GM to subsidise some US petrol purchases
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Nice one GM. Let's see if we can encourage people to drive more fuel inefficent cars. :doh:
I hate that too! However paying for consumer gasoline might give them an incentive to work on that.... BTW GM had an electric car available since 199x. But for reason I cannot fathom (no one really understand I think), GM destroy them all and end its production in 2005....
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When I was first in the US, there was lots in the paper about gas prices putting people in debt. I worked it out ( that is gallons -> litres ) and while I recognise that it's all relative, and any rise in prices locally means people spending more in that area, I sure wished I had their problems. I went though $80 a week when I was commuting. I still easily spend $20 in a day if I have to do some short trips in the ute with weight on. Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
Yeah we pay a lot less in fuel taxes then the rest of the world. Compare all the costs minus taxes. Everyone always seems to forget the tax cost per luter / gallon when sayiong how good the prices in the US are
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I hate that too! However paying for consumer gasoline might give them an incentive to work on that.... BTW GM had an electric car available since 199x. But for reason I cannot fathom (no one really understand I think), GM destroy them all and end its production in 2005....
How long do the batteries in your laptop / cellphone last? think of how expensive it would be to replace all those cells in a car? How much waste would be associated with them as well?
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I hate that too! However paying for consumer gasoline might give them an incentive to work on that.... BTW GM had an electric car available since 199x. But for reason I cannot fathom (no one really understand I think), GM destroy them all and end its production in 2005....
Super Lloyd wrote:
GM had an electric car available since 199x. But for reason I cannot fathom (no one really understand I think), GM destroy them all and end its production in 2005....
They were ridiculously expensive, and other than being electric, had no advantages over conventional cars. They had extremely limited range, so were only good for going around town - and had to be recharged practically every night. It just wasn't practicaly enough for most people.
Ryan
"Punctuality is only a virtue for those who aren't smart enough to think of good excuses for being late" John Nichol "Point Of Impact"
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Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
There have even been applications to the government for reimbursement due to lost marketability of SUV's and Trucks due to high gas prices based on years prior to the gas rise. As well as demands that higher import duties be applied to foreign cars with better fuel economy.
Not exactily encouraging, instead of rising to the challenging and changing their product for a changing market, the are seeking to force consumers to use a product that doesn't best suit their needs? Are government's in the business of compensating businesses for their failure to adapt, the European Commission refused to let EU governments help ailing european airlines after 09/11, I think Europe's Aviation market is strong because of it. I would be quiet a lefty (politically) but even I would balk at this idea ... ;P Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire" Blogging @ Keratoconus Watch
Ray Kinsella wrote:
Not exactily encouraging, instead of rising to the challenging and changing their product for a changing market, the are seeking to force consumers to use a product that doesn't best suit their needs?
I believe the statement on the SUV business tax break was "encouragement to use"
Ray Kinsella wrote:
Are government's in the business of compensating businesses for their failure to adapt
In a word, yes. Also protection against unfair pressure to adapt. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Ray Kinsella wrote:
Not exactily encouraging, instead of rising to the challenging and changing their product for a changing market, the are seeking to force consumers to use a product that doesn't best suit their needs?
I believe the statement on the SUV business tax break was "encouragement to use"
Ray Kinsella wrote:
Are government's in the business of compensating businesses for their failure to adapt
In a word, yes. Also protection against unfair pressure to adapt. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
Also protection against unfair pressure to adapt.
I don't if I would call market pressure to improve the efficenty of a manifestly uneconomical vechicle unfair, but perhaps we are from different worlds. Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire" Blogging @ Keratoconus Watch
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I hate that too! However paying for consumer gasoline might give them an incentive to work on that.... BTW GM had an electric car available since 199x. But for reason I cannot fathom (no one really understand I think), GM destroy them all and end its production in 2005....
Super Lloyd wrote:
However paying for consumer gasoline might give them an incentive to work on that....
Great point. Perhaps if car companies were all required to supply one year (or 10,000 miles) worth of gas with a new car we'd see how quickly they could improve fuel efficiency.* * of course, I'm well aware that in reality the cost of the fuel would just be "included" in the price of the car :sigh:
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How long do the batteries in your laptop / cellphone last? think of how expensive it would be to replace all those cells in a car? How much waste would be associated with them as well?
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Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
Also protection against unfair pressure to adapt.
I don't if I would call market pressure to improve the efficenty of a manifestly uneconomical vechicle unfair, but perhaps we are from different worlds. Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire" Blogging @ Keratoconus Watch
Ray Kinsella wrote:
I don't if I would call
I wouldn't either... but since the money required for any office is excessively high, the only way is to sell promises to your supporters before they call you. When you do that the rules are set later. The businesses consider it unfair, and defend it as such. The SUV market must be protected against suits for poor weight distributions, they must be protected against market pressure of high efficiency vehicles, etc. When you sign on the dotted line and collect the money BEFORE someone fills in the request, well, this is what happens. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Ray Kinsella wrote:
I don't if I would call
I wouldn't either... but since the money required for any office is excessively high, the only way is to sell promises to your supporters before they call you. When you do that the rules are set later. The businesses consider it unfair, and defend it as such. The SUV market must be protected against suits for poor weight distributions, they must be protected against market pressure of high efficiency vehicles, etc. When you sign on the dotted line and collect the money BEFORE someone fills in the request, well, this is what happens. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
I can sympathise, corruption in Ireland was rife for years and and still is in many ways. The Irish politicans and builders/planners had a very cosy relationship for years, not suprising then our housing is some of the most expensive in the world. Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire" Blogging @ Keratoconus Watch
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Super Lloyd wrote:
GM had an electric car available since 199x. But for reason I cannot fathom (no one really understand I think), GM destroy them all and end its production in 2005....
They were ridiculously expensive, and other than being electric, had no advantages over conventional cars. They had extremely limited range, so were only good for going around town - and had to be recharged practically every night. It just wasn't practicaly enough for most people.
Ryan
"Punctuality is only a virtue for those who aren't smart enough to think of good excuses for being late" John Nichol "Point Of Impact"
Ryan Binns wrote:
They were ridiculously expensive, and other than being electric, had no advantages over conventional cars. They had extremely limited range, so were only good for going around town - and had to be recharged practically every night. It just wasn't practicaly enough for most people.
True, and I agree with all those points, including alternative fuel vehicles (hydrogen, propane, etc), because you are limited to areas that have the fuel available. You cross the desert here, you are big trouble if you don't have a gas vehicle (well you can get yourself in trouble if you don't plan for 100mile between station too, but that is another issue). I can fillup with gas in Willard, NM, even grab an apple at the general store/station, but not much more than that. However, there are still advertisements about "don't plug in your vehicle, buy ..." (for trucks and SUV's). The insinuation is that hybrid electric vehicles require them to be plugged in, which is highly misleading. They are referring to the fiasco with electric vehicles that caused the drop of the lines, but they are "aiming" them at all the market hybrids which are simply very high efficiency gas vehicles. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Super Lloyd wrote:
However paying for consumer gasoline might give them an incentive to work on that....
Great point. Perhaps if car companies were all required to supply one year (or 10,000 miles) worth of gas with a new car we'd see how quickly they could improve fuel efficiency.* * of course, I'm well aware that in reality the cost of the fuel would just be "included" in the price of the car :sigh:
Wjousts wrote:
* of course, I'm well aware that in reality the cost of the fuel would just be "included" in the price of the car
which is the problem. Even with this current deal, GM will only raise the price of the vehicle to match and make the buyer believe they are getting the better deal. Instead of buying the gas as needed in the first year, the buyer will be buying the gasoline with interest over the life of the loan. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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I can sympathise, corruption in Ireland was rife for years and and still is in many ways. The Irish politicans and builders/planners had a very cosy relationship for years, not suprising then our housing is some of the most expensive in the world. Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire" Blogging @ Keratoconus Watch
Ray Kinsella wrote:
corruption
we renamed it to "member incentives" and made it expected. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)