I'm not sharing this to criticize Elon Musk. He's obviously an extremely talented man with irons in many fires. At the same time, there may be a misconception in Brownsville and Cameron County, because of the SpaceX euphoria generated by our public officials, that he's an altruistic, free spirited lone wolf, personally financing unique companies with advanced technology.
Please note in the article below that one of Musk's enterprises, the Fisker Electric Car Company, received 528.7 million in loan guarantees from the U.S. government, 359 million of which was to open a closed factory in Delaware. Elon Musk personally received 465 million in loan guarantees.
As noted in the article shared below, the production of the Fisker Electric car has been very problematic. Projections were to produce 75,000 to 100,000 units by 2014. So far only 400 have been sold and in a recent car test detailed below, the car quit before completing the test.
"Consumer Reports," the noted tester of consumer merchandise handles car tests a little differently. They do not allow the manufacturer to supply them with a test car, probably one that has been tested totally before loaning it to the tester. They buy one from a dealer just like a typical consumer. So, in this case, they bought a Fisker and it quit on them after 180 miles.
"Consumer Reports," the noted tester of consumer merchandise handles car tests a little differently. They do not allow the manufacturer to supply them with a test car, probably one that has been tested totally before loaning it to the tester. They buy one from a dealer just like a typical consumer. So, in this case, they bought a Fisker and it quit on them after 180 miles.
‘Karma’: $107k plug-in hybrid dies on test track, automaker got $528m US loan guarantee
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The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid car that seems to have everything the rich and famous — and environmentally correct — look for in a set of wheels. Sleek silhouette? Check. Green cred? Check. Six-figure price tag? Check.
Reliable battery? Not so fast.
In a test conducted Wednesday by Consumer Reports magazine, the niche-market $107,850 sports car conked out completely, after a short ride at 65 miles per hour on a Connecticut test track.
“Our Fisker Karma … is super sleek, high-tech — and now it’s broken,” Consumer Reports wrote on its website late Thursday.
“We have owned our car for just a few days; it has less than 200 miles on its odometer … We buy about 80 cars a year and this is the first time in memory that we have had a car that is undriveable before it has finished our check-in process.”
A Consumer Reports video shows a flatbed truck, sent by the Fisker dealer who sold the car, preparing to tow it away.
Watch:
David Champion, who runs the magazine’s automotive test center, told Reuters that ”[d]uring the gentle run down the track, a light on the dashboard came on.”
The light signaled battery trouble, and the car wouldn’t restart after the test driver parked it.
“It is a little disconcerting that you pay that amount of money for a car and it lasts basically 180 miles before going wrong,” Champion said.
The company plans to build a sedan at a former General Motors plant in Delaware, which it now owns.
When Fisker opened that plant in 2009, Vice President Joe Biden credited ”a real commitment by this Administration, loans from the Department of Energy, [and] the creativity of U.S. companies.”
Energy Secretary Stephen Chu claimed, in the same press release, that the plant’s reopening was “proof positive that our efforts to create new jobs, invest in a clean energy economy and reduce carbon pollution are working.”
In September 2009, Chu announced a $528.7 million loan guarantee for Fisker, specifically to develop its two plug-in hybrid cars. The Obama administration said at the time that $359 million of that loan would help reopen the Delaware factory.
The White House also announced in 2009 that Fisker “estimates it will build 75,000-100,000 of these highly efficient vehicles every year by 2014.”
Fisker has sold just over 400 of the Finland-built Karma cars to date.
Last month, with the memory of the Solyndra loan-guarantee scandal still fresh, the U.S. government froze Fisker’s access to the loan funds, citing the company’s failure to meet intermediate milestones.
“They won’t release any more money, given where they’re at with the programs,” company spokesman Roger Ormisher told Bloomberg News on Feb. 7.
Tesla Motors, another electric-car pioneer whose main investors include Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, also received a $465 million government loan guarantee.
Its signature car sells for $109,000.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/09/karma-107k-plug-in-hybrid-dies-on-test-track-company-got-528m-us-loan-guarantee/#ixzz1vQQtFWjF
Thank you for providing intelligent debate about this proposed facility. but as the saying goes don't look a gift horse in the mouth. We need these jobs more than we need to bash Elon Musk, a rocket scientist and economist. The major auto developers Ford GM Chrysler in America are on life support from the government. These loans are minor compared to the ones being sent to Michigan. And it says something about Musk's ability to bring federal money to his projects when they need it, rather than what we do here, which is tax the poorest people in America to build new buildings for Juliet or whatever.
ReplyDeleteIf only the same level of scrutiny had been directed at Titan Tire or Taylorcraft, also pitched by Jason Hilts unfortunately, which were both headed by CEO's who are convicted felons or facing bankruptcy, it would have saved us millions. I worry you are scrutinizing this Space X project to death. This is Cinderella's (Brownsville's) chance to dance at the ball. Be diligent but Please don't ruin it because of (well-deserved I admit) disillusionment from previous scams. This guy Musk is a genius and knowing the mentality of the over-acheiver, I know he will not allow this project to fail.
ReplyDeleteOur scrutiny has been gentle and certainly not personal. Now is the time to thinks things through, not ten years from now. Some act as if the SpaceX proposal is being delivered on a stone tablet from Mount Sinai and can't be tweaked, questioned, analyzed or probed. That's EXACTLY the kind of thinking that always gets us in trouble.
DeleteJim
You are right. Carry on. But remember, this is our only shot!
ReplyDeleteThe bankrupt State of Texas spending a dime on a space project in the Valley? Not happening. But, then, Browntown has been the setting of countless of pipedreams. Forget it. This is the Edward James Olmos "I'll make a movie of your chess wizards if you'll give me $500,000" all over again. It is uncanny how the local Mexicans get all worked-up over anything new! If it isn't a bridge to nowhere, it's the blues. If it isn't a tortilleria that will employ thousands it's a spaceport. Get real. Real fast. The Plump Partridge Oliveira is mouthing off dogshit to prop-up his campaign. Dreaming about the stars for Browntown? It first has to get to ground level, out of that cesspool.
ReplyDelete2Empinate
Our only shot at what? Happiness? A strong economy? The geography and proximity to the Gulf is what attracted Musk initially and has not changed. Of, course, he is allegedly considering three locations or possibly has settled on one and is using the other two to entice more community participation.
ReplyDeleteHow much are you willing to give up for to have an industrial grade launch site capable of putting communication satellites and such in orbit? Would you sacrifice Boca Chica beach for this one shot? Please don't say there's no danger of that, because, at this point no one has done a thorough study, despite the empty rhetoric of our local politicos.
Jim
Jim
We have a geographic location that any company launching satellites would want. The few companies that exist, that is, who have a few million dollars on hand for building new launch stations, which pretty much narrows it down to one: SpaceX. However they also have the option of building a new launch site at Cape Canaveral in Florida that they are considering. Why are we scaring them away??? For the first time in ages we get a reputable company interested in our town and what do we do?? Chase them off! This is tragic. It approaches the level of tragicomedy. Although I TOTALLY understand the cynicism, after Fly Frontera and all, I suppose once people become cynical there is no 'turn off' switch and it is the saddest thing! But our satellite-launching geographic superiority is not limited to Boca Chica Beach. They can build at the Port of Brownsville or other less environmentally threatening places nearby. Let's hear some options! And some real discussion not the boo hooing of a real company with real money to invest in Brownsville!
ReplyDeleteThe ones doing the most damage to the Space X project are our elected officials! Rene Oliveira's mystery car crash, Jessica Tetreau's arrest for beating up her husband, Tony 'the Public Comments Censor' Martinez, etc. They lost all credibility and their attempt to latch onto this amazing project for political cred is driving it into the ground! This is so sad!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a good thing Jim, by putting a real discussion of the issues out there. Thank you. Perhaps it doesn't HAVE to be Boca Chica beach. I'm glad to read a real debate not an infomercial. what we are willing to sacrifice to get this company on board.
ReplyDeleteBoca Chica beach IS gross. That's where I go when i want to swim next to dead fish, poopy diapers and floating beer cans.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the majority of the opposition to Space X is based on their locating in the middle of a pristine wildlife area. Also the butting in of some wannabe politicians in the fight of their life just to get re-elected. Would it be that hard for SpaceX to move the launch site a few miles north to the Port? Then we would still get the economic benefits of their investment.
ReplyDeleteThe main problem is this: proximity to Mexico and its unreliable peace. The Gulf of Mexico? Hardly a serious consideration. No scientific basis. What I fear is that these dreamers believe they have spotted "easy pickings," i.e. gullible, malleable local officials unable to discuss merits intellectually. Rene Oliveira? All he cares about is what's under a woman's skirts, not out in the far reaches of the universe. His "universe" is a spot on a woman, usually a stupid one, generally regarded as the crotch. That's his moonshot. So, no. Don't fall for another ridiculous come-on. It is the equivalent of a woman being told she is loved at a bar's closing time. Brownsville, however, may not be smart enough to see this. Lord knows, intelligence is a luxury. Yet, it strikes me that Galileos are coming out of the woodwork. I'm laughing.
ReplyDelete2Empinate
Get this 2Guy his own blog!
DeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteYou fit into Brownsville well. Always negative. Outsiders never get the benefit of the doubt, but locals can fail again and again and are never challenged. Locals don't invest in the community....so let's have faith that SpaceX will bring some benefit.
Actually, Brownsville's pattern has been to be naive and gullible with respect projects that promise jobs and economic prosperity. Collectively, we seldom ask the right questions or any questions. So, we end up paying millions for Titan Tire, the Wier Project and other fiascos and get nothing, nada, zilch in return.
DeleteIt's the blind faith or actually credulity that we typically display. Your comments reflect that same mentality that always ends up biting us in the butt.
Jim
This is an old posting, and I don't know if it's been cleared up, but Elon Musk doesn't own, or is associated with Fisker, in fact, the electric company he does own, Tesla is doing very well, and actually sued Fisker for stealing some technology ideas. The takeaway from all this is that the engineering behind the Fisker Karma doesn't work, but the Tesla S Model does. The error on this post is incredible, I hope it wasn't intentional.
ReplyDelete