No Volt Batteries from a Plant that got $150 million tax dollars

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Yes I am a capitalist.. I believe in free enterprise..

You're a corporatist - not a capitalist.

Big difference.

Capitalism thrives on competition.

Corporatism thrives on monopolies and increasing concentration of power and wealth.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

SMDH.

The Volt is designed to go only 40 miles all-electric because according to Dept of Transportation statistics 40 miles will cover 70% of all driver's daily transportation needs. And indeed Volt statistics back this up. The latest is that 60% of Volt owner's driving is all-electric. That has already saved over a supertanker of gas.

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/n...0517_volt.html

The gas engine is to eliminate "range anxiety", so Volt owners can drive long distances when they need to.




That's your spin. They are citing the highest projection, not what GM expected to sell.




The demand is there or they wouldn't be leasing them. And by your standards Toyota should have given up on the Prius. They were slow sellers the first few produciton years. Now they are Toyota's best-selling models.

Gas engine is a gas engine is a gas engine..

DOT projections yea sure.. I believe them even less than I believe YOU they have vested interest in keeping NObama in power..

The demand is there because in 2-3 years they can walk away from it and they still get the $7,500.oo tax break..

as for the highest projections those were what GM hoped to sell each year..

one of the reasons this plant was built, but I guess when you can't sell the car they have no need for batteries..

Me thinks the green weenie has invaded your brain..

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Gas engine is a gas engine is a gas engine..

DOT projections yea sure.. I believe them even less than I believe YOU they have vested interest in keeping NObama in power..

The demand is there because in 2-3 years they can walk away from it and they still get the $7,500.oo tax break..

as for the highest projections those were what GM hoped to sell each year..

one of the reasons this plant was built, but I guess when you can't sell the car they have no need for batteries..

Me thinks the green weenie has invaded your brain..

Actually I'm more concerned about ending dependence on foreign oil.

And the dealerships get the tax break. They're the ones who buy the cars.

Regardless of whether or not you believe the DOT, the fact remains that Volt owners drive all-electric 60% of the time.

[The Lone Bolt]

Update from LG Chem:

LG Chem Michigan provided a statement to the Business Journal today but would not answer any questions. The statement is in response to broadcast reports about the lack of production at the plant.

“Taxpayer money has not been wasted, because when the market demand justifies production, the facility will be utilized. More than 1,000 construction jobs were involved in building the facility, and 200 company jobs have been created, adding a solid boost to the local economy. LG Chem has the strongest motivation to operate the plant, because it has invested more than 50 percent, over $150 million, of the cost to construct the facility, so it will utilize the plant when the time is right,” according to the statement.

Almost 200 employees are working the “rolling furloughs,” which is 75 percent of their normal work schedule, and they are still reporting to the plant for their scheduled hours even though the plant is not in operation, according to the company.

The LG Chem statement said employees are still reporting to work at the plant, because “LG Chem feels a duty to take care of the people and to keep them on the team, so they can be ready for production. The company will not use (Department of Energy) grant money to pay for any idle time. It will review prior billings, and if any has been used, then that money will be refunded to the DOE.”

The employees are engaged in maintenance and cleaning of production equipment and the plant “and in process documentation efforts to ensure they supply an excellent product to their customer.” The high-tech clean room at the plant requires almost constant cleaning “to maintain proper conditions.”

http://www.grbj.com/articles/74668-p...-holland-plant

[DAN_BRONCO_FAN]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Rather than invest in companies, I'd like to see government money go into pure research. Find an alternative power source for cars. One that doesn't pollute. Replace our coal powered stations with natural gas while we research alternative energies. Then, when we find something promising, let companies use it in the ways they see as best.

how about instead of government paying let private enterprises invent and find alternatives to fuel oil gas what have you .it seemed to work for ford edison eli whitney i dont think the gov paid them to invent did they

[DAN_BRONCO_FAN]

also no to goverment paying companies to make electric or gas powered or lover powered crap powered cars let private enterprises do it .just dont go taxing them til they are poor