Romney disses EV’s,
he must not care about energy independence!
Wednesday night’s presidential debate, Republican nominee
Mitt Romney argued that President Obama’s grants and tax breaks to renewable
energy companies equalled 50 years of the tax breaks to gas companies.
“Now, I like green energy as well, but that’s about 50
years’ worth of what oil and gas receives,” Romney said. “You put $90 billion —
like 50 years’ worth of breaks — into solar and wind, to Solyndra and Fisker
and Tesla and Ener1. I mean, I had a friend who said, you don’t just pick the
winners and losers; you pick the losers.”
While Solyndra and Ener1 went bankrupt and Fisker is
struggling financially, Tesla has shown signs of recovery. Romney then quipped
that “One of my friends said, ‘You don’t pick the winners and losers. You pick
the losers.’”
It’s a bit premature to call Tesla a loser – especially as
the company is building cars it hopes will revolutionize transportation and
helps us achieve what Romney said he too was working towards, energy
independence.
Moreover, founder Elon Musk posted these three pints in his
blog last week:
1. In discussions with the DOE, Tesla has never asked for or
even hinted at postponing repayment of the loan. We did suggest that holding
nine months worth of principal payments in *advance* in a reserved account was
a bit extreme and, moreover, was never part of our original loan agreement. The
DOE agreed and reduced the advance payment reserve account to six months. At
the risk of being repetitive: Tesla has always made its DOE payments on time
and has never asked to delay repayment ever. I don't know how to state this
more clearly.
2. The DOE's desire for advance payment of the overall loan
stems from a concern that is the complete opposite of what many assume. The DOE
believes Tesla will be highly successful and accumulate a large amount of cash,
but that we may then choose not to pay off the loan any sooner than is
currently required. Far from being worried about our survival, the DOE is
highly bullish about our future and doesn't want us to delay early repayment of
the loan if we have the cash on hand to do so.
The DOE has simply asked if we would be willing to repay the
loan early if we have excess cash. The answer is unequivocally yes and I am happy to announce that we
will be initiating an advance payment today to prefund the principal payment
that is due in March 2013. The purpose of the DOE Advanced Technology
Manufacturing Program was to serve as a catalyst for accelerating sustainable
transport technology, which is in the best interests of all Americans and
ultimately people throughout the world. In the case of Tesla, the result has
been a resurgence in American manufacturing ability and the creation of over
3500 high quality jobs. Nonetheless, we have a duty at Tesla, having accepted
this loan as a portion of our capital, to repay it at the earliest opportunity.
We will do exactly that.
Elon
Tesla Motor’s future
is yet to be determined but Tesla and Elon Musk have captured the imagination
of many. The Model S is getting great reviews. So calling Tesla a loser is
wrong. The nation has made the decision to move towards conservation, so Mitt
Romney is either going to help facilitate this or get in the way. If 50 years
of subsidies were invested into clean energies, then it seems to me that Romney
should be praising the President’s commitment to energy independence not using
this as a zinger. Techies all over should pay attention to his rhetoric; it
could be a sign of things to come.
For folks trained on combustion cars, trying out an
all-electric vehicle can feel like taking a very fast, road-ready toy for a
spin. Press the ignition button, and the car turns on without the telltale
rumble of an engine bursting into action. Step on the gas, and the high-torque
jolt of speed is surprisingly sudden. The untold story of the electric car
revolution: These things are simply fun to drive.
For the RAV4 EV, the secret sauce comes from Tesla Motors.
The vehicle is actually a collaboration between Toyota and Tesla, for which
Tesla is providing the electric drivetrain and battery packs (I was told they
were basically the same innards that are featured in the much-hyped Tesla Model
S). The RAV4 is, quite literally, a Tesla vehicle in a Toyota shell.
The auto blog Green Car Reports did the math and found that
just four EVs are slated to be for sale in the U.S. in any real numbers by the
end of 2012: ones from Nissan, Mitsubishi, Coda, and the aforementioned Tesla.
The blog characterizes others as so-called “compliance
cars.” This basically means that they’re produced, at least in part, so their
manufacturer can comply with California laws requiring large carmakers to
produce at least some zero-emission vehicles.
Now, there are two ways of looking at this peculiarity.
Cynics might say manufacturers are just making compliance cars because they
have to, with little intention of blowing out the tech into mainstream
products…read the entire story
Other News
Zero introduces new
line
Zero Motorcycles last
week announced its 2013 model line which features an average power increase of
99 percent and the world’s longest-range production electric motorcycle: the
Zero S, capable of 137 miles in the city. To attain such leaps in performance,
Zero designed a revolutionary new Z-Force™ motor that is incredibly powerful
while also highly efficient, passively air-cooled and compact. Integrated into
every 2013 motorcycle, the motor operates using a new higher voltage Z-Force
power pack. Providing riders the option to charge faster than ever, each Zero
can now be charged to 95 percent in an hour or less using CHAdeMO certified
charge stations by way of an optional accessory. Perhaps most exciting, Zero
plans to begin initial deliveries of its complete 2013 model line to North
America in January 2013.
Nearly all elements of the entire line have been reworked, from
highly innovative mobile phone integration to eye-catching styling. Using
Bluetooth, riders can now sync their iPhone or Android mobile phones to see
detailed motorcycle information and even adjust the performance characteristics
of the motorcycle. Riders will appreciate the storage in the ”tank” area and
comfortable two-tier seats. To accommodate the new look and powertrain, Zero
redesigned the frames for every model with an emphasis on improving rider
ergonomics and expanding compatibility with aftermarket accessories.
In 2013, Zero also introduces the Zero FX, a “do anything”
and “ride anywhere” urban rebel motorcycle. It is the fastest accelerating
motorcycle in the company's lineup with 70 ft-lbs of torque, 44 hp and a low
weight of only 275 lbs. The Zero FX, as well as the Zero XU and Zero MX, features
a cool modular quick-swap power pack technology. Riders can now use one or two
battery modules and can upgrade any of the previously mentioned models from 2.8
kWh to 5.7 kWh in seconds. The Zero MX is capable of comfortably launching off
significantly larger jumps at the motocross track.
Zero’s newly introduced Z-Force motor along with it’s
powertrain is completely air-cooled, thanks to it’s efficient design. With
instant torque, a nearly silent belt-driven system and no shifting, riders will
find it easier to enjoy the ride. Zero proudly claims that for the owner, there
is no routine powertrain maintenance and the “fuel” cost is only a penny a
mile. California with it’s year round good climate and $6 per gallon gas should
go think about making the Zero the State symbol.
Links
C.D.C.
Says Thousands
Exposed to Tainted Steroid New York Times
Economic Decline Has Less Impact on
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Nature World News
Pettis: China is like Japan and not in a good
way MacroBusiness
Ireland Plans to jump start Housing
New York Times
DLA Piper Tech Leaders Forecast Survey,
October 2012. Per Slashdot
How Gloria Romero Became the Face of
Proposition 32 Frying Pan News
wow! this is my time for applying loan for vehicle. these posts are very tempting! and i know it is very easy to get these right now.
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