More rebounding news this weekend with a life line thrown at Detroit to hopefully make electric vehicles, EV and more related news around the globe…
Help U.S. Electric Vehicle Innovators. According to veteran automotive executives, H. Dennis Kammerer and Rodger L. Cornish, say electric car pioneer ZAP is already building all-electric models and the US government should offer support to companies who are already building plug-in transportation, via CNN. ZAP has encountered different types of problems this year and the two veterans were tapped to help the company.
$13.4 Million To Detroit. both GM and Chrysler ave received over $13 million drawn from the Treasury’s 700 billion dollar Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and are shutting down operations for a month, while paying employees, at least at Chrysler. Here is a Wall Street Journal article on it. My, what a can of worms was opened with this bailout…
Electric Cars Pollute! Yes, you heard it from Diana Furchtgott, the former chief economist U.S. Department of Labor, via Reuters. The gist? You know the drill, even though EVss don’t pollute when running on batteries, lithium-ion manufacturing is pollution-intensive and recharging the batteries uses electricity which comes from coal- and gas-fired power plants. She quotes a 2008 study by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to make the point… Hum.
Record Clean Technology Global Investments. $4.6 billion so far for the first three quarters of 2008, according to MarketWatch.
LA Times Likes Ford Fusion. The LA Times likes the Ford Fusion, and why not, at $27,270 retail price, but $25,000 after taxes, it gives you around 50 mpg.
Ener1 Gets A Push From The Government. Not just Detroit but also battery maker Ener1 is receiving $1.6 billion from Federal Grant, according to MSN.
Finally, a last note on the majority of news you will find that is mostly focused on Detroit. This article from PBS shows how deep down inside, the whole Detroit bailout isn’t about technology, citizens or welfare but mostly political…