Ranting about how GM just doesn’t get it is so far off the mark that it is ridiculous.

Have you ever heard of the concept of ramping up? First you have to have proof of principle…they’re doing that right now with the test mules. Then you have to bring it to market at a price that yields a profit and see if the people will buy. You may scream that everyone will buy, but let’s wait and see what the price-ploint demand junction is like. Finally, you can’t just switch a 15 million car industry overnight to a new powertrain. For one thing, you couldn’t build the factories fast enough to produce the batteries…assuming you could mine all the lithium you’d need.

There are very intriguing developments in the field, including a new lithium anode being developed by an assistant professor named Ciu that potentially could turn the 40 mpg lithium batteries planned for the Volt into 400 mpg batteries. Interestingly the development is being funded not by the USA, (we’re too busy funding the Iraq disaster to the tune of 120 billion a year). It is being backed by the Saudis!

So, all you Republicans out there who still cheer for Bush’s war. When we exchange overpriced oil for overpriced batteries, just look in the mirror and blame yourself.

But, back to the original rant, these things take time. From the time the auto was invented until the great depression, some forty years, auto production wasn’t close to the million per year range. This radically new technology will have to be proved, gain customer acceptance, find ever more advanced batteries, and THEN and ONLY THEN will it be moved across the line to all vehicles.

I know you think you know everything, and the thousands of engineers and scientists employed by GM are idiots, but forgive me if I go with GM.

No one said it was going to be a problem. There is an efficiency penalty though.

Again… How does the system operate then?

>>>> As far as winter charging, I don’t really understand the question.

>>Obviously. Try this…

>>Park your Volt while you work. During those 9 hours, the battery-pack cools down to the below-freezing outside temperature. Li-Ion cannot accept much, if any, charge when that cold. How does the system operate then? Will it lose the ability to recharge until after completely warming up?

Smart employers across the country will be more than willing to intall charging stations in company parking lots – think of how much easier that will make recruiting employees – and how much money those employees will be saving on commuting costs. The E-flex economy will have less pressure on wages as more Americans can afford to commute to work. Cold weather will not be a problem.

As for GM, I hope everyone here is routing for them! If we want to see the VOLT produced and on the market in 30 months, we should all go out and lease a new GM vehicle for the next 30 to 36 months – like the new Malibu (a beautiful car that gets great mileage) and help GM drive the development of the Li-Ion and E-flex technology!

Go GM!!! Go VOLT Nation!!!

Where is that mentioned? Remember, this website still lacks a central repository for detail. Random encounters are clearly not enough.

So anyway… are you saying the source will be pure electric, not taking advantage of waste heat available from the engine?

>> As far as winter charging, I don’t really understand the question.

Obviously. Try this…

Park your Volt while you work. During those 9 hours, the battery-pack cools down to the below-freezing outside temperature. Li-Ion cannot accept much, if any, charge when that cold. How does the system operate then? Will it lose the ability to recharge until after completely warming up?

Apples to Oranges.

GM is a very outspoken, spotlight drawing automaker. That’s just the way they are.

Toyota takes the modest approach, keeping quiet until the product is just about ready for purchase. That’s just the way they are.

Focus should be on the product itself, not how it is promoted.