Jeff: i agree MPG isnt an accurate way to measure hybrids. Its going to be hard to come up with an accurate test, maybe carbon dioxide emissions (like europe)? I Dont know.
Tesla is always going to be a niche player. I do give them credit though. Even jeremy clarkson liked it (dont get me started on the whole top gear episode where they tested it, the test wasnt fairly portraied)
I think that pure electrics make much more sense then hybrids as a commuter car, Check out the Think. Maybe some sort of car sharing program for commuter electrics would work?
Personally,I think whats going to kill the hybrid "revolution" will be the batteries. Just wait till the first gen hybrids need a 10k battery replacement in 8-10 years. I think the shine will wear off them pretty quick.
Thats where my idea of the electric car sharing program would shine. You basically pay a lease or membership fee and the company looks after the maintenance.
For longer distance travel i like hydrogen as a fuel source. If the hydrogen was generated by nuclear power instead of splitting hydrocarbons it would be a truly green fuel with no carbon emissions.
On CEO compensation, the 13 million in the difference between Wagoneer and Toyota's CEO sure would buy alot of golf memberships
. I still say that Toyota is running a leaner ship, and thats why they havent felt the squeeze is bad. Just look at their dealer structure, they have 1/2 or maybe less of the dealers that GM has.
The loan that toyota was seeking in your link was for toyota financial, not toyota motor. It was to offset the heavy loses they took in north america. Alot of which came from defaults which is no real fault of their own.
BUT... if i was running toyota motor you better believe i d have my hand out. Giving what 50 Billion? to GM sure gives them a competitive advantage and Id want my cut.