What was new at the 2009 North American International Auto Show this year? It finally seems the consensus from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week is that the future of the automobile is electric. Almost all the manufacturers had a hybrid or all-electric car to show off, among them Toyota's extremely popular Prius and GM's not-yet-available plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt, which GM claims will be available for sale in 2010. Let's not forget that electric cars are not exactly new. Automobiles powered by electric fuel cells actually pre-date cars with combustion engines. So where has this clean technology been hiding for the past 100+ years? Crushed beneath the elbows of oil tycoons? Buried under bad publicity? Shunned by short-sighted automakers?

Back in November of 2008, then-president-elect Barack Obama answered a question about the US auto industry's request for taxpayer financial assistance. Obama began his response by stating that the US does need its auto industry. However, he fully supported the Congress's denial of the industry representatives' proposal for aid. He said that he was "surprised" that the big 3 hadn't prepared a better proposal for Congress.

Indeed, flying to Washington in their private jets to ask for several billion dollars, while refusing to give up their multi-million dollar annual sallaries, did seem comical. When asked if they would be willing to work for $1 and take the bulk of their pay in stock options, the way Bill Gates did with Microsoft, the CEOs replied that they were "just fine" where they were. Sorry, gentlemen, the people don't agree.

Obama argued that the US auto makers need to re-think their proposal and their entire business plan, then return to Congress with some concrete numbers regarding how much money they need, and a plan for putting the money to good use building innovative, clean-energy vehicles. The President Elect rightly accused the big 3 US automakers of being "resistant to change" and of "just kicking the can," which got a chuckle and murmer of agreement from the gathered press.

A round table news discussion recently described American automakers as a "bunch of really stupid guys" for ignoring the dire need for alternative fuel vehicles. That need is not only dire, but also potentially lucrative, and American car companies are being left far behind by the competition because of their unwillingness to fully embrace new technology.

Since their failed attempt to get at public funds, the big three have returned to congress, driving this time. Congressional representatives and commentators alike noted that this seemed more like a publicity stunt than a genuine change in business practices. However, the CEO of Ford has agreed to possibly work for a salary of $1. We shall see where this goes.

GM had a fully operational all-electric car on the market back in 1996, but killed it to produce gas-guzzling SUVs instead. It was called the EV1. GM refused to sell the car, instead leasing it to customers. The company then collected and crushed all of the EV1s, refusing all requests from people who wished to purchase the cars. If you didn't hear about that, check out the documentary film, "Who Killed the Electric Car." Anyway, Citizens of Earth agree with Obama that the United States does need automakers and may support them financially, but anyone who receives taxpayer dollars must be held strictly accountable for how that money is used. The technology is ready and waiting to be adopted and further developed, but American automakers have been dragging their feet and can't expect taxpayers to blindly throw public money at their failing business model. The big 3 need to seriously rethink their business and come up with a viable plan for adopting economically and environmentally sustainable practices and products.

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