Should the US follow in France's footsteps and create more electric cars?

Question

According to the Fall 2009 edition of Democratic Left, "France is launching a $2.2 billion program to build one million street and home car battery charging stations around the country by 2015." In contrast, when Obama was elected, he "announced a $2.4 billion plan to get more electric vehicles on the road. More than half the money will go to US companies for research on batteries and the rest for other car components, training and evaluation."

As the editorial goes on to note, "Clearly, there are two different approaches here. Obama apparently supports the contention of the US energy and automotive industries that far more research is needed." But the French "believe that the technology is ready to go and they are jump starting the market. The difference in the job creation potential of the two programs is glaring, with most of the American money going for high tech equipment for a handful of scientists, while the French are hiring people to connect a million plug-in stations with miles and miles of wire."

France is a country which much smaller than the US and they are far ahead of us in the latest development in electric car technology. $2.4 billion is a drop in the bucket compared to what France is doing with their electric car program. So why is US still lagging behind other industrial countries when it comes to the electric cars? Should we follow in France's footsteps and create more electric cars?

Answer 1

Yes. The US isn't #1 at anything anymore. Not saying France is #1, but if we adopted many of the policies and programs from european countries it would be a step in the right direcion.

Answer 2

You have to look beyond the surface to find the answer. The US generates most of its electricity using natural gas or coal. The emissions created to power electric cars exceeds that that would be generated from a car that uses gasoline and the cost to the consumer for an electric car is much higher .



In France most of their electricity is generated from nuclear powerplants. It is less expensive and creates lower emissions.



So in the US we would pay more for cars we dont like that are not capable of traveling distances needed for us to commute and not have a positive effect on the environment.

Answer 3

Take a look at the cost of these electric cars and the batteries. Dealers don't want many people to know the exact cost of a battery. Not all gas stations are equipped with charging stations for these batteries either.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304432704577350052534072994

Answer 4

The fleet of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States is the largest in the world. Since 2008 over 140,000 highway-capable plug-in electric cars have been sold in the country through September 2013.[4][5] The U.S. was the world's leader in plug-in electric car sales in 2012, with a 46% share of global sales.[6] When sales are broken down by type of powertrain, the United States was the leader in plug-in hybrid sales in 2012 with a 70% market share of global sales, and ranked second in pure electric car sales with a 26% share, after Japan (28%).[7]



As of 30 September 2013, domestic sales are led by the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid with 48,218 units, followed by the Nissan Leaf all-electric car with 35,588 units, the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid with 20,724 units, and the Tesla Model S with over 15,000 units. The fleet of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States is the largest in the world. Since 2008 over 140,000 highway-capable plug-in electric cars have been sold in the country through September 2013.[4][5] The U.S. was the world's leader in plug-in electric car sales in 2012, with a 46% share of global sales.[6] When sales are broken down by type of powertrain, the United States was the leader in plug-in hybrid sales in 2012 with a 70% market share of global sales, and ranked second in pure electric car sales with a 26% share, after Japan (28%).[7]



Why is yahoo answers printing my replies twice when I cut & paste? Anyone else have this problem?

Answer 5

Different strokes for different folks seems to be the rule here. Just like always.



This constant "liberal" propaganda suggesting the the US should do blah-blah like the French, or blow-blow like the Germans, or yada-yada-yada like the fill-in-the-blanks really gets tedious. And it gets that way because it's an insult to the intelligence, not that our "liberal" friends don't already engage in that activity 24 X 7. Just saying.

Answer 6

Gas is currently $3.29 for 87 percent octane in my area. There is no rush at the moment.

Answer 7

Not until they start selling the ones they are making now.

Answer 8

Nobody wants to buy a overpriced golf cart that has no range .

Answer 9

If it weren't for the United States, the French would be speaking German right now.