Comments on: Feds Gambled More on Electric Cars in 6 Months Than Transit Gets All Year http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/electric-cars-got-a-bigger-u-s-bet-in-6-months-than-transit-gets-all-year/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Elana Schor http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/electric-cars-got-a-bigger-u-s-bet-in-6-months-than-transit-gets-all-year/comment-page-1/#comment-50911 Elana Schor Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:09:16 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=73891#comment-50911 Actually, Ajay, I think it's a potentially winning idea to encourage the construction of cleaner-burning cars in American plants, provided the market is there to bolster the investment. And if you look in the linked article, you'll find that automakers were facing punishing interest rates last fall when the loan program was approved -- in large part because of the bad economy, but also because of what patrick pointed out above. Actually, Ajay, I think it’s a potentially winning idea to encourage the construction of cleaner-burning cars in American plants, provided the market is there to bolster the investment. And if you look in the linked article, you’ll find that automakers were facing punishing interest rates last fall when the loan program was approved — in large part because of the bad economy, but also because of what patrick pointed out above.

]]> By: patrick http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/electric-cars-got-a-bigger-u-s-bet-in-6-months-than-transit-gets-all-year/comment-page-1/#comment-50901 patrick Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:05:40 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=73891#comment-50901 Ajay, companies in very new industries, that will be competing with huge multinational companies can find it very expensive to get a loan, if they can get one at all. The interest rate available for a home mortgage is not anywhere close to what a start-up can get. Loans for start-ups are much closer to credit card interest rates. Ajay, companies in very new industries, that will be competing with huge multinational companies can find it very expensive to get a loan, if they can get one at all.

The interest rate available for a home mortgage is not anywhere close to what a start-up can get. Loans for start-ups are much closer to credit card interest rates.

]]> By: Ajay http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/electric-cars-got-a-bigger-u-s-bet-in-6-months-than-transit-gets-all-year/comment-page-1/#comment-50891 Ajay Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:51:34 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=73891#comment-50891 "interest rates as low as 5 percent, compared with up to 20 percent on the private market, and a repayment window of 25 years." What? You can get loans for much less than 20% interest rates. I can tell from the tone of the article that the author does not like this program, but why lie to make a point? “interest rates as low as 5 percent, compared with up to 20 percent on the private market, and a repayment window of 25 years.”

What? You can get loans for much less than 20% interest rates.

I can tell from the tone of the article that the author does not like this program, but why lie to make a point?

]]> By: Esther http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/electric-cars-got-a-bigger-u-s-bet-in-6-months-than-transit-gets-all-year/comment-page-1/#comment-50871 Esther Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:12:35 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=73891#comment-50871 I just don't understand why the Department of Energy gives out incredible amounts of loans to private automakers. Shouldn't the DoE be focusing on promoting public transportation for obvious eco-friendly, beneficial-for-more reasons? This money should be spent in bettering the public transportation system the working-class heavily depends on. Transit isn't being subsidized enough in my eyes. On a brighter note, thank God for commuter benefits. I sent my employer a link to the Commuter Nation (http://www.commuternation.com) website and the next thing I know is I'm saving money thanks to the government. If you don't have commuter benefits, make sure you talk to your employers about it. There's nothing to lose. I just don’t understand why the Department of Energy gives out incredible amounts of loans to private automakers. Shouldn’t the DoE be focusing on promoting public transportation for obvious eco-friendly, beneficial-for-more reasons? This money should be spent in bettering the public transportation system the working-class heavily depends on. Transit isn’t being subsidized enough in my eyes. On a brighter note, thank God for commuter benefits. I sent my employer a link to the Commuter Nation (http://www.commuternation.com) website and the next thing I know is I’m saving money thanks to the government. If you don’t have commuter benefits, make sure you talk to your employers about it. There’s nothing to lose.

]]> By: david vartanoff http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/electric-cars-got-a-bigger-u-s-bet-in-6-months-than-transit-gets-all-year/comment-page-1/#comment-50841 david vartanoff Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:05:41 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=73891#comment-50841 Why is anyone surprised? There was a point during Reagan's term when the Feds gave out bus purchase subsidies to keep the factories running even though they had cut Fed operating subsidies. There is a pattern here. Why is anyone surprised? There was a point during Reagan’s term when the Feds gave out bus purchase subsidies to keep the factories running even though they had cut Fed operating subsidies. There is a pattern here.

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