Comments on: Interview with Frank Weber, E-Flex/Chevy Volt Vehicle Line Executive, Part II http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:30:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: noel park http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-21045 noel park Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:05:06 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-21045 Jeff M., #25: Exactly right. I said a long time ago that the car companies should stop whining about a 35 mpg CAFE in 2020. Anybody who can't make that will cease to exist long before then. Jeff M., #25:

Exactly right.

I said a long time ago that the car companies should stop whining about a 35 mpg CAFE in 2020. Anybody who can’t make that will cease to exist long before then.

]]> By: Peter K. http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-21012 Peter K. Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:41:22 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-21012 Want to increase the production of alternative vehicles? It’s easy; simply use an annual, revenue neutral tax incentive. Find the weighted mean mpg for all vehicles. Any owner of a vehicle getting less than the mean number is taxed annually by $100 per mile for every mile less than the average. If the average is 23 and your vehicle gets 19, then you pay an annual tax of $400 for the privilege of driving that fuel inefficient vehicle. If you buy a vehicle that gets 40 mpg, then you as the owner of that vehicle would get a $1,700 per year tax refund. Since it is revenue neutral the politicians shouldn’t have a beef. It will also provide buyers an incentive to buy new technology that provides higher standards and it gives them the extra cash needed to pay for the initial higher cost of this new technology. Put this in the hands of the people and watch the auto companies scramble to get on board the green bandwagon. And they will because if they can’t sell the old inefficient gas guzzling technology, then they won’t build it. Want to increase the production of alternative vehicles? It’s easy; simply use an annual, revenue neutral tax incentive.

Find the weighted mean mpg for all vehicles. Any owner of a vehicle getting less than the mean number is taxed annually by $100 per mile for every mile less than the average. If the average is 23 and your vehicle gets 19, then you pay an annual tax of $400 for the privilege of driving that fuel inefficient vehicle.

If you buy a vehicle that gets 40 mpg, then you as the owner of that vehicle would get a $1,700 per year tax refund. Since it is revenue neutral the politicians shouldn’t have a beef. It will also provide buyers an incentive to buy new technology that provides higher standards and it gives them the extra cash needed to pay for the initial higher cost of this new technology.

Put this in the hands of the people and watch the auto companies scramble to get on board the green bandwagon. And they will because if they can’t sell the old inefficient gas guzzling technology, then they won’t build it.

]]> By: john1701a http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-20831 john1701a Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:43:15 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-20831 [quote comment="20823"]That is, pressure from consumers for affordable to fuel vehicles will be the biggest driver to higher fleet averages, not CAFE mandates.[/quote] pressure = REACTIVE mandate = PROACTIVE There's a huge difference. Penalties are much higher if you delay. Some of us are tired of the status quo, tired of waiting... knowing just how long it actually takes for acceptance even after the first becomes available. It has already been 10 years. JOHN [quote comment="20823"]That is, pressure from consumers for affordable to fuel vehicles will be the biggest driver to higher fleet averages, not CAFE mandates.[/quote]

pressure = REACTIVE

mandate = PROACTIVE

There’s a huge difference. Penalties are much higher if you delay. Some of us are tired of the status quo, tired of waiting… knowing just how long it actually takes for acceptance even after the first becomes available.

It has already been 10 years.

JOHN

]]> By: Jeff M http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-20823 Jeff M Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:03:40 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-20823 Between peak oil and ever increasing worldwide demand (never mind geopolitical factors as more oil comes from unstable producers), by 2020 the 35mpg CAFE standard will be left in the dust. That is, pressure from consumers for affordable to fuel vehicles will be the biggest driver to higher fleet averages, not CAFE mandates. Between peak oil and ever increasing worldwide demand (never mind geopolitical factors as more oil comes from unstable producers), by 2020 the 35mpg CAFE standard will be left in the dust.

That is, pressure from consumers for affordable to fuel vehicles will be the biggest driver to higher fleet averages, not CAFE mandates.

]]> By: Peter K. http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-20809 Peter K. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:23:42 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/20/interview-with-frank-weber-e-flexchevy-volt-vehicle-line-executive-part-ii/#comment-20809 With any paradigm shift the masses will be slow to the new lingo of measurement. It helps them accept change more readily if you can explain the new concepts it in a language they can understand even if it isn't quite accurate. It helps them feel more comfortable accepting a new technology if they can relate it to something they are familiar with. I have my order in at a dealer for the Chevy Volt. When I talk about this car to friends I tell them it gets 40 miles on a charge and that when the battery runs low and the flex fuel engine kicks in it will give me an additional range of 600 miles. I then tell them that this equates to 50 mpg. I inform them that by using E-85 I will cut my gasoline consumption by over 90% since I will only have to fill up once every two months instead of once per week. They relate well to the idea that my commute is less than 40 miles per day and that I may only have to use the flex-fuel engine on the weekends. Thus Rashiid's idea of keeping it simple to 40 miles per charge and 50 mpg city when engaging the engine will help people to quickly accept this vehicle concept. With any paradigm shift the masses will be slow to the new lingo of measurement. It helps them accept change more readily if you can explain the new concepts it in a language they can understand even if it isn’t quite accurate. It helps them feel more comfortable accepting a new technology if they can relate it to something they are familiar with.

I have my order in at a dealer for the Chevy Volt. When I talk about this car to friends I tell them it gets 40 miles on a charge and that when the battery runs low and the flex fuel engine kicks in it will give me an additional range of 600 miles. I then tell them that this equates to 50 mpg. I inform them that by using E-85 I will cut my gasoline consumption by over 90% since I will only have to fill up once every two months instead of once per week. They relate well to the idea that my commute is less than 40 miles per day and that I may only have to use the flex-fuel engine on the weekends.

Thus Rashiid’s idea of keeping it simple to 40 miles per charge and 50 mpg city when engaging the engine will help people to quickly accept this vehicle concept.

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