Douglas Korthof

Ford Plans Both Electric Vehicles and Plug-In Hybrids

Good news. If Mulally says it, it might really get done.

Unlike failed GM manglers, Ford intends to stay in business.

The only difference: Ford voting stock is controlled by the Ford family, and they didn't want the company to go under. GM and Chrysler didn't care, they were just tools of the oil industry.

However, leased batteries are no good. Leasing is ALWAYS more expensive then buying.

The 1999 EV1 had over 100 miles range with cheap PSB 1260 lead-acid batteries; and the Toyota RAV4-EV, last sold in Nov., 2002 (and the ONLY electric car offered to the public for sale by an Auto Alliance member) is still over 100 miles on NiMH batteries.

NiMH is the standard EV battery; Lithium is much more expensive.

Ford should look to NiMH or lead-acid, and forget about high-cost short-lived Lithium.

One more thing: it's a vapid FANTASY to think that spent batteries have ANY value as peak-shaving or battery backup solar system use. New lead-acid deep-cycle batteries are FAR superior to spent EV batteries.

How To Save the Big 3 Automakers

Labor had nothing to do with GM's problems. It's easy to blame the engine room crew when the ship goes aground. Ignoring the drunken lookout and passed-out captain. It's the top brass that cause the problem, of course.

GM destroyed the EV1: there should be NO BAILOUT unless GM uses the Taxpayer money to resume production of the EV1.

Lutz, who claims it can't be done, needs to be fired; Wagoner, who created the problem, needs to be prosecuted; and the Board of Directors needs to be brought up on charges.

If the auto industry is a matter of national security, and takes Taxpayer money to fix, then the white-collar criminals who destroyed that industry should pay the penalty due to those who endanger our national security.

West of the Pecos, we call those folks "traitors".

It's not as if they didn't have warnings: Ross Perot tried to fix GM decades ago, and Kirk Kerkorian just recently bid $31/share for a chance to fix GM -- but Wagoner and the Board refused to listen to common sense.

GM jailed cash customers, instead of selling them the EV1: GM top brass now should be jailed and prosecuted for destroying the lives of the workers and for endangering the national security.

How To Save the Big 3 Automakers

Labor had nothing to do with GM's problems. It's easy to blame the engine room crew when the ship goes aground. Ignoring the drunken lookout and passed-out captain. It's the top brass that cause the problem, of course.

GM destroyed the EV1: there should be NO BAILOUT unless GM uses the Taxpayer money to resume production of the EV1.

Lutz, who claims it can't be done, needs to be fired; Wagoner, who created the problem, needs to be prosecuted; and the Board of Directors needs to be brought up on charges.

If the auto industry is a matter of national security, and takes Taxpayer money to fix, then the white-collar criminals who destroyed that industry should pay the penalty due to those who endanger our national security.

West of the Pecos, we call those folks "traitors".

It's not as if they didn't have warnings: Ross Perot tried to fix GM decades ago, and Kirk Kerkorian just recently bid $31/share for a chance to fix GM -- but Wagoner and the Board refused to listen to common sense.

GM jailed cash customers, instead of selling them the EV1: GM top brass now should be jailed and prosecuted for destroying the lives of the workers and for endangering the national security.