MyGovCost News & Blog

Rob McMillin says:

The principle reality for electric cars is framed by the underlying and unyielding nature of the problem of energy density. The best electric batteries have an energy density more than an order of magnitude worse than gasoline. And unlike with microchips, which are on an exponential growth path, improvements in battery storage are in the 1-3% per year range. Add to this the fact that costs for these batteries are ridiculously steep, almost anything looks better.

Tony Tuten says:

The “green” cars are attractive for MOST patriotic Americans who want to STICK it to Mid-East OIL Barons and want US energy independence. BUT the cost are prohibitive for the American wallet. We are too burdened with taxes, fuel and heating costs, and worries about our future economic situation to invest in a program sponsored by a here today gone tomorrow US Government commitment to her people or anybody else for that matter.

T M Colon says:

What is rarely considered about electric cars is the total energy used in the entire cycle from building, use, and disposal. An electric car takes much more energy to make and recycle. All told, electric cars are no greener than conventional cars.

What’s amusing is plugging in a light bulb is a green crime, plugging in an entire car is a green virtue. Electric cars are mostly an emissions relocation program and little else.

Shane Cline says:

Academics and politicians are making a mistake in thinking green cars are good. It is a jump in their logic. By their own belief system, atmospheric carbon is bad, and that is a supportable stance. They should support declaring carbon a pollutant and taxing carbon to offset the externality damages – then get rid of the corporate tax to achieve revenue neutrality so as to not confound environmental protection with revenue generation.

High carbon-based energy costs will naturally lead to alternatives such as wind, solar, cellulosic ethanol, and electric cars, without the government picking winners and losers – something that governments have always failed at doing. It would be cheaper because there would be no subsidies. And it would be economically efficient since a carbon tax has smaller deadweight losses than other taxes that would be reduced. Too bad such an approach is politically infeasible. The right is afraid of change. The left wants government at the helm and will not support simple, targeted, effective policy recommendations.

Mark Hedtke says:

I have had the luxury of experiencing, tracking and participating in the history of alternative power for the past 30+ years. I have heard it all by industry “so called” experts, energy purveyors (“stall guys”) and even government “yes men”. Many have attempted to publically slight any alternative energy advances, with the usual industry doubletalk, saying that the development of alternative fuel is still in the laboratory stages and just economically isn’t ready to compete in the marketplace, so industry can’t move forward until then. (a partial article on energy background seen here at: http://www.stormynites.net/moonnews.net/articles/aeh.html)

Alternative energy hasn’t collectively thrown up their hands in the meantime, so at this point in time at the end of 2011 despite the stonewalling, entrepreneurs have persevered without them, often on their own dime. A great example is how the US big 3 automobile industry, in my opinion, in collusion with the oil industry have done everything that they can to milk every dollar from consumers at the pump, while recording record profits. Even one auto manufacturer who developed the EV1 back in the late 1970′s as a lease only vehicle, in my opinion, saw the handwriting on the wall at it’s success, so it recalled all of it’s vehicles and destroyed them by crushing them, even though many of it’s leasors wanted to purchase the vehicles outright because they were so enthusiastic about the all electric car. Today, they are producing a vehicle that in my opinion has been put out on the market to actually dissuade consumers from buying an all electric vehicle, by not even coming close to the significantly better mileage that their original EV1 got or as reliably. As I said those entrepreneurs are moving ahead without them, just look at the Tesla Coupe. That isn’t all of the story, by any means. We now see other countries moving ahead of us in alternative energy building on our own findings with even greater breakthroughs and advances. If anything, it is our own government who has failed the US Consumer, working together with the stonewalling commercial interests, keeping us as “energy prisoners”. Certainly, there will always be naysayers about anything, however mark my words 2012 will mark the real beginning of the alternative energy onslaught by foreign automakers and alternative energy companies. We already see the likes of France and Germany, doing the only smart thing, dumping Nuclear in favor of alternative energy, China outstripping us all in not just electric vehicles but residential and industrial alternative power generation as well.

Marc says:

Robertson’s one-rotor rotary engine idea is a good one. When used in an inexpensive lightweight car it might be just what Americans need. Mazda has been going in the opposite direction, however, with their more powerful and complex third generation engines.

Until another Edison or Tesla appears to rethink batteries I’ll stick with internal combustion. On the other hand, electric motorcycles do make sense for short urban trips. If I lived in the city I would seriously consider getting one.