Reuters reports that General Motors Corp Vice Chairman Bob Lutz is having to defend remarks he made dismissing global warming as a “total crock of s—,” saying his views had no bearing on GM’s commitment to build environmentally friendly vehicles.

“Lutz, GM’s outspoken product development chief, has been under fire from Internet bloggers since last month when he was quoted as making the remark to reporters in Texas.

In a posting on his GM blog on Thursday, Lutz said those “spewing virtual vitriol” at him for minimizing the threat of climate change were “missing the big picture.”"

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Missing the big picture indeed. Just imagine what would happen if we could increase fuel efficiency another 20%, and all of us (that could, financially) put up solar panels. That would not solve all the problems, but if we could get to the point of true energy conservation and independence, that in and of itself would take the economy and the environment to new (positive) heights.

Lutz is full of FUD…

Fear – Again, spreading word that global warming is not our “fault”. Who’s fault then?

Uncertainty – This kind of talk sure seems to explain why the auto companies are still stuck where they are with respect to fuel mileage, and new engine technology.

Doubt – They keep putting bad press out there for electric, hydrogen fuel cells, hybrids etc. that they are not ready for prime time.

One of these days, technology will win this battle as the brain trust for automotive design moves from Detroit to Silicon Valley. Watch out Detroit…here comes Google…

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