$4500 rebate for the EV1!!

Dear President Obama,

The United States must exercise Eminent Domain and/or Compulsory Licensing over Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery patents for electric cars, formerly controlled by Chevron and now by Bosch/Samsung.

Unless the United States requires auto makers to produce and sell full-function plug-in Electric cars, it will not happen; and only NiMH batteries are proven successful. When and if Lithium is proven, it might challenge existing NiMH battery performance; until then, production of full-function EVs using NiMH must recommence.

NiMH recycles; after 200,000 miles, used NiMH batteries can be melted down and reformed into new, fresh batteries, without need of new raw materials.   This "urban mining" is no myth: it's currently done with lead-acid batteries, which are almost all fully recycled.

Hydrogen is a hoax.  Any money spent on Hydrogen fuel cell cars is money thrown away on a hoax.

"Battery research" is a waste; there are existing, working batteries proven in real-world EVs owned by ordinary Americans, and fueled by solar systems on their rooftops -- paid for by themselves.

Handing more money to the likes of GM mangement, or paying to produce and sell gas-guzzlers, is a bad use of our money.

GM has a proven all-electric car, the EV1, with variants including a 4-seater and a serial hybrid version (shown in 1998).

Toyota demonstrated the Toyota RAV4-EV, which is still running in private hands although Chevron interdicted production of the batteries and no new ones can be purchased from Chevron at any price.

In 1997, Toyota began manufacturing the RAV4-EV using the standard RAV4 sport utility vehicle frame and design. The vehicles are powered by the U.S. invented and patented Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery. Most of these cars are still on the road today (2009), driven by everyday Americans and utilized by American companies, exceeding performance expectations.

NiMH batteries are the most powerful and advanced traction batteries in the world.  When GM sold control to Chevron, the battery patent was prohibited for use in 100% electric vehicles with long driving range per charge; only small capacity versions are being used in hybrids.

Chevron saw the production of these vehicles as a huge threat to the gas-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) economy that they have worked for so long to perfect. That's why in 2001, GM and Chevron sued Toyota and Panasonic to stop using large capacity NiMH batteries.

This lawsuit effectively shut down production of the RAV4-EV and all other 100% electric vehicles utilizing this technology. These are the vehicles that will free the U.S.A. from dependence on foreign oil, position us as a leader in electric car development, save lives, save the environment, and dramatically stimulate the U.S. economy.

Over the past ten years, these batteries have proven to provide safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally friendly transportation in hundreds of existing Toyota RAV4-EVs and their American users/owners can attest to this. In light of the current state of the US economy, national security and global ecology, it would serve the greater good of America, as well as the world, to unleash these patents for immediate use in 100% electric cars and to allow for further research in an already proven technology.

We believe that further bailout monies, and further rebate monies should be put in moratorium until the EV1 is produced again, and we the electric car supporters can take advantage of these funds.

Thank you for your immediate action in this matter.

Sincerely,