Communities print own currencies to keep cash flowing

In Detroit, three downtown businesses have created a local currency, or scrip, to keep dollars earned locally in the community.

Communities print own currencies to keep cash flowing

A small but growing number of cash-strapped communities are printing their own money.
Borrowing from a Depression-era idea, they are aiming to help consumers make ends meet and support struggling local businesses.
The systems generally work like this: Businesses and individuals form a network to print currency. Shoppers buy it at a discount — say, 95 cents for $1 value — and spend the full value at stores that accept the currency.
Workers with dwindling wages are paying for groceries, yoga classes and fuel with Detroit Cheers, Ithaca Hours in New York, Plenty in North Carolina or BerkShares in Massachusetts.
Ed Collom, a University of Southern Maine sociologist who has studied local currencies, says they encourage people to buy locally. Merchants, hurting because customers have cut back on spending, benefit as consumers spend the local cash.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-04-05-scrip_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Detroit Auto Show 2009, what's new?

Detroit Auto Show, what's new?
See the slide show of 15 cars on CNN Money
An industry in crisis rolls out its latest weapons as some of the industry's biggest names fight for survival.
Hybrid sales have fallen along with gas prices, but you can count on gas prices rising again before too long. The Prius, all by itself, owns half the hybrid market so Toyota needs to be ready.

The redesigned 2010 Prius will manage combined city and highway fuel economy of about 50 miles per gallon, according to Toyota. That's four mpg better than the current Prius.
Toyota Prius
Lincoln MKT
Lincoln Concept C
2010 Ford Taurus
Chrysler 200C EV
Lexus HS 250h
and more...

(Comment: It looks fantastic, but they have to come up with much better customer value to regain market share and get out of trouble!)

Detroit's North American International Auto Show, focus on Technology

Detroit's North American International Auto Show, focus on Technology
The Detroit show - which opens Jan. 11-13 to the media and Jan. 17-25 for the public

Detroit in January is still The Big One, for North America.

The focus is on New Technology, not much on the Bailout.
The North American International Auto Show 2009 is where the global automotive community comes together to catch up on the latest. Join more of your peers from around the world at the industry’s most substantive annual event. In addition to 60 new vehicle premieres – including some of the automotive world’s most eagerly anticipated – you’ll gain unprecedented access to more of the industry’s top leaders and thinkers in one place than anywhere else in the hemisphere.

2009 Detroit Auto Show: International Car of TheYear Awards
Nissan GTR 2009 International Car of the Year


Motor Trend 2009 Car of the Year: Nissan GT-R - The best video clips are right here

TrendHunter luxury electric cars from GM

Luxury Electric Cars - GM Builds Cadillac Converj (GALLERY)

(TREND HUNTER) General Motors’ new model, the Cadillac Converj, is an exciting luxury twist on highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt. The Converj, just like the Volt (using Voltec technology), is able to travel 40 miles,… [More]

Four Ways for Detroit to Save Itself

Four Ways for Detroit to Save Itself (New York Times)

THESE days, as we contemplate the future of the automotive industry, we would do well to remember the words of Henry Ford: “Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
For Detroit, there is plenty of failure. But there are also plenty of opportunities to begin again. In fact, there are many new technologies to make cars safer, cheaper, cleaner and more convenient. All these could be adopted by the automobile industry in the near future and without too much trouble.
Here are just four technologies that could be put on the road in the next several years. These technologies — some of which we invest in — are win-wins. They have the potential to improve energy efficiency, cut down on accidents, reduce pollution and make commuting more convenient. They might even help put the American car industry back in the driver’s seat.