Vote For The Volt!

5 Responses to “Vote For The Volt!”

1. 
   
   Lyle Lindholm Says:
   January 27th, 2007 at 1:48 pm

   Letter to GM

   I’m ready to purchase a new, primarily electric vehicle with internal combustion as a backup for
   long distance trips. The question is who will deliver the product?

   I read a Reuters news article about GM unveiling a new “concept” car called the Volt. The article mentions the documentary film “Who Killed the Electric Car?” which I have viewed. The documentary along with other information supports the conclusion that GM played both fields. GM acted like it would provide zero emission cars to California and yet worked with vigor to kill all Government requirements for zero-emission cars. Then proceeded to remove all traces of the EV1 technology from the public view. History also speaks about GM, Firestone and Standard Oil.

   The news article states, “We have a thoroughly studied concept, but further battery development will define the critical path to start of production,”. Already your words are cause for suspicion. The EV1 claimed a range of 100 miles using Nickel-metal-hydride. If GM was sincere, there would be many hand built Volt test/development cars out using current battery technology now. While those cars are being real world tested, plans would be executed to equip the factory for a test production run in 2008.
   Even Toyota has plans to replace existing Nickel-metal-hydride batteries with Lithium. GM can’t release the Volt with Nickel-metal-hydride and then move to lithium?

   GM understands what the consumer desires as the article states “For the average American driver who drives 40 miles a day, or 15,000 miles a year, the Volt will require no fuel and lead to an annual savings of 500 gallons of gasoline, GM said.”. This is the correct direction, will you deliver?

   “ The Volt’s combustion engine is designed only as a supplement to keep its batteries charged, an innovation GM executives hope will help the automaker jump ahead of Toyota Motor Corp.” If the electric drive train is robust enough for long term use. It’s a good concept, do it now.

   Today’s automakers reluctance to move quickly in the direction of electric primary, gas secondary
   propulsion, makes the pluggable Hybrid most likely to be delivered. Toyota is in the best position to produce a pluggable vehicle. Toyota has also positioned itself with a reputation of delivering reliable advanced technology to the consumer, GM has not. Many thanks to Toyota for releasing the genie out of the bottle.

   Whoever delivers an advanced well designed product will get my trade. I will not wait for you GM.

   P.S. Ditch the Hydrogen/Fuel cell technology, it’s just part of the smoke screen. It also continues bondage to the petroleum industry since they will manufacture and distribute the hydrogen.

2. 
   
   Sean Monaghan Says:
   January 28th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

   GM you are about to lose the PR campaign. If not careful, it will take you 25 years to even come close to what other companies are providing today. WE, my generation, grew up with our parents worrying about 1978, I was 10 years old. We had the largest solar company in the world at the time in Phoenix Arizona. Creating pretty pictures does not solve the Green War we are fighting around the world: Terrorism, Earth, Health, Political Capitol Either way, I believe this car concept is great, but I have one better and I created the pretty picture on my Machintosh…oops I mean my Vista Windows computer. There are companies that DO and companies that TALK. Toyota has shamefully shown a better face. I want to buy a better, greener, SMARTer, and solar attached to my home system car, but how can I? You control the product line, maybe. Good luck with the $19.99 sale on the pretty pictures to the kiddies.

3. 
   
   Dis C. Uranged Says:
   February 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 pm

   As noted above the opportunity to advance the era of commuter options that would have a beneficial impact on the US struggle with oil and pollution, has been missed. The “all or nothing” direction of Hydrogen fuel cells will keep the oil monoply and those that feed on the combustion engine in power. The dependence on oil will not be cured by one solution it will take a multitude of solutions and applications to first take the edge off of the high energy requirements of this nation. An electric commuter car will be one of those steps, as will heatpump water heaters and rooftop solar to reduce the common house/apartment needs. These minor applications in a culmative alliance will have beneficial impact on energy usage and the reduction of costs of the systems.
   To bad you (GM) did not continue to support the EV and continue with newer versions. Now having to start again from the ground floor your efforts will lag the competition. So all the efforts to posture control in the various fields supporting batteries (like the gas companies) will go for naught unless you truly design a hybrid vehicle that will make am environmentally sound statement. The Volt doesn’t look like it will fit that bill.

4. 
   
   Sky King Says:
   February 7th, 2007 at 8:02 am

   GM stands on the brink of making a paradigm shift in the auto industry. In doing this, they also have the opportunity to influence, shape, and change consumer perceptions regarding their corporate image of being once again the world leader in technology, design, and innovation. They have thrown down the gauntlet and ask themselves from designers, engineers, managers, and executives to rise to the challenge and make the Volt, E-Flex, and Plugin Serial Hybrids a reality by bringing this vehicle into production as soon as possible.

   We are witnessing a turning point in history and a milestone in transportation not seen in over a hundred years. Consumer confidence is high and desire to lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions and reduce Fossil Fuel consumption is even higher. The race is on, and those automakers with insightful management recognize that they must make the hard choices and take the chances and bring solutions from concept into reality sooner rather than later.

   GM has an award winning design and brilliant technology with the E-Flex system, but waiting for the ‘perfect battery’ to start production will not win the prize. Therefore, I pose the following: produce the Volt now with a smaller ‘disposable’ (yet recyclable) battery pack that gets replaced with an upgrade at a later date. Take the $4000-$5000 projected battery cost you will get from the sale of each unit and put it into short term investments. The 400,000 orders you will have up front is almost $2 billion. The interest from this over 2 years would pay for any cost overages and/or R&D necessary to bring the battery pack to production, or may well pay for an even larger battery pack with extended range once they are available in mass quantity.

   How do you market this? Even without the battery pack for plugin all electric mode, the backup engine should still deliver 50 mpg. Offer a free battery pack upgrade within three years of purchase to gain the all electric features. Everyone who has voted to buy a Volt will gladly purchase this vehicle in this configuration. At the end of three years, the battery technology should be available to install the upgrades. Everyone wins. GM beats the competition to market with a high mileage winner that transforms at a later date into an unbeatably efficient solution.

   This would be a bold and highly unconventional move to sell something with a promise to change the propulsion system at a later date as an upgrade. But, these are challenging times and Plugins are probably the most competitive product platform the auto industry has ever seen. That requires someone to push the envelope of conventionality and take some chances. Entrepreneurs never became successful without taking chances. GM has a window of opportunity to take a leadership role and be a corporate role model for America once again. Make the hard choices, take the chances, be the winner. Everyone that buys the Volt will be standing on the podium holding up the prize with you.

5. 
   
   Pro-USA Says:
   March 23rd, 2007 at 6:12 am

   It saddens me when I read the hate mail. Consumers worshipping foreign companies that were created from a system that stifles competition. All I can say is I am in the market for a new vehicle. I will not be looking at any Japanese, Korean, or Chinese cars. I will be seriously looking at GM and Ford. Their products are great, which I have owned since 1th late 70s and I have never had the problems that get bantered about.

   One last thing, if you posters have such great ideas, start your own company and quit talking and actually do something about it!

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