Obama green car update: working with Better Place? going pro-ethanol with Vilsak?
Photo by BohPhoto. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
Two items of note from the incoming President. First, the Jerusalem Post has a minor hint that Barack Obama's transition team has got their collective eye on the work of Better Place. The paper writes that the new administration "may be adopting it," according to Better Place chairman Idan Ofer. What that means, exactly, is not sure, but we've put in an email to Better Place to try and find out.
On the liquid fuel side of the green car equation, we have news that President-elect Obama has selected Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa and a strong supporter of ethanol and higher CAFE standards, to lead the USDA. Over at Democracy Now! there is a look at Vilsack's past while the AP looks at what the future might hold with him at the helm of the USDA.
Previously on ABG:
[Source: Jerusalem Post, Democracy Now!, AP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lad 8:01PM (12/20/2008)
It is interesting that finally the Federal Government sees the need to help fund the auto companies in the right way, with not just money to keep them alive; but also with guidance to help meet the nation's goals of oil independence and healthy air. Now if the central government can move power generation the same way, I believe we will see a boom in the growth of the economy in almost all sectors.
I also believe we've been wandering lost in the desert of trickle-down economics and self-serving politicians at least for the last eight years, if not longer.
I'm hopeing for politicians who will work for the country and not for special interest unless that special interest is best for the people.
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azrael4h 8:19PM (12/20/2008)
We've been wandering lost in the desert of self-serving politicians for far longer than there has been a US of A. As far as the USA goes, since 1776.
Obama, like McCain would have had he won, will do whatever he needs to be re-elected come 2012. Damn the economy, damn the national security, damn the environment.
VOTE DOCTOR VICTOR vonDOOM FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012!
Mike!!ekiM 8:19PM (12/20/2008)
Ethanol from what? Corn? Then this is a boondoggle for ADM, and the corn lobby with the US taxpayer getting screwed. Mr. Bush's "switchgrass" ethanol solution at least made sense.
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desi 9:56PM (12/20/2008)
I love the car it is so cool looking. I love the shape and size. It
is great for a small person like me. I love the inside. How much is
it going to cost? Is it safe for an accident? I would love this kind
of car to be purple. This car is coming out when I graduate from high
school. Its better than a smart car i think. I wanted a smart car at
first but when i saw this one i wanted this car instead.
- desi
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charlie 10:03PM (12/20/2008)
Biofuels and corn ethanol especially have been a policy disaster and I would hate for Obama to waste more American tax dollars pursuing it.
A "Better Place" model also has the potential to be a boondoggle. Structure incorrectly, it could create the same sort of monopoly/oligopoly markets that create such inefficiencies and lack of progress in the electricity and cell phone markets. Specifically, even though the Better Place guy nominally came up with "the idea for a national network of charging stations and battery swap centers", all he really came up with is a pretty obvious "idea" and its not like he necessarily deserves to run anything.The best thing that the government can do is create a national standard for high voltage electrical car jacks and a national standard for battery swapping so that cars from different manufacturers can all be swapped using the same equipment (and so that different companies can design their own battery swapping designs). And nothing more. I'll be pissed when the only way for me to own an electric car is to pay a monthly fee to "better place" when I should instead be able to have a competitive market for electrical outlets and battery swaps.
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Lad 11:57PM (12/20/2008)
I agree; the government should not be picking winners and losers. Standards make sense and I hope the standards require logic at the outlet to identify those folks tied to "Better Place" and those folks who only want a charge at utility rates. There are other companies that are designing charging outlets(jacks) and it would be nuts if you could only park at a station designed to only work with your car and contract. It could easily set back our attempt to electrify automobiles.
The secret to success is to not create another Microsoft and keep the charging stations and swapping station "OPEN."
Jessica Millar 2:48AM (2/20/2009)
I also agree about the National standards for high voltage charging. BP is limited because they are forced to adapt low-charging, since their model involves such sweeping deployments. However, having a bunch of brand-recognition "special charge spots" that are low voltage will creates a hindrance to the full development of smart charging -- even if these charge spots are open to all comers.
Another advantage of more organic v2g growth is it doesn't need to be tied to OEMs. Smaller companies like ZAP and BG Automotive can have a more aggressive deployment strategy.
joejoejoe 5:01AM (12/21/2008)
Energy Secretary nominee Stephen Chu is on the record saying corn is the wrong crop for biofuels. I doubt corn ethanol has much of a future in the US. I think Vilsack was picked to deliver that message, not defend ethanol. Look for sugar tariffs to drop and the US to start importing sugarcane to make a biofuel similar to Brazil.
And I'd almost guarantee Obama goes with Vehicle to Grid as priority one in his administration. It's economic stimulus, it's a response to global warming, and it's a postive futuristic vision all in one. Somebody called Vehicle to Grid the New Deal and the Moon Shot all rolled into one and that's just what we need right now.
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