BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[John McCain's $300 million electric car battery prize is a political stunt]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/23/john-mccains-300-million-electric-car-batter-prize-is-a-politi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/23/john-mccains-300-million-electric-car-batter-prize-is-a-politi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/23/john-mccains-300-million-electric-car-batter-prize-is-a-politi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain's plan to award a $300 million prize "for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars " raises many questions.

For one thing, what does he mean by "leapfrog?" Does the McCain car have to be 10?% better? 20% better? or 30% better? Will a marginal improvement suffice? Moreover, who is going to decide whether the goal is met? environmentalists? the automakers? the government? These people can not agree on what we should do to reduce air pollution; I can't imagine the fights that will occur over what constitutes a technological "leap."

McCain wants the car to deliver a power source at 30% of the "current costs." Does that mean costs as of 2008 or whenever this wonder car is ready to be sold to consumers? How does he define "costs?" Is it the total cost of ownership or a reduction in the sticker price or something else entirely? Why limit it to batteries? What about hydrogen fuel cells whose only pollution is water vapor?

In a speech he delivered today, McCain pointed out that "right now we have a hodgepodge of incentives for the purchase of fuel-efficient cars." Indeed, purchasing a hybrid only makes economic sense for the most die-hard of tree huggers. But is the answer to skyrocketing gasoline price to be found in a contest? I am not so sure.

Continue reading John McCain's $300 million electric car battery prize is a political stunt

John McCain's $300 million electric car battery prize is a political stunt originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuel vehiclesAlternativeFuelVehiclescampaign 2008Campaign2008ChryslerFfeaturedGMGOPhmcHondahonda motorHondaMotorhybridhybrid carsHybridCarshybridsJohn McCAinJohnMccainRepublicanstmToyotaMon, 23 Jun 2008 15:16:00 EST