2013 Toyota Venza Priced
News
Reviews
Guides
Gas Mileage
Car Types

Five Questions To Ask About Those DoE Advanced-Tech Loans Page 2

 
1,158 views Jun 26, 2009
Follow John

So if they're going to build EVs, we want some of them to be built here, even if profits go back to Japan. Nissan has to use the money for its US manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.

(5) Will the dollars be used well? How will we measure the success of these measures? 

This question came, off the record, from the CEO of an electric-car company. And it's a good question that can't immediately be asnwered.

The loans begin to come due one year after production starts on the cars or components they funded. So getting the cars with advanced powertrains, or those powertrains themselves, into volume production counts as success.

Would those vehicles and powertrains have come anyway, given the new and higher gas-mileage requirements recently imposed? Could the carmakers have afforded to meet those standards in the current downturn that brought GM and Chrysler to bankrupcy?

Those are questions that can only be answered retrospectively. Watch for early repayment of the loans as a sign that the sustainable automobile these loans are meant to spur has arrived.

Nissan Smyrna Tennessee

Nissan Smyrna Tennessee

Enlarge Photo






Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Find Green Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
Green Car Reports
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 Green Car Reports. All Rights Reserved. Green Car Reports is published by High Gear Media. Send us feedback. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC.