Next election and the future of electric cars

[mczajka]

With all of the rhetoric we've heard, I still don't think it could hurt if our leadership was Pro EV, even in part. A Paul Ryan selection as VP, for example, could hurt in all areas connected to renewable electricity.

[jbfalaska]

The only perspective I have on this is what's good for energy independence and the launch of an american-led EV based economy is Obama. Mitt and even some other Dems are not with the same belief this is good for America as Obama. No one has done a better job of trying to buy american, and fuel american. Not looking good for tax incentives in the future, unless you count only incentives to corporations. I think Romney will keep subsidies to companies going, just not to individuals looking at his statements anyway. He commented negatively on the Volt regrettably. CHEVY VOLT: American-made, American-FUELED. That's my belief whether political, or as I see it - pro-American.

[rayS]

The EV train left the station and there is no going back, regardless of hurdles along the way. Great cars like volt, PiP and Tesla are proving that EV is not a fantasy and that EV is superior to ICE-power vehicles. The problem with EV is the price not the technology nor the charging infrastructure. China's ever increasing consumption of oil will keep driving the oil prices up even as we increase our oil production and reduce our consumption like we have been doing in the last four years. EV will dominate in a few year when the battery technology gets their. Notice that car companies didn't develop new battery technology for their EV. They got a bunch of laptop li-ion batteries and put them in a lousy battery-pack. A lot of innovation will get into battery and battery-pack technology and the price will drop undoubtedly, especially with all the attention EVs brought to battery technology development. The EV train left the station and there is no going back.

[Steverino]

The military has identified fuel supplies as a weakness (all the vehicles need long fuel supply lines, and fuel becomes a weak link) and is investing in alternative fuel research, both to lessen dependance on oil and reduce the need for the related supply lines like the ones that Pakistan choke every so often. The GOP has decided that they are against that (the same ones who "listen to military commanders") and are looking to cut all funds associated with the military's effort. I think the GOP has been hijacked by anti-alt energy extremists who have gotten out of control.

[CarZin]

I disagree 100%.....

In 2009 Democrats in Congress passed a lot of bills that provided assistance/stimulus for alternative vehicles, batteries, alternative energy etc.

Since the Republicans took over in 2011, not a single piece of legislation has been passed to support alternative vehicles, or alternative energy. In fact, many attempts have been made by Republicans to repeal existing legislation for alternative energy, EV's etc. All of Republican efforts have been towards domestic oil production, and nothing else.

Let there be no doubt......EV, hybrid and alternative vehicle support will suffer if Republicans maintain control of Congress. If Romney wins the election, we may also see the EV tax credit go away as well.

I guess you are convienently ommiting the first EV bill was signed into law by Bush? It was just enhanced under Obama, but even under the Bush credit, we wouldnt even have used 1/4 of it up yet. I guess you also forgot to mention Bush signed into law the first Hybrid tax credit of 2006? And correct me if I am wrong, but I 'think' when the law was passed, the Republican's controlled ALL of congress and the presidency.

I am under no illusion that great change happens with any change in party. Not any more. There may be shades of change, but nothing dramatic.

[Uncle Rollo]

Politics, love it. As a conservative type, I can't believe that the Dems are in favor of tax breaks for the evil rich people. I think the credit will remain with either party. If Romney wins it may get introduced to businesses too. And why not, what better way to promote EVs than have a fleet buyer. Which is better, 2000 cars per month retail or a big business ordering 2000 at a time? I also believe that Romney will invest in the military which will do research into better batteries and alternate energy for them. This can only be good as military tech has a tendency to filter into civilian life. My beef with Obama has not been that he is for green energy, but that he wants green energy to stop global warming (not real imo) and he funded companies directly (solydra) , not research. And another thing, why do the Dems hate big oil but not big solar? Isn't one greedy, evil corporation the same as another?

Rollo

[rubley]

Maybe you guys havent noticed yet.... Not much changes, regardless of who is in power.

Yep. Any politician would have bailed out the auto industry. Any politician would have invaded Afghanistan after 9/11. The differences are on the margins. That being said, I'll probably vote against Romney just because he singled out the Volt for derision.

[msm859]

Politics, love it. As a conservative type, I can't believe that the Dems are in favor of tax breaks for the evil rich people. I think the credit will remain with either party. If Romney wins it may get introduced to businesses too. And why not, what better way to promote EVs than have a fleet buyer. Which is better, 2000 cars per month retail or a big business ordering 2000 at a time? I also believe that Romney will invest in the military which will do research into better batteries and alternate energy for them. This can only be good as military tech has a tendency to filter into civilian life. My beef with Obama has not been that he is for green energy, but that he wants green energy to stop global warming (not real imo) and he funded companies directly (solydra) , not research. And another thing, why do the Dems hate big oil but not big solar? Isn't one greedy, evil corporation the same as another?

Rollo

Also, love politics. As a progressive here is my answer to your questions. Dems hate big oil because oil pollutes, causes death and destruction. The wars in the middle east are all because of big oil. The only reason we are investing too much in the military now is because of oil. Even if you don't believe in global warming our environment would be cleaner without the dependency on oil. Our country would be better off without the dependency on oil. Romney and the current Republican party want to gut the EPA - he will not be good for EV's. "Greedy" corporations are caused by unbridled, unregulated corporations with special tax breaks. Capitalism is good, greed is bad. That is why you need government to make sure corporations/people do not become bad "greedy" capitalists.

[rubley]

Politics, love it. As a conservative type, I can't believe that the Dems are in favor of tax breaks for the evil rich people. I think the credit will remain with either party. If Romney wins it may get introduced to businesses too. And why not, what better way to promote EVs than have a fleet buyer. Which is better, 2000 cars per month retail or a big business ordering 2000 at a time? I also believe that Romney will invest in the military which will do research into better batteries and alternate energy for them. This can only be good as military tech has a tendency to filter into civilian life. My beef with Obama has not been that he is for green energy, but that he wants green energy to stop global warming (not real imo) and he funded companies directly (solydra) , not research. And another thing, why do the Dems hate big oil but not big solar? Isn't one greedy, evil corporation the same as another?

Rollo

The military has been using batteries in one form or another for more than 50 years, they're not driving innovation fast enough, they're not trying to build electric vehicles, they don't have the answers. Our military budget has doubled since 2000 - were we unsafe then? It should be cut in half tomorrow, not increased.

Global warming is an observation, if you believe in thermometers you believe in global warming. You can (incorrectly) argue that the billions of tons of C02 we produce every year is not the cause, but you don't get to pick your own facts - temperatures are rising, mostly in the oceans.

Why hate big oil? Because our addiction to oil is our *greatest* national security risk. Al Qaeda? They're a gnat. Our economy is controlled by the price of oil. I suppose you don't "believe" in peak oil either?

[mikeg3]

I'm a big EV supporter but there are much bigger issues at stake in this election.

If you really want to know which candidate will support EV's, check out who gets all the oil money. As Secretary of War Simon Cameron said 150 years ago, "An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought."

I believe that both presidential candidates are honest men.