Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Celebrities
Neil Young has the solution to Detroit's woes
Rocker Neil Young has managed to create his own electric car out of an old Lincoln convertible. That's awesome, and we congratulate Young on the amazing accomplishment. But as far as his ideas on how to fix Detroit, it seems that the singer's plan has a few loose screws. Mr. Young suggests that the Feds give Detroit the money it needs to survive on the condition that the three remaining automakers stop building cars with gas-powered engines... right now. This, as you would imagine, presents a problem, considering that cars aren't all that useful if they can't provide actual transportation. Young's got a solution to that problem too: each automaker must convert one plant to assemble "re-power kits" that would allow these cars to be retrofitted as "self charging electric vehicles."
That sounds nice, doesn't it? The only problem is that "self charging" EVs don't exist. Batteries need power from somewhere, generally an outlet that gets its juice from the electrical grid. Furthermore, Young's plan doesn't actually account for how the car's would be charged or where all the "transitional rollers'" batteries would come from. It's a nice thought, but one that is entirely impossible at the moment.
[Source: Huffington Post via Autofiends]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin 5:10PM (11/17/2008)
I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
Hang it up Neil. It's not realistic.
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BoxerFanatic 5:10PM (11/17/2008)
Neil YOUNG?
I'd rather take advice from Bob Dylan, not being able to understand a syllable, and then doing what needs to be done anyway.
Neil Young has been a moron for a good long time, and who would think that he would be a source for newsworthy auto commentary?
Idiot. I am sure he has a nice foil hat and a perpetual motion machine in his basement.
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Mel. R 5:58PM (11/17/2008)
By perpetual motion machine, I presume you mean a cat with a piece of buttered toast strapped to its back?
AZZO45b 9:09PM (11/17/2008)
Come on... Neil has good intentions for a new automotive "Harvest", just not fully worked out for all of us "Rockin' in the Real World"! :)
Seriously, non smoking concert halls usually still have quite a nightly contact buzz.... if only Mr Young wrote "In the Air Tonight"... :) :) :)
AZZO45b 9:11PM (11/17/2008)
OOPS! I think its "Rockin' in the FREE World"???
AB needs an EDIT button!!!
John 5:14PM (11/17/2008)
Heck, may as well make 'em flying cars too, like the Jetsons!
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Torrent 5:15PM (11/17/2008)
and while we're at it, how 'bout some self- regenerating wheels!
TJ 5:17PM (11/17/2008)
"That sounds nice, doesn't it? The only problem is that "self charging" EVs don't exist. "
Ha! My unicorn is self charging, take that suckers! My leprechaun guzzles methanol with the best of them, though...
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Justin 5:19PM (11/17/2008)
For fun, click the link...and read the comments. Huffington Post readers aren't the sharpest auto critics...
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trevor2k 5:24PM (11/17/2008)
'HuffPo' is the blog equivalent of replacing CNN or MSNBC with E! News Daily for your information.
AZZO45b 9:18PM (11/17/2008)
I'll take HuffPo over anything owned by R.Murdock (sp?)
trevor2k 5:21PM (11/17/2008)
My old car keeps breaking down
My new car ain't from Japan
There's already too many Datsuns
In this town.
Another thing that's bugging me
Is this commercial on TV
Says that Detroit
can't make good cars any more.
Motor City.
Who's driving my car?
Who's driving my car now?
Who?
My army jeep is still alive
Got locking hubs and four wheel drive
Ain't got no radio,
ain't got no mag wheels
Ain't got no digital clock
Ain't got no clock.
The paint job is lookin' blue
The white walls are missing too
But I guess until I get my car back
This will do.
Who's driving my car now?
Who's driving my car now?
Who?
Who's driving my car now?
-Neil Young
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The Other Bob 5:24PM (11/17/2008)
Hey let's mandate the instalation of "Mr. Fusion" reactors on every car too. That will fix the problem.
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Jrejre 6:48PM (11/17/2008)
"Mr. Fusion powers the time circuits and the flux capacitor, but the internal combustion engine runs on ordinary gasoline. It always has"
happy_penguin 5:31PM (11/17/2008)
I knew he was a nut when he put batteries and and electric motor in a '59 Lincoln. Now we see that the nut is cracked.
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tbyron 5:34PM (11/17/2008)
I don't think he cracked. He was using some company in KS to build a series-hybrid, very similar to what GM is doing with the Volt.
The thing is, a giant old Lincoln like that is not a horrible platform for this. It has gobs of space for the batteries and electric drivetrain. In theory, it doesn't need a full-sized iron V8 to generate power; but even if it did, what's an additional 1,000 lbs of batteries in a car that's got to be pushing 5,500 lbs stock?
happy_penguin 6:07PM (11/17/2008)
You've demonstrated the problem right there. It's too big and too heavy to be efficient with batteries which are inherently inefficient. And why desecrate a classic automobile for this? Take a look at their "values" statement from the website:
"We want to build a zero emissions automobile that eliminates roadside re-fueling entirely"
http://www.lincvolt.com/
That's the problem with electrics. You can't refuel unless you go home. The only solution is one that can be refueled on the road whether that be gasoline, diesel, hydrogen or whatever. You can't just go off and charge up your electric car anywhere and you have to wait for the charge too.
Pure electrics have limited use and they always will. Petroleum is still the best, cheapest fuel available. Alternative fuels will be the answer for the future.
JZeke 5:34PM (11/17/2008)
Maybe we can start getting auto news from Perez Hilton too? I think Britney and Lohan understand the auto industry's woes pretty well, their voices should be heard...
...well that is what I would say if I decided to start smoking crack.
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Jason Bird 5:38PM (11/17/2008)
Well said...maybe Paris Hilton and her ilk can start telling us what's hot...lord knows I wanted a triple white CLK after I saw Britney driving one.
Tagg 5:40PM (11/17/2008)
Go back to playing with your trains Neil.
Ooops! I forgot, he ran Lionel trains into bankruptcy in 2004!!!
Sorry.
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