Comments on: Washington Likely to Give GM Loan To Help Build Electric Cars

By: Ed M

Ed M — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:31:16 +0000

We’re all being too hard on the automakers. Its not their fault that congress passed a lot of laws that favored union greed. Who do you think the unions leaders are thinking of when they extort money from companies; themselves, the workers, the companies ? If you didn’t say themselves, you don’t have a good understanding of how unions work.

Congress should take a lot of the blame, if you ask those 3 questions about congress its also overwhelmingly themselves.

I also didn’t see congress trying to do anything to head off the current crisis, they were too busy trying to get elected. Some saw this mess coming for sometime, John McCain for example and tried to do something about it 2 years ago but congress just ignored it.

A pinch of prevention is always worth more than a pound of cure.
I would also give the media a fair share of the blame. They were too busy going gah-gah over Obama to report the truly important news.

By: bowtie

bowtie — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:38:03 +0000

I do not support the help of GM at all. Concerning GM reasons.
They want support for providing alternatives, claiming difficulty. OK google keyword: EV-1. GM scrapped/crushed an entire fleet of fully developed (with customer satisfaction no doubt) electric vehicles. That is a shame two more years of r&d could be on the books right now making that model mostly by now real good. HMMM
At the same time working 6 years of r&d and money on there new Camaro Z28 gas guzzler platform that was discontinued in 02′. Its just plain bad business planning for future. They should assume the fate for there actions on this matter. Know your market provide a product that sells or fall like the rest. Why should we be sympathetic…search EV-1. And then ask yourself why?
That being said had GM followed through with the proper initial plans they had for an evolving market. Contiued to devolope the EV1 platform they would IN FACT be giving the Toy Prius’ a run for the money right now! IN SALES Idiot mistakes like this dont make a bail out just IMO.

By: c w

c w — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:42:42 +0000

I agree that the $1T could have funded some incredible research towards alternate energy. STOP OIL.

By: jriverat

jriverat — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:07:35 +0000

Give them (not just GM) the cash, Insure that this product will be the next “Folks Vagen”.. I am not sure I’d like the slap on the face, when I see a $25K price tag on a 4-seater commuter.
Not asking for much, If the industry invests their money, they should reap the benefit of the gamble. If the GOV infuses the industry, let the tax payer reap the benefit. j

By: wbk

wbk — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:30:55 +0000

I agree with Jay #142.
The US government should give $50B loans with low interest to companies that are already innovative. Not to GM, FORD or Chrysler.
The have had 100 years to perfect there business. But due to the greed and blind vision and of the ancient business men and the practices, they are barely keeping pace with the rest of the worlds car makers. They have never been able to top or come close to japanese or german perfection, development, or insight. But, we also have to accept that the US government is no longer a people voting controlled government, its a government that is controlled by big money and corporations. Thus why they are bailing out companies. The US government is now a corporation. Its not owned by the american people, its owned by the big business’s.

I just want the government to answer this, will they bail me out if I make bad business decisions.

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:18:15 +0000

First of all I have zero sympathy for General Motors…watch the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car”.
Face it General Motors and Ford have taken advantage our the American People’s loyalty long enough. If GM wants to manufacture an electric car then they should bring back the EV1 that they destroyed because there sales of auto parts would have diminished.
If the Federal Government wants to spend my hard earned money I would prefer they give(loan) $50 billion to Phoenix Motor Cars…it’s about time we let a small, upcoming, and fresh new face get a chance and let General Motors fund themselves.

By: Hydrogen Advocate

Hydrogen Advocate — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:58:12 +0000

offer a hydrogen /electric version of volt and i will buy it.

By: Hydrogen Advocate

Hydrogen Advocate — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:57:30 +0000

If it’s not hydrogen/electric, I won’t buy it.

By: Canuk

Canuk — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:19:47 +0000

DB cooper said:

But if there’s going to be American taxpayers’ money changing hands here, we damn well better have an agreement that this money is spent inside the US. I EXPECT THIS CONTRACT WRITTEN IN BLOOD !!. It better not be spent sourcing parts out of asia so GM can afford to blow a fortune on assembling a bunch of Chinese parts; and slap a ‘Made in USA’ label on it.

You wanna know DB, that this is exactly what will happen. The North American corpratocracy is so far down the offshoring path that keeping these sort of manufacturing jobs here in America is just not likely to happen. Just too much money to be made by using the “slave labour” in the asian countries.

So, if you’re fearing that more jobs will be supported in China with your tax dollars, you don’t want these companies to getting more of your handouts.

Canuk

By: Glenn

Glenn — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:36:57 +0000

I’d rather GM decide that they can comfortably increase production numbers knowing they have solid contracts (ala Boeing, LockheedMartin or NorthrupGrumman). Accelerating economies of scale will bring these cars sooner and cheaper to the masses.

Anyone think they can take a stab at how many cars the (non-military) federal government owns?

I think GM should leverage their knowledge and expertise in trucks and produce a 40 mile ev range re-ev Colorado. That’s where the real potential is.