Get Your Green Motor Running

Gee whiz and now Ford, Chrysler and the General want interest free loans from the government ala Chrysler when Lee Iacoca was president. Too bad they all were so busy building 10 mpg SUV's, trucks for communters and autos with ever increasing horsepower. If I am not mistaken, the 2009 Viper has at least 600 horsepower. That is totally irresponsible when we are in the midst of an energy crisis.

Its all B S for the U S. But the worm has turn,I see it here in california.For sale Hummers,U S trucks, its a start.Japan has the califonia car market,cause they know people don't too trash there state.Bring that car on.

The Japanese put their money and knowledge for the benefit of the world. The US on the other hand put all their efforts into war and destruction.

the Ev1 is being reborn as the Volt - due in 2010, but it changed from a sleek sporty vehichle to an amerrican standard sedan

Remeber the electric car from GM EV1? The Hypermini and RAV4-EV from Toyota? All these were electric cars that were produced and leased to some clients. They mysteriously disappeared from the market and were destroyed by the manufacturers. Why? Probably those cars were not perfect when introduced, but why to waste millions of dollars invested? Was there any conspiracy from the big oil companies?

Years ago during the rise of Japan, she was demonized and accused of currency manipulation. Today, Americans just love everything Japanese.

Years ago during the rise of Japan, she was demonized and accused of currency manupulation. Today, Americans just love everything Japanese.

Kiss the US automobile industry goodbye. It is quite clear that McCain will never permit this in this country -- he has a history of voting against any and every kind of policy, whether direct subsidies or tax incentives, that would allow the "Big Three" (LOL) to convert to "green cars." Not that it matters -- by the time the Republicans are done, we won't have any roads or bridges anyway.

How come I always see the right-wing nut jobs saying stuff like U.S.A. #1 on the esoteric rhetoric crap but I have yet to see the U.S. leading on the important issues like eliminating a need for foreign oil?

I want nothing more than to see the U.S. be able to tell the entire middle east to shove an oil rig up its collective....well, you get the idea.

The article was brilliant in essence. The author is correct. The Japannese have helped liberate the world from the stranglehold of oil producing nations. I, for one, am grateful to Toyota for the Prius and what it has shown the world. Also, my wife and I now drive Ford Hybrid Escapes, after trading in a Mazda Tribute (V-6) and F-150 (V-8) on them. If we still were driving the older vehicles, we would be paying double for fuel each month than what we are spending now.

If Japan can liberate the world from the Terrorist funding oil economies of the Middle East and elsewhere, I say they deserve all of the rewards they can get. And, if GM and Ford are finally moving in the direction Americans really have needed to escape this quagmire, it is only because Toyota and Honda have provided the doorway out.

GM and Ford will catch up at some point, but it will cost the taxpayers of this country a fortune in low interest loans to the US manufacturers to make it possible. After all, we wouldn't want the overpaid employees and officers to go without their enormous salaries, benefits, and stock options. Never mind they all are responsible for delivering terrible quality cars, until the Japanese came in and started eating their lunch by providing quality, and now missing AGAIN on fuel economy, even after the 1973 oil embargo.

While they are all busy worrying about their retirement benefits and stock options, the US consumer/taxpayer can chose between the costly loans or having to pick up the bill for retirement benefits that would no longer be coming to these same workers through their employers, but would instead be coming directly from the US government through the Pension Guarantee Trust Fund, after Ford and GM close their doors. This delightful dilema can all be credited to the incompetent managment and workers obsessed with, "what's in it for them?" Oh wait, the US government didn't give us a vote in this matter. I forgot (how silly of me:-)

I liked the article as well. I drive a Ford Escape Hybrid, personally. My vehicle would not be on the street right now if it were not for the efforts of Toyota and its drive for the Prius. I bought my Escape Hybrid just before gas went over $ 2.50 / gallon, and I was highly criticised by some of my relatives for supporting the Japanese, and the "crazy" and soon to be, "Short-lived" obsession with fuel economy. Now, I am the one with the smile on my face. And again, Ford Motor would not have had the ability to put my vehicle on the road without the Toyota Prius having gone before it. (Which my Father owns one of).

I smile at this situation most when I think about the vehicle I traded in on the Escape Hybrid. I traded a Mazda Tribute with a traditional, V-6 engine in on the hybrid. Now, I get 50% better fuel economy and the same poower and acceleration as with the older vehicle. Not to mention, a $ 2600 tax CREDIT, and because everyone was laughing the hybrids when I bought mine, Ford was not really able to sell them. So, I got a 0% for 60 months loan from Ford on a purchase price well below MSRP!

So, I say thank you to the Japanese for their long term investment strategy. And by the way, the US auto companies, which I love dearly as a true American, STILL could not consistenly make a profit even in the hey-days of the SUV craze. I never did understand why everyone, from the executive offices down to the manufacturing floors could not see this coming.

Why are you getting your shorts in a bunch. Defensive for any particular reason? Why can't you take the article for what it is - a praise for Japanese auto makers and their forsight. Does everything have to be a compare and contrast to America - mr Canadian?
The Japanese in this area deserve all the tout they receive. You forget that up until a few years ago the american auto makers were totally focused on SUVs. Even a regular guy like me was wondering what the heck was going on. US industries have a habit of forcing upon the population whatever they want instead of providing what the population should want. I say should because I am not completely sure that the vast majority of the population here reasons out what's best for it in the longrun and was foolish enough to lap up the SUVs like it was candy.
You also probably didn't read the last page that had relevant criticism / points of concern about japanese efforts.
I liked the article.
TY author
Garrek

I cannot help but agree with Mr. Law. I am quoted in this article as saying; "Japan is leading the charge" while my message was precisely the opposite. I wish to make it clear that GM is the prime company in the world that is leading the charge to a new generation of vehicles. In fact GM is putting its money and its reputation on the line in the development of the Volt while Japanese companies are behind because they were slow to recognize the changes in technology - and they were playing it safe basking in a decade-old reputation of "being green".