Vice President Biden announces $2.4 billion in battery-related grants
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 5th 2009 5:17PM
posted August 5th 2009 5:17PM
It hasn't been much of a secret that the US government was planning to dole out a couple of billion in battery-related grants to automakers this week, but we only got the details on who gets what today when Vice President Joe Biden made the big announcement himself in Detroit. As you might expect, the big three automakers all got a sizable chunk of the $2.4 billion up for grabs, with GM snagging $240 million for three separate grants, Ford getting $92.7 million (part of which will fund an electric-drive-parts facility in Michigan), and Chrysler receiving $70 million to develop and deploy advanced plug-in hybrid pickups and minivans. The single biggest winner, however, is Johnson Controls Inc., which got close to $300 million to produce battery parts for hybrid and electric vehicles. Chrysler partner A123 Systems Inc. was the next highest with $249.1 million, while EnerDel got $118.5 million that it'll use for its Indianapolis plant that produces lithium-ion cells and battery packs.
[Image courtesy Wood TV8]
[Image courtesy Wood TV8]
Nothing says a winning investment like only being able to get funding from the feds. But I'm sure they know what they are doing, investing my money into these businesses. But whatever, this kind of money is chump change to our state run economy.
Yay for more government largess!
"But I'm sure they know what they are doing, investing my money into these businesses."
The problem with our government and it's people lies in that statement right there... I'll bet you support Obama-care too?
Wow, they took the gag off of Biden?
@ Andir3.0
I hope you get a pre-existing condition.
STFU and keep paying your premiums, sheep.
They wasted too much money on this now + the bailout money they gave them
With all that money they could have made a Nation car manufacture
Investing implies it has to be paid back. It doesn't say "LOANS $2.4 billion", it says grants, as in: here, you don't have to give any of this back.
Another Day, Another Billion.
Good thing the govt is trying to do something. That Holy "Free Market" that a lot of people talk about is slow as hell, and there isn't a lot of incentive to change when these companies already make tons of money.
@LongshotX
if they make so much money why are all of them on verge of collapse? Oh ya, union workers!
the average american makes ~$40,000 yet the average GM union worker makes$60,000 (after OT)
how can you produce a car meant for the average person when you average employee makes 1.5x your target market?
you dumb POS
@wiizer
have fun getting heart care over 59, Sheep.
@ Brian
Have fun spouting unverified half-truths, sheep.
You probably think Obama doesn't have a birth certificate, either.
@super: Have you even read the bill?
I remember when buying votes was considered corruption.
@ murmermer
Where did you get that stat line....Rush Limbaugh?
http://www.salarylist.com/all-real-jobs-salary-at-general-motors-corp.htm
^ right here is where I received my info
Rush Limbaugh is a pill popper, I'm more of a Michael Savage/ Glen Beck kind of guy
and your more of Al Gore a$$ sucker that is to busy killing babies and giving MY money away to realize OUR country will be no more powerful than france or england
crap... I pasted the fanatical one :p There are quite a few half-truths in that...
Here, it's just easier and less prone to fanaticism if you read it yourself. This IS YOUR life we are talking about:
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/AAHCA09001xml.pdf
Looks like Andir is trying to get himself reported to the Whitehouse. What time do you think the Gestapo will show up at your front door?
@ murmermer
You're a complete mess if you follow that psycho, Glen Beck. I'm not even going to start with you.
@ Andir3.0
Gee, thanks for that wall of text that has nothing to do with any thought process you may have had in posting this propaganda... Have YOU read the 1,018 page bill? Because it's my job to read it.
Let's highlight a couple of these embarrassing lies for the public, shall we?
"Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!"
First of all, the HB section in question starts on page 21.
"(2) REPORTS.—Not later than 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner
shall submit to Congress and the applicable
agencies a report on the study conducted under
paragraph (1)."
That's not an audit... That is a survey of how much the employer-insured subsidies should cost based in the current private insurance market, you fear-mongering idiot! It's no different than what you do NOW! Shopping for the right insurance for your family... Oh wait, you can't do that!
Private insurance without an employer's subsidy is IMPOSSIBLE TO PAY FOR ON YOUR OWN!
Anyway, next one:
"Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get."
Well, duh. Obama has been discussing this in his speeches; a committee headed by the surgeon general – who's going to figure out what benefits will get paid for and what won't. Hmmm, what does that sound like?
AETNA decided that my brother's pre-existing heart condition wouldn't be covered? I can't even appeal that! With this program, we can debate about what will be covered and what will not be covered!
To be honest, since all pre-existing conditions will be covered, the debatable stuff is probably plastic surgeries and abortions (which I think the Dems should stop being pussies about and just say it's going to be covered because it's a woman's right to choose, but whatever...)
Anyway, I'm done for tonight. If you want more, you know where to find me.
I can't afford a personal insurance plan on my own?
You really believe that? I just got a quote for myself...It's between $31.54 and $109 a month depending on my deductibles/coinsurance/office visit costs. That's more than affordable considering I spend more than that on Cable each month. Since I'm a responsible adult and put money back for emergencies, I can choose the one with a $5k deductible (and even if I wasn't... I'm sure family would help me) and this has a $35 copay for office visits. If I really cared, I could get top class no pay awesome coverage for that $100/month mark. Most people probably pay more than that at the mall in a single day.
The fact of the matter is that I don't need Health insurance at my point in life and I choose to accept the standard coverage that my work offers me in case. I can afford an annual checkup out of my pocket without a problem (also, because I put money back instead of buying some overpriced car or TV.)
I don't see why I should have to pay for your inability to plan your life.
Here you go... bid for yourself:
http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/
There may be problems with some people covering it, but this plan IS NOT the way to fix it. Most of the expense and cost is because of government programs and requirements as it is. The government inflated the overhead of Healthcare and now they are trying to blame the heavy expenses on the Insurance companies? Also, don't call me a fear monger, Obama is doing well enough on his own. There are several videos of his speeches out there that can prove that.
Another note. If costs are so bad and the HC system is so corrupt, then why is our Cancer survival rate so much better than the rest of the world? Why can I go to Wal-Mart and get $4 prescriptions?
Yeah, we are really hurting. /rolleyes
Eh, I've been living off of research grants for a while. The government's the best supplier for reliable funding. Actually, when you come to think about the costs of actually doing this research (salaries, overhead, Prototyping) the individual award sizes migh be a little too small.
It sounds like wiizer works 4 acorn. Wiizer you are lucky the 1st amendment is protecting you because it would take everything inside of me not to drag you and your communist family out back and give them a reason to see how good our healthcare system is in this country.
It's okay guys, the US government has a machine that can print money.
Hope for change, and then report those who dissagree.
“The Democrat war on dissent reached a peak this week when the White House posted a blog entry urging the president’s followers to find people who criticize the president, even “in casual conversation,” and forward the information to flag@whitehouse.gov. That is a brazen attempt to bully people into silence by leading them to believe any statements critical of the president will land them on the new version of the ‘White House enemies list.’”
Welcome to the USSA.
@ Andir3.0
I'm sure you think your plan is full-proof, but just wait until you lose your job, or your employer finds out what a douche you are and decides to fire you.
This is about the future of the healthcare system, and unbeknownst to you, is going the way of the stock market.
I hate idiots like you that say, "Oh, it's not my problem! I'm living in my little picket-fenced house, and everything's a-okay!" BUT, when everything falls through in a recession, you're THE FIRST to blame everyone but yourselves.
I hope you at least listen to this: the health care system is going to crash, and if you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
OMG... Help me out here. There was 25 Billion set aside for this research during the Bush admin. And it took them 2 years to give out the money this past June. The money to develop electric cars which and help here.... use batteries. So why the hell are we give more money 2.4 billion more to research and develop something that we have already spent money to research and develop. Especailly since they have not spent all of the 25 billion that was already set aside.
Engadget article:(hell I did not even have to leave engadget to find the articles about this stuff)
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/28/25-billion-in-electric-vehicle-loans-still-waiting-for-perfect/
oh wait another engadget article and go like 6 billion goes to Ford.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/tesla-ford-nissan-all-receive-electric-car-development-loans-f/
I am so assamed I voted for these jokers.
That is refreshing to hear, goodfellow. I'm glad I'm not the only one who is flabbergasted by the amount of money Obama is spending...
The government moves not at the speed of light, have patience and sooner or later the money will flow to where it's needed.
Besides, this still seems marginally better than giving away $4000 rebates for fuel-efficient vehicles that aren't really all that efficient. Sure do hope they stick to their word in not taxing the mid-class more, though I'm not counting on it.
but biden is white, so its ok!
"Sure do hope they stick to their word in not taxing the mid-class more, though I'm not counting on it."
Last Sunday, some Obama flunkies, when asked, said they didnt rule out hiking taxes to pay for Obamacare.
Better buy those gadgets real quick, before Obama runs the national debt card through the cash register again.
"Obamacare"?
well, at least those morons figured out how to use all three brain cells to come up with that. :)
Cash for Clunkers was more of a political move to support unions... it had nothing to do with the economy.
2 billion to electric BATTERIES!!!
16 Billion to fight Poverty (which in most cases they are responsible for)
700 BILLION TO DEFENSE!!!!
AWESOME!! AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!
And where does Tesla fit into this 2.4 billion??
in your garage silly!
Tesla got all the money they asked for.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/23/the-government-comes-through-for-tesla-with-a-465-million-loan-for-its-electric-sedan/
i coulda sworn the auto industry got all the money they wanted during the first bailout...
im sure tesla would ask for more if they were a greedy conglomerate like GM
Good, I'm glad they have a teleprompter there, so we know there's some chance he got all the details right!
Biden is the smartest man on earth, if you ask him he will tell you all about it, and that's why he almost failed college... It didn't "challenge" him enough
This money will be tossed down the rathole and never produce anything whatsoever.
Isn't this LESS than the amount that was going to the F-22 that the democrats killed? And that WAS producing something usable and jobs at the same time? Can't we vote the democrats out yet?!?
Your statement is so full of fail that it should not be read by ANYONE. Yes lets build more multi million dollar fighter planes that we all get to enjoy so much, instead of investing the money in rechargeable car battery manufacturers that people can actually use that will create a SUSTAINABLE job market, not a build 50 more death planes.
Holy freaking crap you repubs are so whacked out on i dont know what kind of goofballs. Im sure your GOB's are writing a new script for arguing this right now.
Haha yeah let's build more jets! ECONOMY SAVED BECAUSE IT CARRIES MISSLES!
LOL!!
Um, it could be 'country saved via military' you know. People these days are so damn stupid. Bash military spending that actual produces stuff.. But they support endless entitlement programs and 'wars on poverty' that go nowhere because people aren't ENTITLED to money, they have to EARN it.
HA! Even the Pentagon didn't want the F-22, or rather didn't want MORE F-22's than they already have.
You know it's the GOP when war is the greatest economic engine they can think of
The YF-22 program was canceled in favor of the cheaper and more versatile F-35. The F-22 was originally designed in the late 80's early 90's to be an air superiority fighter to meet and beat the soviets fourth gen fighters and the rumored stealth aircraft that we still haven't seen (the PAK-FA). The F-35 will have a much greater range of capabilities - later production F-22's have been fitted with a ground attack capability, but it won't be as capable as the F-35. The F35 is fitted with a Distributed Appature System - when combined with a helmet mounted display, the pilot will be able to look 360 degrees as though the airframe was see through. This much greater situational awareness combined with the open architecture of the software will mean that this airframe will be able to be continually upgraded, unlike the F-22. The F-22 supposedly cost $200M apiece, the F-35 should be less than half that for a far more versatile airframe. The F22 is really the last relic of the cold war.
@Zenner
Ah, no.
The F-22 isn't as versatile in equipment sense, but it is much more maneuverable and quicker than the F-35. In a war where our enemy was that of Germany in WW2, if we only had F-16s and F-35s we would be destroyed by the Superior craft. On top of that, let's not forget that the F-22 and the F-35 aren't even made for the same missions.
@Brian
i dont think you see the potential of the F-35. When in service it will become the 2nd best air to air fighter and the world's best bomber. I want to also add the F-22 is a big waste of money when the competition is not there. Even Donald H. Rumsfeld felt this way > http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1462700/posts.