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Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works [Updated]*

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities, Electric

It has long been apparent that the more successful a talk radio host is, the less relevant the facts become. Case in point is this week's apparent tirade by Rush Limbaugh against the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. No doubt the Volt's sticker price came in higher than most of us had hoped at $41,000, and Limbaugh may have had a slight point there. However, suggesting that the federal $7,500 tax credit for plug-in vehicles like the Volt and the Nissan Leaf was there as an admission that no one wants these vehicles strikes us as disingenuous at best, especially when you recall the tax write-offs that were available to people buying Hummers and other large SUVs just a few years ago. As far as we know, Limbaugh also made no mention of the more palatable $350-per-month lease deal available for the Volt.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Limbaugh also ripped into the Volt's 40 mile range, implying that the 40 miles of range from the battery is all that is available. He was either unaware of or chose to ignore the fact that in charge-sustaining mode, the car's onboard engine-generator can keep the battery going for another 300 miles on a tank of gas. If you don't have time to sit around while the battery charges, you can just take a couple of minutes to fill the tank and be on your way again, just as you would in a normal car.

~~Perhaps we should just give Limbaugh the benefit of the doubt and assume his cochlear implant was on the fritz.~~

*Update: When this story was originally posted, we were unable to find a transcript online. After reviewing the transcript post-publication, it's clear that the Detroit Free Press took Limbaugh's comments out of context just as much of the media did last week in the case of Shirley Sharrod. Limbaugh is clearly aware of the range-extending capabilities of the Volt powertrain, although he didn't make any mention of the lease deal.

Until a caller informed Limbaugh of the Department of Energy-funded Charge Point America program, he was apparently unaware that over 4,000 free home 240-volt chargers would be available. However, the reality is that the Volt can be charged from a standard 110 volt outlet in 8-10 hours because of its smaller capacity batteries. Speaking of its range, the continual harping on the 40 mile range neglects the fact that for the vast majority of trips that will be perfectly adequate and the car can continue on after that on gasoline essentially without driver input.

From where we sit, comparisons of the Volt (and other EVs) to the Apple iPhone are also flawed. At launch, the iPhone did not have a carrier subsidy from AT&T and while it did well, sales didn't really take off until a few months later when the service provider cut the cost. Those subsidies have been more than recovered by AT&T (and other cellular companies) through very expensive smartphone service plans. The groundbreaking aspect of the iPhone was its software, not its hardware which was not significantly more expensive than other phones. While it remains to be seen if battery-powered vehicles can change the game, there is no argument that they are currently substantially more expensive to manufacture. As long as the United States has significantly lower gasoline prices than other countries, EVs are unlikely to thrive at their true cost.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Sources: Detroit Free Press, RushLimbaugh.com]

Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, ~~fails to understand how it works~~ [*Updated] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Rush Limbaugh runs Leno's Green Car Challenge, takes out Al Gore twice

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Humor, Electric

Rush Limbaugh in Jay Leno's Green Car Challenge - Click above to watch the video after the break

As expected, Rush Limbaugh strapped himself behind the wheel of Ford's specially-prepped electric Focus hatchback as part of Jay Leno's Green Car Challenge last night. We don't mean to brag or anything (well, maybe just a little), but we totally predicted the outcome way in advance of the actual running.

No, Rush did not beat Drew Barrymore's time. Yes, he did in fact take out Al Gore... twice. Also Ed Begley Jr. In any case, Limbaugh claims to have enjoyed his time driving a silent electric car in anger and couldn't care less that his time was negatively impacted by aiming for Gore and Begley. Click past the break to watch the video.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Rush Limbaugh runs Leno's Green Car Challenge, takes out Al Gore twice

VIDEO: Rush Limbaugh runs Leno's Green Car Challenge, takes out Al Gore twice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rush Limbaugh takes on the green car movement

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green

In an attempt to stay politically neutral, we're going to stop short of offering opinions about Rush Limbaugh's recent statements regarding hybrid automobiles and the intent of automakers like Ford and Honda to "please politicians overseeing the industry's multibillion-dollar bailout." What we will say, though, is that Limbaugh's a little off when he suggests that hybrid vehicles are entirely unwanted. So sayeth Rush:

"Nobody's buying 'em. Nobody wants them! The manufacturers are making them in droves to satisfy Obama! Sorry for yelling. Nobody wants them!"

While it's true that hybrid vehicle sales tend to rise and fall with the ebb and flow of fuel prices, which are currently down from the record highs from a year ago, Edmunds' Green Car Advisor points out that 1.3 million hybrid vehicles have been sold in America since 1999, the first year the fuel-saving vehicles entered the market. Obviously, there are more than a few people out there who want to cut down on their fuel usage. Furthermore, these hybrid vehicle programs have been in development since well before President Obama was elected.

Limbaugh went on to argue that politicians killed the auto industry. There may be a measure of truth to that point, but there's certainly a number of other factors that have attributed a great deal to the current woes being felt by all automakers the world over.

As always, your mileage may vary. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, but please keep it civil.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

Gallery: Honda Insight LIVE

[Source: Rush Limbaugh via Green Car Advisor]

Rush Limbaugh takes on the green car movement originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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