Lansing, Mich., Aug. 4, 2008 – Barack Obama laid out a comprehensive energy policy today, one that sets an ambitious goal of placing 1 million plug-in electric cars in service by 2015.
From an Obama campaign press release:
- Provide short‐term relief to American families facing pain at the pump;
- Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future;
- Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela;
- Put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars –cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America;
- Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025;
- Implement an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
More coverage on Obama’s energy policy at autobloggreen.com and from La Marguerite.
Thanks, Marguerite!
Did you read his whole plan? So many green job opportunities in the making! The Green Revolution is just beginning . . .
Are you people crazy? I liked his fourth bullet: “Put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars –cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America”.
How is he “putting” 1 million plug-ins on the road? How can he guarantee the public will buy 1 million of these cars? Is government giving them away to us? If not, what if they are too expensive? What if people don’t want them? How can he even guarantee they will be built here?
Again, it’s the insane leading the insane. Madness. NOBAMA!
Crazy, huh?
How’s Mr. McCain going to help gas prices today by relying heavily on new offshore-drilling…when doing so won’t impact the market for say 10-15 years? Talk about your crazy…
Seriously, “Leonard”, our economy is about to be radically-transformed by green tech. Wall Street says green tech is the new black. They’re right! Leading that tech transformation will be the automotive industry. I bet people will want plug-in cars. Sure, initially the demand will surpass supply and electric cars will be expensive (we talked earlier about the 2010 Fisker Karma at $80,000)…but in typical Dee-troit fashion, the auto industry will extend production of electric cars so much that the price will become reasonable, and fast.
Examples of industries experiencing big price drops: mobile phones, high-definition televisions, etc.
The market will drive the demand. Not government.
Dan, you’re way off base. The electric cars are currently too expensive to build/purchase and the batteries do not allow long trips. Of course costs will eventually come down, but the technology is easily a decade away if not longer. So, in the meantime, what do you propose we do? Continue being held hostage by the Middle East? Or maybe use our emergency reserves? Or should we simply inflate our tires, lol. DRILL NOW, DRILL HERE. And, while we’re doing that, work on alternate sources. But for the here and now, we need to drill. Throughout the entire world, oil is essential. Do you understand, you still need oil for the plastics used in the electric car? And where is all of the power coming from for the electric cars?! A million electric cars is going to cause a large increase in electricity. You need to plug them in, thus you need more energy. Kinda simple, even for you.
Lastly, you note that the market will drive demand, not government. Well, the people are demanding we drill and Nancy Pelosi, i.e. government, refuses to even allow a vote and then takes vacation… probably in her large SUV.
This is not a political blog. But “Leonard’s” post should definitely come with the tag “I’m John McCain and I approve this message”.
“Leonard”, if you want to have the last word, I’ll let you have the last word, okay? (I’m comfortable enough in my own skin to let that happen.)
There is no doubt that we need to discover more sources of energy , but at the same time we need to reduce consumption .
The reduction of consumption can be accomplished by utilizing the technologies of a privately owned company located in New Jersey . They have developed what they call the ” Hydro Assist Fuel Cell ” that enables the doubling and sometimes tripling of the fuel economy in automobiles . Then with further modification utilizing what they call the ” Pre Ignition Catalytic Converter ” they can utilize the energy that is contained in the carbons that are now being burnt and wasted . The exhaust is water .
Phase #1 , the HAFC has been on the market for a year and the result has been the improvement of fuel economy by an average of 95% thus they ” guarantee ” a 50% improvement . $1,075 plus labor ( 4 hours ) to install .
Phase #2 , the PICC will be available as soon as the EPA , California Air Resource Board ( CARB ) or Congress approves it for replacement of the current models . $2,500 plus labor ( 7 hours ) to install .
The overall costs to modify a vehicle is about $5,000 and will enable any SUV , V-8 engine or light truck to obtain
100 MPG or more .
Engines life will be expanded three fold or more . Engine oil will not be contaminated . No need for holding tanks or changes in infrastructure . Manufactured in the USA !!
NOTE: The writer of this comment is associated with the “Hydro Assist Fuel Cell”.