He discovered global warming; he created the Internet; and his wife shielded my young ears from curse words when I was growing up. Now Al Gore has decided it is time to single-handedly rescue the automotive world. Okay, not really, but Al Gore is a major backer of California-based Fisker Automotive, which has just secured a $529 million government loan to build a hybrid sports car in Finland. Couple of problems here, but let's start with the idea of the car. I am so glad that Fisker is going to help the earth. I mean, who doesn't want to conserve fuel and reduce air pollution while cruising around in their four-door sports car? I mean, who doesn't have an extra $89,000 lying around to spend on transportation? Seriously, it is now at the point that only celebrities can afford a hybrid car that doesn't look like it was built of Lego.
My other concern is the potential government waste. What good is it to build this car if it is "not for average Americans," as Leslie Paige from Citizens Against Government Waste notes? Paige is right, this car from Fisker is nothing more than a conversation piece to sit in the driveway so some celebrity can boast about being green.
According to a senior adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Fisker convinced them that they could produce a fuel-efficient hybrid for a mass audience. I don't know about you, but the mass of people I know isn't going to go out and purchase a car for $89,000 -- hybrid or not.
I am concerned that our government has better things to spend money on than paying an outlandish sum so Al Gore can feel good about producing an expensive car that is kind to Mother Earth. Perhaps it is unfair to jump on Al Gore, but so many people want to use his name to get themselves up front and a bit of American cash.
Perhaps the government feels guilty about strip mining and smog, but I think getting the economy under control should be the number one priority. Perhaps then we could get a hybrid in every driveway -- that is the only car that will pass the new emissions standards anyway, right?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-25-2009 @ 2:30PM
Mike O said...
It wasn't that long ago that traveling by plane was reserved for the extremely wealthy either. Wealthy individuals and companies sank money into these expensive ideas and helped bring the cost down so that average citizens could afford them.
The same thing will happen with hybrids. Simple economies of scale in action. What was once exclusive eventually becomes a commodity.
9-25-2009 @ 12:14PM
Andrew said...
Do you ever research these pieces before posting?
The estimated cost on the new Fiskar is $39,000. Granted, that' still not priced "for the masses", but it's consistent with the price GM is asking for the Chevy Volt. It's certainly cheap enough for an every day driver.
Kleiner Perkins is backing the new car.
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/report-fisker-developing-39-000-plug-in-hybrid/
_Am
9-25-2009 @ 1:27PM
JCH said...
Al Gore never, as in NEVER, said the words:"I discovered global warming."
As for creating the internet, his quote accurately describes what he did. Tim Beirners Lee, while not specifically naming Al Gore, acknowledges that certain officials in Washington DC were very helpful in helping to create what we call the internet, and I think he would know.
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
9-25-2009 @ 1:11PM
ij70 said...
Dear Andrew, you should read the articles that you link.
The vehicle in this blog is Karma. The vehicle that you say is going to cost 39k USD is NOT Karma. Your link says that the 39k USD vehicle will be positioned below Karma.
I think this bloger is correct when he says that 89k USD Karma will be bought by celebrities. The rest of us will buy gasoline vehicles in 15-30k USD range.
9-25-2009 @ 1:55PM
solar cars said...
I agree with Andrew. Why the snark when the $ are clearly meant for their next generation vehicle. They are pursuing the same strategy as Tesla, build the expensive early adopter car to draw attention and prove the technology - then move to the mass produced car with the knowledge gained from the first. Seems to be working in both cases.
Electric cars are evolving: http://www.dasolar.com/solar-energy/solar-powered-cars
9-26-2009 @ 9:18PM
Goodtimepolitics said...
People in America needs jobs, how many could aford to own one of these cars that is being build using Americans tax money in Finland?
Tesla is a California startup focusing on all-electric vehicles, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns.
http://goodtimepolitics.com/2009/09/26/al-gore-backed-car-firm-gets-large-u-s-loan-obama-pay-to-play/