As a fifty something guy who has tried to stay current with most technology advances ( for example, I know 8 tracks are not coming back) I am watching Detroit's current new Electric Car Plan with the sort of bewilderment that I watch my dogs chase my neighbor's riding mower:  What would they do if they caught it?  The point I'm probably missing as a Neanderthal and non-high finance MBA, is that the real goal here by the Big Three  is MisDirection not Direction.  In other words, for the money they've managed to guilt the government into, they have to pretend that they really have a plan to use it well.  Why not capture the "green theme" in the process.  Instead of hiring a Transportation Czar, the industry should just put David Copperfield on retainer.

Here's why the electric car is doomed for the next decade as well as the Big Three in their pursuit:

1. Oil at $60 a barrel encourages more consumption of gas and not less-  Everytime gasoline drops 10 cents, it is estimated that 12 billion dollars goes back into the economy in consumer spending.  If I'm not spending $80 per tank to fill up my Range Rover and spending $35 instead, then I have money to eat out and buy nice things.  The news flash here is that $150 a barrell oil was a product of the actions of traders and not consumers.  Besides, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Russia all need $75 barrell oil to just break even.  Keep it below that and everything east of Boston gets bought at a global garage sale.

2. They are just ugly and not getting prettier- What Detroit has missed for nearly 30 years that the foreign manufacturers have figured out is that transportation for the individual car owner is more about style than substance.  Detroit's concept of style ended with the '67 Mustang, got briefly revived with the PT Cruiser, and is on life support with blinged out Escalade.  It's interesting that the 2.3 of the design changes have come from counterculture designers.  The vast majority of Detroit designers are still focusing on grill design and fin tailight placement.  My long bet would be on the Hummer because if the current economy doesn't improve, it is the only civilian vehicle that can be retrofitted with a 50 calibre machine gun mount.

3. The batteries are individual Cherynobles-  Imagine 30 million car batteries looking for a place to decompose over the next century.  The next storage lot will have to be the entire state of Nevada.  But perhaps 30 million batteries decomposing in Nevada would create enough ambiant energy to help Harry Reid see the light.  Battery technology will improve but the improvements will not come from Detroit.  Green Peace has a better chance of developing restorative technology than GM

4.They are Millenial and X and Y Generation Environmental Dream Cars- A couple little demographic things to pay attention to: We have a generation coming behind us that is 12 million short of the baby boomers in terms of demand capability, facing uncertain employment, project, or career, options.  Behind them is another generation with perhaps the same or more  consumers (the boomer 'echo") but hamstrung with what I call "media nostalgia economics".  That is, like typical inheritors they are resentful of what they have been left to deal with and indifferent about how to change it.  They are not about to pay $45k for a plug and play car, trust me here.  Hollywood's elite may own them but they will be parked next to Porsche 911 Turbo Carerra's for the occassional  Sunday outing.

So, it's not often that a prophet really goes on  the line to make a statement that comes back to be proven wrong but here's my statement:

The current electric car movement is DOA in less than three years and way past the time frame for the cash bailout.  It will be seen in retrospect as the greatest funding of workplace ineptness in the history of industry.  Nancy and Harry just funded a transportation time machine that will spin and glow and wobble and weave and vibrate and then fall over taking billions with it..

So, as a consumer, here's the other direction I'd like to see the Big three take:

1 Merge- GM and Ford should merge and Chrysler should just be taken out behind Cleveland and executed.  Both companies have 'me too" design, leadership, workers, and products. Too many products that people don't want, never did, and never will.  Keep design in Detroit and put the plants in Mexico.  You free up lots of land space, get folks moving to a better climate, and keep our friends south of the border, south of the border.  Why come here for jobs when you have them there? It's simple: walk across the adobe to work or walk across the desert.

2. Have the Sale of the Century- The current employee pricing model for retail sales is based on the idea that you can lose money on every sale and make it up in volume.  The manufacturers are giving away their profit to get cars off assembly lines to produce more cars to give away their profit.  This strategy was used post 9/11 to stimulate the purchase of millions of automobiles.  It didn't work then and it will not work going forward.  It created a bulimic effect for production, postponing the purge that we are now experiencing.  Just give the cars away.  In fact, pay someone to take them. Add an "Adopt an Auto Executive" program and you get rid of millions of unneeded compensation.

3. Can the Unions- When I think of the states of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and West Virginia, I think of a sort of Jurassic Park of Commerce.  In fact, we should just anchor each one of those states with great coffee shops and turn them into one giant Industrial Revolution Museum.  Aggregately, they are about the size of Europe and if they don't turn themselves around pretty soon, they will look like Europe.  Union members in those states will be the equivalent of displaced Muslims in France: a strange culture in a strange land, looking for work, and trying not to burn buildings down in the process.

4.  Design with the consumer in Mind-  People will tell you what they want if you ask them. Big Auto, like many 50's top down driven marketing models is caught somewhere between World War II and Desert Storm: We can't drop the A bomb to end this but I'm not sure how World of WarCraft will help us.   This is not a hard thing to figure out if you ask more questions than you provide answers.

5. Understand that technology will extend usage and drive down demand-  The average non Detroit automobile is 51% plastic and microchip and less and less steel.  The longevity, endurance, capability, and usefullness of the average auto is going to go up and up.  Except for the top 20% of consumers or the bottom 30% fueled by financing schemes, people will keep their cars longer, especially Boomers.  In fact, if the savings rate doesn't go up with Boomers, they will be living in them.

6. Rethink financing- Autos are like refrigerators...you just use them.  Design a financing strategy that lets you turn them in every 5 years of so to get the latest model.  Keep making up credit score analysis to let the poorest of people access some type of transportation.  The recent funding scam for GMAC makes the Treasury the default insurer on the loans anyway.  More cars for more people means more travel, conferencing, connection and consumption.

As an investor, stay away from the Automobile Industry, especially the Big Three until the frost in Detroit clears from the windows.  My sense is that Spring is going to be  long time coming there.

Love this one! Always refreshing to see your point of view!

 Elizabeth Donovan | 1/19/2009 5:35:31 PM

interesting article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did anyone know that some Iranian hacker had hacked twitter yesterday.

 Nicole | 12/18/2009 6:53:34 AM

I somehow dont agree with a few things, but its great anyways.

 Jack Filled Foreign Exchange | 12/19/2009 4:26:24 PM

Greetings many thanks pertaining to your post.I actually like your web site.Its really informative.On the other hand I really want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it because its a extremely clear cool blogger mod.
thank you incredibly much

 Sharp Convection Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 11:53:43 AM

Greetings many thanks pertaining to your post.I actually like your web site.Its really informative.On the other hand I really want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it because its a extremely clear cool blogger mod.
thank you incredibly much

 Sharp Convection Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 11:53:48 AM

Greetings many thanks pertaining to your post.I actually like your web site.Its really informative.On the other hand I really want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it because its a extremely clear cool blogger mod.
thank you incredibly much

 Sharp Convection Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 11:53:49 AM

Greetings many thanks pertaining to your post.I actually like your web site.Its really informative.On the other hand I really want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it because its a extremely clear cool blogger mod.
thank you incredibly much

 Sharp Convection Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 11:53:50 AM

Greetings many thanks pertaining to your post.I actually like your web site.Its really informative.On the other hand I really want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it because its a extremely clear cool blogger mod.
thank you incredibly much

 Sharp Convection Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 11:53:51 AM

Hey there thanks pertaining to your page.I definitely like your blog.Its extremely informative.Nevertheless I actually want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it since its a incredibly thoroughly clean awesome blogger mod.
thank you quite much

 Microwave Grill Ovenesommahob | 2/20/2010 2:18:25 PM

Hey there thanks pertaining to your page.I definitely like your blog.Its extremely informative.Nevertheless I actually want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it since its a incredibly thoroughly clean awesome blogger mod.
thank you quite much

 Microwave Grill Ovenesommahob | 2/20/2010 2:18:26 PM

Hey there thanks pertaining to your page.I definitely like your blog.Its extremely informative.Nevertheless I actually want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it since its a incredibly thoroughly clean awesome blogger mod.
thank you quite much

 Microwave Grill Ovenesommahob | 2/20/2010 2:18:27 PM

Hey there thanks pertaining to your page.I definitely like your blog.Its extremely informative.Nevertheless I actually want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it since its a incredibly thoroughly clean awesome blogger mod.
thank you quite much

 Microwave Grill Ovenesommahob | 2/20/2010 2:18:28 PM

Hey there thanks pertaining to your page.I definitely like your blog.Its extremely informative.Nevertheless I actually want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.We like it since its a incredibly thoroughly clean awesome blogger mod.
thank you quite much

 Microwave Grill Ovenesommahob | 2/20/2010 2:18:29 PM

Hiya and welcome many thanks regarding your page.I really enjoy your web site.Its quite informative.However I definitely want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.I like it mainly because its a incredibly clean great blogger hack.
thank you extremely much

 Red Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 4:58:16 PM

Hiya and welcome many thanks regarding your page.I really enjoy your web site.Its quite informative.However I definitely want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.I like it mainly because its a incredibly clean great blogger hack.
thank you extremely much

 Red Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 4:58:18 PM

Hiya and welcome many thanks regarding your page.I really enjoy your web site.Its quite informative.However I definitely want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.I like it mainly because its a incredibly clean great blogger hack.
thank you extremely much

 Red Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 4:58:19 PM

Hiya and welcome many thanks regarding your page.I really enjoy your web site.Its quite informative.However I definitely want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.I like it mainly because its a incredibly clean great blogger hack.
thank you extremely much

 Red Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 4:58:20 PM

Hiya and welcome many thanks regarding your page.I really enjoy your web site.Its quite informative.However I definitely want you to post how you put social bookmarking below your post.I like it mainly because its a incredibly clean great blogger hack.
thank you extremely much

 Red Microwaveesommahob | 2/20/2010 4:58:21 PM

Hiya People Im New, I have been browsing around this message board for a few weeks as a guest. I found it very and it has helped me allot. I hope to stay around for some time and give something back.

Thanks Allot.

 KithBurgith | 4/2/2010 8:02:39 PM

Wow...

Today I received a call from 972-284-0600 / 9722840600 and was made to believe the call was a scammer.

So I decided to complain and dialed the company (Gulf Coast Western) and complain.

You will never believe it... Gulf Coast Western -an Oil drilling corporation- was calling me back who I interviewed with last month - we're calling to tell me I got the job!

How can I fix this???

 Waivawano | 4/15/2010 6:17:58 PM

Hey Blogger,When you write some blogs and share with us,that is a hard work for you but share makes you
happly right?,yes I am a blogger too,and I wanna share with you my method to make some extra cash,not too much
maybe $100 a day,but when you keep up the work,the cash will come in much and more.more info you can checkout
my blog. http://bit.ly/9v1OH9
good luck and cheers!

 geadoftorouro | 5/13/2010 8:48:54 AM

your objective through [B]P90X workout[/B], your new target will be to preserve what you could have accomplished. The P90X workouts are intense and I don't know any person that follows it to a [U][B]does p90x really work[/B][/U] yr soon after 12 months but it is [B][URL=http://www.camyou.com/insanity/]insanity workout review[/URL][/B] very frequent to incorporate some of the [B]P90X workout DVDs[/B] exercises into their personal customized program lengthy right after the[B][URL=http://www.camyou.com]p90x extreme[/URL][/B] method. must [B]p90x nutrition plan[/B] maintained for a lifetime. As soon as [B]p90x nutrition plan pdf[/B] reach.

[B]insanity[/B] , [B][URL=http://www.camyou.com]p90x nutrition guide[/URL][/B] is an intense residence fitness plan, [B]insanity workout[/B] , can aid everyone [B]insanity dvd[/B] , [B]p90x workout schedule pdf file[/B] get within the greatest form of their lives. [B]insanity dvd[/B] is marketed being a 90 morning software but factors of [B]insanity reviews[/B] , [B]p90x nutrition guide[/B]

 Mamnavasy | 6/28/2010 1:19:16 PM

We distribute a sturdy row of hair's breadth extensions and trade them here shortly in our plant peach on, theres no middle man so the total you comprehend on buying here is at heavily discounted prices. We spark lone valid remy hair. You wont find synthetic locks here as it solely doesnt agree the quality of our 100% magnanimous hair.


If your wanting crying visionary looking celebrity fashion mane without any of the baffling m‚tier then youve befall to the unerringly place. Our most routine artefact is our world renonwed reduce in hair extensions.


Wearing fix in tresses extensions is relaxed! Simply disappear your locks, hazard in the clasp, growl at it closed and you’re done. After putting them in afew times youll in a minute hear against to them, in the future crave youll be masterly to braze your fraction extensions with your eyes closed!.


Speed in's are aside undoubtedly the easiest method representing strange instant curls and it comes without any commitments, wholly bear them unacceptable when you dont requisite them, deduct them into public notice at broken night and locate them in again when your prepared!


We also hoard pre bonded mane for salons or allowing for regarding those of you who knows how to use them (efficient fraction stylists recommended). Weaves as a replacement for those of you who hanker after to plant on your own clips. Definitively our latest adding up (coming shortly) is our sole piece braids extensions for the fastest imperative look.


Peculate adjust to look via our braids extensions, if you bring into the world any questions just enquire of our persevere band as a replacement for help, if we dont fool what you have need of obstacle us know and we can probably bring about it after you in our factory [url=http://www.superstrands.com/]Hair Extensions[/url]!


http://www.superstrands.com/

 joliousjoliez | 7/4/2010 6:26:35 AM

Ihr habt eine schoene Webseite hier, und vielciht schaut Ihr euch auchmal meine an, ok Sex im Internet ist nicht jedermans Sache, aber eben meine erste Homepage. Danke und macht weiter so!
[url=http://www.sexcamamateure.net/sex-girls/[/url]

 Ernasial | 7/19/2010 1:29:20 AM

Hello every one, wonderul site I find It exceedingly helpful & its helped me out so much
I hope to contribute & assist other people like this message board has helped me

_________________
[url=http://iphoneusers.com/]blackra1n[/url]

 TipSemiaBip | 7/22/2010 8:23:29 AM

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asus_Eee_PC]asus notebook comparison[/url]

 brupearteta | 7/25/2010 10:52:52 AM

looking for [url=http://www.web-house.co.il/SEO%20Specialist.htm]seo specialist[/url] ? validate at liberty our [url=http://www.smashflash.com/]free twinkle templates[/url] and acquire your own falsh website in return available today, colossal electing of voluntary [url=http://www.smashflash.com/]flash templates[/url] repayment for you online, varied brand-new designs with ir without flash.
so choose your [url=http://www.smashflash.com/]free flash template[/url] from the larget [url=http://www.smashflash.com/]flash templates[/url] selection. so get your [url=http://www.smashflash.com/]free website templates[/url] now and build your [url=http://www.smashflash.com/]free website[/url] .
want to watch [url=http://www.sex4sex.co.il/adult-movies.htm]adult movies[/url]? or even to [url=http://www.sex4sex.co.il/]buy viagra[/url] online, check this new [url=http://www.toys4sex.co.il/]online pharmacy[/url] for great deals. so [url=http://www.ewgpresents.com/]buy viagra[/url] online. check out this [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/fr//]Casino en ligne[/url]. or [url=http://sites.google.com/site/casinospiele2010//]casino spiele [/url]. [url=http://www.cd-empty.com/]online casinos[/url] , check out this great [url=http://www.omniget.co.il/]online casino bonus[/url] .

 Piesiamaima | 8/3/2010 9:02:04 AM

[url=http://primarkclothes.info]primark clothes[/url]

 fawltheaway | 8/5/2010 7:45:56 AM

Hey folks,

Who does not wish luxorious treatment while on vacation? Lush appointments, five-star meals, & amazing activities are available on all the ships from [b][url=http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978414594]Crystal Cruises[/url][/b] and Oceania Cruises. [b][url=http://www.zimbio.com/Taucktours/articles/ejyQ5d5st1F/Luxury+Tauck+Tours+Elite+Cruises+Travel+Inclusions]Tauck Tours[/url][/b] boasts unique vacations at 100 unique destinations. When you use Elite Cruise & Travel, your family can rest assured that your vacation will be just what you imagined.

 advodybeavy | 8/19/2010 6:14:16 AM

Movie Online Plus

download movie online

watch movies online for free, holly wood movies, latest movies, thriller movies, action movies, comedy movies, drama, musical

[url=http://www.movieonlineplus.com/?p=1413]watch movies free[/url]

movie online

 billjacksz | 8/22/2010 9:27:34 AM

[url=http://www.salvationarmy.org][img]http://verifiedfile.com/images/todd_cowle.jpg[/img][/url]

Helping other children of this generation promises your own children a better future

Haiti & Chile earthquake survivors require help. The Judah Taub & Red Cross request volunteers & financial aid.

[b]Donate via Google.com...[/b]
http://www.google.com/relief/chileearthquake/

[b]More information:[/b]
http://www.amnesty.org

 Syncclicy | 8/26/2010 8:46:17 PM

Need Everybody's Attention !

[url=http://www.berylzyskind.com]Fine Arts Educator Beryl Zyskind[/url] is promoting world peace!! When's the last time you've paid attention to what is happening in this world? Thank god your not a victim of the latest disasters in Haiti & Chile. Fact is, the orphans sleeping on the streets - and recently buried loved ones - require our assistance. I say "our" in reference to mankind.!!

[url=http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=12308232]Artist Beryl Zyskind[/url] is focused on helping feed children!!

 Touroarcads | 8/27/2010 6:33:41 PM

Live Sex Cam

Girl live cam,

live sex cam, sex cam xxx , live porn web cam, live nude web cam, cam porn chat,
adult web cam site [url=http://www.girllivecam.com]Live Sex Cam[/url] ,live naked web cam , topless cam girl, livesexcam, live porno


hardcore webcams,

hardcore webcams, live naked web cam, hardcore webcams,

 troylucah | 8/28/2010 11:49:14 PM

The [url=http://www.ge.com]General Electric Company[/url], or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in the State of New York. In 2010, Forbes ranked GE as the world's second largest company, based on a formula that compared the total sales, profits, assets, and market value of several multinational companies.[6] The company has 304,000 employees around the world.

 zoobfubsibirl | 9/1/2010 9:08:00 PM

sex chat rooms, free amature webcams, cam porn,

xxx webcams,nude webcams,

sex chats [url=http://www.camspotadult.com]live sex chat[/url] live adult video chat

 Petermikep | 9/6/2010 7:25:10 PM

The home - Your family will want to stay at home more often during the summer months if your home is [url=http://www.traneairconditionersprices.com]cool[/url] and well-ventilated. And, by putting a great a/c unit on your property, you will ensure them a great summer in their house, while also ensuring yourself cuts in your electricity bill. Also, nothing makes a great summer even better than enjoying it in your own home for mere pennies on the dollar!

 Assibedem cooling | 9/7/2010 3:24:17 PM

free flv player

flv video player [url=http://www.myfreeflvplayer.com] free flv player[/url] flv converter, free mpeg

flv riva, flv avi

free flv movie player

|

 Stevenpov | 9/7/2010 9:47:26 PM