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By 2050, decades from now, there will still be many
internal combustion-powered vehicles on the road. In
fact, in 2050 the road might be equally filled with
ICE, fuel cell and plug-in vehicles.
If true, that would mean 2/3's of all autos are going
to need some kind of battery, as the smartest fuel
cell vehicles will be battery-using fuel cell hybrid
vehicles.
Unfortunately, the US lithium battery industry is just
short of nonexistent, especially when it comes to cell
manufacturing.
So, why not hybridize everything starting in the next
five years to guarantee the need for US battery
manufacturing immediately, or at least as soon as
possible?
And this isn't just about somtimes expensive full hybrids
cars or plug-in hybrids, GM is proving that
cost-effective lithium-based BAS hybrid systems can
improve overall vehicle fuel efficiency by 20 percent.
Such a system will pay for itself. Thus, if the
government is going to help GM retool its business,
shouldn't incorporating, minimally, this kind of
hybrid technology into every vehicle line be required?
In fact, make each hybrid capable of being a BAS
hybrid, a dual mode hybrid, or maybe even a dual mode
plug-in hybrid.
Certainly, GM could use other tricks to make every
vehicle efficient enough for new CAFE regulations, but
a focus on batteries is critical if the US auto
industry is truly going to compete in the next few
decades, as batteries will become significantly
important supplies.
But we're so far behind, we can't move fast enough. We
have to be aggressive.
Since the US auto industry is, essentially, largely
dependent upon the government, isn't this the perfect
time to step into the next century of automaking via
government assistance?
Moreover, why not unlimited tax credits for every
hybrid made with a US manufactured battery? And/or,
for any hybrid assembled in the US?
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, lithium battery, tax credits
