Auto executives told the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit last week that a gasoline tax is best the way to boost consumer adoption of electric vehicles. The executives said that “unless gasoline is $3.50 or $4 a gallon, consumers are not going to want to buy those cars.”
The group’s comments echoed an October study from Lux Research contending that sales of battery-powered electric cars and plug-in hybrids would struggle in the next decade unless gasoline prices triple.
The summit’s automotive group took the idea a step farther, however, calling for a gasoline tax that would ensure greater interest in EVs and plug-ins. “Gradually raising taxes to the point where fuel costs $4 to $5 at the pump will do more to stimulate demand in next-generation vehicles like general Motors’ forthcoming Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid than any other policy initiatives,” including the government’s $25 billion loan program meant to spark innovation, a Reuters story said.
In the wake of the Chevy Volt fire investigations, sales are down, and General Motors' (GM) CEO Dan Akerson is blaming the downturn on a spate of bad publicity.
Smith Electric Vehicles teamed with Trans Tech Bus to roll out a 42-passenger, 26,000-lb electric bus called the Newton eTrans, which it hopes will change the way children get to school every morning.
If you're a prospective Volt owner who wants to load your lithium-ion battery with renewable energy electrons, Chevrolet says it has found a way to help you.
Thanks to embedded electronics, medical devices are getting smaller and smarter than ever. Pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are now able to call physicians. MRIs, CT scanners, and ultrasound machines are gaining mobility. And the venerable Band-Aid may soon be able to detect illnesses ranging from fevers to heart arrhythmias. On February 21, join Design News senior editor Charles Murray for a wide-ranging discussion, "Embedded Angles for Medical Products," which will explore the latest developments in medical electronics. The discussion will examine advances in medical device technology and offer an inside look at the embedded electronics behind it.
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