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GM-Volt.com Shows America’s Passion About Cars Remains Strong
Every so often GM-Volt.com rises to the attention of the national media. In the most recent case our little blog wound up featured in a story in the Wall Street Journal penned by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Kevin Helliker.
The focus of the story was the fact that despite the global financial meltdown and the particular decimation of the auto industry, online automotive writing and publishing has actually continued to increase. So people may be buying less cars but reading about them more. This is interpreted as meaning America’s love affair with cars remains strong even if they can’t be afforded.
It was noted that the number of online auto sites is nearly 5000, and the number of online automotive writers has increased to 2700 from 1600 in 2005. The total number of auto sites increased around 2% in 2008, the same year car sales slumped 30%.
It is also clear that auto shoppers are increasingly turning online for research, with 75% of potential car buyers conducting online research in 2008, up from 70% the year earlier.
This site was mentioned in the context of the increasing popularity of sites particularly devoted to electric car coverage.
I was quoted as saying “This Web site has just added a whole new dimension to my life.” You can say that again.
Source (Wall Street Journal)
115 Responses to “GM-Volt.com Shows America’s Passion About Cars Remains Strong”
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Bring on the Volt!
Very nice work Lyle!
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Our PASSION runneth OVER (here)! Kinda cool being mentioned by a Pulitzer Prize winner!
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Great work Lyle. I think America will always love their cars. I just hope that we can switch to some sort of renewable fuel before our peak oil comes and the party is over.
It’s true though, the internet is changing many aspects of our lives, the information available is extremely useful in making informed purchasing decisions. This is a resource that GM has apparently made a conscious decision to utilize as they have some pretty cool information available about the Volt on their own website http://chevroletvoltage.com/
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:30 am
I have never lost the auto passion. In fact sights like this have helped fuel it. I just hope some day I am able to afford the volt.
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:31 am
By the way, cool survey on the chevroletvoltage.com website.
Q: What is the most appealing aspect of the Volt?
It reduces foreign oil
It’s high-tech
It saves money on gas
It’s the latest thing
I’m curious why they didn’t put “it reduces greenhouse gas emissions” instead of “It’s the latest thing” since that’s pretty much the same as high-tech.
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I’ll second that.
=D~
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Maybe because we are headed for one of the coldest years in History here in Michigan THIS YEAR. Coldest July ever!!!!
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:55 am
The work for this site is one thing but lets not forget allcarselectric. I have a hard enough time reading all the articles and staying employed. I’m not sure how you do it Lyle. Thanks for giving us a good read every day!
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I have to say that this site has played a big role in my interest in cars. I’m not a car guy but I’ve always been interested in the basics of how they work. Following the volt through this site over the last 2 years nearly has done a lot to educate and excite me. The only downside is that I can’t get a payoff with a Volt for some years to come most likely.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:01 am
I concur Tag! ….and I want to add my sincere accolades to all the others here, Lyle!
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Neil,
You’re definitely not alone there! I suspected that cars has 4 wheels and were often faster than horse, but that’s pretty much it (g). Now I have the lingo down well enough that I can get that “lost” looks on my wife’s face that used to be reserved for computer lingo.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:11 am
..and Third it also.
“This Web site has just added a whole new dimension to my life.”
My life too, informative and (usually) enjoyable.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Well, they could have rightly listed:
“It reduces automobile pollution.”
That is something we can all agree is a good thing.
I am not a global warming devotee, but I do believe reducing exhaust pollution is VERY important.
There’s all kinds of bad stuff in those fumes that is just not that good for people, animals or the planet.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:19 am
This survey addresses a pretty serious issue — what is it about the Volt that will motivate buyers to purchase an expensive car? That is, buy a Volt rather than buy a less expensive and otherwise comparable ICE car. The traditional motivators — horsepower, size, distinctive appearance — are not going to be there. Is battery-driven electric drive strong enough? To me it seems a little cerebral and not very hot as compared to the traditional motivators.
Maybe I underestimate the number of people strongly moved to action by “reduces foreign oil” or “helps environment”. I hope so. I want the Volt to be a big success so that it lives on for many generations.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:20 am
LOL. I figure it will have an advantage when it comes time to negotiate with the dealer. Knowledge is the consumer’s friend and the dealer’s nemesis…
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Congratulations for being mentioned in the Wall Street Journal.
If you stay in tuned with your posters for years to come then you could write a book on the customers’ experience of the Volt. Since the EV is the re-evolution of transportation, and to some it may be a revolution, then you could have entire chapters about why people purchased the Volt.
Good luck.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Neil,
If dealers are smart they will have at LEAST one Volt “go to guy” who is knowledgeable. I’ve checked several dealers and it’s a challenge to find anyone who knows anything about it! (sad really).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I can’t help but think how far Lyle’s site has taken us in the last two years. Think about: prior to it all there was going on was bashing GM for the EV1 and skepticism about all EV’s and now it seems we all know about the Volt rather intimately.
Thank GM for being so open about the details of the process. I for one, know much more about how batteries work and what the challenges are for the electrification of the automobile.
The next two years will be completely fascinating with the actual cars, the Volt and others hittting the market.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am
One of the best parts of this site is that posters think with numbers as well as with words — posters that know their stuff, technically, like nasaman. There are a lot of thoughtful comments about motors, batteries, extending on out to economics and marketing.
Thanks to all of you.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:35 am
We are now somewhere in the the beginnings of a historical shift away from petroleum. For the technically interested, this is a fascinating thing. I am continually amazed at the progress in bringing BEV and hybrid technology to mass production. I am also impressed at how fast the “traditional” automotive technologies have reacted in this race to efficiency.
The saga of whether a bankrupt, government owned GM can now make the necessary changes to compete on any one of these 3 paths is of continued day to day interest. Thank you Lyle for providing a window from which to observe.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:40 am
lets not forget allcarselectric.
Yes, allcarselectric.com is a great site. It has the best collection of real hands on reviews of hybrids and electrics. As more such cars are released — hopefully they will be — it will become even more useful for electric car buyers.
Again congratulations to Lyle.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Kudos to Lyle for this site as well as allcarselectric.com – both very interesting to read the articles as well as reader comments.
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Tag said “..and it’s a challenge to find anyone who knows anything about it“
——————————
Indeed so, in my experience also. Then you get to talking a little bit more about electric drive, and what they say is what people said about using the internet, at first, “Why would I want to do that?”
The good part is that people will learn, once real EV and EREV cars are available
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:08 am
RB,
Agreed, but one would think that a salesman would like to be “in front of the curve” on breaking info (and I’m the optimist here)!
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Slavko,
Great idea! Or he could write a novel wherein one man’s efforts actually DO change the world (Lyle is young yet).
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:14 am
The “Route 66 Classic Car Show” is coming up September 18, 19 and 20th. (San Bernardino, CA) Although my ‘79 is not ready for show yet, my buddy’s ‘67 Mustang is. Only took him 3 years to really get it perfect!
Americans will always have a passion for their cars. Maybe, starting in 2012, we will start seeing customized VOLTs on Route 66…! (Maybe my Vette will ready then too.)
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:14 am
David,
AMEN! That’s precisely what’s annoying to me when someone links to the “other” GM site from here. Sorry, but if I didn’t say that, my head would explode (again).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Congrats and Good Luck!
Pre-Rollout is only the first chapter. 09-09-09 is my 9th anniversary, which marked the start of the second chapter. All those years later, we are still going strong and breaking new ground.
There’s much to capture & share online… and we need it. Traditional vehicles still dominate. Guzzling is only just begun to lose appeal. Lots of work awaits.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:16 am
omnimoeish mentions information from the chevroletvoltage web site. Although I find that site hard to read and use, I did see a recent item by Gary Kissel of gm discussing their charger. I understood him to say that one had to install and use gm’s charger and cord for reasons of “safety and durability” and to give some of the reasons for that.
It all sounds fine and no doubt it is safer and more durable to do it gm’s way, but it seems to me gm is creating a bump to get over for a person considering a Volt purchase. Have to pay more for the Volt, and have to have an electrician come to install this special charger. I’d be afraid that if I purchased one it might never be chargeable, and the experiences with the Mini only confirm those fears.
yes, it’s a little point, but it grows as a risk factor in one’s mind.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:16 am
$10 a gallon gas and even-odd days rationing is what will motivate people to buy cars like the Volt.
Dont forget fellow Voltees, it is bad form to wave to all the people waiting in line as you drive by the gas station… dont honk the horn either.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Same in Southern California … until the last week. Now we’re probably hotter. No one should doubt that global temperatures are going up. They are. That’s just fact. But if you think otherwise, and are willing to put your money down, then go over to fivethirtyeight.com. There you’ll find that Nate Silverman is taking any and all bets on this issue. Since he’s a numbers guy he knows that if there are enough regions this is a terrific sucker’s bet.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Tag—> Yes, in front, I agree, both for pride in knowing but also for the possibility of making some sales before others catch up. Unfortunately, I don’t think many salesman think that way, but where there is an opportunity, there is hope.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Thinking about the survey choices some more, I realize that the ones that motive me are not on the list at all.
For example, “wish to avoid using gasoline at all” (not just foreign oil), and “fascination with electric drive”.
I’m sure I’m not the “masses”, whoever that is, but I’m equally sure that I’m not the only person with unlisted motives.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:28 am
RB,
Ironically, the one fellow who was practically bursting with the pride of “knowing about the Volt” had information about the volt that was 75% wrong! e.g. “Why are you interested in a car that won’t come out until 2013?” (and no, he didn’t mean come out HERE – he thought that that’d take a lot longer). Sigh. So we need GOOD info (I wrote down this site address for him).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Interesting you bring up the issue of “helps environment”. That isn’t a choice. Nor is “promotes public health”. Both of these are of course serious options. Particulate emissions remain a serious health problem. I think a study a few years ago found that more people died from inhaling emissions in traffic jams than from traffic accidents.
My guess is that this is why sites run by corporations don’t do well. Since this is a GM site, they don’t want to admit that the ICE, for all its positives, has some downsides. So concerns like global warming or health get stuck under the rubric of “it’s the latest thing”, which is one way of dismissing these concerns as simply being “trendy”. Whether you agree that these are valid or not, they ought not to be so summarily dismissed.
Or it might be the person/people designing the survey is/aren’t the most talented.
In support of the “not a very good survey” thesis, presenting the choices as “either/or” rather than as “and” is a mistake. The survey suggests that each reason is exclusive of the others. But in reality they’re perfectly compatible. You can want to save money on gas AND want to reduce foreign oil AND like the fact it’s high tech. (In software terms it presents the options as radio buttons when they should have used check boxes.)
It should be fairly obvious that the more reasons people have for wanting an EV the more they’ll want one and the more they’ll pay for one.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I’d have to say it has not only has increased my interest in cars — which was never very high — it’s also changed my perception of GM for the better.
Friggin Bob Lutz!
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
This web site is clearly the best when it comes to discussing the new green motoring evolution.
Down-to-earth concerns, questions, experiences, suggestions, GM professionals’ participation, Voltec Video education, and on, and on, all allow for needed education and for the increasing loyalties, recognition, and astounding technical credit to be known about GM that GM most certainly positively deserves.
This site has also given a tremendous outlook for me also, as well as a great place to visit with terrific people that I appreciate a lot.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I don’t know. Based on the salesmen I know personally they prefer not to be on the bleeding edge. They have their schtick down and don’t like changing it.
I’m sure we’ll know when it gets time for the Volt to rollout, though, when training information gets leaked.
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:59 am
OK, so I am fixated on the Pink Bowtie Version of the Volt. What is the Pink Bowtie? Is it is the engineering nerds Volt developed for Lutz? A quarter mile rocket with five battery packs? Or is it A Bonneville racer? I do not know, but I want to find out. I am guessing that it is certainly not going to be for sale, or street legal.
This is an obvious attempt to hijack a thread that is just too filled with righteous praise…
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:07 am
RB:
I agree.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:12 am
statik, errr DonC:
LOL.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:17 am
What a charming and uplifting comment! Well done john1701a. Thanks.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:20 am
DonC
WOW, I knew Lyle was good, but I never suspected he was THAT good (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Thnx, RB & right back atcha! Way off topic, but I just asked my Saturn dealer what they think about the Roger Penske acquisition and he said they’re psyched about it & think it “could be the best thing that’s ever happened to Saturn & it should be done very soon”.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Damn right. The passion is alive and well. The Monterey Historic weekend, as always, was another absolutely stunning outpouring of the same dedication CorvetteGuy is describing.
There were Chevrolet race cars there spanning over 90 years of racing history. They can, and do, hold their heads high against the best that the world has to offer. This priceless heritage is a resource that most of GM’s current competition cannot even begin to approach.
I only hope and pray that GM will find a way to utilize that resource to help to convince the car buying public of its proud history of technical achievement.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Dan,
Well put and you get to beef up your already ample vocabulary!
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
RedHHR:
All of the above, LOL. If somebody can take a Prius to Bonneville, think what we can do with a Volt. I wonder what percentage of Bonneville records are held by cars with Chevy engines? Pretty high, I would bet.
I believe that the small block Chevrolet V-8 is the most ubiquitous racing engine in the USA today, if not the world.
Maybe we can bolt a Cruze turbo on the Volt. Volt SS, LOL. Look out!
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Amen.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:41 am
DonC:
Yeah, we could lookout the window Thursday night and see the news choppers up over our local brush fire. The mayor of our little city said that the temperatures Thursday, and Thursday night, were “unprecedented”.
If we get ready for global warming, and it then turns out not to have been as serious as most scientists believe today, so much the better.
If we don’t get ready until it’s too late, and it does turn out to be real, it could destroy our “civilization”, and quite likely kill us all.
I, for one, am not willing to take that gamble.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Electric Volt Funny Car in 2015. With driver Dr. Lyle Dennis.
=D~
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I believe many are learning about and shopping for an alternative fuel / propulsion car for their next purchase.
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
You just killed Tags inner child.
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I think this site and many others are an asset for GM and should be exploited in all Volt TV adds.
Something ending each add such as [to meet other interested and informed people regarding the Volt, log onto gm-volt.com]
The next add would suggest another site.
The big question is could this site keep up with the additional guest logging on.
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
reply to me.
probably have to drop the informed part for legal reasons
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
It’s funny. You don’t see 10 square blocks of cars with 500,000 people roaming around to see classic ‘Toyotas’ or ‘Nissans’. Sure, maybe they have a small club here or there, but nothing draws in a crowd like a few thousand American V8’s…!
When the VOLT’s cruise by on Route 66, maybe they should play an 8-track-tape of V8 rumbles, otherwise it would be very, very quiet!
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Exactly why I remind GM to build the concepts vehicles that have Soul.
Not the diluted productions….Build the Buick Riviera Concept.
Build the Original Volt concept with a turbo diesel, 2 mode, DI V6 option.
Bob, please slap the crap out of these design dinosaurs that should have been gone with the bankruptcy
exactly why the 2 mode Buick is canceled but the question remains, who in the world even thought that could even be a possible design that anyone would even give a second glance or even notice in the first place.
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August 29th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Tag,
You are right up there on top of that appreciation list (with Lyle)!
The really wonderful thing about the dynamics here is that you can tell that people are learning very quickly!! Even my own viewpoints and learning have become filled-in where I needed them to be filled-in with the great links that get referenced here. (Although there still remains a tremendous amount of things more to learn).
What a day it will be when Volts begin to become “for sale”!!
Is there such a thing as a “Site Party?” Might there be, like, ten concurrent short video’s posted, so that people coming and going can click on Volt Videos with various stories to tell about how Volt has impacted their lives?
We could sort of meet each other in person.
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August 29th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Yeah, and then the 500,000 people go and get in their Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans and Hyundais and drive home. I dunno.
As to the 8 track tape, that’s pretty high tech. One of my favorite Hot Rod magazine cartoons from the ’50s was of a guy with a 6 in his Chevy sitting in a drive in with a 45 rpm record player behind the grille playing V8 rumbles.
We used to get 45s of “Sports Cars in Hi Fi”, “Sounds of Sebring”, etc. My buddy had one of a 1500cc V16 supercharged BRM F1 engine from the ’50s. Talk about a sound like ripping silk! Of course they could never get it to finish a race, but it sure sounded great while it lasted. Kind of like the Novi, if you are old enough to remember that, LOL.
Anyway, if you could figure out a way to get all of those fans drooling over the Chevys at the car shows to actually buy a modern one, it would be a nice bump in sales IMHO.
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August 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Oh yeah! Pour the nitro in the “range extender” and turn up the boost! Win or blow up!
Laugh all you want, but the turbo Cobalt engines used at the drags and at Bonneville make up to 1200 hp. I think that they must make the pistons, rods and cranks out of kryptonite, or unobtanium, but the hold them together somehow.
Maybe the Voltec will make it launch harder. We can always hope.
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August 29th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
LOL, The day the Volts get their official wheeels on the road will be called (per my fiat): VOLTMAS. The night before – (Voltmas Eve) – we all meet at the end of the assembly line, link arms, sing Voltmas carols, and drink adult beverages. The first Volt is obviously, incontestably Lyle’s. As he drives off (to ear-splitting cheers) predictably, mayhem over Volt #2 will ensue, followed by the intervention of the SWAT team.(I’ll be sitting in Volt #3 with the bail money).
Sound good?(g)
Be well,
Tagamet
/Mr Lutz can have Volt #2
//I know it doesn’t work that way, but it’s a funny “picture”.
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Seems like an appropriate point in the thread to bring this up. Someone found the 2-mode Vue numbers on the EPA website.
“…27 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. Compared to the existing mild-hybrid Vue, this doesn’t look that great, since that one also had a 28 mpg combined rating (25 city and 32 highway). The mild hybrid, of course, used a four cylinder engine while the 2-mode had the 3.6-liter V6, giving it much better performance and a 3,500 pound tow rating.
Saturn did pretty much hit their target of a 50 percent improvement in combined efficiency compared to the non-hybrid V6 Vue which was rated at 19 mpg combined. The Vue doesn’t look as impressive as the Ford Escape hybrid – which is rated at 34/31 mpg – but the Ford is also four cylinder powered while being smaller and lighter. A closer comparison might be the Toyota Highlander hybrid which, while larger, is also V6 powered. The Toyota is rated at 27/25 mpg and 26 mpg combined.”
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/saturn-vue-2-mode-hybrid-rated-at-27-30-mpg-by-epa-will-never-b/
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August 29th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Noel Park said: “Anyway, if you could figure out a way to get all of those fans drooling over the Chevys at the car shows to actually buy a modern one, it would be a nice bump in sales IMHO.”
In the couple of hours since my last post above, I have taken another order for a 2010 Camaro 2LT V6. I think it’s the 26th order for our dealership. It is the 19th for me personally.
So, to answer your question: I can’t speak about Cadillac, Buick, or GMC buyers. I’m not that familiar with the demographics of those people, but I do know that most of the Chevy buyers want a car with “Style” and “Performance” followed closely by an affordable price. The V6 Camaros are selling well for those reasons. AND… the buyers are very happy to pay the MSRP – - No Rebates. No Discounts.
I firmly believe that if the VOLT delivers the “Performance” and an “Affordable Price”, then maybe the Chevy buyers will look past the plain vanilla ’style’ of the VOLT. Had the designers at GM made Gen 1 look more like the Tesla or even the Camaro, then I would have predicted much stronger sales than we are anticipating right now. In fact, we have more hope for the Gen 2 EREV Cruze and/or the Cadillac Converj (but I don’t get to sell that… bummer) than we do the VOLT.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I agree, why take the gamble? especially since if we are wrong and global warming is real then our children and grand children will have to pay with their health and possibly their way of life. As then ALL mony would need to go toward the fight.
Do I believe in global warming———–I do not know. The trouble is science can be distorted either pro or con.
If it is real and China, Mexico, and India don’t get on board then we have no hope as we can not do it with out them.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
nasaman –> Agree on the Penske acquisition. He would never have done it unless he saw the possibility of a big success, and he’s a car guy.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Indeed great work man, I really appreciate the work you are doing! It’s funny I come on here every day hoping to find new information regarding the volt or alternative vehicles, the interest is indeed very high!
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
DonC — I agree, “helps environment” is a serious issue and one that motivates people, and they enjoy looking like people who do that, too
But really I don’t want to pick on the survey too much as it is just informal, but I do think they are searching for the motivators for the Volt. Hope they find them.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Tag — Voltmas Eve! I love it just as you describe it.
(Everyone who wants to go to the Voltmas eve party please hit the + on Tag’s comment.)
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
There is a rising tide of people who want to drive free of foreign oil. That is the demographic that gm-volt.com and the other “green” auto sites have tapped into.
We are not foolish enough to believe that so many more people want to read all about the latest gas guzzler tech with the recent gas prices putting us into an economic tailspin.
What people want to hear about is what auto company is going to get us off using oil and gasoline.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
One thing worth mentioning. The big advantage of the hybrid vue (towing) may be watered down by the front wheel drive short wheel base vue + trailer handling characteristics.
Long wheel base and rear wheel drive are desired for optimum towing — this helps to minimize “tail wagging the dog”.
Perhaps all the latest anti-sway technology could help (?).
/GM could have a hard time capitalizing on marketing that emphasizes its towing prowess, when it’s marginal on the handling with a trailer.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I agree.
As to China, Mexico and India, if we don’t set the example they will never do anything for sure. If we take effective measures to control our part of the problem, then we put ourselves in a position where we have the moral authority to work on them to do their part.
We are supposed to be the richest and most technologically advanced country on the planet. If we can’t provide leadership, who can? If we continue to use the excuse that, if they won’t do it, we don’t have to, we will be highly responsible for the catastrophe if it happens.
I know that’s what you’re saying. I’m just agreeing.
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August 29th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
I’ll just say it again. When gas hits $4.00/gallon again, which it will, you won’t be able to keep them in stock.
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August 29th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Neil,
It reminds me of FoxPro sales after Gates found out that the military used it to handle logistics for the first Iraq war: After purchasing it and promising to support, it languished because he couldn’t get the salesmen behind selling it. I hope that the same doesn’t happen with Volt sales. We need effective promotion to increase the demand which will ultimately bring the price down. The greater the immediate demand the sooner we will see GM offer them at a reasonable price affordable to the masses.
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August 29th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
The Volt’s appearance beats out most of the competition IMHO as far as the available EV’s. I agree that ” “Performance” and an “Affordable Price” ‘ are important to how Chevy buyers see the Volt: I believe they will see “Performance” ; the real issue is what will be the price.
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August 29th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
RB,
Thanks! I was playing with some “old material” that’s so old I forget what big event here was about to happen.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Not a GM site…..Lyle’s site.
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August 29th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Which of your previous cars actually provided a payoff?
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August 29th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Bring back this ad:
SEE THE USA IN YOUR CHEVROLET
Theme song from NBC’s “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show”
(1957 – 1962)
Dinah Shore – 1957
See the USA in your Chevrolet
America is asking you to call
Drive your Chevrolet through the USA
America’s the greatest land of all
On a highway, or a road along the levee
Performance is sweeter
Nothing can beat her
Life is completer in a Chevy
So make a date today to see the USA
And see it in your Chevrolet
(Travelin’ east, Travelin’ west)
(Wherever you go Chevy service is best)
(Southward or north, near place or far)
(There’s a Chevrolet dealer for your Chevrolet car)
So make a date today to see the USA
And see it in your Chevrolet !
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August 29th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
And don’t forget: The V6 Camaro gets 29MPG, and that ain’t bad for a 304 HP engine!
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August 29th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I guess “completer” was a word back in the simpler 50’s.
______________
See the USA in Your Chevrolet – Dinah Shore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ5tKh0aBDc
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August 29th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
omnimoeish: “I’m curious why they didn’t put “it reduces greenhouse gas emissions””
Because General Motors Corp Vice Chairman and Chevrolet Volt ‘hero’ Bob Lutz dismiss[ed] global warming as a “total crock of shit”.
The Volt is intended to counter Toyota’s green image and be a greenwash “halo” over the rest of GM’s gas-guzzling fleet.
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August 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
RB
Well the first months results are in. The heat pump was only installed for 1/2 of the month. July is my biggest electric bill by far. It was reduced by 25%. My gas bill for hot water heating was also cut in half. Last year propane cost me $3200. That comes out to about $266 a month. My payment on the bank loan for the heat pump is $240 a month. It is all looking good so far.
Take Care
Arch
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I think the 120V charger will work with any standard outlet. Building codes require that the 220V charger has to be installed in its own outlet.
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Hot off the press:
Frankfurt Preview: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, turbodiesel plug-in hybrid [w/VIDEO]
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/29/frankfurt-preview-bmw-vision-efficientdynamics-concept-turbodi/
Ouch! . . . . . talk about leap frog.
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I gotta get me one of these installed in my driveway to keep out all those party crashers…Like CJS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stsb9f3UuGE&feature=related
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
You guys are subscribing to a variant of Pascal’s Gambit. Formulated by Blaise Pascal, this arguments says that even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because if God exists, you win, and if God doesn’t exist, you haven’t lost anything.
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Tag,
That really is funny. You reminded me of Linus Van Pelt and the “Great Pumpkin” with “Pumpkin carols” from the Charles Shultz “Peanuts” comic series.
Perhaps our enthusiasm might be a bit much for the line workers, but the picture was really a great laugh.
It’ll be great when they start rolling along.
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Tag,
Do you think you should first wait to get your Volt home before imbibing in adult beverages?
Would hate for you to get a DUI on your first Volt cruise, and then have to wait 6 months, while your wife drives it around (if like mine, she would likely put a few undesirable scratches in it).
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Dan and JEC,
The adult beverages are on Voltmas EVE. Never, ever, drink and drive! And Dan, I’ll bet the workers are already assembling their own in the snack room.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Carcaus1
Complete
Complerer
Completest
Sounds right to me….
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Daraktig,
And a rising tide lifts all boats!
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
So here’s the really funny thing. I was talking to a few friends this week, all of whom drive some BMW or other. During the conversation they made some derogatory remark or other about some GM brand or other. I told them that GM products were becoming pretty darn good. They said I was crazy and that even if the car looked good it would handle like a POS. The result is that we’re going to test drive the CTS.
There is just a lot of residual bad taste from the last 20 years of GM (and Ford) cars. They all remarked that their idea of a Caddy is a boat with a whole lot of play in the steering wheel. More to the point, all of them said it hadn’t occurred to them to even look at a GM product when they bought their last car. (Ditto for me BTW).
This is the issue — no mind share in some demographics — that Lutz identified as one of the problems the Volt would supposedly help overcome. Some would call this greenwashing but doing the right thing for the right reason isn’t half as important as doing the right thing.
Since I’ve never driven nor driven in a CTS the whole test drive thing should be fun and interesting. The worst that can happen is I’m out a few beers.
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August 29th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
DonC
I always had you pictured as older, but if you’ve never driven, I don’t think that you should be going for a test drive (or drinking beer).
JMO.
Be well,
Tagamet
/I’ll bet you never owned a CTS
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Wow! That is some vehicle. But, concept is one thing, production another.
If they can even come close to building this machine, you can bet they will sell everyone they can produce. This babe has to be very pricey. I would expect it to sticker out at +$100,000 easy. But, if I were a rich man, I would definitely consider this bad boy.
Thanks for the link Carcus.
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August 29th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
The original idea is for something that I don’t know has ever been done before, have an on-site ongoing all day (on Volt roll-out day) selectable-60-second-each video “meet each other” party of some kind. (Or maybe sooner, say, next Christmas for a Christmas party). (Just don’t bring up libations, even for at home. Pirates can get riled-up, y’know. lol)
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August 29th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Dan,
Were you at VoltNation I? It was a real “happening” with a few hundred novice lunatic fringe folks ( a few were “seasoned”) and (almost) all the GM Big Wigs at the NY auto show. Great presentation by Frank Weber and Maximum Bob as well as a question/answer(sorta) session and pressing the flesh. It was surreal. From time to time I post a question to Lyle about having VoltNation II, but so far no luck. This Christmas should be the last Christmas before the actual Volts’ wheels hit the road, so I hope that there will BE a VoltNation II at some point. There’s noting quite like actually getting together, but a second best would be by video.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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August 29th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Given that diesel fuel is 25% denser than gasoline, and given that the European Cycle uses considerably less energy (the UK rates the Prius at 72.4 MPG Combined whereas the US rates it at 48 MPG Combined), neither the range nor the MPG in charge sustaining mode look like much of breakthrough. In fact the range looks significantly worse than the Volt’s (we don’t know much about MPG in charge sustaining mode).
I’d have to question the ability to use 80% of the battery. Seems like a tad too much optimism.
The doors are cool though.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
True, but the towing capacity would also equate somewhat to “payload capacity” as well. You simply wont be able to fill the Escape with the same amount of passengers and gear and get the even close to the published EPA numbers, but the Saturn (Equinox?) 2-mode WILL.
Also the new GMs all have towing mode “anti-sway” software built into the stability controls. But still 3500lbs is excellent for that class of vehicle, let alone a hybrid.
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August 29th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
The BMW is not a pure series hybrid, so there (most likely) won’t be a charge sustaining mode. (it can replenish, don’t know if it can charge up(?))
The (no grid assist) mpg on this concept would probably translate to about 47 mpg combined U.S. (.75 is a valid conversion factor, imo (referencing other cars numbers like the mini-coopers). My speculation on the volt remains at about 32 mpg, we’ll see, someday.
I don’t think from the release that it’s exactly clear how they would use the grid charge in a “normal” day’s drive (i.e. 30 to 40 mi.). It could be either:
1. Blended — over 100 mpg (my speculation)
2. Electric first, then ICE/hybrid — 31 miles AER(or less) then 47 mpg
3. Performance — save the battery for when you want to smoke past people (0- 62 in 4.8)*
4. All of the above
The stand out numbers on this concept are the 356 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque available on a car that won’t use any more (and likely less) fuel than the volt.
*The BMW press release says clearly that the quick acceleration isn’t available continuously (i.e power fade is there, but you do have 163 hp and 214 ft-lb of torque to fall back on.
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August 30th, 2009 at 1:15 am
C’mom, 220 Volt special charger that only GM can provide and install?
What does this magical 220 Volt charger cost anyways? I am sick and tired of the battery love on this blog to the point of people not being able to talk about the fact that there is a fuel cell version of the Volt.
The 220 Volt charger bit is one more reason to wait until the fuel cell Volt becomes available for purchase.
I am not on these blogs because I want GM to build a foolish plug-in car with limited electric range. Batteries that can take you ten to twenty miles make sense whereas 40 mile batteries are just too doggone big. Not everyone can get by with a 2 seater $100k+ Tesla roadster either.
I too am interested in seeing a major change in what fuel our cars and trucks run on and that change should be to hydrogen. The gas/electric Volt doesn’t change the fuel, only the fuel cell Volt does that.
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August 30th, 2009 at 1:21 am
The gas/electric Volt is intended to pacify Obama’s perverted need to see a million plug-ins hit the roads even if the pollution from the electricity produced to charge plug-ins turns out to be worse than the pollution that would be created by burning diesel.
The fuel cell Volt hybrid vehicle is the answer to the OIL crisis and the real future of transportation and it’s time for people to start pressuring GM to get serious about commercializing it before Toyota crushes GM for good.
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August 30th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Lyle, you’ve come too far to quit now. One year to go, bring it home! The power of the grassroots can be deafening.
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August 30th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Probably because that just polarizes people and they probably believe, rightly so IMO, people with any level of AGM concern will intrinsicaly understand this benefit of the Volt.
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August 30th, 2009 at 6:50 am
If the range extender made 4 times the power, then the elctronics could be overdriven by the same amount? A 100mph Volt could do 200mph? I would ask sombody like Bill Dube of Killacycle if it could be done (or Captain Jack). Friggin Bob Lutz could pay for the project out of pocket….
I think it would make a great Discovry HD Theater show…
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August 30th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Post it on a billbord every State line. I remember a Billbord that said “Jet smother in 66″ with a picture of a bowtie that lasted for a decade on the NH/Mass stateline.
I would condense that to “Smooth” with a picture of a Volt.
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August 30th, 2009 at 7:12 am
There was a short discussion above about the change that EREV’s encompass and how that will be embraced by salespeople. There was an example given of Microsoft’s purchase of Foxpro but it didn’t sell that well because the salesforce never got behind it. I think selling EREV’s like the Volt will be a bit different than MS selling Foxpro in a large part because of the amount of autmotive marekting, but the point is valid. CorvetteGuy, you are our only GM salesperson that comments here (that I know of) and your above comment illustrates the concern perfectly.
There are lots of reasons the Camaro is selling well and you point to many of them, but Camaro sells still only add up to a fraction of the market. Even if you add in all other retro sports coupe sales it is still a fraction. The market is huge. Budgets and other buying queues often prevail with buyers. The Prius and Insight ilustrate this point well. These buyers want efficiency and are willing to pay up front to get it and to “accept” compromised looks (IMO) in the process. I’m not buying into the argument that most Prius buyers are making those purchases to be “seen” in them. I’m sure there are some but I doubt it is the majority. Absolutely, for the same price and specs buyers will prefer the car that has more style in their eyes. GM decided to sacrifice style to maximize efficiency and reduce cost. Just because Chevy hasn’t had a car to compete in the ultra efficiency arena doesn’t mean that nobody will want one, but rather the Volt will need to be “sold” a bit differently than a Camaro. Although, IMO, the looks are a lot better than the Prius or Insight or any other “affordable” highly efficient electric. This should give Chevy salespeople another advantage when selling the Volt. Better looking, better performing, and much more efficient than the Prius for most driving patterns.
I think Chevy dealers and Chevy brand should be studying the Prius sales strategy and buyer very closely. Understanding this buyer and their buying queues will help sell the Volt. It will be a different “sell” than the Camaro and may not be as natural as selling those because it doesn’t strike the same emotional cords with the salesperson.
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August 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Just a comment. I like this blog, have followed and seldom post. F-cells are 1 way to store energy; as well as advanced batteries and capacitors. Air batteries show incredible promise. Fuel cells are not the only energy dense means. Because of constant competition from different energy devices, we may never see a standard. Electric storage is the engine of the 21st century; or is it……wireless, maybe 22nd. The methods are endless. It’s this potential that makes electric promising.
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August 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Does everybody in the world believe everything they read in the “Wallstreet Journal”? I believe I lost confidence in their bull crap articles a couple years ago if not, last year when they were still pushing stocks in companies that had taken the public to the cleaners and some companies, that had gotten bailout money. You know, like GM!
I here all the crap about our lazy society wanting to set at home and eat their greasy hamburgers and shop on the internet. I happen to think the internet is a tremendously bad way to buy an expensive vehicle.
Considering the Volt, if the “New” GM ever sees fit in getting one of them into the public, I want to SEE it and sit in it, and drive it. I am not going to buy something off of a picture and a promise.
Being from the “Old” GM family I am losing confidence in what I was hoping that would revive the status of our, used to be “All American Auto Company”. Otherwise, show me the Volt and get the Voltec Technology in high gear and quit screwing around with marketing until such time as, there is something to market.
And! What in the hell is this question that come out of the brilliant minds of GM about ” Should GM skip the volt and just make more efficent gas cars?”. Is this a sucker bait for your foolish future product buyers? This sounds like the “New” stupid stuff that is rolling out of GM instead of the Volt rolling of the assembly lines.
Has GM made a deal with the Oil Industry to lower Oil Prices so the Hog Vehicles that GM is so good at making can sell without having to perform expensive Electric Vehicle research?
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August 30th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
“training information gets leaked”. What are you referring to exactly? Training for maintenance personnel? That would be cool to see some of that information…
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August 30th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hmmm. Americans (and others around the world) are excited about cars and car technology. I have searched the web but haven’t found enthusiast web sights for metro trains or any type of public transportation.
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August 30th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
That is some reply with your mysterious three letter AGM acronym.
I am deeply concerned about the environment. Only fuel cell cars
powered by hydrogen can replace gasoline and diesel powered
cars and at the same time reduce greenhouse emissions by 80%.
Battery electric cars cannot replace gasoline and diesel powered
cars. These BEVs and EREVs can’t even go petroleum free for
more than 40 miles at any kind of reasonably expensive price.
Fuel cell cars have the potential to be price competitive with gasoline and diesel cars and even hybrids in a matter of just a
few years. The first fuel cell cars that are sold will hit the market
for $30k or less, or I’ll be very surprised indeed. Fuel cell cars
are the only choice for cleaner transportation that will scale and
produce the desired results.
Transportation policy has to focus on the end of petroleum use for transportation purposes. Better to use OIL for cosmetics, plastics, and other needs. A 40 mile electric range is not good enough for taxi drivers. It is not good enough for people that take multiple small trips racking up hundreds of miles a day. A 40 mile range is not good enough for anyone who lives 20+ miles from work or school. A day will come if half the world’s OIL reserves have been depleted when OIL will cost much more than it does today. The recession more than anything else has controlled OIL prices, not the discovery of new reserves. When was the last OIL refinery built in the United States? That is going to be a major problem soon. A new fueling infrastructure needs to be built around a new fuel. That fuel folks is hydrogen as even ethanol and biodiesel produce particulate pollution when burned. The pollution from a fuel cell is potable and environmentally benign hot water.
Energy efficiency and energy produced are two very different things. While batteries are incredibly efficient, their energy density is quite low. Batteries simply cannot store the electricity it takes to propel an electric car for hundreds of miles. Even 300 miles is not achievable with a battery only vehicle. Gasoline/diesel use is unacceptable because of the use of OIL and the harm to the environment. A fuel has to be used because battery tech as good as it is just doesn’t cut it. That fuel should be hydrogen. Lithium
as a fuel in the form of large rechargeable Lithium ION batteries is a very expensive one. No battery chemistry yet developed has increased the energy density to a point where the energy delivered is competitive with gasoline and diesel combustion.
Solar power in America’s deserts alone in conjunction with hydrogen pipelines could fuel our cars cleanly. If solar isn’t
enough, there is a lot of Wind capacity when it is not needed
and there is also the nuclear option using modern reactor
designs that are meltdown proof and higher temperature.
A hydrogen economy if fusion is ever figured out would have
the hydrogen to fuel fusion reactors.
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August 30th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Ahhh, but the phrase “if God exists, you win” assumes God is good. Can’t make that biased assumption, scientifically, because of the complete lack of evidence. Neutral position is the only logical one.
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August 31st, 2009 at 9:24 am
You said “C’mom, 220 Volt special charger that only GM can provide and install?”
This is incorrect. Kissel (GM) said any charger that meets the SAE code will work. I’m sure there will be a 3rd party making one.
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August 31st, 2009 at 9:41 am
We always knew that you lived for posting on this site. It is now part of your makeup. You probably get up in the morning and go to bed at night thinking about GM-VOLT.COM. I would be doing the same if I were you. Great job you’re doing, Lyle. Thanks for the hard word and the long hours.
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August 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
It’s been demonstrated time and again that hydrogen is not a solution to the problem for the time being.
It will NOT be a solution anytime soon – let’s say at least for the next 20 years +.
I prefer not buy hydrogen for Exxon, BP or others and rather buy electricity from a utility. I want the independence of a battery.
P.S. I want to buy the battery, not lease it…
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August 31st, 2009 at 12:18 pm
If I had to bet, I would bet on your scenario. Oil will go up, sooner or later. It will make sense to own a Volt. People who are getting prepared will not suffer as much.
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