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Archive for December, 2008

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BREAKING: Bush Approves Loan to GM: The Chevy Volt Dream Lives On

December 19th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, Financial, General, Politics with 233 Comments

Today is truly a historic one for the US automotive industry, and for the dream of petroleum independence and the Chevy Volt.
After weeks of intense political wrangling and nail-biting financial drama, US President George Bush has agreed to grant low interest loans to GM and Chrysler.
As he just announced those loans will be sufficient to [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 233 Comments

GM VP Gives Chevy Volt Update: Development Remains on Schedule

December 19th, 2008 | Posted in: Engineering, Prototypes with 51 Comments

Jon Lauckner is GM’s VP of global program development. He along with GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz co-created the Volt concept. In fact Jon is credited with coming up with the idea of a range extender, whereas Lutz’ idea was a pure electric.
Apparently Jon became a bit concerned about the plethora of news in [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 51 Comments

Rumor: New E-Flex Cadillac to Debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January

December 18th, 2008 | Posted in: Cadillac, E-Flex with 105 Comments

These last weeks have been very difficult for GM, as they have skidded impossibly close to bankruptcy. Aside from VOLT and Cruze, most future planning has had to come to a halt, and even the Volt’s engine factory construction has shut down.
President Bush is soon to make an announcement about whether GM will get [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 105 Comments

Driven to the Brink GM Vows to Build Volt No Matter What, Chrysler Shuts Down All Vehicle Production, and Merger Talks Resurface

December 18th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, Financial, General, Original GM-Volt Interviews, Politics, Production with 109 Comments

The drama of the end game seems to be picking up steam. Despite early reports that the Bush administration would announce loan plans to GM by Wednesday, still no word. Most recently, White House press secretary Dana Perino said “there’s nothing new on the auto front.”
President Bush discussed the topic on Wednesday on [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 109 Comments

Chevy Volt Generator Engine Plant Construction Placed on Hold

December 17th, 2008 | Posted in: Financial, Generator, Production with 110 Comments

As GM’s cash dwindles to the disappearance point, and we all wait for word from the Fed on when loans will be forthcoming, the Chevy Volt’s heretofore pristine production plans have now shown the first signs of crumbling.
We have heard previously that GM had chosen the 1.4L normally aspirated 4 cylinder family zero engine to [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 110 Comments

New Industry?: Geek Squad to Install Charging Box for Your Chevy Volt

December 17th, 2008 | Posted in: Charging, Grid with 77 Comments

CNET has just published an article emphasizing the importance of community resources in wide scale launching of the Chevy Volt and other electric cars.
Interviewed is GM’s Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz who was by the way also was recently elected co-chairman of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA).
Tony not only is building the Volt [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 77 Comments

The Chevy Volt’s E-REV Competition Builds Globally

December 16th, 2008 | Posted in: Competitors, E-REV with 157 Comments

Here on the verge of GMs collapse and despite the collapse of oil and gas prices, the drumbeat of competition continues to march upon the Volt.
As many have heard, Chinese auto company BYD announced its launch of the world’s first mass-produced extended-range electric car called the BYD F3DM in China on Monday.  The vehicle uses [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 157 Comments

Bush Reassures GM on Likelihood of Government Loans, Announcement Possible on Wednesday

December 15th, 2008 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 45 Comments

GM is down to only days left of funding and we wait anxiously to see if and how the Bush administration will provide loans to keep them going, and keep hope alive for the Chevy Volt. It seems an answer will be coming very soon.
As of Late Monday Bush himself gave reassurance to the [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 45 Comments

GM Plans to Build Strong-Hybrid Small Vehicles But Will Spend Twice as Much Developing E-Flex Cars

December 15th, 2008 | Posted in: E-Flex, Hybrid with 128 Comments

GM’s viability plan reveals their intended future development of advanced technology fuel efficient vehicles, as shown in Table 8 above.
The company already produces mild hybrids, such as the Malibu, which get about a 10 to 15% increase in fuel efficiency. These cars mainly improve efficiency by turning off the engine at stops, using regenerative [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 128 Comments

Current Progress on GM Getting Emergency Government Loans

December 14th, 2008 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 84 Comments

Late Thursday when the Senate failed to pass legislation to give GM emergency aid, the Treasury and the Bush Administration stepped in and agreed to consider giving GM and Chrysler loans from the $700 Wall Street Bailout or TARP fund.
During the prior weeks of negotiations in the Congress, despite pleas from the Democrats to do [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 84 Comments

Mercedes-Benz BlueZero E-Cell Plus, E-REV or PHEV?

December 13th, 2008 | Posted in: Competitors, E-REV, PHEV with 106 Comments

Several automotive sites have reported on a story written in German. The story indicates that Mercedes-Benz plans to unveil a series of three electric concept cars at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
The luxury carmaker has given a nod to the Chevy Volt by emulating the range-extender concept as well, although keeping it in parallel.
The [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 106 Comments

It Ain’t Over Yet – White House Considering Direct Bailout of GM

December 12th, 2008 | Posted in: Financial, Politics with 153 Comments

After the defeat of a congressional bill to bailout GM and Chrysler and prevent their demise, the Bush administration is now considering a direct loan to automakers.
Today, aboard Air Force One with President Bush on his way to Texas, White House spokesperson Dana Perino made the following statements:
Given the current weakened state of the U.S. [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 153 Comments

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