Exxon's $9 billion oil profit: Why is Congress giving tax dollars to oil companies?

From Hybridcarblog.com

Hybrid cars are not the answer to today's oil problems. Sure, everyone could drive a Toyota Prius and America could end foreign oil dependency, but one vehicle isn't going to save America from foreign oil. Even if everyone wanted to drive a Prius it would still take years before that many hybrids could even be produced.

Thus, critics dismiss hybrids as hype, noting that today's hybrid technology costs do not justify the savings in fuel economy. As if investment never leads to cheaper costs and better technology - I mean look at computers, what a wasted investment!

Instead, America would rather rely on big energy, such as Exxon Mobil. That's right, the same Exxon Mobil that "said Thursday high oil and natural-gas prices helped its third-quarter profit surge almost 75 percent to $9.92 billion" according to the AP. The same Exxon Mobil that is going to be given tax payer money to help alleviate the oil shortage in America.

Now, that's a plan!

And we're going to need more oil, a lot more oil, not only in the U.S., but worldwide. Unfortunately, that oil might not exist. According to an extremely interesting NYTIMES article, Doubts Raised on Saudi Vow for More Oil, Saudi Arabia might have far less oil than they have been proclaiming to the world, and a serious oil crunch could be just around the corner.

Don't worry, I'm sure Exxon will use some of its profits and tax payer incentives to help out the average American!

If oil supplies do stagnate, where is the oil going to come from to run all the diesels that are going to save America according to the Detroit News? Nothing like putting all your eggs in one basket.

Why not invest in technology?

Experimental hybrid vehicles have already been built that can achieve more than 100 mpg, some even achieve as much as 250 mpg, and others have claimed that a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid could achieve as much as 500 mpg. Additionally, flex fuel plug-in hybrids could utilize gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, electricity or even hydrogen. Is that too many options?

What the hell are we waiting for? Why does America continue to provide tax dollars to the oil industry? Why do we allow automakers, including Toyota, to continue to sell gas-guzzlers? Why not subsidize the cost of a fleet of Ford Escape hybrids and Toyota Highlander hybrids that achieve at least 50 mpg? That technology exists right now, yet instead we give billions to oil companies?

Oil, not technology, is the solution to America's problems, at least if you ask Congress. I guess almost 10 billion in profits provides a lot of favors.

So yeah, 100 mpg hybrids are too expensive and hybrids are just hype, but spending billions and billions on oil companies, oil refineries, the hydrogen highway, and fuel cells is a bargain - at least for Exxon Mobil it is.


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The future of hybrid cars and Congress

I was recently interviewed for an article regarding hybrid cars and the question posed to me was, "Will the hybrid powertrain be the dominant powertrain by 2012?"

While I said that it would not, I noted that analysts currently predicting total hybrid sales achieving just 5% of the market by 2012, were just as wrong in that prediction as they were when they predicted the complete failure of the Toyota Prius.

Just today the article, Forget hybrids, America; diesels will provide economy, performance argues that America should focus on diesel, not hybrids, especially because Ford is a leading player.

So now diesel is the answer to America's oil problems? Please!

According to Ken Miller, an oil industry analyst with Purvin & Gertz in Houston, "New environmental rules for diesel will go into effect on Jan. 1 that are expected to add a few more cents per gallon to the cost of diesel. The day when diesel was cheaper than gasoline is probably over." (AutoWeek) Yet, diesel is the answer?

Others might say that bio-diesel can make diesel vehicles cheaper to run, but I doubt this to be true if a significant percentage of Americans begin to drive bio-diesel. Where will the fuel come from? What if severe weather causes drought or storm that destroys fuel crops? Bio-diesel can absolutely help end foreign oil dependency, but it cannot do it alone.

I say build flex-fuel hybrids because doing so could save America as much as a trillion dollars (more).

There was a time when technology was the strength of America, yet today, the strength of America seems controlled by whether oil is cheap or not. Additionally, many automotive writers, probably the ones who refused to use a computer for as long as possible, continue to wear blinders.

How many more conflicts in the Middle East, how much more evidence of pollution and global warming, how much more evidence that America is continually losing its technological stronghold, will it take before America embraces the future - a future that will be dominated by technology, not cheap oil?

America has for too long chosen the easy path, a path that has been enforced by military power and executed with a complete disregard for the environment. Suddenly, however, the easy path is neither so easy, nor cost-effective.

While hybrid cars might not dominate the future, hybrid technology is just an emerging technology that can lead to 100 mpg fuel efficiency within 10 years if automakers create bio-diesel hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or even solar-powered plug-in hybrids - while also helping hydrogen, electric, and fuel cell vehicle development.

Can diesel achieve that in a decade?

The future of the world, especially the automotive world, will not be driven by cheap oil, but by technology and that technological advancement needs to begin now. Sure America can wait, but the longer it waits, the more technologically obsolete America will become.

Besides, isn't it time America invests in America, rather than in filthy rich oil companies? Congress could help end foreign oil dependency, help secure America, and
help put American automakers back into the black. What are they waiting for, noble oil lobbyists?

Flex-fuel-diesel hybrid vehicles or more oil refineries: Which is the better investment

Originally posted on the Hybridcarblog.com

When the Iranian Revolution in 1979 caused massive gas lines in the United States, many Americans turned to small Japanese vehicles. Eventually, however, oil prices stabilized, gas prices dropped, and many Americans returned to gas-guzzling as SUVs became an expression of American freedom.

But the Iranian Revolution wasn't only felt in the U.S., and the problems of oil dependence, particularly foreign-oil dependence, pushed Brazil to do more than just buy a few small Japanese vehicles. By 1985 almost every vehicle produced in Brazil was designed for alcohol as fuel transportation and gasoline stations were updated to handle this new fuel.

So did Brazil kick the oil habit? Not exactly. According to an interesting article, Ethanol: Is it the answer?, a combination of cheap oil and droughts - which caused poor harvests and less ethanol - led Brazilians back to oil.

Today in Brazil, flex-fuel technology has changed everything. Able to run on both gasoline, ethanol, or a mixture of the two, flex fuel vehicles allow Brazilians to take advantage of which ever fuel they choose. Thus, drivers are hedged against either drought, or skyrocketing oil prices.

So should America just focus on flex-fuel vehicles as the solution to America's oil problems?

Absolutely not.

Flex-fuel vehicles definitely are part of the solution, but even Brazil hasn't been able to kick the oil habit. More important Brazil consumes SIGNIFICANTLY less fuel per year than the U.S.. Additionally, Brazil uses sugar to produce its ethanol fuel, the U.S. uses corn, which is far less efficient than sugar.

Of course new grains, etc., might offer better efficiency, but how long will it take to create enough fuel? Brazil produces only about 5 billion gallons of ethanol per year, U.S. demand is around 140 billion gallons per year. And what about drought, or another natural disaster?

The key to Brazil's struggles and successes boil down to one thing, flexibility. Flex-fuel vehicle technology should be the standard in America, but it shouldn't stop there. Hybrid technology, or even better, plug-in hybrid technology, offers even far more flexibility.

Hybrid cars, or better yet, flex-fuel hybrid cars, could significantly improve fuel efficiency, while opening up new fuel possibilities beyond oil. In reality; however, fuel competition alone won't be enough to handle the oil monster, and that's why hybrid technology is so important.

Plug-in flex-fuel advanced diesel hybrid vehicles could offer fuel efficiency of more than 100 mpg with today's technology - even for SUVs. Sure the technology is somewhat expensive today, but it is FAR less expensive than fuel cell technology. Additionally, a national fleet of 100 mpg vehicles would end the need for foreign oil in about 5 years, which I've argued could save America more than a TRILLION dollars (more).

Even better, plug-in power could lead to another revolution in the automotive world, the utilization of solar power. Already solar power is cost-effective to power a home - if you are going to live in that home for at least 15 years - but what if you could also help power your car with your home energy system, with totally clean energy? Even more interesting, garage mechanics have already created plug-in hybrids with solar panels and Mazda is now showing a solar hybrid concept vehicle that includes embedded solar panels in the roof of the vehicle.

Ultimately, the good old days of the U.S. auto industry are over. Constant innovation and the best technology are an absolute requirement, and the best technology requires fuel flexibility, as well as the best possible fuel economy. It isn't just about saving money at the fuel pump, or protecting the environment, it is about protecting the security and welfare of Americans and the American economy.

Neither ethanol, bio-diesel or hybrids alone are going to take the oil monkey off America's back quickly enough, but combined, these alternative choices could radically change America within a decade.

Instead of subsidizing the cost of a foreign-oil-dependency-ending fleet of vehicles, America is going to build more oil refineries, drill in Alaska, and give billions of tax payer dollars to filthy rich oil companies, as GM increases production on the Hummer.

Is that really an investment in the future? Isn't it time to start investing in real American freedom, instead of investing in companies that can profit as much as $23 billion in just one quarter?

I guess it is pretty clear who Congress represents, and it isn't the majority of Americans.

Hybrid hype: The politics of oil and automobiles

From Hybridcarblog.com

Hybrid critics make me laugh. Hybrid cars don't achieve EPA fuel efficiency numbers and they don't save money these critics keep harping.

Sure, according to Consumer Reports, hybrid cars often do not achieve the EPA's fuel economy estimates. Of course, the Consumer Report's study also shows that of the 6 hybrids available, 3 of them are the MOST FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES you can buy. More ironically, however, these critics glance over the fact that most vehicles miss their EPA estimates, and that in city driving, conventional vehicles miss their EPA estimates miserably.

So let's be clear about this. The Toyota Prius only achieves a pathetic 45 mpg in the city, the Jeep Liberty Diesel achieves a whopping 11 mpg, the Chrysler 300C achieves 17, and a number of Dodges achieve a stellar 8 mpg. Ohhh, those crappy hybrids.

Good thing hybrids only account for around 1 percent of U.S. auto sales otherwise America would be in real trouble! PHEW!

"Hybrids suck, man," these critics seem to say, "they don't achieve EPA estimates, so it's OK if I only achieve 8 mpg. The Prius only achieves 45 mpg, not 60! Thats the real problem!"

What's going on here? If foreign oil dependency is a problem, if oil consumption is a problem, shouldn't our attention be on the source of the problem? Why is the President asking Americans to conserve, as GM increases output of its most gas-guzzling vehicles?

Now I get it, cause we don't want more hyped hybrids on the road - they're dangerous! I mean, according to a recent study, if all vehicles achieved 45 mpg, not only could America end foreign oil dependency, but it could save as much as a trillion dollars. That would be blasphemous. Americans aren't supposed to save money, our duty in life is to spend money, dammit!

Fortunately, 9 out of 10 of the 'best' offenders, according to the CR study, were conventional vehicles. Almost every conventional vehicle is achieving less than 20 mpg when driven in the city, stuck at street lights and stop signs, caught in rushhour, etc. In fact, many conventional vehicles are only achieving around 10 mpg in these conditions. Now that's American, baby!

So, is it the fact that hybrids only achieve 45 mpg, instead of 60 mpg, that is increasing foreign oil dependency every year, or is it the fact the millions of conventional vehicles are only achieving 10 mpg? Damn those hybrids.

I wonder how much advertising money is spent on hybrid vehicles versus conventional vehicles? Hmm. Well, GM spends billions on advertising every year and they don't offer any hybrids - NO the current Silverado DOESN't COUNT - so I'd say hybrids are already at a huge disadvantage.

OOPs, I didn't just criticize GM. I better watch it, they might pull all their ads from my site like they did to the LATimes.

In reality, promoting hybrids is worth millions in advertising dollars, while promoting 8 mpg gas-guzzlers is worth billions, but I'm sure there isn't any connection. Just as there isn't any connection between 8 mpg and foreign oil dependency. Just as there isn't any connection between automobile pollution and lung cancer, and asthma, and allergies, and smog-influenced skin cancer, and global warming.

Hybrids are hype and everyone should drive a Hummer because oil dependency is a god-given, perfectly harmless action. Those that disagree are part of the oppressive, supremely powerful tree-hugging conspiracy.

If ending foreign oil dependency could save America a trillion dollars, how much does 8 mpg, or even 20 mpg, really cost America? Since there are billions of reasons not to ask that question, you can be sure that criticisms of hybrids will continue, but that question won't get asked.

Of course, what's a trillion dollars? Just add it to the deficit and let someone else deal with it in a decade or two. Now that's American! God bless us!

More refineries, or more hybrid cars?

Congress has become a joke, or maybe it has always been joke. Special interests, not the people's interests, are always the priority. And, who can blame Congress? Since half the people don't care and don't want to vote, I guess the power of lobbyists should be expected.

Instead of Congress focusing on more oil refineries and more tax incentives for oil companies, why not bail out the American auto industry and fund hybrid cars?

Bio-diesel hybrids could end foreign oil dependency as fast as they can be made. Additionally, Congress would be helping an important American industry. Moreover, ending foreign oil dependency could save the country more than a trillion dollars according to studies (more).

What are we waiting for? Get registered to vote and make sure that everyone you know is registered to vote. Don't worry about who they are voting for, just make sure they vote.