Saturday, March 29, 2008

Detroit s Big 3 Calls For Government s Aid

This year the opening round of congressional hearings regarding global warming and alternative fuels has been bombarded with a lot of controversial issues. Detroit & 39; s Big 3 composed by GM, Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG, asked Congress to increase funding for research into alternative fuels and other advances in automotive technology to reduce our dependence on foreign oil America.
The Big 3 was disappointed that Your request for $ 500 million in federal funds over 5 years for advanced research in batteries was not mentioned during the State of the Union. It is not likely to be part of the president& 39;s budget request to be announced Monday.
General Motors Corp. earlier asked Congress to significantly increase federal support for development of advanced power and the promotion of alternative fuels. The outcry is also anchored on the need to improve vehicle efficiency. According to the automaker, the industry needs billions of dollars to turn the vision into reality. Therefore, you need considerable assistance from the government. This aid is not necessarily a form of strict mandates tangible, but cash.
Momentum is mounting in Washington because of the compulsion of cars that need to improve fuel efficiency of their vehicles. This requirement could cost a fortune, therefore, they are seeking government help. Mandates also lead to the manufacture of cars lighter and smaller and more hybrids. In addition, this could require the abandonment of some market segments that are considered unproductive. Manufacturing auto parts and quality EBC rotors, engines modern and sophisticated accessories need a considerable amount more is the discovery of automatic advance technologies.
It can be recalled that President Bush, in his State of the Nation address, suggests that improving automobile efficiency vehicles by 4 per cent annually since 2009 for passenger cars and light trucks for 2011. Also, the administration intends to reduce gas consumption by 20 per cent by 2017.
The mandate is expected to cost Detroit & 39; s Big 3 an estimated $ 6.2 billion. Car manufacturers find the proposal too aggressive. However, several proposals in Congress tend to be more aggressive, which requires an annual increase. In connection with the proposed Bush, the latter left the determination of the final increase to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which established the new figure with input from automakers.
At a Senate hearing on fuel economy rather rough It is expected the road. Congress, on the one hand, intends to impose strict mandates car while on the other hand, despise them. Environmentalists and other groups who want the Big 3 to take greater roles in the reduction of hazardous emissions linked to global warming. The vehicles in the United States consume 1 of every 9 gallons of gas used, representing 6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, R-Ore. Detroit wondered whether cutting car lost jobs and market share has forced Congress to improve fuel efficiency standards for years. Is there " car in Detroit, which are used today if we had done this? " Asked in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. " Maybe we have to help you help yourselves. Certainly, I think that we are not helping you for the support they push off from ".
Beth Lowery, GM vice president of energy and environment, said the research group in new technologies is the answer. He argued that the government must finance a major effort to boost research and development in battery technology and support of advanced battery manufacturing. He added that the government should expand funding and hydrogen fuel cells, the government bought more vehicles that can run on alternative fuels and expand the infrastructure of alternative fuels. Well " developed tax incentives can accelerate the adoption of new technologies and strengthen manufacturing " he added. clair lorraine



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