US foreign oil dependence. And if you’re not scared. You should be. Read more…

Democrats are lazy hypocrites, and Republicans just oxymorons

A perfect example of American hypocrisy?

America, we have an energy problem. It’s called Americans

These days Republicans talk about taxes — as in no new taxes –  yet they have no problem buying gas guzzling pickup trucks subsidized with Fed funny money, which is increasing both US debt and foreign oil dependence, while becoming an indirect tax upon America’s future. Similarly, Republicans have no problem creating pollution, causing wars — all things that require massive clean up programs, military spending and, again, result in indirect taxes. Ultimately, Republicans love being the stupid monkey that doesn’t see or hear all the evil around them — that they help create.

But Democrats aren’t much better. In fact, they might even be worse. They yell Union and America, but buy imports. They call cars like the Honda Civic hybrid and the Nissan Leaf two of the most intelligent purchases available in America. They know why you should buy such vehicles. It’s what a real Democrat should do –  reduce personal foreign oil dependence and CO2 footprints — but they can’t actually get themselves to pull the trigger. They won’t put their money where their mouths are.

Yet, we wonder why there is an energy problem in America? Hello!? Both parties suck in the real world. It’s all just stupid hypocrisy. Read more…

1 percent or less: Another victim for the plug-in hit list

Time for Congress to act on energy independence

Turning dissent into energy independence solutions

Back in late 2004 and into 2005, I began an attack on JD Power’s Anthony Pratt. Why? Because he foolishly predicted that by 2010, hybrid car penetration would top out at 3 percent. I, on the other hand, believed that consumers had changed, and that the auto industry would be forced to accept battery powered change, resulting in much higher hybrid penetration.

Obviously, Mr. Pratt was right, and I was the naive, optimistic, well intentioned fool. Thus, today I take the forecasts of industry experts much more seriously, especially when largely echoed by most automotive CEO’s, such as Volvo’s Stefan Jacoby.

Without significantly more government investment, Mr. Jacoby believes that the auto industry won’t even achieve 1 percent plug-in penetration by 2020. Read more…

Is cheap gas synonymous with energy security and independence?

Is cheaper energy the goal to US energy independence?

Mitt Romney attacks “gas hike trio”

For a long time I was a big advocate of the gas tax. Higher gasoline prices seemed the only way to push consumers towards embracing fuel efficiency. However, it’s obvious that gasoline taxes are a combustible political issue, and just not the path to energy independence. Voters just won’t allow it.

And Mitt Romney is trying to use this reality to attack the Obama administration over higher gasoline prices and related rhetoric, but should gasoline prices be the focus of energy policy? More to the point, is cheap gasoline, or energy, synonymous with energy security and US energy independence? Read more…

Coda delivers first EVs: Offers fair plug-in sales forecast

A Coda EV at the LA Auto Show

Code hopes to average 1000 sales per month by December

We live in a world driven by hype and superficial materialism — at least in the US — and it drives me crazy, especially when automakers use hype and halo effects to fight issues like foreign oil dependence. It’s practically treasonous in my zealous opinion.

Thus, I was a little refreshed to learn of EV maker Coda’s beliefs on potential plug-in electric car sales. While a little optimistic, at least they’re reasonable. Read more…

Isn’t Obama better than his gas-guzzler ridicule?

An advocate of the ethanol scam?

Why did the President drive gas-guzzlers before his Presidency?

Apparently, before becoming President of the US, Barack Obama was President of the Flat Earth Society, either that or he’s just your typical hypocritical politician.

I know it’s a political year, but I really wish the President would focus less on attacking others for doing the same thing he did just a few years ago, and just lead America forward. Read more…

Energy policy: Free markets and Republican right insanity

Natural gas trucks could be an OPEC oil killer

In a world economy, is OPEC part of the free market system?

I’m not the biggest fan of the NAT GAS Act. Unlike many conservative Republicans whom believe that the NAT GAS act is anti-free market capitalism, however, I believe the NAT GAS Act is simply typical, band-aid style, pork-barrel legislation. I’d prefer a go big or go home attitude, such as I’ve argued in my energy plan. Nevertheless, the NAT GAS act still has some potential. It’s a step.

But this idea amongst conservative Republicans that free markets will simply solve all the world’s woes simply seems asinine in my opinion. Read more…