What America needs is a new Sputnik........... one would think that the hybridnik would arouse American companies to demonstrate to the World, what America is best known for... to rise to an insurmountable challenge, and win!

However, that has not really happened this time.
What is going on???

The U.S. has reached a point “where the priorities of Congress could become so distorted by politics” that it would turn its back on the next great global industry, clean power — Rhone Resch

Okay, back on topic. I don't think it's so much of a whine as a realization that they're not in control of the ballfield anymore. Ford can't just demand something and get it, and it's proving to be a shock to them when they see the competition getting it.

First 4WD Hypermiler

Have you read the FEH FAQ?

Live in Michigan? Let it be known in Michigan Roll Call

Read My Automotive Blog at Rich Rambles

Pretty shocking to see a Ford exec. complaining about capitalism..... Henry Ford is turning in his grave seeing this.....

Off Topic:

Ultimately however, it's what the successful kids do.

I think parents/society add to this too, by falsely encouraging their kids. Just look at any American Idol tryout. How many of those kids are convinced they are great because their parents are afraid to tell them the truth? Even after they're told they stink, you can hear the parents in the background, "That's OK honey - you'll be a star. Pay no attention to those industry experts..." So we have this generation of kids who are fairly convinced they are good at everything without the work to back it up. You can live like that through high school well enough. A college Calculus or Physics course will take care of whatever illusion you have about being good at math. You actually have to dig your heels in and work at it, and I think a lot bail out when it doesn't come as easly as their parents said it would.

Being a supportive parent is one thing. Making your kids believe they're good at everything and it all will come easy does more harm than help.

On Topic:

What did Ford expect by tying their fortunes to a competitor?

*** Retired after 65,000 outstanding miles ***

Let's not forget that Edison only spent 3 months in school, and Ford had little time for school, either. It's not so much their educational choices as a complete lack of curiosity that I see in kids these days. They don't know how things work. They don't care. They take it for granted. "Hybrid = good" is enough. Why? How do implementations differ? Shrug.

Maybe it's information overload. Everyone (young and old) seems to want things reduced to simple sound bites these days.

Paris Hilton is a useless moron whose grandfather accomplished a lot, whose father accomplished a fair bit, and who has accomplished nothing on her own.

The President of the United States is a useless moron whose grandfather accomplished a lot, whose father accomplished a fair bit, and who has accomplished nothing on his own.

Incidentally, according to Wikipedia, Paris Hilton dropped out of private school and got a GED.

Greed. Enlightened self-interest, minus the "enlightened".

We once built the Woolworth, Chrysler, and Empire State buildings because we appreciated nice things. Now we build metal & glass boxes because they're cheaper.

We introduced Social Security, to provide a safety net for seniors. Now we try to gut it.

Even when healthcare costs are spiralling out of control, we won't adopt universal healthcare. Everyone is so worried that someone else might get a slightly bigger piece of the pie that nobody is allowed to have any pie at all, rather than concentrating on our own slice (to totally butcher a metaphor).

American society is in a (hopefully non-permanent) decline, and rather than address the issue, we stand around looking for scapegoats.

Didn't you see the stages of a democracy?

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/h...95.html?page=1


1. >From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. >From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. >From courage to liberty;
4. >From liberty to abundance;
5. >From abundance to complacency;
6. >From complacency to apathy;
7. >From apathy to dependence;
8. >From dependence back into bondage ."


However, I think most of that is best left to another thread. Let's try to stay on topic here, and should anyone want to continue or restart this discussion, you do so in anything goes.

First 4WD Hypermiler

Have you read the FEH FAQ?

Live in Michigan? Let it be known in Michigan Roll Call

Read My Automotive Blog at Rich Rambles

While it definitely is not a full hybrid, and it is a bit of a stretch to market it as such, it does represent a fairly intelligent way to save a bit of gas for not a lot of cash up front -- balancing out the accessory load, and kiling the engine at idle, while it won't cut fuel consumption by 33% or more like a full hybrid, may cut it by 8-10%, which is still a lot better than nothing. I poersonally think they might do better if they made a huge jump and installed that standard on many of their cars, they could then say their entire fleet, or a large portion of it, has 10% improved economy, that would also save more gas than a smaller number of "full" hybrid systems, though I doubt we'll see that happen. If someone did something like that though, I think it would be a good move.

I also think there's a lot of possiblity to innovate and come up with some alternatives to the batteries as well. I believe it was Ford who came up with the idea for an engine start/stop system that used a hydraulic accumulator to store the power for the starter instead of a battery, eliminating the problems assocated with high-voltage power. A system like that woudln't require any "special" parts, and if applied to a whole fleet, could see a huge drop in total consumption for a small up-front cost.

I agree. After taking a second look at BAS it does seem to have some merit. I wouldn't call it a hybrid with a straight face but the idea is a sound one. Since a BAS takes the place and saves the cost of both the starter and the alternator it should be a very cheep and easy mod (so why don't we have zillions of them on the road by now?).

You guys do realize the original Ford/Toyota article, which started this thread, is nearly nine months old, right?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I read somewhere that Europeans are considering legislation for ALL vehicles to have at least an auto-stop feature, which in its simplest way is a BAS.

The U.S. has reached a point “where the priorities of Congress could become so distorted by politics” that it would turn its back on the next great global industry, clean power — Rhone Resch