Grab our RSS Feed
Get our RSS feed via email

Archive for February, 2008

Chevy Dealers Need a Jolt from the Volt

February 9th, 2008 | Posted in: Brand, Financial with 24 Comments

GM relies on its dealers to sell cars to consumers, and the dealers rely on GM to produce good products, brands, and advertising. As U.S. sales declined over the years dealers also suffered.
GM is considered by many to be in the midst of a turnaround spearheaded by Rick Wagoner, in his role since 2000. Clearly [...]

Popularity: 3%

Posted by: Lyle with 24 Comments

Video: The Worst Chevy Volt TV Commercial Imaginable

February 8th, 2008 | Posted in: Advertising, Video with 45 Comments

There’s no bigger a fan of the Volt than me, and I’m happy Chevy is advertising a car that doesn’t exist yet, but couldn’t GM spend their money better than on this commercial?
There certainly have been better ones before (see post).
[UPDATE - GM sources have confirmed that this is indeed an official Chevy Volt commercial.  The [...]

Popularity: 4%

Posted by: Lyle with 45 Comments

New Study: Using U.S. Farmlands for Biofuel Production will Increase Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

February 8th, 2008 | Posted in: Environment, Fuel with 69 Comments

Ethanol supply produced from corn grown on U.S. croplands has been increasing and is thought by some as an opportunity to reduce petroleum consumption. Indeed carmakers like GM have been promoting E85 engines, and the U.S. government has been subsidizing farmers to produce corn.
The use of corn ethanol as being net energy positive [...]

Popularity: 4%

Posted by: Lyle with 69 Comments

Production not Chemistry is Reason for Delay in Mass Producing Plug-in Cars like the Chevy Volt

February 7th, 2008 | Posted in: Battery, Production with 35 Comments

Popular Mechanics has just published an article outlining the race to mass producing plug-in cars. The article includes a few quotes from GM’s advanced battery director Denise Gray with whom I have spoken on several occasions.
The article reviews some of the lithium-ion battery chemistries and correctly notes that its only the laptop-type (cobalt oxide) that [...]

Popularity: 4%

Posted by: Lyle with 35 Comments

The E-Flex Cadillac Provoq and the GM Fifth Generation Fuel Cell

February 6th, 2008 | Posted in: Cadillac, E-Flex, Hydrogen, Original GM-Volt Interviews with 44 Comments

The Cadillac Provoq is GM’s latest E-Flex concept car, a luxury crossover with all wheel drive and fuel cell range-extender. Nick Zielinski who used to be the ICE Volt’s chief engineer is now the chief engineer of the hydrogen Volt and Provoq, as well as the fuel cell Equinox. I had a few [...]

Popularity: 4%

Posted by: Lyle with 44 Comments

Q & A with Bob Reuter Chief Engineer, Plug-in Saturn VUE

February 5th, 2008 | Posted in: Original GM-Volt Interviews, PHEV with 39 Comments

GM has announced its intention to produce a plug-in Saturn VUE with a large lithium ion battery married to a 2-mode hybrid drivetrain.  This car quite possibly could be the first-ever plug-in hybrid that gets brought to the U.S. market.  I had the chance to ask the vehicle’s chief engineer a few questions.
When will the [...]

Popularity: 4%

Posted by: Lyle with 39 Comments

One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, GM VP of Global Program Management, Part 5

February 4th, 2008 | Posted in: Engineering, GM Q and A, Original GM-Volt Interviews, Production with 35 Comments

This is the final segment of my interview with Jon Lauckner, GMs VP of global program management, considered Bob Lutz’ first deputy and who has been very involved with the Volt project from day one.
What are the terms of GMs battery contracts with the battery suppliers?
‘A’ we shouldn’t talk about what we’ve agreed with the [...]

Popularity: 3%

Posted by: Lyle with 35 Comments

Chevy Volt Design Freeze within Weeks

February 3rd, 2008 | Posted in: Design with 45 Comments

A report out of Australia mentioned a few new facts about the Volt, garnered from original interviews with GM executives.
We have heard that the Chevy Volt’s design team, headed by Bob Boniface is very close to a final design for the production vehicle. Just how close?
Well, according to this article:
“…the styling for the 2011 [...]

Popularity: 3%

Posted by: Lyle with 45 Comments

Does GM have a Geographical Rollout Plan for the First Volts?

February 2nd, 2008 | Posted in: Production with 54 Comments

We patiently wait for the Volts to be built, and hope they will be available late 2010 as promised. We have heard for months that GM hopes to produce Volts in the tens of thousands; in fact 60,000 was a number tossed around previously (see post), and exec will tell you themselves they would [...]

Popularity: 3%

Posted by: Lyle with 54 Comments
Designed and Developed by Twenty Six Media