Fire Shuts Down GM's Electric Car Plant, Executives Blame 'Battery Materials'



General Motors' (GM) "Factory Zero" plant was temporarily shut down after a fire broke out. The plant produces Electric Vehicles (EVs), which have a history of catching fire, though GM executives said "battery materials" were the cause.

Factory Zero, also known as Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, has been celebrated by President Joe Biden's administration for its all-electric production. On Tuesday, the plant closed after a fire filled the plant with heavy smoke.

By Wednesday, GM executives blamed the fire on a forklift accident and said the plant was up and running, though portions remained closed, according to the Detroit Free Press:

"Our initial investigation indicates a forklift accidentally punctured a container with battery materials causing the fire," said GM spokeswoman Tara Kuhnen. "The investigation continues."

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/12/20/fire-shuts-down-gms-electric-car-plant-executives-blame-battery-materials/

Quote from: Oliver the Second on December 20, 2023, 07:06:29 PMFire Shuts Down GM's Electric Car Plant, Executives Blame 'Battery Materials'



General Motors' (GM) "Factory Zero" plant was temporarily shut down after a fire broke out. The plant produces Electric Vehicles (EVs), which have a history of catching fire, though GM executives said "battery materials" were the cause.

Factory Zero, also known as Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, has been celebrated by President Joe Biden's administration for its all-electric production. On Tuesday, the plant closed after a fire filled the plant with heavy smoke.

By Wednesday, GM executives blamed the fire on a forklift accident and said the plant was up and running, though portions remained closed, according to the Detroit Free Press:

"Our initial investigation indicates a forklift accidentally punctured a container with battery materials causing the fire," said GM spokeswoman Tara Kuhnen. "The investigation continues."

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/12/20/fire-shuts-down-gms-electric-car-plant-executives-blame-battery-materials/

Were ev batteries burning or was it something else?

Half of Buick Dealers Take Buyouts to Avoid Having to Sell GM's Electric Cars



Almost half of Buick dealers across the United States have opted to take buyouts from General Motors to avoid having to sell Electric Vehicles at a time when consumer reports show Americans are increasingly turned off by the cars.

According to GM, almost 1,000 of its nearly 2,000 Buick dealerships across the U.S. chose to take buyouts from the parent company rather than investing potentially millions into retooling and prepping dealers to service and sell EVs.

The buyouts mean that GM will now have just about 1,000 Buick dealerships across the nation as the automaker moves forward with adhering to President Joe Biden's green energy agenda.

Dealers who are taking the buyout would give up the Buick franchise and no longer sell the brand. The dealer can continue to sell other GM models, such as Chevrolet or GMC, that often account for a higher percentage of sales.

The Journal reported in late 2022 that the automaker planned to offer buyouts to its U.S. Buick dealer network. The move came after the Detroit automaker gave them a choice: Invest at least $300,000 to sell and service EVs, or exit the Buick franchise. The investments would cover electric-vehicle chargers and worker training, among other initiatives.

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/12/20/half-of-buick-dealers-take-buyouts-to-avoid-having-to-sell-gms-electric-cars/

Quote from: Thiel on December 20, 2023, 08:38:30 PMWere ev batteries burning or was it something else?

"Our initial investigation indicates a forklift accidentally punctured a container with battery materials causing the fire"

Could have been the lithium goop they put in the batteries. So if you're going down the road and a rock bounces up and punctures the battery *POOF* up in flames you go? I'm not getting an EV, that's for sure.

Quote from: Oliver the Second on December 21, 2023, 08:10:26 AMHalf of Buick Dealers Take Buyouts to Avoid Having to Sell GM's Electric Cars



Almost half of Buick dealers across the United States have opted to take buyouts from General Motors to avoid having to sell Electric Vehicles at a time when consumer reports show Americans are increasingly turned off by the cars.

According to GM, almost 1,000 of its nearly 2,000 Buick dealerships across the U.S. chose to take buyouts from the parent company rather than investing potentially millions into retooling and prepping dealers to service and sell EVs.

The buyouts mean that GM will now have just about 1,000 Buick dealerships across the nation as the automaker moves forward with adhering to President Joe Biden's green energy agenda.

Dealers who are taking the buyout would give up the Buick franchise and no longer sell the brand. The dealer can continue to sell other GM models, such as Chevrolet or GMC, that often account for a higher percentage of sales.

The Journal reported in late 2022 that the automaker planned to offer buyouts to its U.S. Buick dealer network. The move came after the Detroit automaker gave them a choice: Invest at least $300,000 to sell and service EVs, or exit the Buick franchise. The investments would cover electric-vehicle chargers and worker training, among other initiatives.

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/12/20/half-of-buick-dealers-take-buyouts-to-avoid-having-to-sell-gms-electric-cars/

From what I heard it was smaller volume rural dealers who understood EVs are a money pit so better to get something then stick with a dying business.

Quote from: Oliver the Second on December 21, 2023, 08:15:06 AM"Our initial investigation indicates a forklift accidentally punctured a container with battery materials causing the fire"

Could have been the lithium goop they put in the batteries. So if you're going down the road and a rock bounces up and punctures the battery *POOF* up in flames you go? I'm not getting an EV, that's for sure.

Uh oh

https://youtu.be/ZND3BSQBN-s?si=SSDCovH0xjejvdK6

There has been an 85% drop in solar sales in California after the Democrats changed the rules and reduced the amount homeowners get by selling electricity back to the grid by 90%.  It is no longer profitable for people to install solar under the new net Metering 3.0 rules.

Luckily, I got my system approved and installed just days before the change went into effect.

https://www.marinij.com/2023/12/22/californias-push-for-rooftop-solar-panels-isnt-going-so-well-right-now/amp/

Quote from: Oliver the Second on December 21, 2023, 08:10:26 AMHalf of Buick Dealers Take Buyouts to Avoid Having to Sell GM's Electric Cars



Almost half of Buick dealers across the United States have opted to take buyouts from General Motors to avoid having to sell Electric Vehicles at a time when consumer reports show Americans are increasingly turned off by the cars.

According to GM, almost 1,000 of its nearly 2,000 Buick dealerships across the U.S. chose to take buyouts from the parent company rather than investing potentially millions into retooling and prepping dealers to service and sell EVs.

The buyouts mean that GM will now have just about 1,000 Buick dealerships across the nation as the automaker moves forward with adhering to President Joe Biden's green energy agenda.

Dealers who are taking the buyout would give up the Buick franchise and no longer sell the brand. The dealer can continue to sell other GM models, such as Chevrolet or GMC, that often account for a higher percentage of sales.

The Journal reported in late 2022 that the automaker planned to offer buyouts to its U.S. Buick dealer network. The move came after the Detroit automaker gave them a choice: Invest at least $300,000 to sell and service EVs, or exit the Buick franchise. The investments would cover electric-vehicle chargers and worker training, among other initiatives.

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/12/20/half-of-buick-dealers-take-buyouts-to-avoid-having-to-sell-gms-electric-cars/

Relatives of mine took the buyout. They said fuk them electric cars!

Quote from: Oerdin on December 22, 2023, 08:04:53 PMThere has been an 85% drop in solar sales in California after the Democrats changed the rules and reduced the amount homeowners get by selling electricity back to the grid by 90%.  It is no longer profitable for people to install solar under the new net Metering 3.0 rules.

Luckily, I got my system approved and installed just days before the change went into effect.

https://www.marinij.com/2023/12/22/californias-push-for-rooftop-solar-panels-isnt-going-so-well-right-now/amp/

I haven't priced home solar systems. But, even without selling electricity back doesn't it still pay for itself eventually?

Quote from: Thiel on December 22, 2023, 09:13:43 PMI haven't priced home solar systems. But, even without selling electricity back doesn't it still pay for itself eventually?

The solar cells degrade and fail. By the time you recoup the money, you could have just paid for the electricity usually. The dont pay you back on new systems like they used to. Lots of negatives.

Quote from: Lokmar on December 22, 2023, 11:32:17 PMThe solar cells degrade and fail. By the time you recoup the money, you could have just paid for the electricity usually. The dont pay you back on new systems like they used to. Lots of negatives.

A lot of farmers around here are getting solar systems. I want to talk to folks that have had them at least ten years.

Quote from: Thiel on December 22, 2023, 09:13:43 PMI haven't priced home solar systems. But, even without selling electricity back doesn't it still pay for itself eventually?

It depends on a lot of factors.

Quote from: Oerdin on December 23, 2023, 01:38:11 AMIt depends on a lot of factors.

I am very curious about a solar panel system for Jo Jo and I. If you find something going solar, please post it.

I went solar last April and paid around $24,000 for my system.  My wife's sister and her husband did the same but they got a slightly smaller system plus as he is a contractor he did some of it himself saving money.  We just barely got in under California's Netmetering 2.0 while Netmetering 2.0 has been a complete disaster as it slashed the amounts homeowners get for selling electricity back to the gride by at least 80%.  This has caused new solar installs in California to drop 85% compared to this time last year.

Worse, the state now wants to have a gride connection fee of $400 per year for people making $25,000 or less per year and up to $2500 per year for anyone making over $80,000 (household income so most families) which means under 3.0 it will probably never pay for itself.  Next they monkeyed with rates so that day time rates go down (which is when you are selling your solar to the gride) but night time rates doubled (again decreasing the value of your solar system).  Lastly, the socialists who run this once wonderful state (by run I mean right into the ground) want to start charging different electricity and natural gas rates to people based upon their income.  So the same commodities will have different prices for different people depending upon if they are lazy welfare fraudsters VA actual productive working people.  All that is before we get into panel performance, roof pitch, orientation of the pitch, obstructions, and a dozen other things which could effect your solar's performance.