“To liberate the United States from the immense costs of this role and the destructive effects of oil price volatility, the nation requires an oil security policy that, over the long term, decouples our transportation sector from the global oil market. The costs — in both blood and treasure to the United States — are too high not to act.”
That’s what Bob Lutz wrote in his second stanza for his latest article published in Forbes, in between push-up contests with television hosts. It gets better:
“Economically, Americans are suffering as a result of high and volatile oil prices. Income tax cuts under President Bush — totaling $1,900 for the average American family between 2001 and 2008 — were more than offset by a $2,000 increase in spending on gasoline during the period. The same occurred in 2011, as the $108 billion payroll tax cut under President Obama was essentially wiped out because spending on gasoline increased by more than $104 billion. Americans received tax cuts to stimulate the economy, but the money was put into one pocket and then taken from another to pay for higher gas prices. Any wonder why our economic recovery has been so sluggish?”
And yet, the United States continues to exhaust its efforts and finances in “protecting” the world’s oil supplies, of which the price is mostly controlled and manipulated by OPEC, according to Lutz. The effort is asinine, considering the nation’s dependence on oil can be drastically slashed, by simply putting more and more effort into electric vehicles.
“The beauty of plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles likes the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf is that they are powered by electricity, which can be generated from many sources: nuclear, coal, and natural gas…These are all domestic energy sources, meaning OPEC won’t be able to corner the market. And the retail price of electricity is far less volatile than the price of oil.”
It may have been puzzling to some far-left or far-right politically-minded individuals that Bob Lutz, the man that said “global warming is a crock of sh*t” back in 2008, has been tirelessly advocating the Chevy Volt, while being an advisory member of Via Motors, which builds all-electric pickups and SUV models from GM vehicles. But regardless which side you’re on — or if you would rather not pick between a flawed “two-party system” — Maximum Bob has a point. Sending $326 billion overseas in 2011 to import more oil didn’t help the public or the financial health of America.
Lutz addresses that only way to fundamentally solve this vicious cycle is to break the transportation sector’s dependence on dinosaur juice, which he claims accounts for 70 percent of the total oil consumed by the United States, and 94 percent of the sector needs oil for its source of fuel. Sure, Americans could utilize more domestic drilling, but that will hardly make a dent in today’s $4 a gallon gas prices. It has to be something completely different. And while electric vehicles are a start, alternative energy options such as CNG/LPG-powered heavy-duty trucks and more electrification of lighter vehicles are deemed the most promising.
Comments
There ya go!
Good for the enviroment, AND keeps the Americans happy because they won’t have to worry about the Middle East’s political concerns that can spike oil prices.
It’s really that simple.
Global warming can still be a crock of shit in his eyes and he can promote electric vehicles at the same time. the two dont go hand in hand, so he isn’t hypocritical (not that the article said he was, more so implied by reiterating what he said in the past).
its a fact that hybrid and electric vehicles dont offset their price by saving money on gas, the return simply isnt there. buying hybrid isnt so much to save money as it is to reduce the need on oil. the metals used in hybrid battery packs (and the battery cells themselves) can be just as bad or often worse for the environment when they have ran their course. Nuclear energy is “clean” but the spent fuel rods sure as hell arent. same goes with hybrids and electrics.
we will be dependent on oil, no matter where it is pumped out of the ground, for some time to come. if i spend $500/month on gas, than so be it, im not giving up my CTS any time soon for a 50mpg Spark.
Also, though off topic in a way, my friend said he was getting a motorcycle because it uses less gas and better for the environment. most bikes produce more emissions than an Escalade or any other full size SUV
You’re points are under the indication that electric vehicles and hybrids are always going to be as expensive as they are. Like the computer, the cell phone, and the LCD TV, their prices will quickly drop as the technology matures.
And, I hate to say it, but the Toyota Prius c with a $18,950 starting MSRP and a 53 city, 46 highway rating just might be what the world was waiting for. At least the sales numbers seem to suggest it.
Unfortunately, aside from styling and brand loyalty I don’t see what’s stopping the Prius C from being the only car of its size people buy. It’s flat out the most rational economic decision in that segment. 53 mpg in the city destroys everything that isn’t an EV, where is GM’s answer to this?
Closest thing we know of that’s coming is the e-Spark.
“if i spend $500/month on gas, than so be it, im not giving up my CTS any time soon for a 50mpg Spark.”
Them words, yours to eat someday.
Lutz is on the money again, someone get that main a bigger microphone. He complained that the left has damaged the Volt by association, because conservatives (FOX cough cough) view it as a left-wing Obamamobile forced upon Americans by the heavy hand of Government Motors instead of a way to achieve energy independence (that phrasing plays much better with the right of center). The most recent segment with Steve Doocy and Lee Spieckerman was great to see, even if it was a result of some arm twisting the outcome is welcome. Spieckerman alluded to the bumper stickers he would slap on a Volt that would help change the image of the car, maybe Chevy should make some FOX News specific ads promoting the Volt as Americas greatest weapon in the war on terror and ending our dependence on oil.
There is still a good deal of work to do to before the Volt is no longer a political football.
@Andrew
Youre right we will be dependent on oil for a long while yet, but, that doesnt mean we can sit on our haunches resigned that even if we put all our efforts in renewable energy well still be using oil in 50 years. The point of all this advancement and development is not so that well be oil free in 50, or 100, or even 500 years, the point is that we will be oil free some day, even if we wont be there to see it. It took decades before every household in America had a car, if the Carl Benz and Henry Ford had thought that since we wont be alive to see very person driving a car, theres no point in innovating and advancing things like the electric starter and the automatic transmission, and we would not be having this conversation today.
@Graw
Yea, I remember the same people who laughed at my prius were paying thousands more than average to get their hands on one when gas prices shot up.
Once Again Lutz disappoints me with this Politically Correct Hybrid/Alternative crap.
Lutz being Politically Correct? LMAO.
Either someone didn’t even read the article, or they have a chip on their shoulder and are looking for an excuse to use words they don’t understand.
Re-read Lutz statements again, Jose. They are much more factual than they are opinions. He then took those facts and arranged them in a logical way to point to a solution to a very real problem. No political correctness – just a rational suggestion to make America more self sufficient.
Sarcasm?
Look at the success of fracking tech, after 10’s of billion worth of tax payer funding and 30 years of trying we finally have a new source of natural gas and all Obama wants to do is cut off the tax incentive? Sure it will save 4 billion a year but is this really the right time to shift that money into electric drive?
Why not? NatGas is just another expendable resource that is not renewable.
220amp electricity is already availabe in every home in North America, whereas NatGas requires new plumbing.
All you Americans have to do is make electricty as cheaply and as efficiently as possible.