The Power Behind The Motor City
As each day passes, we, as spectators, wait to see what the next news will be regarding the Big 3. Often, at least on TV, the outlook isn’t good. This is why it was very refreshing when I heard some of the big decision makers discuss the future of the Big 3 and what will ultimately be powering our future vehicles at this years Mackinac Policy Conference.
William Clay Ford, Jr said it best when he told the audience, “We have never imagined the current situation. It is equally historic and equally heartbreaking.” For someone like him, whose family helped to put Detroit and the auto industry on the map, these are indeed trying times. However, Ford and his company haven’t let it stop them from trying to move our current technology to the next level.
- EcoBoost technology: increases fuel economy but without sacrificing engine performance.
- Leading sales in domestic hybrid vehicles: According to a May 4th, 2009 story on www.cbsnews.com, “The U.S. hybrid market has grown exponentially since 2000, when 7,781 were sold.”
- Creating a viable battery powered vehicle: having battery powered vehicles would result in more energy security as well as lowering greenhouse gases.
Ford, during his main presentation, celebrated President Obama’s decision to establish one fuel efficiency standard. This would remove the ones that vary from state to state and allow the Big 3 to develop their new technology based against this national standard.
Complementing Ford was Anthony F. Earley, Jr, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy Company. Talking about electric cars is great but many people are wondering whether we have the infrastructure set up to charge them up and whether the electric grid could handle the extra load.
Without a doubt, we need more charging stations like perhaps in mall parking lots. Also, there’s smart grid technology, which would allow the electrical grid to predict, based on past patterns of customer usage, when peak periods occur and respond accordingly. The problem isn’t so much our ability to generate electricity, it is the problem of getting it where it needs to go when it needs to go. Possible collaborations between the Big 3 as well as electricity utility companies would benefit each other tremendously.
In order for the Big 3 to accomodate the changing needs of their consumers, a few different things need to happen. First of all, there are just too many technologies out there. If I, as a consumer, wanted to buy some sort of alternative energy vehicle, I would want to know that I’m not buying some one-off deal that might not be around and that I’ll be able to power it. As Ford said, “Transportation in big cities around the world is changing. We should embrace it.” Consumers need to have just enough options that they won’t get confused.
Also, the vehicles need to be better priced. Consumers are hurting at the pump but they don’t want to be hurting also when it comes to buying their next vehicle. I know deep down that for me my next vehicle will probably be some sort of hybrid or alternative energy deal. This decision won’t be coming for a few more years, so it gives me an opportunity to see what’s out there and how it’s working out.
So for those consumers like me that are on the fence on what the “right” decision is, I hope that the Big 3 will provide us with vehicles that make the most sense. In order for this to happen, we need to speak and they need to listen.
Author: Jose A. Rodriguez
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