: A Debukers Toolkit



CarZin
06-21-2012, 03:53 PM
I am going to start a blog entry in the next few hours that will start to compile a list of all the interesting links out there to educate the public on some of the perpetuated EV myths and misinformation. Below are the links I am working on (not presented as I will present them on the blog). I'd like you all to scour your memory, and try to provide links to include in this blog entry. I want a one stop site to quickly reference and be able to get educated on the hot topics...

Gas owners get incredible indirect gas subsidies that they don't even realize:
GAO Analysis on several studies on the cost to protect middle eastern oil: Estimates over 30 billion a year spent
http://ntl.bts.gov/data/military.pdf
Academic Analysis of U.S. Military Expenditures to Protect the use of Persian-Gulf Oil for Motor Vehicles
http://www.its.ucdavis.edu/publications/2004/UCD-ITS-RR-96-03%2815%29_rev3.pdf


Price of lithium way up, but this means little for higher battery prices
http://lithiuminvestingnews.com/1727/lithium-prices/

"Investors might be interested to know that the battery market for lithium, which is well understood to be the strongest catalyst for future growth, might easily absorb a significant increase in lithium prices. The actual raw cost of the lithium in vehicle batteries is currently less than 3 percent as a proportion of total input expenses. In theory, lithium prices could increase by several multiples and it would have a nominal impact on the actual price of the end battery."

Price of batteries dropping quickly
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-16/battery-prices-for-electric-vehicles-fall-14-bnef-says.html

"The average price of lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles fell 14 percent in the past year as production capacity exceeded demand, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said. "

Top 4 traded cars for Volt are foreign, and #4 goes to BMW
http://www.chevroletvoltage.com/index.php/volt-blog/18-volt/2645-volt-generates-first-time-interest-in-chevrolet.html

Average Volt owner exceeds 120 MPG combined rating
http://voltstats.net

Lots of negative EV myths discussed on this site
http://mediamatters.org/research/201202080012

Even in the most polluting states, EV emit much less GHG than the average vehicle.
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/electric-car-global-warming-emissions-exec-summary.pdf
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_vehicles/electric-car-global-warming-emissions-report.pdf

CATO's foolish look at the Prius when it first came out. Does the arguments against the Volt sound familiar?
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/dont-subsidize-car
"Obviously, these cars can’t achieve profitability under any reasonable sales projections. If they could, the advertising spots would be as frequent as Chevy’s “Heartbeat of America.” But they are not. In fact, I’ll bet most readers can’t recall ever having seen the plugs for the Prius (aging hippies drive it in through a tropical rainforest while a chimpanzee applauds) or the Insight (comes out of a car wash— it’s a “clean” vehicle, get it?)."

Snopes debunks email and widely spread hit piece stating that the Volt costs 7x as much to operate as a standard car
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/chevyvolt.asp

Both Garage Fires that were occupied with Volts ruled out as likely cause by both fire marshals (as well as NHTSA, GM, insurance companies, and other investigators)
http://gm-volt.com/2011/05/18/exclusive-chevrolet-volt-unofficially-cleared-in-connecticut-garage-fire/
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/chevy-volt-not-the-cause-of-garage-fire-says-fire-marshall.html

NHTSA Volt investigation conclusion:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2012/NHTSA+Statement+on+Conclusion+of+Chevy+Volt+Invest igation

Ignore the misleading link title and actually READ the article. Fleet sales NOT inflating Volt numbers much:
http://nation.foxnews.com/chevy-volt/2012/04/19/fishy-ge-behind-record-chevy-volt-sales

Volt outsells Corvette
http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/corvette/2012/volt-outsells-vette-in-2012.html

Volt #1 selling Electric, outsells most every other hybrid being sold
http://www.hybridcars.com/news/may-2012-dashboard-46746.html

Fox News: Volt helps win the war on terror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnMxtET-gWg
--> Thanks for that Dave. That is a good one I forgot about.

This car is one of the most awarded cars on the road
http://gm-volt.com/2011/11/21/volt-accolades-and-awards-from-inception-through-2011/

Mackinac study examined (the 'each Volt cost the tax payer 250k)
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11354404/1/setting-it-straight-chevy-volt-vs-the-government.html
http://www.plugincars.com/250k-chevy-volt-111105.html

davewilks
06-21-2012, 04:11 PM
Here is one from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnMxtET-gWg.

Mybatcar
06-21-2012, 04:11 PM
Do you mean " Debunkers " ?

CarZin
06-21-2012, 04:14 PM
Obviously :) I am furiously posting, not editing now.

ViperRT10Matt
06-21-2012, 04:20 PM
Great list, but the sad reality is that most of the people concerned with actively "bunking" the car already have their minds made up, and won't let a pesky thing like actual facts get in the way. :-(

CarZin
06-21-2012, 04:39 PM
The way I see it, these links will provide the people like you and me with the quick ammunition. As the Brit's say, "the truth will out!"

bonaire
06-21-2012, 05:30 PM
I look at the detractors as "intllectually-challeged bullies". Best to avoid them as they enjoy what they do. But educational links with facts that stand-up on their own are good for anyone really interested in being educated.

rubley
06-21-2012, 05:50 PM
My spreadsheet proving the Volt is cheaper to own than the average car for the average person
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ageg_Pnricg9dGZTVW9ZTzFNWHJlMmhrNDh2TVZ6c Xc

bonaire
06-21-2012, 06:27 PM
This article came out from The Motley Fool
They seem to give it a +1 in terms of affordability and even outline it in "stock trader" terms.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/06/21/is-the-chevy-volt-too-affordable.aspx

CarZin
06-21-2012, 07:32 PM
http://voltowner.blogspot.com/2012/06/truth-matters-forming-educated-opinions.html

Give me any corrections or additions you'd like to see.

jeffhre
06-21-2012, 09:23 PM
Although Peder misquotes 6 kWh of energy as 6 kWh of electricity here, this is an interesting introduction to the concepts.

http://solarchargeddriving.com/news/scd-editorials/831-surprise-gas-cars-use-more-electricity-than-evs.html

And one reasons why drill baby drill hasn't worked for the US since 1972, followed by one example why the proven trillions upon trillions of barrels of oil we are supposedly not exploiting (by government fiat) are so much more incredibly expensive than current sources.

1) Petroleum demand.

http://evnut.com/gasoline_oil.htm


2) Notes on Arctic drilling efforts.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45777067/ns/world_news-world_environment/#.T-OO1xc7Vyw

bonaire
06-21-2012, 11:29 PM
Maybe add a link or two about the negative "news" that EVs will cripple the grid if they plug in and recharge (whether at work or at home overnight).

CarZin
06-22-2012, 09:37 AM
Great idea! That had crossed my mind, but I forgot. If you have some links you want to provide, feel free. I'll come up with a few in the next few days.