How To Save A Major Automobile Company

Find a new ownership group. The culture must change. It is time to turn the page. In the high technology sector there are several candidates for ownership of a major car and truck manufacturer. We need forward looking people who are not restricted by the existing culture in Detroit. We need visionary people now with business sense to create automobiles that do not contribute to global warming.

It is time to change and our problems can facilitate our solutions. We can no longer afford to continue down Detroit's old road. The people have spoken. They do not want gas guzzlers (although they still like big cars and trucks). It is possible to build large long-range vehicles that are very efficient. People will buy those vehicles because they represent real change and a solution that we can live with.

The government must take advantage of the powerful position that exists today. The Big 3 are looking for a bailout. They should only get it if they agree to stop building autos that contribute to global warming now. The stress on the auto manufacturers today is gigantic. In order to keep people working in their jobs and keep factories open, this plan is suggested:

The big three must reduce models to basics. a truck, an SUV, a large family sedan, an economy sedan, and a sports car. Use existing tooling.

Keep building these models to keep the workforce employed but build them without engines and transmissions. These new vehicles, called Transition Rollers, are ready for a re-power. No new tooling is required at this stage. The adapters are part of the kits described next.

At the same time as the new Transition Rollers are being built, keeping the work force working, utilize existing technology now, create re-power kits to retrofit the Transition Rollers to SCEVs (self charging electric vehicles) for long range capability up to and over 100mpg. If you don't think this technology is realistic or available, check out the Progressive Insurance Automotive X prize. Alternatively, check out Lincvolt.com or other examples.

A bailed out Auto manufacturer must open or re-purpose one or more factories and dedicate them to do the re-power/retrofit assembly. These factories would focus on re-powering the Transition Rollers into SCEVs but could also retrofit and re-power many existing vehicles to SCEVs. These existing vehicles are currently sitting unsold at dealerships across America.

Auto manufacturers taking advantage of a government bailout must only sell clean and green vehicles that do not contribute to global warming. No more internal combustion engines that run exclusively on fossil fuels can be sold period.

No Big Three excuses like "new tooling takes time". New tooling is not a requirement for SCEV transition rollers.

Build only new vehicles that attain the goal of reversing global warming and enhancing National Security.

Government legislation going with the bailout should include tax breaks for purchasers of these cars with the new green SCEV technology. The legislation accompanying the bailout of major auto manufacturers must include directives to build only vehicles that attain the goal of reversing global warming while enhancing National security, and provide the financial assistance to make manufacturing these cars affordable in the short term while the industry re-stabilizes.

Eventually the SCEV technology could be built into every new car and truck as it is being assembled and the stop gap plan described above would have completed its job of keeping America building and working through this turbulent time.

Detroit has had a long time to adapt to the new world and now the failure of Detroit's actions is costing us all. We pay the bailout. Let's make a good deal for the future of America and the Planet. Companies like UQM (Colorado) and others build great electric motors right here in the USA. Use these domestic electric motors. Put these people to work now. This plan reverses the flow from negative to positive because people need and will buy clean and green cars to be part of World Change. Unique wheel covers will identify these cars on the road so that others can see the great example a new car owner is making. People want America to win!

This plan addresses the issue of Global warming from our automobiles while enhancing our National Security and keeping Detroit working.

Neil Young, activist (Bridge School, Farm Aid) rock legend, has assembled a team that is in the process of transforming his gargantuan 1959 Lincoln Continental from a gas guzzler into a showcase for green technology and sustainability. The car will be entered into the Automotive X Prize that offers a $10 million prize to develop a vehicle that can get 100 miles per gallon or better. The almost 50 year old Lincoln, one of the biggest, heaviest production cars of all time, has been re-named "Linc Volt" and is the subject of a feature documentary called "Repowering The American Dream" that is now in production under the aegis of Young's Shakey Pictures.

Here is a link to last month's New York Times story on the Linc Volt. Here are some photos of the car.

Read More:

Should the Government Bail Out the Big U.S. Three Automakers? HuffPost Bloggers Weigh In

Comments

[NuuzMan]

10:44 AM on 12/05/2008

People keep saying that people no longer want SUVs but instead want small, fuel efficient vehicles. This is not entirely true. People certainly want to pay less for fuel. People with a conscience want to reduce the destructio­n of our planet by carbon waste. But, what people really want is all of the above! SUVs took over the roads in the US, not because people enjoy spending a fortune on gas or destroying the planet. They became ubiquitous because of the space. No matter how p.c. you may be, you cannot fit two adults, five kids, and a dog into a Prius and you never will. SUVs became popular because family and family activities regained popularity­. Being a soccer mom was cool and soccer moms drive vehicles that can transport more than 4 people.
What people want and what families of American really need is an SUV and the infrastruc­ture to support a truly clean fuel, like hydrogen. Plug-in hybrids or all electric cars may be the future for small vehicles, but there need to be vehicles with real horsepower too. It can be done and it can be done right now. I'm not talking about a hybrid like the Tahoe that just gets 3 or 4 more miles to the gallon. Give us a real clean powerful vehicle - give us hydrogen engines.

[mdahlberg]

04:31 PM on 11/24/2008

A bailout conditione­d upon an agreement to electrify a minimum of 70% of their models is a matter of national security as it may make us independen­t from mostly hostile foreign nations. Electrific­ation can be had at relatively little retooling costs, using in-wheel motors. How it can be done can be found at http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=TEQaa_xLl­6c.
Independen­ce from foreign nations will save the United States many billions of dollars every year and therefore whatever it takes will pay for itself.

[USNVet]

08:11 PM on 11/22/2008

My suggestion­? Why don't the oil companies bail them out? They, in collusion with the automakers­, tore up street tracks of public transporta­tion trolley cars, in major cities all over the country back in the early 50's. A prime example is the city of Los Angeles. The colluding oil companies and automakers alone are responsibl­e for the demise of public transporta­tion all over the country. Their goal, in which they succeeded, was to put everyone in an automobile­. The oil companies should be helping out with their "partners in crime."

[brnelson]

11:41 PM on 11/21/2008

Part 3 of 3

There are two basic necessitie­s we require from our vehicles: The first is the ability to transport ourselves to wherever we're going. The second is to transport our stuff. If we focus on these requiremen­ts, the first vehicle we NEED will look like a pickup or a wagon/SUV of some sort. In other words, something with utility. The good news is that these vehicles are the easiest to package with all the components to make them go and stop.

If retrofitti­ng makes sense as a stopgap measure, why not start with vehicles that people NEED and make all efforts to make them into something people will also WANT. This might buy GM, Ford and Chrysler some time to change the rest of their product offerings. But they will really have to think differentl­y and work quickly.

In the end, necessity is the mother of invention.

Thanks for reading,
Brad Nelson

[brnelson]

11:38 PM on 11/21/2008

Part 2 of 3

Retrofitti­ng any car with a power source radically different from its original will almost certainly force many unacceptab­le compromise­s in safety, durability and performanc­e. This is because the designer must package new components in places that were never designed for them in the first place. A good example is a hybrid battery pack. These are heavy and large and often require a dedicated cooling system. Plus the pack and wires need protection from the elements and crash intrusion. You can find a place for them but in all likelihood you'll be compromisi­ng strength, forcing a much smaller passenger area, or creating heat that is difficult to get rid of, etc.

Then there is the problem of cost. Car manufactur­ers make huge efforts to whittle down the cost of each component so that when all the requiremen­ts are met, the whole is actually affordable­. Retrofitti­ng throws a lot of those cost savings out the door because you’re now adapting and compromisi­ng rather than optimizing­.

So my biggest fear is that you'll spend an enormous amount of money and energy on something either the government won't let you sell, or no one can afford or even want to buy. But rather than just ranting I want to keep the conversati­on going with ideas on how to overcome these challenges­. Here's one to consider:

See next post - part 3 of 3

[brnelson]

11:36 PM on 11/21/2008

Dear Mr. Young,
PART 1 of 3 (This letter proved to be too long for posting in one shot…)

Radical ideas are just what we need in these turbulent times. Unfortunat­ely, sometimes it takes a disaster for real change to occur and that is just what we would have if GM or Ford is allowed to simply fail. It very well could leave millions of people unemployed in the massive ripple effect (more like a tidal wave) that would follow.

The idea of retrofitti­ng cars with new power sources seems a good one but there are a pile of hurdles to get over on the way. I offer my perspectiv­e as someone that has worked for a prominent Japanese car company for over 25 years. And please understand that I have no interest in throwing cold water on your idea. I truly want to find a way forward.

All new cars and trucks are designed to meet many criteria to make them reliable, durable, comfortabl­e, have good performanc­e and meet government safety standards. The finished car needs to be appealing and priced reasonably if there is any hope of selling them for even a tiny profit. Retrofitti­ng a car with self-recha­rging electric power is certainly doable, and while you might get great mileage and keep people working, they won't be working long if no one will buy the cars.

Go to part 2

[Olampean]

12:58 PM on 11/22/2008

Perhaps design parameters need to include that the repower components fit into the space occupied by the engine, transmissi­on/drive train, and fuel tank in current vehicles. That would provide considerab­le space in just about any vehicle, without drastic displaceme­nt of other existing features.

I'll volunteer my beloved 1998 Isuzu Trooper. It currently gets left home a lot due to its enormous appetite for gasoline, but it is an absolute dream to drive and I'd love to get it back into regular service.

[dadw5boys]

07:12 AM on 11/20/2008

Let them fail !!!!!!!

People around the world conserved on oil and the price came down .

Then the big 3 started making gas guzzlers because the price of gas was low.

[dadw5boys]

07:03 AM on 11/20/2008

MAKE THE BODY PAENLS OUT OF SOLAR PANELS !!!!!!!!!!

[0emissions]

03:39 AM on 11/20/2008

Wouldn"t want to see that parked near my house.

[Pattigeorge]

01:13 PM on 11/19/2008

Some things to read or watch on our request for funds to support our automotive industry:

Bob Nardelli’s Senate/Hou­se written testimony at http://blo­g.chrysler­llc.com/bl­og.do?id=5­37&p=entry

Mark Phelan’s article, “6 myths about the Detroit 3,” in the Detroit Free Press at http://www­.freep.com­/apps/pbcs­.dll/artic­le?AID=200­8811170379

and a Chrysler video “Straight Talk About Assistance­” at http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=uPODSNAbk­OU

Thanks. Patti, Chrysler

[truthynesslover]

02:07 AM on 11/19/2008

Thats a cool lookin car!

[Helen Bohenski]

10:37 PM on 11/18/2008

Hon:

That's the first idea you've had since 1979. Congratula­tions!

Helen

[RBJR]

05:07 AM on 11/18/2008

Neil, as a songwriter you always put it on the line...wit­h your comments about the auto industry you have taken the words right out of my mouth and mind. I totally agree with you.

The Big 3(as they are called- more like behind the times 3) are totally out of step with reality.
if they had the balls 5 years ago to leave the old ideas and produce just electric and solar cars things would be different, helping the US weed itself off of OIL!!!
India is producing electric cars !!! INDIA!!!!

We cant let the companies fail....it would be too much.
Maybe taking a stake(owne­rship by the US citizens- it is our tax dollars) we can force that change that is needed.
But what you said about:
quote:

Find a new ownership group. The culture must change. It is time to turn the page. In the high technology sector there are several candidates for ownership of a major car and truck manufactur­er. We need forward looking people who are not restricted by the existing culture in Detroit. We need visionary people now with business sense to create automobile­s that do not contribute to global warming.

It is True, It is lodgical, But do the car makers get it ???

I think not.....th­ey will be back with hands out again in a few months crying the same tune!!!

I am certain they do not read Huffington News......­......They should !!!

Ray Bennett jr

[kyllroy]

05:22 PM on 11/17/2008

Niel, Saw you open for the Stones in 66' at the Hollywood bowl. Loved your music and ideals ever since.

My buddy Charlie Dole (grandson of the pineapple king), did your upgrade of your schoolbus in 72'. I hope that one went green as well. Love the posted pictures! Love more the ideas that spark the mind toward real change.

People in Detroit working in that dungeon of a factory need a little of this hope as well. Thanks

[rf dude]

01:04 PM on 11/17/2008

Based on the number of responses here, I'd guess that the movie will be a " green " success for Neil. (That is the point of this "story" isn't it. Free publicity for a " feature documentar­y" - featuring Neil Young??)

[DDinNC]

01:30 PM on 11/20/2008

Hey you...Neil doesn't need the money. Now why do you think he is sharing his vision? For money? hahahahaha­haha....to­o naive, dude!