I don't know how much money is pumped into our political system from the big oil companies but if you follow the money then one would have to conclude that the closer we get to an EV the more big oil will try to stop it. I wish there was a way we could expose it when it happens. :mad:

I don't know how much money is pumped into our political system from the big oil companies but if you follow the money then one would have to conclude that the closer we get to an EV the more big oil will try to stop it. I wish there was a way we could expose it when it happens. :mad:

I am sure the oil company lobbyists fully disclose their contributions to oil companies and 527's, just as unions, trial lawyers and environmentalists do.

I don't think oil companies will oppose EV's, especially E-REV's. If you are paying $30 to oil companies to go 200 miles today, you will be paying $30 to oil companies to go 200 miles in 10 years, you just won't be using as much gasoline. Consumption may go way down, but revenues will stay the same.

Would you really feel better paying big agriculture companies for ethanol, or big power plants for electricity or hydrogen, or big wind / solar factories for equipment to produce energy at home? Energy costs money, clean energy costs more money.

I'm looking to pay the Solar companies for solar panels and battery companies for storage. Approximately 10 percent of revenues will go towards advanced R&D so they can stay ahead of the technology curve. I also love the idea, "it's my land and my energy" concept. I have in the past and will do more in the future to be as independent as possible. Fuel up at home, store excess energy at home, be able to light up my TV during power outages, etc. Pure bliss. Add in a rain collection system for major watering needs (watering the garden, lawn, flushing the toilets, showering, etc.) and you are one free dude. Of course I won't be able to bond with my neighbors when they are all talking about the raising costs of fuel and electricity but that's OK, I'll have a few "power outage" parties at my house. :D

Texas,

Having lived through 3 or 4 hurricanes in a single season here in Florida, I can assure you that your neighbors will most desire your hot water, so plan on breakfast parties.

Everyone is VERY careful when talking about Big Oil(specifically BP who started the global recession when they acquired US Oil interests). Yes, I agree with you about big oil's lack of contention about electric vehicles in the initial stages of sales and distribution. If you watch television, you will note some oil companies have been running commercials trying to convince the consumers that they are developing green technologies. This indicates that big oil is beginning to recognize that their profits are beginning to shrink and they wish to appear to be friendly towards alternative energies.As far as the consumer is concerned, ALL oil companies are villians in that they are taking money from them and their families. The higher the price of fuel, the more consumers will be forced to find ways to get from point A to B in the most economical way. As far as demand for oil from India and China, have you noticed the huge amount of new electric vehicles being produced as we speak from India? We acknowledge that there is demand from these countries, but not nearly as much as the media would try to lead us to believe.Bottom line, GM has stated forcefully through their development of the Volt that the relationship between auto makers and Big Oil is terminated. GM, like any other multi-national corporation is in business to make a profit. ICE technology is finished. Electric technology is the most viable in the near future. GM will slowly phase out the internal combustion engine and switch to a simpler, more profitable propulsion system.It is logical and profitable.

Everyone is VERY careful when talking about Big Oil(specifically BP who started the global recession when they acquired US Oil interests). Yes, I agree with you about big oil's lack of contention about electric vehicles in the initial stages of sales and distribution. If you watch television, you will note some oil companies have been running commercials trying to convince the consumers that they are developing green technologies. This indicates that big oil is beginning to recognize that their profits are beginning to shrink and they wish to appear to be friendly towards alternative energies.As far as the consumer is concerned, ALL oil companies are villians in that they are taking money from them and their families. The higher the price of fuel, the more consumers will be forced to find ways to get from point A to B in the most economical way. As far as demand for oil from India and China, have you noticed the huge amount of new electric vehicles being produced as we speak from India? We acknowledge that there is demand from these countries, but not nearly as much as the media would try to lead us to believe.Bottom line, GM has stated forcefully through their development of the Volt that the relationship between auto makers and Big Oil is terminated. GM, like any other multi-national corporation is in business to make a profit. ICE technology is finished. Electric technology is the most viable in the near future. GM will slowly phase out the internal combustion engine and switch to a simpler, more profitable propulsion system.It is logical and profitable.

As far as demand for oil from India and China, have you noticed the huge amount of new electric vehicles being produced as we speak from India? We acknowledge that there is demand from these countries, but not nearly as much as the media would try to lead us to believe.

Do a little research and not just post your misbeliefs. China and India's economies have experience double digit growth for many, many years, which correlates to significantly higher consumption of energy. There is no doubt that their demand is becoming significant in world markets.


Bottom line, GM has stated forcefully through their development of the Volt that the relationship between auto makers and Big Oil is terminated. GM, like any other multi-national corporation is in business to make a profit.

GM may be moving away from petroleum, but they are moving into ethanol, hydrogen and electricity. As other posters have pointed out, we are just moving from one "dealer" to another.


ICE technology is finished.

I suspect colder climates may have a significant number of hydrogen ICE vehicles, as that is the only reliable fuel in those climates. Ethanol won't atomize at low temperatures for cold start. Fuel cells have liquid cores that could freeze. Batteries don't perform well in cold climates. Only hydrogen ICE functions well, and the others would require some sort of ICE backup, so get used to it.


Electric technology is the most viable in the near future. GM will slowly phase out the internal combustion engine and switch to a simpler, more profitable propulsion system.It is logical and profitable.

I agree that electric motors are more powerful / efficient, and will provide the main means of propulsion; however, it doesn't eliminate the ICE as a means of providing the electricity. Gasoline still provides the most energy dense AND cheapest means of chemical energy storage (as opposed to batteries). It may be logical to switch to electric propulsion, given that petroleum will eventually run out, but hydrogen can still be burned in a piston, rotary or turbine to generate electricity. Finally, these electric vehicles are going to be extremely expensive, so the only ones making any money or the automakers and battery suppliers.

While not all big oil companies are invested in renewable technologies, by far the largest amount of investment in alternative energy comes from big oil. They are energy companies, not just oil companies.

http://www.energy-base.org/no_cache/english/home/newsdetail/article/162/92/neste/6.html

GM's current ad campaign says it all......" gas friendly to gas free, an American Revolution".

GM's current ad campaign says it all......" gas friendly to gas free, an American Revolution".

GM has wisely positioned themselves with a full lineup of mild to full hybrids, and offer more different models than any other auto manufacturer. They have selected the Chevy, Saturn, Opel and Cadillac brands to carry their green image forward, while discarding old nameplates like Oldsmobile (and hopefully, soon, Pontiac).

Yes, they have done a good job of marketing but they better start performing. Try going to a dealer and take one of them for a test drive or inquire about availability. I'm fully behind the direction they say they want to go and say they are going, but they better get off their duff with a little more action.

I agree with John S, in my opinion I believe that fuel price increases are a preemptive strike by OPEC and US oil companies to compensate for what we all know is going to be the future of civil transportation in this world. I completely believe that the new generation of vehicles on the not so distant horizon will be the next "Internet Revolution". We will see at some point overall fuel consumption go down, but the margins remain the same through a series of lame excuses as to why gasoline will cost $10 a gallon.

Oil price increases are also due to the falling dollar. Crude oil is only sold on the IPE and NYMEX exchanges, and it is only traded for US dollars. At least part of the reason that the price of oil has gone up so much recently is because the value of the dollar has gone down so much recently...

It's a bit more complicated than supply/demand. Lots of other factors going on with the price/value of oil.

http://www.searchanddiscovery.net/documents/2007/08097demis/index.htm