Comments on: New Bill Requesting Funds to Support Plug-in EV Research Has Been Introduced to Congress

By: GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Concept Site » Bill H.R. 3776 in Support of Funding Advanced Battery Research Has Passed the House of Representatives

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:09:35 +0000

[...] We have previously reported on a bill that was introduced to House of Representatives on 10/16/07, called the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007. The bill among other things included $150 million over 5 years for demonstration of vehicle energy storage systems, i.e advanced lithium-ion batteries for plug-in cars (prior post). [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:40:01 +0000

it is a sad commentary on life when we can’t seem to get this electric concept off the ground. More freebies? more money from congress and elsewhere? let’s stop that and move into the next century. Surely, big oil is getting in the way and electric concept cars are waiting to tajke advantage of the “need’ to keep their prices high and profit margins wide, but can’t we get moving on this before the earth really puts it’s foot down and emissions destroy us all?

By: Dani

Dani — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:29:23 +0000

Hey Lyle, I really respect your effort to try to get people motivated about contacting their representatives. I know you must be aware of the energy bill on the floor right now that is aiming to raise fuel efficiency standards to 35 mpg by 2020 and increase (significantly) the use of renewable energy sources. So many people are unaware of the benefits that there changes can make not only to the environment but to the economy as well. I am working with a coalition that is also urging people to petition their representatives to keep the standards as they are and not lower them because of pressure from auto lobbyist. I could sincerely use your help getting the word out. The petition is available here: www.energybill2007.org. Thanks Lyle! And keep up this amazing blog!

By: OhmExcited

OhmExcited — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:29:03 +0000

By the way, H.R. 3776 passed the House unanimously. The bill now awaits action in the Senate.

By: Dave G

Dave G — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:27:34 +0000

Lyle – thanks again for this excellent and meaningful site.

By: David

David — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:06:39 +0000

Why not create a bill giving SERIOUS tax credits to people (and businesses) who purchase EVs? Something like what is being offered to people who purchase and install solar panels.

Let’s not expect anything really worth while coming out of Washington or especially the White House where BigOil controls so much power.

No one in government will take EVs, or even plug in Hybrids, serious all the oil is gone or the oceans have risen 10 feet. Of course we can start electing people who see the light.

By: Rashiid Amul

Rashiid Amul — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:52:26 +0000

Won’t CAFE be met just be making the batteries better? It seems to me that if the batteries had better storage, then CAFE would be met by default. Though, I really hate the idea of making the gas engine meet CAFE. That is such a stupid approach.

By: mykallb

mykallb — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:39:46 +0000

One has to wonder if CAFE hadn’t been set so high at 35mpg if we’d even be seeing these vehicles.

By: kent beuchert

kent beuchert — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:34:31 +0000

Another waste of taxpayer money. There’s only one conceivable thing to be improved – battery packs, which has nothing much to do with “plug-in research” whatever in th eworld that means. Are they going to hire people to watch GM design and build their plug-in and take notes?
If you have a good battery, ANYBODY cn build a damn plug-in. if you don’t have one, then NOBODY can build a good plug-in.
The same thing goes for an electric-only car. Pretty simple, huh? Remember when Congress spent billions trying to force an automakers to build an electric, and only afterwards thought about the deficiencies of batteries? Of course, if they had instead spent the money to develop a battery back then they could not possibly hacve succeeded : the technology needed to make an advanced battery simply wasn’t there yet. Everything about the prospects of electric cars can be summed up in one single word : batteries.

By: OhmExcited

OhmExcited — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:43:24 +0000

All, you may find this reading relevant to the topic:

http://mydocs.epri.com/docs/CorporateDocuments/EPRI_Journal/2006-Spring/1013289_storage.pdf

I hope any big government money would not be merely thrown at corporations with no strings attached. A lot of progress could be made with larger funding of already competent and non-profit research organizations like the Electric Power Research Institute.