GRRReen - Power Management Systems

If markets are conversations, people around the world are world are making a major statement about the future of the internal combustion engine: Unsold cars are piling up so fast that there’s no room to park them.

Not around ports at least, which is why a growing number of cargo ships are now doing double duty as floating garages.

Treehugger.com points to an article from the Financial Times detailing the trend.

Car manufacturers are increasingly using ships to store excess vehicles because ports’ parking areas have become overwhelmed by the build-up of unsold vehicles…

Some ports have run out of storage space as recently imported cars or vehicles awaiting export sit unsold following the sudden fall in demand.

What will happen to this huge inventory? Prices will have to fall.

Do you think some of these vehicles could regain value by being converted to more fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids?

Posted by Tom Stacey on February 4th, 2009 Filed under Trends • Tagged internal combustion engine, markets, unsold cars

5 Responses to “Consumers to car-makers: “We’re not buying””

1. Mike says:

   February 4, 2009 at 9:28 pm

   I’d buy one tomorrow if they did. Otherwise, I’ll wait a couple years for the Volt, etc.

   Reply
2. Robert Freistedt says:

   March 7, 2009 at 4:20 pm

   I sounds good, but there is little detail. Less hype and more facts about the operation of the plug in system. Is it only for people who have hybrids already? What kind of the system do you have to generate and store electric power? Does entail installing a large battery in the trunk? Give us more details and the names and experiences of some non-employees who are presently driving converted vehicles!

   Reply
   • Tom Stacey says:

     March 10, 2009 at 8:19 am

     Hi Robert,

     Thanks for your feedback. We are converting vehicles that run on an internal combustion engine. We are focusing on fleets initially, and we have completed two prototypes thus far, a Ford F150 and a Toyota Tacoma. Currently we are planning to allow for the choice of lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. Sign up for our newsletter for more details as they become available. Thanks again!

     Reply
3. Robert Freistedt says:

   March 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm

   Can you convert a 1999 Toyota Camry LE to a plug in hybrid? What would be the cost?

   Reply
   • Tom Stacey says:

     March 10, 2009 at 8:20 am

     Hi Robert,
     As mentioned, right now we are focusing on fleet vehicles, specifically pickup trucks, vans and SUVs.

     Reply