SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: TimF who wrote (228012)4/7/2005 8:29:09 AM
From: RetiredNow  Read Replies (1) of 1573642
 
First off, the objective of gov't investment wouldn't be to induce and early replacement of cars that are perfectly fine and in service today. It would be to provide incentives to switch to a hybrid or fuel cell when the old cars reach their end of life. So the capital expenditure by everyone who owns a car would have to be made anyway. The problem today is that the car industry isn't spending enough money on getting these cars to market quick enough, nor mass producing them quick enough to bring the prices down. In addition, the massive infrastructure to provide for fuel cell refueling stations would have to be built if we were to move to a hydrogen economy. So there is a chicken or egg problem here, because people don't want to buy a car that is inconvenient to refuel.

You seem to be pretty savvy on economics and market forces. You should know that sometimes market forces don't do what is right for the long term of the economy. For example, an inventor had developed a laser technology that would eliminate the need for sutures or stitches and would result in an almost scarless recovery. Johnson & Johnson bought the technology and shelved it because their silk suture business was a $1 billion a year business. With oil, there are huge market forces that do not want to see us change until every last drop of oil is used. These same market forces aren't going to willing jump into the hydrogen economy without some powerful inducements. Government forces can be used to provide that inducement and in this case, I think it is warranted.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News