Archive for June, 2008
Plug-in Cars May Substitute Dependence on Foreign Oil With Dependance on Foreign Batteries
One of the most compelling and important advantages of switching our fleet to plug-in electric cars like the Chevy Volt is being able to break this countries dependence on foreign oil. As oil supplies become tighter and demand increases the detrimental effects on economy and quality of life become clear, as the current oil price [...]
Popularity: 5%
GM Pauses on Future Truck Development as it Faces Unprecedented Economic Challenges
In following the Volt enthusiastically, one cannot help being struck by the significance of GM’s current financial challenges.
The company had been in the midst of a turnaround effort when VOLT was first introduced. Since then many significant economic hurdles have been presented. Not the least of which is the rapidly slumping sale of trucks and [...]
Popularity: 5%
Lutz: GM to Build 10,000 Volts in First Year and 60,000 in Second Year
Besides price, another question that we often debate is how many Chevy Volts does GM actually plan to build.
Since the concept was first announced in January 2007, three numbers that come up in the press most often are 10,000, 60,000, and 100,000.
Two of them have come up again.
In discussions I have had with Mr. Lutz [...]
Popularity: 6%
Lutz: $40,000 is Breakeven Price for the Chevy Volt and First Generation Will Not Make Money For GM
A new interview with Bob Lutz taking place yesterday has been published in the Seattle Times. The article outlines GMs plans for the Chevy Volt as well as electric cars in general and contains some interesting comments from GMs vice-chairman and product czar.
Lutz indicated his enthusiasm for electric cars saying “we believe profoundly in [...]
Popularity: 7%
Who Will Buy a Chevy Volt?
Now that GM has approved production of the Chevy Volt, they can begin to focus on what to us may seem obvious. Who will buy the Chevy Volt?
Clearly, I, and the nearly 30,000 people on our waitlist already hope to do so, assuming it is within our means. But since around 15 million [...]
Popularity: 7%
Lutz: Almost No Reasonable Doubt Chevy Volt Will Work as Planned
Reuters just published a report outlining an interview with Bob Lutz today on the Chevy Volt.
GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz continued to exude confidence that the Chevy Volt engineering should work out as planned, with a battery supplier to be named shortly.
Lutz said “I would say there’s almost no reasonable doubt in our minds anymore that [...]
Popularity: 7%
Possible Future Chevy Volt Options - Version One Will Have 40 Miles EV Range
Recently we heard GM might be considering a 20 mile Volt variant in the future. This led to some active discussion, and perhaps some misunderstanding. It must remain perfectly clear, the Chevy Volt when it arrives in 2010 will get 40 miles of EV range.
Tony Posawatz (above) is GM’s Chevy Volt Vehicle Line [...]
Popularity: 7%
Say Goodbye to the Chevy Volt Concept Model
From its reverberating splash in January 2007 to its display in Washington D.C. last week, the world has become quite familiar with the Chevy Volt concept’s sleek and muscular form.
Copied constantly across millions of web, print, and video pages our vehicular hero has made its exit.
As per GM, the showing in Washington D.C. was the [...]
Popularity: 8%
GM May Offer a 20-Mile Range Version of the Chevy Volt
One of the best things about the Volt is being able to drive without gas for most of one’s daily driving needs. It is clear though, the 40-mile range lithium-ion batteries are going to be expensive, limiting how low GM will be able to sell the Volt for.
In a new interview, Volt vehicle line director [...]
Popularity: 7%
The Google/Brookings PHEV Conference and Why Do People Want a Chevy Volt?
Yesterday and today, there was a plug-in conference in Washington D.C. co-hosted by Google.org and the Brookings Institution called Plug-In Electric Vehicles 2008: What Role for Washington? Representatives from key automakers and the U.S. government were in attendance.
Toyota’s representative, Bill Reinert sought to play down the potential benefits of plug-in vehicles. He said “when [...]
Popularity: 7%
GM Says Goodbye to Oil and Hello to Hydrogen
GM is about to launch a new corporate advertising campaign, beginning with a commercial to be aired on June 22 during NBCs Meet the Press.
The TV commercial will apparently begin with the following Dear John letter from GM:
“Dear Oil,
We’ve had this great relationship for many years. We think we will both be a lot happier [...]
Popularity: 8%
Look Out, Here Comes Toyota: Plans to Mass Produce Lithium-ion Plug-in Hybrids in 2010
Apparently the push of rising gas prices, and GMs success so far with the Volt has been too much for Toyota to tolerate.
Their President Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Tokyo that the auto maker now plans to roll out plug-in hybrids powered by lithium-ion batteries in 2010.
In a joint venture with Matsushita Electric, the maker [...]
Popularity: 8%
Recent Posts
- Summary of Thursday’s Senate Hearing: Automakers Fight to Survive
- VIDEO: GM’s CEO Arrives to Capitol Hill in Chevy Volt Prototype, Senate Hearings Underway
- GM CEO Will Drive Volt Mule Inside Washington DC Today, UAW Agrees to Drop Job Bank
- GM: Out of Time, Out of Money, Out of Options
- GM Submits Long-Term Viability Plan to Congress: $18 Billion Needed
- Detroit 3 Viability Plans Go To Congress Today: GM’s CEO Will Drive to DC in Hybrid Malibu
- GM-Volt Exclusive: Bob Lutz Details Volt Mule Energy Use in Highway Driving
- GM’s Canceled LA Auto Show Conference: Was it Going to be the Volt Battery Contract Announcement?
- Flextreme Concept Wins Prestigious Design Award, Still Not Production Intent
- What Would Happen to the Chevy Volt if GM Failed?
