New Chevy Volt Vids: Volt Explained by “Happiest Drivers on the Planet”
June 15, 2012
Fox News viewers, listen carefully for the above “un-Fox’n’Friends” explanation how the Chevy Volt works.
Below, delighted drivers.
More of these here at the playlist.
June 15, 2012 at 5:25 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2157831/Its-raining-pouring-thatll-global-warming-.html
June 15, 2012 at 5:38 am
Well, to be fair, the term “climate change” has been around a long time. Here’s an example from 37 years ago:
http://pages.citebite.com/k2v2u1w6mfeh
June 15, 2012 at 5:27 am
Elissa is taking her savings so that she can go to Hawaii {giggle!}. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34aJaW_9Sp0#t=22s
Unfortunately, it cost the American taxpayers a $7,500 tax credit to make her so happy, plus a Dept of Energy $105.9 million grant to the GM plant that assembles the batteries, plus “up to $100 million” in refundable battery credits awarded to Compact Power, the company that supplies the batteries, plus various other subsidies and tax breaks.
The Volt would be a very cool car if only it weren’t so goldarn expensive.
(Well, it’d also be nicer if it would take a trailer hitch. “The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer…” -Volt Owner’s Manual)
June 15, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Gotta say, I don’t care much about the tax credit. The amount spent on the volt is miniscule compared to the amount spent on crap for the military, and probably even compared to the amount we’ve already spend dealing with the impacts of climate change.
I am looking forward to when the Volt and its ilk are cheaper though.
June 15, 2012 at 6:34 am
The Daily Mail and Richard Littlejohn once again demonstrate that there is no limit to their silly drivel. Who needs facts when they print vitriol?
June 15, 2012 at 7:18 am
The problem is cars. Not what they burn. The electric car as a solution is a good choice for “Crock of the Week.”
June 15, 2012 at 11:31 am
there is no doubt that an over-reliance on autos is a problem, and tends to actually limit people’s choices in terms of transportation. The US used to have the world’s best system of trains, which was dismantled, in part with the collusion of Powerful interests like GM.
That said, even with a crash, Apollo-like program to build mass transit,which is not on the horizon right now, switching Americans completely away from cars would be a generational project, and we don’t have generations in which to act – we need to create solutions starting from where we are, now. There is a general movement, especially on the part of young people, away from the car dependent culture of their parents and grandparents, and that’s a good thing. There are also a number of ways in which electric cars can be a positive part of the transition.
June 15, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Gotta say, any time a company shoots an ad with somebody saying “It’s not an [X], it’s a way of life!” it makes me a little less interested in the product. The notion that, in this case, a car would define my life is kinda creepy to me.
June 15, 2012 at 3:09 pm
No, the problem IS what they burn. An electric car charged by non-fossil electricity is climate neutral.
June 15, 2012 at 3:25 pm
No, the problem with cars, as opposed to public transportation, is that cars let people go wherever they want, whenever they want. How are Planners supposed to plan, if people just do whatever they want to do?
June 15, 2012 at 4:05 pm
They do that in the adverts don’t they.
In real life though, they tend to take people straight to Congestion Town. Unless you live in Holland or Denmark – in which case because lots of journeys are taken on foot, by bike and on public transport, the roads are always moving when you do take the car. Even in rush hour.
One of the benefits of planners, I guess.
June 15, 2012 at 7:49 pm
yes, and they allow millions of people to be trapped for hours on congested, overcrowded freeways for hours each day, instead of being with families, participating in community, or doing things they love. They “allow” for more air pollution, congestion, and noise, “allow” our cities to be hostile to human beings, and create sprawled, uglified suburbs where rates of obesity soar as walking, cycling, and other activities are not only discouraged, but actually dangerous.
Cars also “allow” huge portions of the population to be cut off from active participation in society, as car ownership is the barrier to being able to got to school, have a job, or even buy groceries, for people who are too young, too old, or handicapped.
Fortunately, many younger people are not afflicted by the auto-centric view of culture, and are using and demanding more mass transit, using zip car and other services, and generally reducing their need for autos. they understand that the most livable cities, those that are attracting the most new jobs, businesses, and residents, are those that are most actively diversifying their transit systems, blocking off downtown streets to make walkable, accessible, inviting areas, and looking toward the day when car ownership is no longer an onerous, expensive, burdensome pre-requisite for urban life.
June 16, 2012 at 12:05 am
daveburton:
I can understand some fear of “Planners”, but I do not see any indication that there has to be some draconian takeover in order to enable smart transportation options. Nobody wants some hugely overbearing process in place, but putting this fear ahead of the facts on climate change and energy issues is not rational.
June 16, 2012 at 2:08 am
the american right wing.
torture, yes
Planning, no.
June 16, 2012 at 5:04 am
Seriously, otter17, you haven’t noticed it?
Even here in Cary, NC, the Left wanted to concentrate development downtown, within walking distance of the train station (“grow up, not out”) to make mass transit less obviously ridiculous. To that end, they tried to ban all automobile-related businesses from the downtown area, including an old-fashioned service station that’s been there forever, a fancy/upscale service station, a couple of auto parts stores, etc. It took an upstart Republican election victory (which put the owner of the upscale service station onto the Town Council!) to put the kabosh on it.
Where do the leftists get such ideas? Where does that kind of “hugely overbearing process” come from? Well, they go to their little urban planning conferences, and come back with visions of sugarplans dancing in their green little heads, from things like this:
E. Promoting sustainable energy and transport systems in human settlements
7.52 Promoting efficient and environmentally sound urban transport systems in all countries should be a comprehensive approach to urban transport planning and management. For this all countries should:
(a) Integrate land-use and transportation planning to encourage development patterns which reduce transport demand;
(b) Adopt urban transport programmes favoring high-occupancy public transport in countries as appropriate;
(c) Encourage non-motorized modes of transport by providing safe cycleways and footways in urban and suburban centres in countries as appropriate;
(d) Devote particular attention to effective traffic management, to efficient operation of public transport and to maintenance of transport infrastructure;
June 16, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Regardless of whether we want “free market” sprawl and freeways – or “left wing” urbanization and mass transit, government planning is required – and we all pay for that decision – both directly and indirectly. I guess you’re getting the former in your Raleigh Durham metro area because of motivated citizens such as yourself. Congratulations.
June 17, 2012 at 1:04 am
On the same token, those same planners continually imposed a car-centric society for several decades in the past. Either way, the process involves city planners, and isn’t any more intrusive than in the past.
June 17, 2012 at 1:21 am
Not any more intrusive? Are you kidding me??
June 17, 2012 at 1:29 am
because there’s nothing intrusive about using eminent domain to take your property and run an 8 lane expressway thru your neighborhood.
June 18, 2012 at 2:17 pm
No, not kidding you.
The urban/suburban landscape as it exists now was shaped by planners and zoning. That same planning can be used to create a transportation and living landscape that allows more options for transportation and community well-being.
June 28, 2012 at 10:20 am
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June 28, 2012 at 12:00 pm
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