A "Union Guy" Weighs in on Electric Cars

Terry Bowman

September 20, 2011 http://detnews.com/article/20110920/OPINION01/109200318
Union bosses wrong to prop up unwanted electric vehicles  by TERRY BOWMAN

Today's movement for green technology is nothing new in the automobile industry. The plug-in electric car has been a hopeful dream for decades.

Fifteen years ago, Costco installed EV charging stations at some of its stores. This month, the warehouse store chain started removing those chargers because it acknowledged no one was using them.

Nonetheless, the Chevy Volt and other electric cars are marketed as the saviors of the automobile industry. High hopes and dreams are once again laid at their proverbial feet, hoping Americans are ready to embrace electric drivetrains.

In August, a measly 302 Chevy Volts were sold in the entire country.

In short, Americans don't want electric vehicles because they are too expensive, inconvenient and underpowered.

Unfortunately, union officials have jumped aboard the electric car wagon, proclaiming it as the hope and promise for thousands of union jobs in the auto industry. They are sure 2011 is different and we are ready to buy the electric car en masse.

Read the rest of the article here.

Terry Bowman is a UAW member and president of Unionconservatives.com. Email comments to letters@detnews.com.

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