Comments on: Will the Chevy Volt Jump-Start GM? http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:53:37 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: LeKaido http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-101069 LeKaido Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:07:33 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-101069 I think the introduction of battery powered vehicles needs to go hand-in-hand with the increase of fuel taxes. Otherwise there will be too little motivation to go off oil. Lessening demand for oil (thanks to EV-s) will drive down the price of oil and therefore also slow the adoption of EV-s. Of course too rapid adoption of EV-s will create it's own problems but if we want a world with most vehicles EV-s AND still some oil left in the ground for other purposes than driving, the tax rise is inevitable. In fact, the increased tax on fuel should be used for 1) battery research, 2) electrig grid and generation development, 3) financing the development of EV-s and purchase credits. I think the introduction of battery powered vehicles needs to go hand-in-hand with the increase of fuel taxes. Otherwise there will be too little motivation to go off oil. Lessening demand for oil (thanks to EV-s) will drive down the price of oil and therefore also slow the adoption of EV-s. Of course too rapid adoption of EV-s will create it’s own problems but if we want a world with most vehicles EV-s AND still some oil left in the ground for other purposes than driving, the tax rise is inevitable.

In fact, the increased tax on fuel should be used for 1) battery research, 2) electrig grid and generation development, 3) financing the development of EV-s and purchase credits.

]]> By: right http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-101026 right Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:09:50 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-101026 GM is dead. Get over it. GM is dead. Get over it.

]]> By: noel park http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100812 noel park Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:03:12 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100812 #92 Bob G: LOL. Thanks, I needed that after reading all of the above. #92 Bob G:

LOL. Thanks, I needed that after reading all of the above.

]]> By: MuddyRoverRob http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100760 MuddyRoverRob Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:08:06 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100760 I was at the Calgary car show on the weekend and was struck by the incredible blandness of it... As expected, no VOLT 'sigh'... However the new Camaro is beautiful. It occured to me that a voltec powered Camaro convertible would be a very attractive ride. It would certainly appeal to a different group of people like myself who still have kids at home but who are approaching middle age (mid 40's) and want a bit of style with the responsibility. I want to have a nice car, it doesn't need to break the speed of light but does need to be fun to drive. I think there is a place for a stylish car that a person would want because it's nice to look at and drive, oh by the way it's pretty damn green too. (I really dislike the term 'green' but there it is) Ford pulled it off in the 70's with the mini pony mustangs, fuel saving somewhat stylish cars (by 70's standards which were VERY low!). A Camaro would be a very pretty poster child for the lets take care of the world in style crowd. Yes you would lose some range etc with a convertible body style, but I think you could gain sales. (A hardtop would be OK too of course, it's just that I want a 'ragtop'!) I was at the Calgary car show on the weekend and was struck by the incredible blandness of it…

As expected, no VOLT ’sigh’…

However the new Camaro is beautiful. It occured to me that a voltec powered Camaro convertible would be a very attractive ride. It would certainly appeal to a different group of people like myself who still have kids at home but who are approaching middle age (mid 40’s) and want a bit of style with the responsibility.
I want to have a nice car, it doesn’t need to break the speed of light but does need to be fun to drive. I think there is a place for a stylish car that a person would want because it’s nice to look at and drive, oh by the way it’s pretty damn green too. (I really dislike the term ‘green’ but there it is)
Ford pulled it off in the 70’s with the mini pony mustangs, fuel saving somewhat stylish cars (by 70’s standards which were VERY low!).

A Camaro would be a very pretty poster child for the lets take care of the world in style crowd. Yes you would lose some range etc with a convertible body style, but I think you could gain sales. (A hardtop would be OK too of course, it’s just that I want a ‘ragtop’!)

]]> By: MuddyRoverRob http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100751 MuddyRoverRob Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:42:34 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100751 #35, I keep hearing these statistics but my '97 Discovery starts first time, every time. I don't drive it a lot because it IS hard on fuel, it's primary mission in life is to pull my camper. But it has been absolutely reliable, with the exception of a failed cluch slave which required a ride on the flatbed a few years back. #50, Absolutely! at least twice a week I need to go farther than the ideal battery range running kids to "activities" on those days my daily driving total will easily go over 100km. A pure electric, even a tesla wouldn't likely have the range with the heater running the whole time would be hard pressed to get me home. No range extender no sale. #35,
I keep hearing these statistics but my ‘97 Discovery starts first time, every time. I don’t drive it a lot because it IS hard on fuel, it’s primary mission in life is to pull my camper. But it has been absolutely reliable, with the exception of a failed cluch slave which required a ride on the flatbed a few years back.

#50,
Absolutely! at least twice a week I need to go farther than the ideal battery range running kids to “activities” on those days my daily driving total will easily go over 100km. A pure electric, even a tesla wouldn’t likely have the range with the heater running the whole time would be hard pressed to get me home. No range extender no sale.

]]> By: Michael Robinson http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100695 Michael Robinson Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:44:35 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100695 The answer is fuel cell vehicles using hydrnol for the hydrogen. http://www.asemblon.com/hydrnol/faq The Volt is too expensive and will remain too expensive. Lithium ION batteries are already mass produced and the fact is there is a Lithium shortage. Worse, Lithium comes from unstable and unfriendly parts of the world. It's not possible to replace a significant number of vehicles with Lithium ION E-Rev's. You have to replace 25% of the cars on the road or more than that to make a significant improvement. This can't be done with Lithium ION batteries. The sooner GM shifts it's focus to fixing the Sequel and bringing it to commercial viability, the better. Companies that don't focus on fuel cell vehicles are going to go under in the long term. The answer is fuel cell vehicles using hydrnol for the
hydrogen.

http://www.asemblon.com/hydrnol/faq

The Volt is too expensive and will remain too expensive. Lithium
ION batteries are already mass produced and the fact is there is
a Lithium shortage. Worse, Lithium comes from unstable and unfriendly parts of the world. It’s not possible to replace a
significant number of vehicles with Lithium ION E-Rev’s. You
have to replace 25% of the cars on the road or more than that
to make a significant improvement. This can’t be done with Lithium
ION batteries. The sooner GM shifts it’s focus to fixing the Sequel
and bringing it to commercial viability, the better. Companies that
don’t focus on fuel cell vehicles are going to go under in the long
term.

]]> By: Koz http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100679 Koz Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:11:18 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100679 Statik #89 "I appreciate your rebuttal comments. You make some good points and you have put some real thought into it." This is plain scary. Who are you and what have you done to the real Statik? LOL I suppose the had run its course. Statik #89

“I appreciate your rebuttal comments. You make some good points and you have put some real thought into it.”

This is plain scary. Who are you and what have you done to the real Statik? LOL

I suppose the had run its course.

]]> By: john1701a http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100655 john1701a Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:23:42 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100655 <i>I remain convinced that there’s strong evidence they’ll be able to make huge profits on the Volt from the very beginning in 2010.</i> _________________________ It's statements like that which result in the skepticism. Modest profit by the start of year 2 may be arguable, but even evidence of that isn't available. In fact, all the talk of the second generation seem to indicate quite the opposite. So does the continued investment in BAS. Remember, the first year will primarily only be in select markets. <b>SMTD</b> I remain convinced that there’s strong evidence they’ll be able to make huge profits on the Volt from the very beginning in 2010.
_________________________

It’s statements like that which result in the skepticism.

Modest profit by the start of year 2 may be arguable, but even evidence of that isn’t available. In fact, all the talk of the second generation seem to indicate quite the opposite. So does the continued investment in BAS.

Remember, the first year will primarily only be in select markets.

SMTD

]]> By: Bob G http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100647 Bob G Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:00:03 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100647 #26 noel park says, "Too many engineers here, LOL. It makes you stop and think though. ONly 7 more years to the REAL Pi Day (3/14/16)..." Some of us will be celebrating early (at 3/14/15 9:26:53.6). And I didn't even have to look it up! #26 noel park says, “Too many engineers here, LOL. It makes you stop and think though. ONly 7 more years to the REAL Pi Day (3/14/16)…”

Some of us will be celebrating early (at 3/14/15 9:26:53.6).

And I didn’t even have to look it up!

]]> By: guido http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/14/will-the-chevy-volt-jump-start-gm/#comment-100645 guido Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:43:13 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1570#comment-100645 statik Says: March 14th, 2009 at 3:15 pm I like the passive aggression there Lyle. —— As for the rest of it, I think we need to remember the basic principle of the auto business–”Sell cars at a profit” The Volt does not achieve this goal realistically at any point in the next 5-6 years…and GM only has enough cash to put change in the meter for another few weeks. ------------- Statik, your rap bores me greatly. Kills me how important you think your opinion is ....the way you rush here daily to deposit your crap. You seem to understand these facts ... I guess I'll take some satisfaction from that, and chalk it the rest up to the "quirky Canadian with US envy" phenomena. statik Says:
March 14th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I like the passive aggression there Lyle.
——
As for the rest of it, I think we need to remember the basic principle of the auto business–”Sell cars at a profit” The Volt does not achieve this goal realistically at any point in the next 5-6 years…and GM only has enough cash to put change in the meter for another few weeks.
————-
Statik, your rap bores me greatly. Kills me how important you think your opinion is ….the way you rush here daily to deposit your crap. You seem to understand these facts … I guess I’ll take some satisfaction from that, and chalk it the rest up to the “quirky Canadian with US envy” phenomena.

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