Will you help "the Idea" get produced in Indiana?

[Pat Coyle]

The photo above is of a prototype vehicle, the Idea, a delivery van that gets 100 m.p.g.
The Idea was designed and built by Anderson, IN based, Bright Automotive. Bright is currently raising the funds it needs in order to begin building vehicles. One source of funds the company hopes to tap is a the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVMLP) offered by the Department of Energy (DOE).

If you heard John Waters speak at Bigger Ideas, and you'd like to let your fellow Smoosiers know what you think of Bright Auto, please share your comments here. And...

Can Smaller Indiana influence Washington?
If you want to help Bright Auto earn consideration for that DOE loan, you can write your local, state or federal politician of your choice. For the facts about Bright Auto and the reasons why it should be considered for the DOE loan, view the sample letter attached below.

Insights & Actions Panel by Brian Howenstein.
Jesse Kharbanda, Brian Payne, John Waters, and John Ketzenberger hold a discussion at the Smaller Indiana : Bigger Ideas Conference on June 24, 2009

[James Ryan]

No Tax Money!!!

If this is such a good idea for fleets, get Fed-ex, UPS, The Post Office, etc. to fund it.

[Amanda Cross]

A project like this doesn't benefit only fleets. We all benefit from a healthier environment, lower demand for oil, and a successful business in Indiana.

[James Ryan]

In his presentation at Techpoint a few weeks ago, the representative from Bright said that the return on investment for fleet operators was better than for gasoline or diesel vehicles. If that is true, then the fleet operators should be breaking their doors down to buy some or invest.

Our environment is healthier than it's ever been, we could produce more oil at home, and I'm all for successful businesses in Indiana as long as I don't have to have my money taken and given to them.

[Steve Weigle]

>We don't "all" benefit from other businesses in Indiana being successful...we benefit from the >businesses that affect us being successful...big difference!

Whatever business that you are in that doesn't depend on Hoosiers having money to spend is a very good one, assuming whoever it does depend on always is sucessful.

[Steve Weigle]

So Batesville Casket Company won't earn anything if someone in Elkhart has to pay for a funeral?

I handle Business to Business sales everyday, and if the retail shop down the street has a bad month, they cut back on my services. If enough of those business cut back on services, I have to lay off employees. Funny how that works.

[Steve Weigle]

I see. You also do business in other states, so you are not affected by the fortunes of the farmers, factory workers and other business people in Indiana.

Makes perfect logical sense. My bad.

[Cissi Sherlock]

The common man will not be able to afford it.

[James Ryan]

It's a fleet vehicle. Designed only for urban areas where the fleet stays local. Think replacing the UPS, FEDEX and USPS vans with this.

[Jared Chandler]

I would like to see something developed that is 100% non-gasoline based. I believe there is actually enough oil in the world, with a near un-ending supply to meet our needs. However, the bottom line is that gas and oil are too manipulated by Kingdoms, governments, and big oil companies to be the fuel choice we rely on.

Our situations will not improve much if we maintain any reliance on oil to power vehicles. Decreasing our reliance on oil, by building these kinds of vehicles, is not much of an option. Any oil reliance still keeps us under the power of these manipulative entities above. Ideas that use gasoline just extend the pain.

I second the comment about not using tax money. My tax money is used for too much right now. I'd like to keep more of my tax money. However, forget UPS and other companies funding this. They increased the price of their services(fuel surcharges) when gas was $4/gallon but did not decrease their prices when it came down under $3. "ChinaMart" did the same thing. Walmart increased the prices on their products by a few cents and did not decrease them when gas prices decreased. Higher gas prices are a good way to increase their revenues. They take advantage of people when prices fluctuate.

If Bright Automotive is able to show that they can save a turtle, or marsh rat, with this technology then Nancy Pelosi might be interested in funding it and throwing our tax money at it.

Jared

[Steve Weigle]

Seriously? Are we all so blind we can not see how important this is?

The tax money is already committed. If Bright Auto don't get the government based loans they are looking for the money will still go out, it just won't go out in Indiana.

Fleet based Hybrids are the path to energy independence, and Indiana based manufacturing is the path to recovery for our automotive based employment woes. We have two cities in Indiana that rate among the highest unemployment in the nation with Elkhart leading Kokomo.

I suggest John Waters make a public announcment of his intension to manufacture in Elkhart (instead of Anderson). With a huge pool of qualified unemployed workers the location makes sense, and with Obama's own personal attention pointed at Elkhart, I'd guess he would rate very high on the list of companies asking for these loans.

These vehicles are not intended for the common man, not only will fleet sales reduce our dependence on foreign oil more quickly, but the developement that is done as they are manufactured will bring down the cost of hybrid personal transportation for everyone else.

If we keep saying "it's cheaper to....." the end result will be $5 gas, and a collapsed economy while Middle Eastern countries and China continue to florish as they pick the bones of the US citizenship.

I agree taxes are too high, and I believe the government should stop interferring with business. But I also recognize that the stimulus package has already passed, the Democrats are already burning that cash as fast as possible. This is not the time to say hold back, this is the time to get in there and get a few handfuls before it's all gone.

[James Ryan]

Just because others are sucking at the government teat, doesn't mean I have to. At Techpoint their representative was adamant that no government subsidy was needed. He claimed the ROI for the fleet operators was there.

Well, I guess I should get some govt. money too. How do I get some of that stimulus package for my business? give me $50,000 a year and I'll hire an assistant. That would be stimulative.

[Steve Weigle]

You don't have to, and if you could get some stimulus for your business, by all means take it.

At the same time, that money is GOING to be spent, and remember these are loans, not grants.

So open you mind to what can be done to help Indiana. If Indiana prospers, your buiness has a better chance of prospering.