Comments on: My Question to GM CEO Rick Wagoner

By: Gary Ciaschini

Gary Ciaschini — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:21:09 +0000

After reading most of the comments it occured to me, enough of this bs. The bottom line on this is what’s the cost? Over 30K forget it. I’d be surprised if the Volt sold many cars. Under 30 K you probably will be on another waiting list. I talk about electric / hybrids with co-workers and many are very interested. Price however is the key factor for everyone.

By: Dave K. =D~

Dave K. =D~ — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:02:54 +0000

hi charlie #95,

“Investing that $25K would practically fuel your Yaris forever.”

_____________________________

Okay Charlie, have it your way. You drive your Yaris forever.

=D~

By: charlie h

charlie h — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:42:26 +0000

#86, Dave K, “Conversely, one can buy a Yaris for their 5 day commute. The only problem with this is that you will have to drive a Yaris. Each 100 mile trip will cost $5. With time lost on refueling stops. And the dismal reality of driving a small, underpowered, and noisy car.”

Except you’re driving that Yaris with $25K left over. Investing that $25K would practically fuel your Yaris forever. Arranging a car-pool would leave you with all kinds of money in your pocket.

By: N Riley

N Riley — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:38:28 +0000

Lyle, I finally got around to reading your post. I have been busy. Probably not as busy as you, though. Good post. Did you ask him about a ride in the Volt mule?

By: Tucker

Tucker — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:57:22 +0000

To # 84 DonC

The EV1 numbers came from Wikipedia. I would call that a trusty source. But even halving those numbers as you point out is still adequate and better yet, more than what the Volt will deliver 15 years later… if we see one.

Just because you include a link to an article on the web does not make it fact. That article is being disputed on the very site it is posted on.

By: Bob McGovern

Bob McGovern — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:51:14 +0000

Kerry Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

Another great question – how do you justify your $20+ million dollar salary and bonuses while bankrupting GM and taking American taxpayers money at the same time? Every consider giving it back to help the company?

I’m shocked that everyone on this site gives this guy a complete pass. Where’s the outrage?
=====================================================
This is the GM-Volt Site OK

By: Detfan

Detfan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:31:25 +0000

Bob2 says:

“I’m not sure if a car that only travels 40 mi. by battery and then needs a generator will be viable for the whole country. Sure moms aand grandmas can go to the local store…but what about drivers in SoCal..or anybody who commutes more that 21 mi. each way??

Make fuel efficient cars 40-50 mpg..(You Know You Can !) Suck up every drop of oil in the W.S., in the mean time, work on better batteriew or better yet, HYDROGEN !!!!!”
____

Studies have shown that 80% of car consumers drive less than 20 miles to work. If you go over, guess what, the Volt gets 50 MPG while the engine keeps the battery charged. Plus, because of the platform, guess what? The Volt can, and probably will, be offered in hydrogen format.

By: Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:02:40 +0000

Can’t we use nuclear power to generate all the electricity we want to power EVs and make hydrogen as well? It may be inefficient but H is portable and strategically superior to foreign oil and all the money we spend on defense trying to secure future supplies.
People in the US are fearful of buying GM, Ford and Chrysler because they assume they will get hosed to the max if they ever need to go to a dealership for service. Otherwise they would tolerate slightly less reliable vehicles.
As for government influence in the market, didn’t the multiple devices on a chip originate at TI on a defense project? The government needs to inject our money strategically and wisely without dictating and encumbering. Many have mentioned ‘incentivizing’ and that is a great approach but it takes a delicate hand not to be oppressive.
The most immediate and most effective move(imho) the government can make right now is to broker all purchases of foreign oil and then resell into the domestic market at a premium that will put a floor under gas prices. This will encourage domestic production and provide funds for battery and EV development. We would be paying ourselves if we did this but it would be necessary to keep the government from misdirecting the funds.
Market forces cannot operate fairly in the face of uneconomic cartels.

By: Tom Harwick

Tom Harwick — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:02:25 +0000

“”"”Make fuel efficient cars 40-50 mpg..(You Know You Can !) Suck up every drop of oil in the W.S., in the mean time, work on better batteriew or better yet, HYDROGEN !!!!!”"”

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Hydrogen has no future as an automotive fuel, because there is no cost effective source of hydrogen, It has to be extracted from water with a huge energy input from either electricity (mostly fossil generated) or natural gas (also a fossil fuel).

Electric cars powered by nuclear electricity are the way to go in the future.

By: Fahrvergnugen Fanboy

Fahrvergnugen Fanboy — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:48:01 +0000

59 charlie h writes:

“There’s probably 5 seat belts in a Fit or Yaris (I can’t say if that would be very comfortable, though).”

Last week I transported 4 JV basketball players to the game in the ‘09 Fit. All survived. It was a little tight in width; tall and skinny works, but rotund would not.