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Energy independence might be America’s last shot at greatness

First Greece, eventually America, unless we act today

It’s time to take today by the horns

Since this morning I’ve read On Debt, Death, Taxes and Temperatures, the latest Dot Earth post on the New York Times, at least 3 times, wondering why exactly I’m so intrigued. I’m still not entirely sure, but I’m starting to believe that a possible zeitgeist is forming. Actually, it’s been forming for some time. President Barack Obama’s election, for instance, was a taste of this zeitgeist.

Sadly, the President has been unable to be a real leader of this zeitgeist, of change. Instead of leading America, the President has mostly remained the leader of the Democratic Party. It’s still politics as usual. While that’s not the President’s fault, it’s not real change either. Read more…

Michigan Senator pushing US lithium production

Time to mine US lithium supplies

New bill to be announced today

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) will announce a new bill today aimed at increasing US competitiveness in lithium battery manufacturing. One of the key focuses of the bill, therefore, will be to incentivize US production of lithium.

About time. Read more…

Toyota Prius C takes new shape, higher price tag

Prius C to be built off Rush platform

Prius C to take on Nissan Juke

Remember that small hybrid that Toyota showed off this last year on the auto show circuit dubbed the Toyota Prius C. Fo’get about it. You never saw it because it’s never happening.

OK. The Prius C hybrid is still going to happen, but its not going to look anything like the auto show concept. Instead, the new Toyota hybrid will be built upon the Toyota Rush platform and take on the likes of the Nissan Juke. Read more…

Protesting Subaru’s Saudi car sales while guzzling Saudi oil

No Subaru unless it averages 46 mpg

Oil keeps the oppressors in power

This morning thousands of people have signed an open petition to Fuji Heavy Industries, owner of Subaru, asking Subaru to stop all vehicle sales in Saudi Arabia until Saudi women are given the right to drive. While all automakers selling in Saudi Arabia might eventually be petitioned as well, Subaru was the initial focus because a majority of Subaru drivers are women.

Still, why hurt Subaru instead of the people in charge – the actual oppressors? For instance, if you have signed this petition, live in America, yet drive a a vehicle that averages less than 46 mpg, then aren’t you still an enabler of the oppression being protested in the first place? Read more…

Nissan Leaf versus Chevy Volt: A losing battle

Can the Leaf overcome its range?

Why should you buy a Leaf?

So, a new Nissan Leaf ad campaign is going to attack the Chevy Volt because it still uses some gasoline. Why? Based on the comments to a MotorTrend article regarding these ads, these new Leaf ads could be counter-productive. Moreover, is Nissan only focused on fanatics, or also on real world consumers and the future of the Leaf’s success?

Perhaps, rather than attack the Volt, Nissan should focus on why a consumer should even buy a plug-in vehicle like the Leaf. Read more…

Taxing cars by the mile? Energy independence won’t be easy

Infrastructure costs demand the VMT be explored.

If energy independence isn’t cheap, it just won’t happen

In recent years, US gasoline consumption has declined. Cars are becoming more fuel efficient. Hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles are beginning to penetrate the market, and higher gas prices – as well as a tough economy – have forced many to rethink their gasoline consumption. Unfortunately, all of this has led to a decline in gas tax revenues and reduced infrastructure spending.

Yet, these trends are only just emerging and are destined to pick up pace. Ultimately, the gas tax is becoming an obsolete tool for deriving infrastructure revenues, but most Americans just don’t appear ready for something like a Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax. Read more…

Are GM’s battery-powered plans dysfunctional or brilliant?

Buick LaCrosse hybrid more important than Chevy Volt?

With so many options will scale be impossible?

Conceptually and theoretically, the Chevy Volt might be the best car on the planet. In reality, however, the Volt is terribly cost-ineffective and completely dependent upon government aid.

In the auto industry, scale is typically the key to such a problem, but is the Volt and its Voltecs really a scalable platform? Read more…

2020 EV forecasts: Automaker smackdown

Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid more profitable than the Volt or the Leaf?

Which automaker will achieve the most bang for the battery-powered buck?

Today, hybrid cars represent about 2.4 percent of auto sales in the US. While plug-ins aren’t even yet a blip on the sale’s radar screen, that should change now that plug-ins are finally hitting sale’s floors.

So, let’s take a look at some of the recent battery-powered forecasts from the world’s top automakers. Read more…

A new Toyota Prius concept heading to Detroit

The Prius MPV is a done deal.

Expanding the Prius family

Toyota is set to debut the larger Prius MPV at the Detroit Auto Show, but another Prius-based concept is also in the works, although further details aren’t expected until the show.

Is another sporty hybrid concept inevitable? Read more…

Chevy Volt: So, is it a moonshot or not?

Save $300 per year compared to the Prius for only an extra $20,000!

The devil wears a green halo

When it comes to the Chevy Volt, I am not on the same page as Rush Limbaugh. Despite the fact that GM’s bankruptcy might still ending up costing tax payers more than the $25 billion or less loss from the original $750 billion TARP fund according to the latest CBO estimates, I’m still a bit of a closet Volt fan.

Nevertheless, it’s time for GM to lead with green actions, not green marketing. Read more…