Comments on: GM’s Troy Clarke: Chevy Volt to become this Generation’s 57′ Chevy

By: Eric E

Eric E — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:55:17 +0000

The whole “two-mode hybrid is good enough for bigger vehicles” idea is a bunch of crap! There is absolutely no reason they can’t extend the E-Flex concept to larger family vehicles. Actually, that age group is likely a big part of the coming PHEV and E-REV market.
AFS Trinity didn’t seem to have any problem getting 40 all electric rnage (AER) out of a Saturn VUE Plug-in Hybrid conversion with ultracaps and a lithium battery.

For those of you who haven’t seen it here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jIaDv5qMaE

I’m betting they just want to see how the Volt sells before they start thinking about other body styles.

As far as premium price for early adoption of a new technology? Duh, thats how it works folks. I’m the proud owner of a $700.00 HDDVD player thas currently worth $20.00, but me and my family have been enjoying true High-Definition movies for two years while our friends keep waiting for the price to drop.
If you want to be one of the first to drive 40 miles every day without a drop of gas in a well designed car by a major auto maker, if you want to help create demand that will ensure this technology stays and grows, if you want to be part of the solution…then you spend your money on a battery instead of oil/gas.

For me…$35,000.00 is a big stretch, BUT I don’t want my 6 year old boy to ever have to drive a gas car.

By: noel park

noel park — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Van, #23:

Damn right! I’m right there with you.

By: Van

Van — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:08:59 +0000

As a young man, I bought (in 1962) a 1957 Chevy Belair Sport coupe, with 4 barrel carb and dual exhaust. Best car I ever owned.

Now wouldn’t it be nice, if as an old man, I could buy an equally iconic vehicle? You bet! Go Volt.

By: butters

butters — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:55:49 +0000

Nothing about the Chevy Volt is a moon shot. This is just another example of how the extreme leverage of global capitalism makes it easy for large corporations to avoid risk and hard for small businesses to capitalize on risk. The result is an unproductive allocation of capital toward the same old vendors selling the same old stuff into the same old markets until they can no longer manufacture enough demand. Then the government steps in and bails them out.

The underlying premise of capitalism is that private enterprise is entitled to profit in exchange for taking risks that would be inappropriate to take with public money. But the supply-side camp insists on subsidizing flawed business models and letting corporate lobbyists write legislation. Why take risks when you can design your own loopholes and collect corporate welfare checks? GM could ride the E85 CAFE loophole all the way to the bank.

The Volt is not a moon shot, it’s just that GM so rarely takes significant risks that this one seems more extraordinary than it should be. Finally this lumbering behemoth decides to allocate some capital toward something that should have been done many years ago. Many small ventures have already proven the concept, but without billions of dollars, they’re exercises in futility. It’s amazing what can belatedly happen when money is belatedly invested toward the right pursuits.

The Apollo program solved numerous major technological challenges that had never been addressed before. The Volt is about commercializing existing technologies. It’s just as much of a moon shot as it would be if we were to go back to the moon today. If we do that, we should send Bush. He’d look hilarious hopping around in his codpiece-enhanced spacesuit. Houston, mission accomplished!

By: noel park

noel park — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:13:06 +0000

M1EK, #19:

Oh oh, touched a nerve. So sorry.

Actually, I have been accused here of being a Toyota fan for some of the positive things I have said about their business model. Not so, however.

Monstrous misrepresentation? You do me too much credit!