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Laugh Break: Bob Lutz on Colbert Nation, Photovoltaic Roof Option Confirmed

September 18th, 2008 | Posted in: Charging

GM vice chairman Bob Lutz appeared on the comedy show Colbert Nation last night and discussed the Chevy Volt.

A must see, funny 6 minutes for us sometimes too serious (I’ll speak for myself) Volt-heads.

Through the humor Lutz managed to confirm that the Chevy Volt will indeed have a photo voltaic roof option.

[UPDATE: So moved by the experience this interview, Mr. Lutz has written his own blog post about it calling it and experience "like no other I’ve had in my career"]

Posted by: Lyle

178 Responses to “Laugh Break: Bob Lutz on Colbert Nation, Photovoltaic Roof Option Confirmed”

KUD Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:06 pm

Wow I am first

Yes it had funny moments

Solar roof sounds great to me.

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Voltme Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

Great news on the roof option. Looks like the Volt might be infinitely configurable…To wit: In a private conversation, he also confirmed to me that the hideously cheap looking white plastic center console will, in his words…

“There will be wide customer choice on the center console color! “

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Ray Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

I Will take that option…

Metalic Black with a black or dark blue interior please..

Better yet…. just slap all the options on it and cantact me for the dealership of my choice for delivery..

I am ready..

Can I have it now ?

how about now?

# 974 on the list… Can I have it Now????

And yes I will take a mule in the meantime…..

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

That was horrible and insulting.

* Global Warming? KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT NEXT TIME.
* Acceleration? A Shrug. NICE JOB HERO.
* Sex Appeal? HAIRY GIRLS WITH NO MAKEUP?

That was a PR nightmare. Look, an electric car is like candy to the greens. It should be a guaranteed sale. YOU’RE INSULTING THEM, YOU DUMBASS.

This pathetic episode just worked against all the good efforts GM has made trying to make this car appealing to people who are attracted to the Volt because it doesn’t use gas: Environmentalists, greens, liberals.

Heckuva job, Lutzie.

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mmcc Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

I caught the repeat this morning and I thought it was great. I especially liked when Bob told Stephen what kind of women he could pick up in the Volt.

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Wise Golden Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Can I charge it from my Hummer…ROTFL!

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Adam Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

#4 Lurtz: before you go too crazy he was on The Colbert Report not CNN. It’s supposed to be funny. Your supposed to make fun of yourself and what you do. Otherwise you end up just looking stupid on the show. I thought it was great and it’s nice to see the no holds back attitude of Bob Lutz. As far as PR is concerned it was the exact PR necessary for the people who watch The Colbert Report.

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Noah Nehm Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Wait – he’s now wearing a pink shirt and a yellow tie! My whole world is upside-down!

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jerry Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Photovoltaics are great. I have covered the roof of two houses with them and they can reduce your electric bill substantially, especially if you have time of use metering. Wholly recommended.

As for putting one on the roof of a car? Bob Lutz put it best, “…leave your Volt in a sunny parking lot for two weeks and you will get a full charge…” I.e., the capacity isn’t there to really be useful (yet).

You would be much wiser to put the solar panel on the roof of your garage and use it to collect/offset peak usage of your home. Then you can buy the electricity back at a fraction of the cost to charge your Volt at night. IMHO, a solar panel on the roof of a car is a gimmick, and judging from what GM is charging us for the stereo, will be an option that costs several thousand dollars.

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

mmcc – I’m reading the ‘green’ boards this morning; that stereotype made several people angry at all of GM, not just turning them off the Volt. For amusing you for one second, it insulted what I would expect to be an entire guaranteed market segment that would be interested in the Volt.

“I hope GM goes bankrupt”
“Are we going to give these incompetent jerks $25 billion to pretend to save their industry”
“No wonder the Japanese aren’t standing in line to nab a Chevy Malibu”

Nice job, Lutz.

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mmcc Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

#6 Golden –
Oh yeah, the Hummer, I forgot about that one. Priceless!

#4 Lurtz
Lighten up… It’s The Colbert Report not 60 Minutes. Besides not all 40K+ on the waiting list are “greens”

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

Here’s some more anger from an important market segment:
http://thegreenmiles.blogspot.com/2008/09/gm-exec-denies-global-warming-disses.html
“General Motors Vice Chairman of Global Product Development Bob Lutz was just on The Colbert Report blaming global warming on sunspots and dissing his own Chevrolet Volt as a weak, unattractive car.
Note to Bob for future reference – if you’re going to greenwash, it’s best not to come right out and deny the scientific consensus on global warming with a made-up number of people who believe in a kooky denial scheme. Kind of undercuts your alleged green credentials.”

http://getenergysmartnow.com/2008/09/17/lutz-remains-a-putz-on-global-warming-denial/
“When Colbert was asking him whether the Volt would help him “get laid”, Lutz said that it would probably change the nature of the women, to ‘nicer, without makeup, environmental types …’
‘However, we have to get off this subject …’
Yeah, Bob, reminding people that Lutz is such a Putz perhaps isn’t the best thing for GM’s image and marketing … of a car designed to appeal to people concerned about global warming, peak oil, and a better future for America.”

“Did Lutz sell you on buying a new Volt? NOT!
It was as if he had to come on the show to appeal to the younger crowd and then he bad mouthed the whole concept of electric vehicles. I believe, all he was doing was pandering for gov’t money to save GM.
Why not use someone who is at least enthusiastic about the product they are trying to sell?
He was a joke!”

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RB Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

#10 Lurtz about the Lutz remark about the kind of woment …

Many environmentalists have a sense of humor.

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Jim in PA Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Lutz kinda came off sounding like a dumbass. Here is what someone with business and polictical savvy would have said:

“For those concerned about the environment, the Volt will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For those concerned about national security, the Volt will keep your money out of the hands of terrorist financiers. For those concerned about American industry and labor, the Volt will keep your dollars in America. The Volt offers something for all folks across the entire social and political spectrum of our country. It is the all-American car.”

A message with that kind of universal appeal would have been much better than potentially devisive comments about global warming and hairy legged girls. (From a guy who wears pink shirts and ties, no less! You’re living in a big pink glass house buddy!)

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Morgan Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

10 Lurtz:

Tell them “Why so Serious?”

Seriously, its the Colbert Report…its a mockery of everything. Do these same people think the greatest threat facing the US is “bears”?

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

mmcc and Adam:

I’m not the market segment that you should be talking to. Maybe you need to tell all those thin-skinned hairy hippies with no makeup to lighten up – Maybe the Volt is not for them?

Yeah – no one watches the Colbert Report. Certainly none of the librul hippie enviro-lefties who tend to buy Toyota Priuses and think GM makes gas-guzzling SUVs.

In fact, bring back the aerodynamic brick concept. And ditch the batteries and electric motor. In fact, skip the 1.4L engine and put in whatever you got in the G8 GT — we don’t want to any librul hippies driving this car, we want the Bush-loving SUV-driving global-warming denier crowd.

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Noah Nehm Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

I watched the episode on Comedy Central’s website. Skip to the third segment to watch.

It was good, but Lutz had a few good comebacks, but he was out of his league, comedy wise.

There was, though, a great joke opportunity. Colbert asked if the car would be run on potatoes, like a high school experiment he did once, Lutz explained that it runs on high tech lithium ion batteries. Colbert asked if it was like the Star Trek Matter-Antimatter thing to which Lutz should have said “No, that would be the dilithium ion battery”. Oh Well.

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A Siegel Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

Jim in PA has it absolutely right.

GM has an awful lot of PR people. And, Lutz is smart enough to remember a paragraph. This is a WINNING elevator speech:

For those concerned about the environment, the Volt will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For those concerned about national security, the Volt will keep your money out of the hands of terrorist financiers. For those concerned about American industry and labor, the Volt will keep your dollars in America. The Volt offers something for all folks across the entire social and political spectrum of our country. It is the all-American car.

Only thing missing: Care about gas prices: you’ll save money by driving on electricity rather than gasoline.

Instead, Lutz allowed himself to show himself to be scientifically ignorant, unenthusiastic about the car’s characteristics, and insulting to a core constituency of the Volt.

Come on, Bob, I desperately want the Volt to succeed … this type of attitude and performance doesn’t help that effort.

Bob made some decent jokes, but Lutz was mainly a Putz last night.

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anthony Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

I am excited…

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Bearclaw Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

@ 14. Jim in PA

Well said about the universal appeal of the Volt.

Good luck to anyone trying to get all that out in front of Colbert before he makes some other stupid joke though.

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=1582
“[Lutz] went on to repeatedly insult both the Volt (making it sound slow and unattractive) and its potential buyers (talking about, when Colbert asked whether it would help get him laid, suggesting that the women would be a lot uglier). Now, Colbert prods his guests into embarrassing situations, but Lutz ran in to this head-on all by himself. ”

“I can just imagine an ad where they show the Volt from a bunch of different angles while playing “Kumbaya”, and then end with Lutz standing in front of it, yelling, “There. You happy now? Now shut up you dirty hippies!”"

“I think he’s made his view, that GM is being strong-armed into doing so against his will, pretty clear. “

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Frank D Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

man, that was painful! Bob Lutz has guts! Of all the people in the world to get the Volt done, Bob is the man! Now the pr begins…get the Volt known!

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Bailers Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

Lurtz, I bet not too many of the hairy legged, no humor types could afford a Volt anyway, unless they sold their soul to corporate America and therefore are part of the machine that is destroying the environment anyway.

The wacko enviro’s need to shut up and sit down. REAL people who care about the environment (myself included) aren’t going to pass on the most realistic way to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gasses just because of what was said on Comedy Central. I work for an organization that has PLENTY of environmentalist types, yet people here are still talking about the Volt.

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Xed Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

“Could I actually charge this thing by plugging it into the cigarette adapter in my Hummer?”

That, my friends, is pure comic genius.

.

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Aspherical Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

#21 Lurtz

“I can just imagine an ad where they show the Volt from a bunch of different angles while playing “Kumbaya”, and then end with Lutz standing in front of it, yelling, “There. You happy now? Now shut up you dirty hippies!””

If Lutz did that, I would expend all my life savings on the Volt no matter the price.

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Steveland Harris Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:32 pm

I want the photovoltaic roof option with black center stack pronto!

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GXT Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

Loved it. Good job Lutz.

For those of you all concerned and uptight: Just grab the stick and pull down. It will come right out.

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Skip Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

I heard Bob say that the range with the generator running was 200 to 300 additional miles. It keeps getting reduced. Big concern for me.

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Jim 75 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Lurtz Says: “Blah Blah blah…”
You need to realize that there are a lot of people that would by the volt that don’t believe that the world is in crisis. It is sad that politic warriors from either side are ruining it for the rest of us. I don’t believe in man-made global warming either. Burn me at the stake because I don’t knell at the feet of Al Gore. I want to buy this car at a reasonable price ~30K. If I can I will. I’m a republican. I also believe that all paths should be taken to move us to energy independance.
Oil = yes,
CNG = Yes
Solar = Yes
Hydro = Yes
Algae Oil = Yes
Nuclear = Yes
Wind = Yes
It is time for us to stop yelling at each other and stop throwing a fit because we didn’t get just our way. It needs to start being “our” way.

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Kent Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

It’s OK to be “green” AND have a sense of humor.

Lighten up people!

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Grant Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

Well, assuming that the comment was not intended as a joke towards how inefficient solar charging would actually be, you’d get roughly three free miles a day by parking in the sun.

It sounds pathetic, but that’s actually a very good chunk of ‘little driving’ that most people do without thinking about it, that suddenly becomes gas free. That trip to the quick-e-mart to get chips? Suddenly free. The playing around with the console in the driveway as opposed to in traffic, in an attempt to save yourself a car wreck? Free. And the supplementary electronics like the radio, lights, LCDs, etc would all be powered by that quite easily.

I have a very small 4-amp solar array and three deep-cycle batteries. It’s not the fastest charging thing around but it is better then a gas generator in storm situations because I can run it for weeks without any gas. The Volt will be a nice setup, parked in the lot during the day to get what it can, and then plugged in at home at night to do a full-charge. Now I just hope there’s a power outlet somewhere on it to serve as a supplementary power source.

Tell me when and where and I’ll get out the checkbook.

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Statik Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Even I can admit that the Colbert Report is a ‘pressure, action packed’ situation, that most people would not do well in, especially a man with the obvious weaknesses that Bob hass… and who has also qualified for a gov’t pension for over a decade. (If not for him making about 250 times the maximum amount)

For a guy who backed the Hummer, doesn’t believe in global warming and had his formative years in 40s…he actually did ok.

Unfortunately, he is not on the show just representing septegenarians on the back nine…he was representing GM. The PR department should never have let him go…of course, maybe they couldn’t stop him.

Entertaining though.

He is starting to remind me of the “Grandkids in the Movies/Message for Old People” Digital Short from SNL:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/grandkids-in-the-movies/221738/

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Didja know Priuses run on ’smug’?

Say a Toyota executive made that joke about Toyota’s own customers.

And there was already a successful competitor.

And Toyota might be bankrupt before their car comes out.

And desperately needs a subsidized government loan.

C’mon guys, don’t you have a sense of humor? I was only kidding! Aw… You dirty hippies can’t take a joke…

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DonC Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

#21 Lurtz – That quote was written by a very intelligent, very well informed, and very talented woman who at times takes things a little too literally. I watch the Colbert Report a fair amount. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the interviews with the elected representatives. Those guys won’t even come on his show any more. Unless you are Jane Fonda and sit on his lap and kiss him he’s going to make you look a little silly, especially if you play along.

#32 Statik – Sorry I missed your post on this. You had a long one. I’m surprised Sumner Redstone himself hasn’t demanded it be taken down!

I actually disagree with you about the performance. For a corporate type he did well — they don’t tend to have good senses of humor. And he did make the points about he needed to make. At this point it’s about awareness not any technical details.

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Michael Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Lyle,

How do I get one of the miniature Volts Mr Lutz gave to Colbert?

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kent beuchert Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

While photovoltaic panels are cheap enough to afford a few square feet, it’s obvious that their usefulness may be iffy – every place I worked at required me to park under a roof. End of usefullness for PV panels, in large part. Shoping malls often are exposed spaces, but I never spent much time at any of those. They also are useless
for more than half of the 24 hours in a day. Call this a PR move, in large part. Also need to keep the dirt off the panels. Yukk.

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jefro Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

I don’t like the idea of the PV roof. What a waste of money.

PV’s ARE NOT and have never been produced with less energy than they can produce!!!!! They are just an expensive way to make energy.

PFFST a wind generator would be a better option.

Until GM finds a PV that actually uses less energy to make than it produces, this would be a poor environmental choice.

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jerry Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

What is all this “all american car” bs. GM is a multinational. Toyota is a multinational. Both build cars in the US and overseas.

The Volt was promised to be the best of everything. The reality is GM has made it the worst. As an EV it is underperforming both in power and EV range. As a hybrid it is over-priced and, now that the styling is under the bus, just another sipper. Solar panel on the roof? What a joke! If you think that is a useful option, you are clueless about the technology. Even Lutz made a joke of it.

Lutz talked like the Volt is a car for the circus. (Question: How many clowns can fit in a Volt?). If you look at its specification and the excuses for the high price, he may not be joking.

It is really sad, but I don’t think GM really wants to make a viable electric car. This is all about meeting government mandated fleet mpg stats, and getting billions of dollars in taxpayer-subsidized loans. There is no way a major car manufacturer could not do better than the Volt if they were serious. GM is a disgrace.

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Lutz doesn’t bother me, as long as the Volt becomes available. He could have been more of an enthusiastic Volt salesman. However, I don’t need selling – I know enough about it already. I guess one could worry about how Lutz’s performance might impact Volt sales. I’m not worried about that. The Volt will sell, especialy if it is priced right.

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Kenneth Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Mr. Lutz probably was not the best choice for the Colbert Report due to all the comments made so far in the forum, but who’s really going to stop him. He went on the show knowing full well that it is a comedy show, so seriousness is thrown out the window. I didn’t see the clip as my computer at work does not allow video feed, but I am going to view it when I get home. It is a comedy show, so he made a few comments that didn’t go over as well as he probably thought. If you are a Volt fan you would see this as Mr. Lutz making fun of himself and ’stumbling’ about in the process.
It is still the same car as it was before the show, so if there are fewer buyers for the Volt since the show aired, then there is a better chance for me to buy one…
Cheers

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

#37 jefro
“PV’s ARE NOT and have never been produced with less energy than they can produce”

You need to provide numbers to be credible. How much energy does it take to make a PV? At what rate does a PV make energy? What is the lifespan of a PV?

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DonC Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

#36 kent #37 jefro

The best use of the PV roof is to cool the car when in the sun. I see it as a safety feature. Every year pets and children die because due to negligence in leaving them in a parked car. It’s an awful death.

As for charging the battery pack, I’d agree it’s just about useless.

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J Snow Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

I can’t believe Lutz mocked the Chevy Volt. That was just plain terrible! Lutz should have said the Volt was damn sexy and fast and a hell of a lot cheaper than the Tesla sports car. I always faulted GM for shitty marketing. If you don’t believe in your own product, why should anyone else? The Volt is what it is, a Prius-killer and a poor man’s Tesla. Hell,Lutz should be making plans to taking over Tesla so that it will be a GM name plate before production ramps up and the Chevy Corvette is no longer the “in” car.

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dennis Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

And this is why the Big Dogs shouldn’t go on shows like this
He started getting a little more comfortable at the end and was able to walk without tripping over his words.

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ROBERT M. SPERRY Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:51 pm

The Colbert show is NOT Automotive Weekly. For an Automotive exec on a “funny” (?) tv show, I thought Lutz did fine. I agree with #16. I want one of those miniature VOlts. I can drool over it until I get the real thing.

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Firefly Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

I think I’d rather charge my Volt from a Prius. If I did, would that count as parasitic loss?

WTF people!!!What? Bob Lutz isn’t supposed to have a sense of humor? It’s the Colbert Report, for crying out loud! Get a freakin’ life. When he does that on CNN or CSPAN or somethin, then I’ll…aww hell, I’ll still think it’s funny. But that won’t stop me from buying one.

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A Siegel Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

42: There are already on the market very small pv/fan units to put in the car window to keep a car cool if you have to park it in the sun. If you often are parked in the sun, these are cost effectve in reducing air conditioning demand and comfort effective by basically having the car only a few degrees above outside temperature. There are, I believe, PVs to have the air conditioning running.

There are some cases where PV could make sense on rooftop, but not many of us are parking a vehicle while we go hiking a few days or such. Writ large, PVs are not cost effective for such a use (yet) since PVs are expensive and you want to maximize their production potential. Having them on the car, which might be in the shade, might have a fully charged battery, etc doesn’t maximize production.

The line about PVs using more energy to make than they produce in their lifetime is, well, simply false. Do web searching re EROEI and PV panels. For example: http://www.energybulletin.net/node/22275 This suggests an EROEI of between 6:1 and 30:1 for PV panels, a six-to-one return on energy invested is the bad case.

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Arch Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Well being an old college proff I thought I was a prude. Well I was wrong. Now I know what a prude sounds like. I thought Bob held his ground well.

Take Care
Arch

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Tagmet Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

Put my vote in Lutz’ column. The people who can’t recognize a great sense of humor when it’s staring them in the face, well, maybe they should get out a bit more. If he’d sat there and lied between his teeth, he’d have gotten creamed by the same people. “But **I** remember he said this, not that!”
The Colbert Show is a COMEDY show! For heaven’s sake, life is way to short (though some of you are making this one seem a lot longer (g)).
Be better,
Tag,
LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS.

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MDDave Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Lurtz, why does it matter what Lutz or anyone else says about the Volt? If GM follows through and actually produces the Volt, then most people will buy it or not buy it based on its merits relative to other cars on the market at the time. Anyone that would refuse to buy a Volt because of some comments by a GM executive on a COMEDY SHOW would be a fool.

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A Siegel Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pm

Tagmet / Arch –

The real problem in the show, fundamentally, is (a) his global warming denial and this GM executive’s willingness to spout this ignorance in public, and (b) that he doesn’t seem to be boosting the car. In any event, I excuse the second … not the first.

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GLV Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

I would dare anybody to go on the Colbert Show and come off looking intelligent and funny. That’s the nature of his show…he pokes fun at his guests at their own expense. I thought it was what it was meant to be…funny, and Bob played Colbert’s comic foil well…

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VOLT-eLectrified Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

LURTZ……and all the other people you are trying to be!
Go find a tree on the back of a 18 wheeler hauln’ ass on the hwy to hugg.
NO ONE GIVES A CRAP ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS!
GO-VOLT

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Grizzly Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm

They must really be aiming the Volt at the masses. I’ve got to admit that this is a most unusual venue for the case of an automotive exec with a breakthrough product. Now if we can just ramp up batt production to bring the cost down and make these cars available to the general public we’ll be well on our way.

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DonC Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

#47 A Siegel — Of course if you can remember to use the window device you’ll remember to take the kids or pets out. The PV roof is automatic and will do a great job of keeping the inside cool.

#48 Arch — Sense of humor. Check.

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John Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Jerry #38, you are greatly misinformed.

From an economic point of view, the first 40 miles of your drive are practically free compared to a regular car (even a prius). Since the non-fuel based operating costs of the car are greatly reduced, the small price paid for electricity to charge the batteries will be negated by the much lower operating costs for the vehicle, making the first 40 miles essentially free compared to even the best cars. It shouldn’t be so hard to see the economic benefit of this.

As far as GM not supporting the development, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. They are putting significant resources into the development. The project managers have practically been given a blank check to acquire necessary equipment and talent. GM has been actively hiring any talent they could since the conception of this project.

Just to be clear, they are looking for the Volt (and similar vehicles) to be their killer product to turn the company around, not as a way to satisfy legislation while they continue to lose money by selling low mpg SUV’s.

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voltman Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

I cannot fault him one bit. Colbert could make albert einstein look like an idiot. Watch this interview with Al Sharpton – omg he is masterful. http://www.truveo.com/Stephen-Colbert39s-Interviews-I-Could-Get/id/86713517

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patrix Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

Come on, give the old man a break…he was not in his environment, but he was as funny as he could be. Sometimes I fall on my face, but rarely does it effect the work I do. I’m buying a volt; I’m going to listen to a comedy channel on the car’s radio; and I’m going to love it!

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Bob Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm

Why as an option?

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Pat Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

Bob Lutz isn’t much of a salesman. When Stephen asked questions about the 0 – 60 performance of the car he should be agreeing wholeheartedly and singing the praises of the Volt, not getting defensive and explanatory. he should leave no doubt that the Volt is as good as any car out there and better in fact.

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Motown Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

I thought it was pretty funny. You have to give the old guy some credit, he had some long pauses while trying not to put his foot in his mouth. I can’t believe ‘the greens’ are in an uproar over this. It’s the Colbert report for crying out loud! They make fun of everything and everyone. The hippies need to have a group hug and smoke a joint. I feel sorry for anyone who bases their car buying decisions off a comedy show. I think GM will sell every one they can build and will manage without the dirty hippie crowd who probably couldn’t afford one anyway.

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charley497 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

All this talk about Volt’s and I still don’t see any driving around.

why did Lutz ever agree to go on that stupid show? Big mistake in my opinion.

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Zen Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

Hey Bob, Howard Stern’s show just called.

He wants to interview you and Mike the Retard at the same time, while you drink shots held in the cleavage of the stripper girls from Scores Night Club. They’ll even strip for you live, on the show. You interested? You can talk about the Volt some more.

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Ross H. Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Interesting battery details that I hadn’t heard before:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/talking-volts-with-bob-lutz.php

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BRUCE Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

The solar panel on the roof is great. In Florida we have hurricanes which knocks out the power. As a medical doctor it would be enough to get me to the hospital and save a life. Hurricane Wilma, a few years back, left us with no power and long gas lines. You could not get gas at any price. I wish at that time I had a Volt with those 3 miles. Only if you live through a hurricane will you know how bad it is when you cannot get gas.

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DonC Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pm

#54 Grizzly

Perfect venue if you listen to Lutz about the target market and compare it to the viewership for the Colbert and Stewart shows. Live on coast? Check. Highly educated? Check. Disposable income? Check. Younger? Check. Would not otherwise consider a GM vehicle? Don’t really know that one but given the rest probably a … Check.

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omegaman66 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Skip has a big bladder.

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nataraj Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

I don’t think some of the conservatives here get Colber’ Repor’.

Lutz, we all know is an ass. I don’t think people concerned about the future of the planet (hopefully a large majority) are going to ditch Volt because of Lutz.

I’m driving a 10 year old Nissan and my next car is definitely a Hybrid/EV – so I should be a prime target for this car. Yet, if I don’t buy Volt – it won’t be because of Crazy Lutz.

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john1701a Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

>> The Volt is what it is, a Prius-killer

For that to become a reality, production & sales would have to be higher.

How long will it be until Volt reaches the annual rate Prius is already at?

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Exp_EngTech Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

I really, really, hate dirty humorless hippies.

Especially the “tree spiking” and “dealership torching” varieties.

Change I can Believe In ?….. I say “Open Season – No Bag Limit”.

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DaveP Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

#37 jefro:
“PV’s ARE NOT and have never been produced with less energy than they can produce!!!!! They are just an expensive way to make energy.”

That hasn’t been true for decades. (Heck, those original panels are probably still working and may very well have even produced their manufacturing energy by this time!

The current time for typical panels to produce the energy used to manufacture them is just a few years. Upcoming tech like nanosolar should produce the production energy in a few months. Googling around I couldn’t find the sources that I have read that reported that. (it’s usually off the cuff remarks by ceos not official statements). Most of the companies keep that information pretty tight. However, they are public companies and you can get the manufacturing costs in a lump.

In fact, that ancient (panels don’t pay off blah blah blah) argument doesn’t even hold up in the face of the lumped manufacting costs…
http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Evergreen_Solar_(ESLR)
(Evergreen solar production has one of the lowest energy requirements for manufacturing due to their conservation of silicon, but still has higher manufacturing costs than some of the Chinese companies). I had done some study 2 years ago when I bought my Evergreen solar panels, but I’m at work and can’t find the studies at the moment.
But that doesn’t even matter, you can figure out the bound from the retail price of the panels, or better yet take the manufacturing costs of the Sun Power or First solar panels. Consider the entire manufacturing cost of $1.40/watt is energy cost (it isn’t). I’ll even lowball the energy cost at $0.10 /kwh.
$1.40($/watt)/$0.10($/kwh)*1000(w/kw)= 14000 wh/watt
Assuming you can produce (on average) 12 watts/day with that 1 watt panel,
14000(wh/watt)/12(wh/day)/365.25(days/year)= 3.2 years.

Even if you think you could get energy at $.05/kwh, I’d argue that is still just 6 years and energy is probalby more like half the manufacturing cost so it’s still back around 3 years. Or 1.5.

In any case, there’s really no doubt today’s panels will produce their manufacturing energy in a few years. Or soon, months… nanosolar (and others) are targeting $1/watt RETAIL price. To get that kind of price, the energy will have to pay off in just months, not years.

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noel park Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

A PV roof would be great.

As to the rest of it, 10-88.

LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS!

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Lurtz Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

You know, I think I understand those that say that the Volt project is pure greenwash in order to give GM at large an environmentally-responsible “halo”. “Look at our great innovation! (Not available in stores.) How ’bout this Vue?”

Maybe GM has no plan to sell it in large numbers … if they even plan to sell it at all. Or they’ll make it the “EV-2″ and cancel it as soon as SUV sales pick up.

And you who think you can ‘attract more flies with vinegar’, it’s pretty telling how your parents raised you that you think that making jokes at other people’s expense can be handwaved away with telling them that they need to “get a sense of humor.” (You tell as many jokes about Poles, handicapped, blacks, women, gays, or Mexicans?)

I’ve been defending GM in liberal or environmentalist public boards when people vilified them because I believed in the Volt. Today? Not so much.

I’m done doing GM’s free PR. Buy some ad time on the popular liberal programs instead. Like the Colbert–

ooops.

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omegaman66 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:56 pm

New survey data in!!! Well over 50% of the Volt purchasers are anal retentive have no sense of human, hate anyone that disagrees with them and should seek prof. medical help immediately!!!!

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ERP Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

I love when Colbert asked if he could “Chop it and drop it” and put headers on it!

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john1701a Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

>> From an economic point of view, the first 40 miles of your drive are practically free…

Haven’t been paying attention for the last 8 years, eh?

Cost analysis of hybrids (especially when compared to traditional vehicles) are usually quoted in cost-per-mile, which takes purchase price into account. There’s simply no way to disregard that extra up-front premium. Volt will be far from “practically free” for the first 40 miles.

To be objective, economic debates must include everything that comes out of your wallet.

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Freemon Sandlewould Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Speaking as an Electrical Engineer I can tell you the PhotoVoltaic roof is a feel good plastic banana idea.

They should not waste a single second of precious time on it till they can get an ultra-cheap thin film deposited version of the same sort of technology that First Solar uses.

You environMENTAL cases are a bunch of girls when it comes to engineering / technology. You look good in cheerleader skirts but aren’t good for much else.

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Mark Z Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

Nice to see the production VOLT on the banner at the top of the page.

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DonC Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

#67 #74 omegamann66

Some storms in the Gulf this year. How are you been holding up down there? You’ve been missed.

FWIW we just call it “professional help”. You can skip the medical part. LOL If you’re going to be so serious I don’t understand why you’d watch Colbert. The only time I ever saw him bested was when Jane Fonda sat on his lap and kissed him all up. He looked really uncomfortable.

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Exp_EngTech Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

#74 omegaman66

ROTFLMAO !

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CDAVIS Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

______________________________________________________
That was very funny.
Lutz did great.

Lutz came off as a guy you could have a beer with and joke around unlike a particular humor challenged poster.
_____________________________________________________

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DaveP Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

#47 A Siegel:

Oooo, I love it when my back of the napkin numbers are consistent with an official analysis.

The article in your post cites 1-5 years for current panels to produce the energy used to produce them…

Cool!

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Jay Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

Bob Lutz also appeared on CBC’s The Hour with George Stromboulopoulos. The discussion was somewhat more substantive than the one he had with Colbert. The video is here:

http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=859964433

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canehdian Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

Anyone who is making a big deal out of this has clearly never seen the Colbert Report. It’s supposed to be comedic and make fun of things. Stop taking everything so seriously!

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Dale Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

#9 Jerry
Photovoltaics are great. I have covered the roof of two houses with them and they can reduce your electric bill substantially, especially if you have time of use metering. Wholly recommended.

Do you have a link I can pursue to find more info?

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David L Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

Overall, the video was pretty funny.

I’m surprised that Lutz wasn’t a a little “quicker on his feet”. I know that he’s in his seventies – but I expected more. Based on his response to the global warming question, he obviously isn’t very good with PR. (He could have easily replied: “Whether your concerned about the environment, want to reduce dependency on foreign oil, or just want to save money on gas — the Volt will let you do this.”). He dropped the ball on the acceleration question as well …

On the other hand, it’s great publicity for the Volt and I’m sure that people won’t remember the details any more than the Volt “foot licking dog” video that GM put together six months ago.

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Bintoo Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVtfpYgoLcc

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Zen Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

At $18,000, the Honda Insight is going to be a Prius-killer and a Volt-killer. The Insight is coming in Spring 2009, unlike the Volt’s 2000-whatever launch year. It’s sexier than the Volt at half the price.

I’m beginning to believe Lurtz – Bob seems like he is doing everything he can to get people NOT to buy the Volt. First, he castrates and feminizes the concept, then he priced the Volt at $40,000 – with unaffordable monthly payments that are about $700.00 a month, then he insults his remaining potential customers – on TV ! I think Bob never intended to produce the Volt, and it got out of control. Probably the only reason Onstar is bundled with the Volt is so he can locate each one, recall them, then destroy them, just like GM destroyed the EV1. (IMHO).

Why else would he try so actively to discourage the purchase of what he helped create? The Volt was intented to be Bob’s museum piece at GM, like other GM concept vehicles that didn’t make it. The idea of the Volt simply got out of Bob’s control at GM, like a snowball rolling downhill. What will Bob do to discourage us from buying a Volt tomorrow – paint Rosanne Barr’s face on the hood of each one, for “aerodynamic” reasons? It like a train wreck – it’s horrifying, but I just have to keep watching the Volt’s path of self-destruction. Bob has at least 2 years left to destroy the Volt. I’ll get popcorn.

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solo Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:35 pm

Lets see if Honda’s Insight really cost $18,000. Maybe at package level 1……

Package level 2 gets you power steering and brakes
Package level 3 gets you a CD player and power windows.
package level 4 gets you power mirrors, and grab handles.
Package level 9 gets you a well equipped car, at $29,000.

Compare apples to apples, not 2 cars that are not even in dealerships yet.

If I order the car (The Volt) I’ll skip the solar panel roof. It will likely cost more than all the power it will generate in it’s lifetime. If you live in Arizona and park outside, you might see a payback.

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Joe Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Why so much criticism of Bob Lutz? Most people can only dream of being in his shoes, wishing an exciting life like he’s had. The people who pick on him are probably rejects who know they can never be anything like him.

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Arch Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

Well with all the noise I think this sums it up best.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10045590-48.html

Take Care
Arch

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Some people are quick to label others and call them names. It amazes me how fast hate can take hold and flip people’s “attack dog” switch.

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pstoller78 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

I’ve seen talk that GM may want to produce it’s own batteries. I wonder if they get the government loans that have been talked about if they might build their own production facility.

It would certainly make the battery costs more reasonable.

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Grizzly Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

Don C #66

Then the only problem is getting TVWOTR in volume! I just don’t think that 70K vehicles in the first two years are going to be enough.

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Tagmet Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Zen
I see your point. It makes perfect sense that Lutz would personally shepherd the Volt project, chair staff meetings every few weeks, throw tons of resources into it, when GM is on the fiscal ropes, and have it as his legacy, knowing all along that he really didn’t want it to succeed….
It wasn’t long ago that I thought that most of the people posting here had some common sense. Starting to question that now. SHRUG. As long as they want to buy a Volt and get off oil, I guess it really doesn’t matter.
I’ll see people on the next thread.
Tag
“LJGTVWOTR, NPNS”

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Gary Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

I don’t think Bob did a bad job on the show. He didn’t discourage people from buying a Volt.

The Colbert Report is always full of twisted humour, ridiculous ignorant-type questions and and takes advantage of public preconceptions and pokes fun at them. Stephen Colbert pokes fun at everything. Volt fans shouldn’t take this TV appearance so seriously.

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DaveP Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:55 pm

#77 Freemon Sandlewould:

Don’t be silly. Of course solar panels on the car are not cost effective. Back up and ask yourself if ANYTHING about a car is actually cost effective. The sports cars I drive are certainly not the most cost effective.

If it were only about what is most cost effective, we’d all be driving Hyundai Elantras. Or something other than cars at all.

I think keeping the car cool in the sun is a pretty reasonable thing (especially with that black roof ). How much am I willing to pay for a cool car? I don’t know, really. My roof vents use 20w panels and they seem to move a lot of air. That would cost what, $150 bucks? Would a cool car every day be worth an extra hundred and fifty bucks one time charge? I don’t think that’s silly at all.

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Jim in PA Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

#92 ThombDbhomb – Oh yeah? You think so? Well screw you! SCREW YOU!!!

oh… ahem… sorry.

But seriously folks, one thing I liked was hearing about the solar roof option. It helps silence the perpetual argument that you can’t possibly charge $40K for a Chevy because it’s not (say with a locked jaw for true effect) “a BMW dahhling.” Features like that are the DEFINITION of premium, and will get people to shell out the extra cash. Imagine never having to get inside a scorching hot car in the summer because your AC or an exhaust fan is on while you’re parked. Nice.

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Texas Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:05 pm

SOTS (Solar on the Surface) had many advantages that most people don’t realize. This topic has been discussed extensively in the forums (please click the links below if you are interested).

Expected range, extra functionality and other reasons are brought to light (pun intended). There are also pictures of cars that already have this option installed and also pictures of a cool solar boat. I think that if you take the time to read though the comments you might get a whole new appreciation for SOTS. There are some who just don’t get it and continue to blast the concept, even if it’s only an option! I have to question why. If they don’t want it then don’t check the option box. However, some of us are aware of the advantages and are willing to support the technology and feel that it will only get better and cheaper. Some even feel that all EVs will eventually have SOTS as standard equipment.

Whoever said that it takes more energy to produce the cells than they produce has not looked at solar technology for many decades. Do you want to listen to someone that has no clue? Anyway, please enjoy the discussion and welcome to the solar club!

http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1142&highlight=SOTS

http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141&highlight=SOTS

http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141&highlight=SOTS

http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16&highlight=SOTS

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Rashiid Amul Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

That show was funny.
Why are some people here so thin skinned and upset?
It was meant as a joke and it was.
We all know Mr. Lutz’s stand on Global Warming.
Many of us, including me, disagree. But so what?
He has his opinion, which he is entitled to.

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Ed M Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

I notice the graphic at the top of the page has been updated. With the release of official photos its good to have some real grist to chew over. Next big bulletin will be on the batteries and the maker.
If any of you don’t think the Volt will sell, you should go downtown USA and see all the Priuses.
My favorite picture of the Volt was the orange and black artist’s rendering of a few days back. I think those colors do a lot more for Volt’s lines than the silver black. I think GM should introduce some new colors off the palette to celebrate a new era in propulsion systems, sort of like what Henry Ford did with black.

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Texas Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

SOTS (Solar on the Surface) had many advantages that most people don’t realize. This topic has been discussed extensively in the forums (please click the links below if you are interested).

Expected range, extra functionality and other reasons are brought to light (pun intended). There are also pictures of cars that already have this option installed and also pictures of a cool solar boat. I think that if you take the time to read though the comments you might get a whole new appreciation for SOTS. There are some who just don’t get it and continue to blast the concept, even if it’s only an option! I have to question why. If they don’t want it then don’t check the option box. However, some of us are aware of the advantages and are willing to support the technology and feel that it will only get better and cheaper. Some even feel that all EVs will eventually have SOTS as standard equipment.

Whoever said that it takes more energy to produce the cells than they produce has not looked at solar technology for many decades. Do you want to listen to someone that has no clue? Anyway, please enjoy the discussion and welcome to the solar club!

To see forum comments please go to forum section and search for SOTS.

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Dave K. Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

That was an interesting chat with “the Bob”. The interviewer wouldn’t let Bob get serious with the descriptions of the Volt. Which is fine. If he had pushed too hard he would have looked like a meanie or a dork.

Just getting the Volt name out to the public is a big deal.

And about Bob’s comment concerning make-up on ‘green’ girls.

Most girls I know would laugh that off and nod. What should Bob have said, “Oh yes, you’ll be able to land everything from cheer leaders to models”?

A recent personal experience: In my line of work I am often close to intelligent, beautiful, and successful woman. And in a recent conversation with one I raised the question of buying a new car. She said that she had just bought a car and explained the blue tooth, music adapters, and the fairly good gas mileage…so on. I then mentioned the Volt and said that I may be buying one soon.
Her pretty blue eyes rocked back and forth as the strained to pull something from her memory that would explain what a Volt is. I then mentioned the Volt looks, features, and probable cost. And I compared it to a gas driven car that I was also considering.

Her reply, “Oh, get the Volt!”. And she isn’t the first to approve.

So there you have it.

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mmcc Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

#35 Michael

I believe that model that Lutz gave to Stephen was of the concept which was sold about 6 months back for around $15. I think they only made around 7500 of them. You can still find them on ebay occasionally. GM will probably have a model of the production Volt available in the near future.

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Morgan Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

73 Lurtz:

Your comments are pretty funny since “attracting flies with vinegar” has basically been what the environmental movement has been doing since its inception, don’t agree with everything they want? Stupid, Red stater, embarassment, anti-science, planet killer, In bed with “Big Oil” etc etc.

As far as your Liberal statement…I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the two biggest environmental presidents that have had the biggest impact were both Conservative Republicans (Roosevelt and Nixon natch)

The environmentalist are soon to have a cognitive dissonance of mind exploding proportions with regard to GM..lets tick them off shall we?

1) The Volt: First modern mass produced Electric Vehicle
2) First mass produced Plug In Hybrid (if the VUE makes it out the door first)
3) More hybrid models than any major manufacturer
4) More alternative fuel (Flex) vehicles than any other manufacturer
5) Massive retrofit projects going on for CNG Fleet vehicles.

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

#98 Jim in PA
Thanks for the laugh. I fully expected to get flamed by somebody.

Let’s just get Volt seats under our asses (both liberal and conservative)!

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BillR Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pm

As a long time poster, I can see that the Centennial Event has brought out the idiots!

We too are convinced that GM is building the Volt only to entice you into showrooms to buy SUV’s (GM makes the best ones, and by a wide margin). We know that nobody ever wanted an SUV, but were tricked by GM into buying them.

Only a few Volts will ever be manufactured, and then they will be crushed. Nobody will buy the Volt anyway because it has a dirty, smog-producing ICE. Everyone will be buying BEVs only.

I’m sure highly intelligent people like yourselves can build a better, safer, more efficient, and more reliable vehicle than the Volt in your garages with recycled materials. I can’t wait to hear about it!

Just don’t forget to keep smoking that stuff that you “Need” for medicinal purposes.

Now back to reality.

I have to give Bob Lutz credit, he is an entertaining guy. I always like to hear him speak.

It takes guts to go on a show like this because the purpose of the show is to mock the guests, and you don’t even get a chance to talk before the host interrupts and then interjects more harrassing comments and questions.

Bob took everything in stride, and showed that he can appreciate some of the humor, even though it may be at his expense. Something apparently that can’t be said for other groups out there.

Hey, Bob, you did okay. The odds were stacked against you from the onset. I’m glad to see that you can tolerate some of this harrassment, yet still come away smiling. You are more of a man than many of the recent posters we see here lately.

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Tagmet Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

BiLLR
Amen. Well put.
Be well,
Tag
LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS.

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Jeffhre Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

#31 Grant

Please see post # 9 by Jerry. If money can be used to increase your range a solar car roof is the most inefficient way to deploy it. With that said, if I can’t keep the AC on at a minimal level where I live in the high desert, I may just spring for that option to keep from burning my hand on the paddle shifter the way I do now with my six speed manual.

# 21 Lurtz “GM is being strong-armed into doing so against his will, pretty clear”

If you remember the history of the Volt, Lutz is the one who strong armed the volt through GM after working for Exide (battery maker) and seeing that little Silicon Valley start up Tesla create a BEV long before GM.

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Carcus Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

IMO, the bit was funny and Lutz did better than most under the circumstances.

OK, laugh break’s over.

That “two to three hundred’ comment by Lutz should have raised some eyebrows. The range number keeps decreasing, and I suspect it is not just because of a shrinking gas tank.

I don’t think there’s any way a car the size and weight of the volt can get 50 mpg. I will be very surprised (and impressed) if GM can pull off anything higher than 35mpg (city/hwy combined) after the battery has been depleted.

P.S. the gas tank capacity hasn’t been confirmed yet, has it?

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butters Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

It would be way more cost effective to reduce cabin cooling load using blown cellulose insulation in the roof and door panels (which would also improve cabin acoustics) and using laminated glass with a low-e coating in the middle (less than half the solar heat gain of typical glass with a still relatively high visible transmittance).

The important thing with the roof is the high solar absorptivity of the matte black finish. Cooling is not so much a problem for EVs as heating. The source of cabin heat in conventional cars as well as in parallel and planetary (e.g. HSD) hybrids is the combustion engine.

Because E-REVs are designed to only run the engine when the battery is depleted, they will have a bi-directional electric air-to-air heat pump for both heating and cooling (or two separate heat pumps). For most climates, the outdoor-indoor temperature difference is significantly greater for peak heating than for peak cooling, so the heat pump efficiency curve as a function of load will be lower for heating than for cooling.

We want the roof to be a passive solar heat collector, heating up from solar exposure and radiatively coupling with the other cabin surfaces. The reduced heat loss in the winter will more than make up for the added heat gain in the summer in all but the most consistently hot sub-tropical climates because of the heat pump performance characteristics.

Many armchair engineers get so caught up with the energy=electricity thing that they forget that heat is energy, too. There’s a possibility that a simple matte black roof finish will outperform a much more expensive PV array in annual heat pump energy consumption depending on the surface reflectivity, and that translates into greater all-electric range and less gasoline consumption.

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RichardG Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

Re: the comment about “no wonder people are standing in line to buy a Japanese car”. If you think that Mr. Lutz’s jokes were insulting to women and “greenies” then you are not familiar with the status of women in Japanese society. First come Japanese men, then Korean men, then sushi and then Japanese women followed by Korean women in very structured classes. I worked for a Japanese owned US company for years. One of my colleagues was a very bright Japanese lady who went to Cal Berkeley at night and weekends to get an MBA. After her tour in the US was over she was shipped back to Tokyo where she served tea several times a day to executives during business meetings. She was never asked to used her US experience.

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LyleL Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

To Jerry #9

You are spot on about the car photovoltaics.

If only more people had your insight.

Now if GM, since they are putting photovoltaics on some of their buildings would work out a huge bulk purchase agreement with NanoSolar and offer Volt customers a great deal….. buy your new Volt and add on an optional specially priced 4kw sun fired power source. Remove your gas bill and cut your electric bill.

That would be world class news!

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Statik Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

Of interest, GM scrapped the new 7 seat crossover on the new Delta platform today.

The important thing is that it was supposed to go on the new Delta II line starting in 2009…in Hamtramck. The was basically done to break the back of the union…who still have no local contract.

In thoery, with the MPV gone now for sure, GM ‘could’ easy slide the Volt into its place, giving it two lines…and upping yearly capacity from 60K to 120K.

Needless to say, if this happened it would be fantastic news, not just to prove the car is more than a PR/bailout/greenwash stunt, but to us at the ground level…we would actually have a chance at receiving a car before Lutz dies of old age.

(See how I brought it back to Lutz again there? But honestly, do you think Lutz will really still be alive when you get one? He’ll be 79 when the first few dribble out in 2011)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122175512284552785.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo

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Grizzly Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

Statik #114

“But honestly, do you think Lutz will really still be alive when you get one? He’ll be 79 when the first few dribble out in 2011″

*** *** ***
Yeesss I think he’ll still be alive. Kirk Kerkorian, the man who just 2 years ago tried to sell GM to Renault/Nissan was 89 at the time and
is still going strong. Rich he is, but I doubt he’s got Lutz’s drive or sense of humor.

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gear-head2 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

WOW …….now I know why GM is so out of touch.

I have never seen Lutz speak before but I didn’t get the sense he was making jokes. It sounds like he really thinks that 35,000 scientists don’t believe CO2 emissions add to global warming.

It would be excusable if he wasn’t running such a technology driven company.

Doesn’t make me want to buy “GM”

Hopefully, they will push battery prices down so I can build an electric powered FFR GTM.

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DonC Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

#114 Statik

One interesting fact is that as you get older your life expectancy increases …

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Statik Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

#115 Grizzly

Yeesss I think he’ll still be alive. Kirk Kerkorian, the man who just 2 years ago tried to sell GM to Renault/Nissan was 89 at the time and
is still going strong. Rich he is, but I doubt he’s got Lutz’s drive or sense of humor.
———–
2011 = 79, I’m figuring for me in Toronto it would be around 2014ish before I seen one in my driveway…that puts him at 82, he has decent odds…but no sure thing (see next response, lol)
———————————————————
#117 DonC

#114 Statik
One interesting fact is that as you get older your life expectancy increases …
——–
Yes, very true, he is almost at the average US expectancy.

But if you make it to 75, you life expectancy for a male (US born and living) is 10.8 years more…so he has a 50/50 shot on hitting 85.

As always I like to have sources, but I warn you don’t click it. It is a intriguing document, but long…as…heck!

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus07.pdf#027

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N Riley Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

I can’t take any more of these stupid comments about Bob Lutz on the Colbert show. It was meant to be funny and there is no way Colbert is going to let any one say three serious words together without interrupting and bending what was said into a funny situation. Bob Lutz did ok. Get off his case. I saw the youtube recording of it earlier today and thought it was just funny as it was supposed to be. Even the Colbert show can be used to spread the word on the Volt. Bob Lutz said the important things about the Volt. It was enough to have plenty of people googling it to see what else there is to it.

GET REAL, SOME OF YOU!!!!!

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

#114 Statik
(I probably shouldn’t write this…)

“But honestly, do you think Lutz will really still be alive when you get one? He’ll be 79 when the first few dribble out in 2011″

That is a morbid thought. It is almost like asking if John McCain will survive a first presidential term (he’d be 76 – does a presidential term accelerate aging?). I know, I know – that is not Volt related. I think this post is played out and we are starting wander.

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Kaustubh Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Wow!!
btw with the way things are progressing, who knows, we could even see the volt earlier than november….
good for us , right??

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Carcus Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

gear-head2 #116

Wow, Lutz must have been REALLY CONFUSED! (heavy sarcasm here).

31,072 American scientists have signed this petition,
including 9,021 with PhDs

http://www.petitionproject.org/

There’s this new thing called google. Maybe you’ve heard of it. I recommend using it when you read something that surprises you.

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Texas Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

The following solar roof scenario is taken from the forums. Sorry for the rehash.

Bob is at the mall and is talking to his friend’s friend. Her appearance is the result of hours of planning and preparation. Bob would like to invite her to a very interesting restaurant but it’s 110 degrees outside and he doesn’t want her to be uncomfortable. No problem! He invites her, she accepts. With confidence he opens up his cell phone, calls his Volt and directs it to pre-cool the interior. The Volt is able to accept his instructions because it has always-on Internet connection that stays on when the battery is above a given limit. Since the sun is shining and the Volt is charging nicely it accepts the command and begins to cool down. Bob and his new date walk up to the Volt while chatting about how hot it is outside. Bob’s new date looks a little worried about how hot it will be inside. He remotely unlocks the passenger door, opens it and guides her in like a perfect gentleman. The look on her face is priceless. She asks in amazement, “How come it’s so comfortable inside?”. Bob replies, “I wasn’t calling my mother back there, I called my car to cool the interior for you.” Bob’s date is extremely impressed and the rest of the date goes perfectly.

You can’t get that if the panels are on your garage! Yes, garage panels are more cost effective. So is a Geo Metro.

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Cautious Fan Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:53 pm

Off topic. Google free-piston engine or see link. The concept involves combining the engine with an integral linear alternator. If it actually works efficiently, it would be well suited for serial hybrids.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/09/modeling-a-free.html

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Statik Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

#120 ThombDbhomb

#114 Statik
(I probably shouldn’t write this…)

“But honestly, do you think Lutz will really still be alive when you get one? He’ll be 79 when the first few dribble out in 2011″

That is a morbid thought. It is almost like asking if John McCain will survive a first presidential term (he’d be 76 – does a presidential term accelerate aging?). I know, I know – that is not Volt related. I think this post is played out and we are starting wander.
——

…definitely in ‘wander mode’ now.

It was just a late night musings to pass the time waiting for the next thread. I was just bring my post (#114) around in full circle.

I’m going no where near you McCain reference though, hehe. Although perhaps valid? Buddy has got some mileage and wear and tear on him…seems like it is a tough job.

(Side note: I am Canadian, and don’t care who wins. They have virtually identical economic platforms when it comes to international impact).

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Carcus Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

I may not like everything he represents, but I’ve never seen Lutz appear “confused”.

Some seniors do make you wonder.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2008/09/18/john-mccain-gets-confused-about-spain-but-his-advisers-get-dumb.html

(5 minute audio included)

Disclaimer: I’m no fan of McBama or Obacain

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

#122 Carcus
That petition is controversial. If you are intellectually curious, you should use your Googling to look into it deeper. If you are taking a faith-based approach, I can’t help you.

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MetrologyFirst Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Hope we get a new topic soon.

I didn’t see the show; don’t watch it.

I get enough comedy watching the POTUS election.

It is becoming more clear here though, who has a sense of humor and who doesn’t.

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Jimmy Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

I think Bob did a wonderful job. My wife was rolling on the couch with laughter. We always watch Colbert and know how he sets people up. I truly believe most everyone watching the interview thought it was funny. I have a lot of respect for Bob.

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jerry Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

John #56:

Two COSTS can’t negate each other. Even if I give you that the first cost is very low, the second cost INCREASES the overall cost, it doesn’t “negate” the first cost.

And why do you think the “nonfuel-based costs” of a purely electric car, or even another plug-in hybrid for that matter, are somehow inferior to that of the Volt? (Let alone grossly inferior, as you seem to contend).

I’ll say it again: The Volt underperforms compared to the other purely electrics on the horizon, and is prohibitively priced for a hybrid. Especially for 2 car families, it doesn’t make any sense as it is the worst of both worlds.

If this is their “killer product,” I’m going to start shorting their stock now….

Damn! the stock price is already circling the bowl!

Even if you are right and the Volt is a bit better than the rest, it still dies. GO review the history of betamax.

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Carcus Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

ThombDbhomb #127,

I try to stick with a Logic based approach. Question everything, trust no-one.

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jerry Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Ross #64:

Lutz says there are enough rich people who will buy it ? They are relying on rich people to buy a $40,000 Chevy to carry them through the first few years?

That is funnier than anything ole Bobby said on the Colbert show! I wonder what percentage of people with $150,000+ salaries drive Chevrolets?

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jes12 Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

Kent Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
“It’s OK to be “green” AND have a sense of humor.

Lighten up people!”

The problem is that he wasn’t very funny. In fact, he just sounded like a retard! If you think being a dumbass is funny, I feel sorry for your sense of humor.

It won’t change my wanting a Volt or a EREV, but I lost all respect for Bob.

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Tagmet Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Statik,
Hey, 79 is the new, er, 75 (g). I DO like the concept of life expectancy increasing as you get older. Everyone (well almost everyone) in my family dies by 55. Brother only lived a month and sister went at 42. You’re right – time for a new thread!
Be well,
Tag
PS I could go for the two lines opening up. Did you really intend to posit something that positive (or are you just getting soft (wink).

LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS.

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jerry Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

Dale #85:

Here are the people who did my homes.

http://www.recsolar.com/cm/Home.html

Who you get to install your panels will depend on where you live.

The California solar initiative also has information. In some states you can get large state subsidies. I got over 1/3 of the cost back in grants, and REC did all the paperwork to get me the money.

At current energy prices, my panels will be paid for after 6 years. A friend of my financed his, and the loan payments on the panels are 1/2 his annual electric bill before panels.

Best investment I ever made.

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Michael Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 10:53 pm

#35 Michael
Hello to another person with a fine name.

FYI, I have been posting comments here for about three months or so (my place in line is 23114), with the handle “Michael.” Since you seem to have started to post with the same handle, I just thought I would ask if you would mind changing yours so I could continue using what I have been posting as here. What do you think?

I am the Michael that asked Zita to render the production Volt photo in Metallic Orange.

Thanks.

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jerry Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Dale #85:

Here’s the CSI site:

http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/csi/index.html

Hope that helps.

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Mike-o-Matic Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

@114 Statik,

>> In thoery, with the MPV gone now for sure, GM ‘could’ easy slide
>> the Volt into its place, giving it two lines…and upping yearly
>> capacity from 60K to 120K.

That was my first thought as well. No Orlando at Hamtramck = More spare capacity for building Volts!

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nbw Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 11:46 pm

Hi Lyle,
I am truly very very sorry to say that I think you are wasting your time setting up this Volt Website for free for GM. You can see by Lutz’s responses on the Colbert report that he epitomizes what is wrong with the country. He actually does not believe global warming is caused by CO2. He actually has inverted the scientific communities assessment of global warming and actually believes that 32,000 scientists have agreed that CO2 is not the cause of global warming. He said his car (The Volt) will have lame pickup, and that the dates with women you will get from driving it will be the hairy legged variety… he answered these questions without flinching, and as you could see, he was not joking. Who would want to buy this car after hearing this? He is an idiot who doesn’t understanding the world around him in a very competitive market and guys like him are the reason that GM is going the way of the dinosaur. A guy like that cannot be a VP in a modern corporation. It is now perfectly clear to me why GM is so out of touch with reality, producing so many trucks and SUVs without any foresight on the consequences of such…everyone else new China had 2-digit growth per year and would be competing for oil.

Lyle, it was noble of you to devote so much of your time to helping create frenzy for a revolutionary concept car and I supported you until now. But now I see that GM is making this car in spite of us (reasonable intelligent people), not for us. Not because they believes in a sustainable future, but because the company is simply capitalizing on a niche people it despises. It is not appropriate for an educated doctor as yourself to be supporting these buffoons. You deserve better and they deserve to go the way of the dinosaur.

Sorry, but I truly believe that you wasted so much of your time with your site; I am out. Please remove my name from the mailing list.
After GM’s disingenuous trashing of the original body design and now these comments from the supposed visionary of the Volt. I am OUT. I will not support this company and certainly not Lutz. He is walking a fossil fuel and evidence that we evolved from the apes.

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K MAN Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 12:46 am

#83 Jay, very good interview video link,thanks, liked Lutz last statement best.

#35 Michael,the Chevy mall sells them for about $14 bucks,picked one up earlier this year.

http://www.chevymall.com/searchprods.asp

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truthguy Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 1:09 am

Can someone please explain Colbert to me. I’ve seen the show a few times and it looks like he gets some important guests. He is supposed to be the guy with the hip young people. There is only one problem. He isn’t funny at all. His jokes are flat out stupid and he is irritating as hell. What’s with the people who like this guy. He’s insulting and stupid. Someone explain his appeal. I know why Lutz went on this show. He went on the get exposure to a set of young people who might not have heard of the Volt. I guess he had to bite the bullet and do it. He’s a lot more patient than I am. I would have reached over and slapped Colbert. Colbert is a POS.

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Mike Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 1:40 am

I’ve seen many guests on the Colbert Report: some come off intelligent and funny, some dull, a few apparently unaware of the nature of the show, and occasionally some even get the better of the host (Colbert is a smart guy). But this was one of the worst interviews I’ve seen. Lutz came off as being unenthusiastic about his own product. He also seemed like a global warming denier: like a tobacco exec talking about cancer. Almost makes one think GM wants the Volt to fail…

Oh, and #141: Something tells me you’re not in Colbert’s demographic.

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Jeffhre Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 2:36 am

123 Texas

Bobs date being highly conscious of environmental concerns agreed to the date merely upon hearing the word Volt. Upon entering the vehicle she was very turned off by the wasteful nature of running AC with no occupants, and a little annoyed that it was so cold that it made the hairs on her legs stand up.

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Len Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 4:09 am

#139 – nbw

There actually are that many scientists that believe that global warming is a crock. There is a link in a post above. Unfortunately they also don’t believe in dinosaurs either which kinda blunts their credibility, at least to me if not Palin who doesn’t believe in them either.

The only thing that could keep me from buying a Volt is price and I am hoping that will come down.

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Dave K. Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 4:21 am

I don’t know what Bob’s girlfriend looks like,but this may be why GM didn’t use bikini models on the ‘leaked’ spread of Volt shots.

Top 10 reasons to own a Volt:

10>Extension cord keeps thieves from stealing it.
09>Can double as a BBQ grill.
08>GPS smarter than 5th occupant would be.
07>Quiet enough to sneak off as police writes parking ticket.
06>No passenger side vanity mirror.
05>Possibility that Lutz will switch to wearing electric green color tie.
04>Much more ice up North.
03>More Exxon/Mobil ads showing hills covered with wind generators.
02>Your Viper is in the shop for service.
…and the # 1 reason to own a Volt.
01>Will never see one offered with the ‘Cheney Package’ option.

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Darius Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 5:18 am

Volt has very small roof. In case space vagon the roof vould be more valuebale option. On other hand even 10% of power savings and distance increase is good for me. And solar pannel on car roof is much cheeper and less complicated thing than it would be on my house roof.

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nasaman Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 5:22 am

145 Dave K…(Letterman?)…… Thanks for these added belly laughs!
——————————————————————————————————————————
Now that we’ve all had a little comedic relief, I want to pose a serious question…..

“I think there will be a general tendency for those who don’t like the new Volt design to grow accustomed to, and even love, the design over the next 2 years. Do you?”

For example, during the Reagan era Ford introduced their first Taurus, which had such rounded corners and a generally plain-Jane appearance that automotive writers began calling it the “jelly bean” design (Reagan loved jelly beans). For the first few months, millions said they hated the Taurus’ styling, but after a few more months/years people started saying they loved it —and it became one of Ford’s most successful new models ever. I feel sure automotive stylists are aware of this effect, and perhaps even count on it when new models are introduced.

Tagamet —what think you, as our distinguished resident “shrink”?

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Len Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 6:20 am

I just saw the video and got a bunch of laughs. Bob did fine.

Yesterday I saw the new Civic and thought there were a number of styling simiarities to the Volt. I like the Volt better, but …

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joe obrien Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 6:23 am

Cool.

I want the toy model Volt Lutz gave to Steven at the end.

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MarkinWI Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 6:49 am

#105 – Umm…. small point of history here, but Teddy R. was a Republican, until he broke off and formed a third-party, the Progressive Party (popularly known as the Bull Moose Party). He was also far from a Conservative Republican: he was the anti-corporate Ralph Nader of his day (nick-named the “trust-buster). Here’s a piece of his writing:

“This country belongs to the people. Its resources, its business, its laws, its institutions, should be utilized, maintained, or altered in whatever manner will best promote the general interest.”

Hardly a Reagan/Bush conservative.

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OzoneLevel Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 7:03 am

If the dumbassess that think global warming is caused by CO2 had any brains they would be able to look at the actual data and realize that they have been conned by the Al Gore (master CO2 generator himself) head dumbass. Any idiot can look at the actual data and see that CO2 levels increase as a result of an increase in global temperature, not the other way around. Global temperatures rise and fall as a result of natural causes, not as a result of human activity.

As far as the topic goes, Lutz was funny and did a great job. I’ll take a Volt with solar panels.

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hermant Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 7:38 am

I want photo-voltaic cells instead of window glass. Why can’t they just put a video camera in the grill and I’ll drive that way? I think hairy legged girls are HOT. Why don’t they make the Volt’s range extending engine run on maple syrup? That would be sweet! Layed with a rubber is actually more important than laying rubber. Oh man, that nearly blew my mind. I are a typical GM-Volt forum member. I prefer Eco-Geek. Can you guys see light through your skin too? Bye…

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ThombDbhomb Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 9:37 am

#151 OzoneLevel
“Any idiot can look at the actual data and see that CO2 levels increase as a result of an increase in global temperature…”

Any idiot can look at a dog and call it a taco. We don’t need idiots interpreting data, especially when so much is at stake.

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THOM Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 9:48 am

#28

THIS COULD GET UGLY…. 200 EXTRA MILES FROM 12 GAL OF GAS?? THATS 17 MPG. FAR CRY FROM THE 50mpg OF PREVIOUS CLAIM (300% ERROR)!!

a COMMENT ABOUT 200-300 EXTRA MILES IS A JOKE..WITH ALL THIS SO CALLED TESTING CANT THEY GET BETTER ESTMATES ( THATS LIKE A 35% VARIANCE)

HAS THIS VEHICLE REALLY BEEN BUILT??

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Paul-R Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 9:58 am

Jerry stated… “What is all this “all american car” bs. GM is a multinational. Toyota is a multinational. Both build cars in the US and overseas.”

True, but only one of those companies is allowed to build and sell cars in Japan. I wonder how well Toyota would compete if they were kicked out of the USA.

(Quote)
Tagamet Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 10:10 am

nasaman@147 said in part:
… I want to pose a serious question…..

“I think there will be a general tendency for those who don’t like the new Volt design to grow accustomed to, and even love, the design over the next 2 years. Do you?”’

Wow, where to start? There’s little doubt that “looks matter” in almost every human endeavor, from picking fresh fruit to picking a spouse (at least initial attraction). We are primarily wired to be visual (men a bit more than women – and I don’t mean that sexually – but that too). So, looks will matter on a primal level re cars too, BUT we’ve evolved that cerebral cotrex that has allowed us to go way beyond what “moves us” (pun intended) – many of us pick a spouse that we’ve taken the time to know well. Granted, some males don’t (hence the term “dumbstick) My point being that we make decisions to buy on what’s become important to us beyond looks.
I do think that this “special group” of gm-volt.com regulars had a single picture in our minds (the concept) that we’ve been discussing for a very long time. All of us were presented with a new hand to play when the looks changed. But the looks were only one card!. And because of that, I believe that the vast majority of folks here will make their choice in the end on the same issues that were far more important intellectually and emotionally to them.
Some of us will still hug our trees, some will hug our Bibles and guns, some will hug their GM skewers (not refering to Statik there, lol), heck, some of us will even hug Bob Lutz. Almost all of us share the goal of energy alternatives for transportation. The general public won’t have the same challenge WE did.. And I personally don’t see anything on the production Volt that’s a deal breaker – given what we know now e.g. price hasn’t been determined.
The ad industry knows all the buttons to push on John Q. Public, and in broad brushstrokes far more Volts will be sold based on intellect, (once the initial visual reactions are behind them – and there is a lot of time for that to happen).
Just my very wordy opinion,
Be well,
Tag
LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS

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craig Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 10:15 am

The car is still cool…but Bob Lutz is an idiot. I would like him to name just one of these apparent 32000 top scientists who believe that sun spots cause global warming.

(Quote)
BP Solar Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 10:38 am

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/18/63127/8264

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Tagamet Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 10:56 am

BPSolar,
At that site they say:
“…GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz was on the “Colbert Report” last night to talk about the new Chevy Volt, but a lot of the conversation ended up being about whether or not Lutz believes in anthropogenic climate change.>

A lot of the conversation? I didn’t go back and count, but was it 3 or 4 sentences?
Tag

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artie Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 11:28 am

Bob did great considering he went on a pure entertainment show hosted by a standup comic. Big point was his claim that the Volt’s cost would be an equivalent 70-80 cents per gallon. And 40 miles AER without using a drop of fuel.

Comics love CO2 – the way they love UFO sightings. No one can prove it, but it sure gets big laughs.

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jerry Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Paul #155:

Talk about cutting your nose off! Common Paul, Toyota builds most of the cars sold in North America in North America. The Japanese market is a drop compared to the US market. Throwing Toyota out would do much more harm than good.

Plus, give Toyota credit. Think what you want about the Prius, but Toyota at least has provided us with a viable hybrid. What was GM doing over the same period? The difference has everything to do with lack of foresight and poor decisions and nothing to do with unfair competition.

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dennis Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

There’s a very interesting article on how to make solar cells more efficient. Just curious as to what kind of solar cells will be on the volts’ roof

http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/3d-solar.htm

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jerry Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

Texas #123:

I really hope you are being sarcastic. If not, I implore you to go see a medical professional.

(Quote)
dennis Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

This article also appeard in wired.
http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/09/12-year-old-rev.html?npu=1&mbid=yhp

3-d Solar cells are the way to go. The georgia lab is looking for investors…*nudge* *nudge*

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jerry Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

Dennis #162:

The cheap ones.

Even if we could double the efficiency of the panels it wouldn’t be enough to make much difference to battery charge. It would be much better to have garages (at home, shopping and work) with a useful array and facilities for everyone to plug in. Panels on the car only really become useful when the power they deliver during driving has an impact on battery charge/energy drain by the car. Until then it makes more sense to just plug in at every opportunity when parked. This is especially true with a car like the Volt that has limited battery capacity (only 40 mile on a Li pack is not very good. It is a relatively small pack. The EV1 did better with lead acid batteries.) Anything beyond 40 miles and the generator swamps any contribution made by a panel.

(Quote)
jerry Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Dennis 164:

Bright kid and he could be on to something, but there are tons of problems from lab to production. Don’t get too carried away at the proof of concept stage.

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jerry Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

nasaman:

The problem with the Volt is that we already have a prius, and will have a plug-in prius before the Volt is available, and all at about 1/2 to 2/3 the cost.

Which design will be more “efficient” is the subject of debate, but to trump the Prius the Volt will have to be far superior. Most people place a premium on upfront cost, and on that score the Volt loses hands down.

The entire argument also sits on the dubious assumption that there are enough people capable of paying $40,000 for a car. You are looking at over $600/month in finance payments.

In an article posted by an earlier contributor, Lutz states that he believes that there are enough “rich” people that would buy the Volt to carry it through it’s first few years. Reality check. We are talking Chevrolet here. “Rich” people are not going to pay $40,000 for a car put together to a chevy standard. Lots of poorly-aligned plastic doesn’t exactly get it done. Couple that with no brand cache’ and the fact that body style has been thrown under the bus and there is not much to compel anyone to buy the Vol over a plug-in prius, even if the latter is not quite as efficient.

What we really need is a car with some style and guts. The hold-back seems to be battery tech. For any longevity, GM needs to fill the gap between cars like the tesla and the prius. They are late to the party to simply play at the extremes. Anyone who has any sense of history knows that average Joe driver is not really interested in gas sippers. He is interested in performance, creature comforts, or both. Read up on the gas crisis of the ’70’s. Where did all those compact cars go? With electricity, power is cheap again. Average Joe is gonna want his muscle car with fins back, preferably with all kinds of options thrown in.

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Richard Poor Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

Gearheads: you want a white Volt so the batteries and the interior will stay cooler. This will save the juice for motive power and help the batteries last longer.

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jerry Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Richard:

Even if that would work, it would only provide a nominal increase in range. It would do nothing for performance.

Me? Sadly the Volt (esp at 40K) is a nonstarter. I am entertaining the idea of a truck

http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/

buy a diesel generator (so I could use biodiesel down the road) put it in the back and run a cord to the charger. Presto! a Volt with a bed and 2 to 3x the Volts EV range.

Why is this so hard?

(Quote)
Rick Says:
September 20th, 2008 at 7:09 am

On the question about getting laid, he should have just said “It worked for me.” Very funny in any case, and anyone who might be insulted by the show shouldn’t be watching it.

I want one – I’m just afraid v1.0 might be above my budget. I hope they can get it below $30 after tax credits. I’ll keep watching though, it looks nice.

(Quote)
GM’s Committment to Climate Change Remains Tepid - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
General Motors Continues to Send Mixed Messages on Global Warming - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
dennis Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Jerry #165 and 166

The jump in efficieny is slight more than double. This increase would be on the order of 500x amount of caputred light into energy.

Surely a 500x increase in efficieny may make a bigger splash to the battery

(Quote)
Solar Powered Car Takes 10 Days to Charge « Earth2Tech Says:
October 15th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Royce Says:
December 8th, 2008 at 10:59 am

Man, u guys need to get a life, this was a funny show.

(Quote)
Andrea Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 11:49 am

That was hilarious. I think the Volt is super sexy and I wear makeup and shave my legs. I think cars with big engines are for guys with small… Think of how much make-up I could buy at Macy’s while I am waiting for the solar roof to charge my car. But seriously, I think the design looks pretty classy not flashy, which is fine by me.

(Quote)
Subhash Garg Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

BE AFRAID. BE VERY AFRAID.

I’m SCARED .. that the Volt will have a battery explosion
or something, and it will set back electric car industry by
a decade. In fact, this is almost guaranteed because GM
is totally incompetent when it comes to engineering;
their strength is marketing garbage and making money
from it. A terrible, terrible company to pioneer electric cars.

Remember Ralph Nader’s “Unsafe at Any Speed” which
launched his career? It was about GM. Remember Michael
Moore’s Roger and Me that launched HIS career? That
was about GM too. This is a bad, bad omen for electric cars.

(Quote)
Subhash Garg Says:
May 20th, 2009 at 2:01 am

On batteries ..

Lithium ion is SO yesterday…and SO unstable! Those batteries can actually explode if the charging software screws up. They need Lithium ion phosphate batteries .. from A123 or Valence.

(Quote)

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