Al Gore-Backed Electric Car Company Gets $529M Loan

[Duckhunter]

Originally Posted by Krootie

As a senior female babyboomer, I find this recent editing disturbing.

"Last edited by Dunerunner; Today at 05:15 PM.. Reason: link removed due to political content."

I thought America had "Freedom of Speech", and personally didn't find the article political but more informative as investments in future automotive research - for family vehicles as well.

The Link that I posted should remain and Dunerunner needs to read and comprehend the entire article. If someone is flaming - then remove their post - NOT MINE.

What's happening to this forum??? It's becoming too Funky for my taste. I want my $$$ back if this keeps up.

I will take your word that there was no polital intent however the article you had the link to was the politics page in a publication with a slant. Here are some links to the base information.

Fisker granted $529 million DOE loan - UPI.com


U.S. loans $528.7 million for Fisker $39,000 hybrid | Green Tech - CNET News

[vwW12]

Originally Posted by Duckhunter

It would be nice if the cost does come down to make these cars more affordable for the mass market. Hard to start a new company with new technology and have it be cheap.

Someone really needs to start subsidizing Italian-made Ferraris so that someday, maybe, hopefully, the mass market can have Ferrari technologies such as

more use of carbon-fiber, low-rolling resistance tires, wind-tunnel simulations for road cars, hydraulic and electric actuators replacing mechanical parts, smaller electronic components and more effective underbody diffusers

Who knows, if US taxpayers also give $529,000,000 to Ferrari, maybe someday we will see a US-made Ferrari, uh?

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by vwW12

Someone really needs to start subsidizing Italian-made Ferraris so that someday, maybe, hopefully, the mass market can have Ferrari technologies such as

Who knows, if US taxpayers also give $529,000,000 to Ferrari, maybe someday we will see a US-made Ferrari, uh?

[Krootie]

Maybe we should all go back to driving horse and buggy and assigning the village idiot to clean up the streets in the spring. Why invest in research?

It's a loan folks - to be repaid.

Matt Rogers, who oversees the department's loan programs as a senior adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, said Fisker was awarded the loan after a "detailed technical review" that concluded the company could eventually deliver a highly fuel-efficient hybrid car to a mass audience. Fisker said most of its DOE loan will be used to finance U.S. production of a $40,000 family sedan that has yet to be designed.

[Krootie]

So, . . . articles by CNET and UPI are political??? REALLY? I'd better start listening ONLY to Fox/Faux News.

The hybrid car start-up company is indeed developing a $39,000 plug-in hybrid electric car, as CNET News predicted last week.
Fisker currently refers to the mystery car as "Project Ni

Originally Posted by Duckhunter

I will take your word that there was no polital intent however the article you had the link to was the politics page in a publication with a slant. Here are some links to the base information.

Fisker granted $529 million DOE loan - UPI.com


U.S. loans $528.7 million for Fisker $39,000 hybrid | Green Tech - CNET News

[Duckhunter]

Originally Posted by Krootie

So, . . . articles by CNET and UPI are political??? REALLY? I'd better start listening ONLY to Fox/Faux News.

The hybrid car start-up company is indeed developing a $39,000 plug-in hybrid electric car, as CNET News predicted last week.
Fisker currently refers to the mystery car as "Project Ni

Ah, no the article that you originally linked to was from tha political section of the Wall Street Journal. The articles that I linked to were not from a political section as you were complaining the your article was deleted.

[Smartdavis]

I just find this whole approach wrong. I am not convinced there is going to be a market for this car. Does anybody remember the Delorean? How about the government buys 42,320 Smart Cars and gives them away instead? At least then there would be an actual car and driver on the road instead of an imaginary one on paper.

[BigWarpGuy]

Buying and giving away Smart cars seems like a smart thing to do. They could give away more of them since they are so affordable.

I think there is a market for an affordable hybrid but a hybrid simiar to what they have in diesel trains. One can have a smaller engine running a generator that powers the electric motors and charging the batteries. It would be a step between pure electric and gas powered vehicles.

[Krootie]

I owe everyone an apology - my original post was from the Huffington Post Blog. And that has political origins. Geez. What can I say - sorry to slant my post.

[Krootie]

And the article continues with (political) Air America explaining why Eco Motor's request was turned down - Power Density and the Holy Grail.

Beau Friedlander: Why Does Competition Over Green Tech Spur Gore Baiting?

"Al Gore opts in to buy a Fisker Karma the minute he hears about it. Of course he does. So do a bunch of elites. It's a hot car. It's green. Very sexy. That's a pretty standard move in marketing circles. Get influentials on board and work your wait to Joe America.

Fisker puts 15,000 cars a year on the streets. These fast, over-performing cars are a sight to behold, the topic of bar room conversation. It gets more than 100 miles to the gallon and can travel 50 miles on electric power while providing all the torque of a German sports car. Gore opting in on the pricey version: a priceless amount of marketing for the $40,000 sedan that follows.

Compare to the sour grapes competition referred to in the Journal piece: O. John Collett of Eco Motors International asked for $20 million from the same program and was turned down. Check out the above-linked Eco Motors site. Exciting, huh? Now compare it to Fisker.

Which one would you invest in?"

Help! I require a list of "neutral" news sites so I can post messages. Yahoo is just boring with their latest news - "GM's trial program selling cars on eBay set to end". Oh whoopie. . . . . should I post this one? Unfortunately, nothing relates to Smart on Slashdot News. *sigh*

Waiting for the list. . . .