Profitability is something GM hasn’t achieved since 2004 when it earned $2.7 billion.
The company declared bankruptcy on June 1st and reemerged in 40 days after receiving $50 billion in government loans that made the US taxpayers 61% owners of the company. The company’s books were wiped clean and they were sent on their way with a plan to at least break even if US auto sales stayed stalled at he 10 million unit mark. Projections for March are closer to 13 million.
Greg Liddell is the now new CFO of GM. He was recruited from his former position as CFO at Microsoft, where he drove a Ferrari to work and competed in Iron Man triathalons.
Last year GM lost $1.5 billion in the third quarter, its first quarter after emerging from bankruptcy. Fourth quarter results are expected to be released on March 31st.
Liddell, in his first public appearance as CFO, earlier this week told a group of reporters GM expects to pay back $5.7 billion in government loans this year and is on track for a possible IPO. Proceeds from the IPO would be used to allow the US government to divest its stake, though that process may take years.
“I don’t want to get in the position where we say, ‘We’ve got to do an IPO, we’ve got to do an IPO,’ ” Liddell told reporters. “It’s an important milestone. But we do it when we’re ready — not on some predetermined timetable.”
Lidell also said GM’s new balance sheets were “healthy” and they will likely turn a profit this year.
“We have a reasonable chance of being profitable this year,” Liddell said.
He noted GM was doing very well in China and Brazil, that Europe was “challenging” and that North America was “somewhere in the middle.”
In January CEO Ed Whitacre also said he expected GM to become profitable this year. Since taking over the position from Fritz Henderson, who now continues to work part-time for GM as a consultant, Whitacre has aggressively shuffled executive positions in an effort to boost sales. Liddell is believed by some to be next in line for the CEO position.
The triumphant launch of the Volt into retail markets at the end of this year, though not itself expected to make money for the company at first, is GM’s great hope to improve their image in the eyes of prospective buyers which the company hopes will increase sales through a halo effect. The high-volume high-efficiency compact Chevy Cruze will also be launched later this year and is hoped to play a major role in generating sales.
The fact that the Volt program has managed to stay precisely on track and on schedule through these three years of turbulence is testament to the dedication, commitment and skill of the Volt team.
Source (Bloomberg)
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:11 am)The Beauty of a Volt…
Peace
+9
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:22 am)It really *is* remarkable that the Volt has hung in there through these trying times! Nothing short of amazing. I know that a lot of cards still need to fall into place yet, but it’s still *here*.
As always, time will tell, but I believe that the Volt is a product that will “sell itself“!
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
+5
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:36 am)“The fact that the Volt program has managed to stay precisely on track and on schedule though these three years of turbulence is testament to the dedication, commitment and skill of the Volt team.”
The schedule calls for the Hamtramck line to be fired up in March. That would be… now! I’m sure that Lyle is pressing them for some progress report on this. But I find it hard to wait. This site has become so addictive.
+5
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:38 am)I agree completely. Maybe GM should put the money they normally spend on advertising into producing more Volts. To me that would be the same as spending more money on advertising. Or better yet after introducing the Volt, they could stop advertising all of their cars for one year and at the end of the year, see which ones generate the most buss.
+3
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:43 am)When is the IPO for NGMCO?
Need ASAP.
TTFN.
+3
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:50 am)California has a $5000 rebate on the Nissan Leaf and hopefully will on the Volt too according to the NY Times:
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/californias-new-5000-e-v-rebates-grab-em-fast/
This will help Volt Sales.
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:56 am)If GM management are counting on the Volt to improve their image as a Halo car, then I think we can be assured that they are not planning on destroying them like they did to the EV1s. However I hope that they will come around to realize that it should be much more than a halo car, and be built in sufficient numbers to make a profit. A new GM with the whole fleet based on Voltek technology is in my opinion the only way to long term success (for any car company). Watch for gas prices to start rising sharply in 2015, and by then we should have much improved batteries at low cost. These factors will drive a very rapid switch in the market in the 2015 to 2018 time frame and companies not prepared for this will fail.
+14
Mar 20th, 2010 (9:10 am)Once again I want to stress that the other half of electrifying the automotive fleet is having reliable pollution-free electricity. I believe the best answer is the LFTR. The Liquid Flouride Thorium Reactor was invented in the 1950s and one was run for 5 years at Oakridge Laboratories, it is proven technology. Thorium is cheap and abundant, in fact the US has a stockpile of refined thorium from that era what could power the US for 1000 years. LFTRs are inherently safe, and produce almost no radioactive waste (and that small amount decays in 300 years instead of 10000). These reactors can burn the waste presently in storage. LFTRs were abandoned because they were unsuitable for making bombs.
See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWUeBSoEnRk
and
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/
We should all promote this planet saving technology.
+14
Mar 20th, 2010 (9:15 am)I just want to add my congrats to the Volt team at GM, and Lyle who almost singlehandedly has been a major source of advertising and information on the Volt. And to all of the faithful users and contributors to this site that have made it pretty much addictive as most of us can attest to! I just hope we all own one soon and can share in the pure joy of the experience.
+3
Mar 20th, 2010 (9:24 am)I’d like to jump on the IPO when it happens. Maybe this site will be a source of info and advice about it in the coming months.
We all could probably use some extra cash to buy our next car, and we all know what that will be…
The Chevy Volt!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (9:43 am)I read the article and suggest that others do the same. The initial money won’t help the Volt at all. More may be allocated. Tough not to comment further.
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
+3
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:00 am)From the article:
Chuck Colgan, a spokesman for the California Center, said that the Air Resources Board plans to allocate additional money for the program to support such coming cars as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, Coda sedan and (should it appear here) the Chinese-made BYD E6. “This is the first wave of funding,” he said.
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:05 am)I wonder, why didn’t GM start to sell Cruze in US?
Here they started to sell them in 2009.
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:16 am)Roy H.
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/
We should all promote this planet saving technology.
Good link – thanks much.
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:19 am)I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the GM board room. You know all of this feedback and interest from this site and elsewhere about the Volt is being digested by senior management. And as we get closer to launch, there are some important questions that are getting answered right now.
Are they chatting about ramping up Volt production, lowering costs, what? Will we see more Volts than first anticipated? Does that play into that important question about what the Volt will cost assuming that a higher demand could result in a lower price over time? Hmmm……….inta-resting.
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:21 am)Uh, that’s what I said. It helps the Volt not at all and more may be allocated.
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:24 am)For the sake of symbolism, I hope GM makes its profit. It can only help to justify the much-criticized govt. bailout at least in the short term. Long term justification will only follow if GM has truly learned from past mistakes and made the necessary bottom to top; top to bottom changes it has needed to do to provide the best products it can deliver.
And also if they grab the opportunity now found in their lap to be the hands down industry leader in green automotive tech. It’ll be a goldmine of free publicity feeding public respect and goodwill, which can only help the image of all the company’s products.
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:30 am)+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:43 am)Thanks for the links regarding the advantages of Thorium. Governments and other stakeholders need to be made more aware of this technology. George, Canada.
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:17 am)How do people like the Cruze over there?
+4
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:20 am)Sorry James, but I have to disagree with you here. Far too many people have no idea what the Volt really is to curtail advertising. The struggle for the next 3 years (not just for GM, but for us) will be making sure that enough people find out about the Volt to keep it viable and growing past 2013 – 2014.
Curtail that “re-imagined Cadillac” ad, if you need money. The people who buy Cadillacs will continue to, whether or not they’re advertised.
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:33 am)Yes, good article. Lots of background info and written so that a novice (like Moi) can understand.
Thanks,
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:38 am)I don’t know much about Greg Liddel, but what I do know I like. He speaks pretty clearly. They definitely shouldn’t rush the IPO just for the PR of being able to pay back Uncle Sam before they have proven their metal (get it?).
I am surprised to hear that Europe is such a challenge, even more than the US since I still see so many giganto trucks sitting around at dealerships.
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:44 am)OT: Seems like a slow day. Nice weather here on the Right coast. Maybe people are tuned in to Washington, DC? Or not.
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:51 am)Certainly good news financially which is something that hasn’t happened for them in quite a while. As for as the stop advertising comment posted here… hey stop saying stuff like that. I make money from Chevy advertising on my website. haha
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:55 am)Very, Very off-topic about fast-charging “the other EV” (but a frequent topic of discussion here):
http://www.examiner.com/x-14333-Green-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m12d3-Nissan-LEAF-almost-test-ride-impressions-and-the-LEAF-tour
“The charging port is under a flap in the front of the car. Under the flap is two charging ports. One is the standardized J1772 connector which offers “level 1″ and “level 2″ charging, the latter offering 3 hour or so charging speed. The second port is for high speed charging (“level 3″, 25 minutes). It is not currently a standardized port meaning there may be a period of confusion over high speed charging port design. The Nissan officials explained there is a standards committee working on high speed charging port design, and the work is not yet finished. Nissan did not want to delay implementation of high speed charging and it was implied they would swap out the high speed charging port once the standardized design is known.”
The adoption of a high-speed charging standard would benefit all EVs, Volt included (it would charge in much less time with 16kwh of batteries than the 25 minutes to charge the Leaf’s 26kwh).
http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/rgstd/7479
(following a discussion of the J1772 standard):
“The J1772 task force has begun work on specifications for higher-voltage, fast-rate dc charging. “Only the first chapter of the electrification of the vehicle has been written,” said Kissel. “The committee is eager to write the next chapter.”
However, there’s also this:
http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=103562&lk=dm
-12
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:03 pm)(click to show comment)
-1
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:04 pm)Should read are two charging ports. Hey, I *said* it was a slow day….. (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:21 pm)But what are under that flap?
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:21 pm)My friends I have to disagree with you completely on a few points. But I’m with you in spirit because I’m sure you also mean to say that the Volt “hung in there” through the tenacity and hard work of a lot of good ppl. Because no matter how good an idea is if ppl don’t follow through and make sure it happens, and stick with it in difficult times, it will always be just an idea.
More nitpicking? Things that sell themselves makes for a good saying, but not a sustainable business. Ask Corvette guy how many times ppl were seen leaving the car lot for the day when someone asks, you folks doing ok?…and it results in a sale instead of ppl just walking away. Though I’m not claiming ownership of the idea because I’ve also seen ppl who have made up their minds to buy and after meeting a salesman, leave red in the face saying something like, “never in my life will I buy from those…”
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:29 pm)A very good example of “Never assume..”. I’d thought that people would have been assumed necessary for pretty much any any project/endeavor.
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:49 pm)Why should california (already broke) be spending money to subsidize foreign car purchases.
Its insane ,let Japan or nissan cough up the rebates they are the benefactors of the leafs success.
+3
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:52 pm)I dont recall walmart declaring bankruptcy,and i guess you think toyota is the pinnacle of ethics.
Mar 20th, 2010 (12:56 pm)I’m in a very literal ( opposite of literary? ) Mood!!!
Side note: What’s the big flap about any way? Japanese companies are taking the lead to standardize high power, level three ports, several US firms are expected to be on board ( http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/chademo-quick-charge-standards/ ) …addition to PG&E, Portland Electric Co. in Oregon and Southern California Edison have signed on, along with charger manufacturers Aker Wade and AeroVironment.
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:20 pm)Hey Zach,
I mentioned it here a few weeks ago that the LEAF had a second charging connector (Level 3) under the charging door. You must have been away that day.
I’m following the Level 3 stuff pretty closely. It’s been driven by TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Co.) I expect the first US built THINK City’s will also have Level 3 connectors.
On TEPCO and Level 3….see this PDF….
http://www.emc-mec.ca/phev/Presentations_en/S12/PHEV09-S12-3_TakafumiAnegawa.pdf
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:29 pm)GM’s business model didn’t work at scale before and during a carpocalypse. GM went bankrupt and heads rolled, people were laid off, quit, were fired and otherwise lost their jobs, into the worst hiring environment since the great depression. GM’s CEO’s and board were tossed out. Investors, equity holders, bondholders all lost.
Companies go bankrupt all the time and it accelerated greatly during the credit collapse. How much more of a catastrophe would you like to see?
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:31 pm)I sure wish Aptera would have made some better decisions. Now they’ve ousted the founders, hired a CFO with a record of fraud, and placed a CEO in charge who single-handedly lined his pockets while driving Saleen into oblivion.
Today, Aptera is on hold with 80% of it’s workforce laid off, no office and a promisory note on a manufacturing facility balancing on whether they obtain D.O.E. funding.
Get ready to R.I.P. Aptera. So sad – because the vehicle, which had a plug-in hybrid version in the works, was so revolutionary. California – I don’t agree with the earlier poster who chastised thee for incentivising Japanese EVs. As long as you offer the same subsidies to Volters, Tesla model S owners and Aptera drivers – it all works together for good for the air we breathe and the American companies brave enough to thwart Big Oil.
I think the gentleman above, although in a negative mindset – was referring to WalMart’s ethics involving strong-arming Chinese manufacturers into making huge quantities of goods for laughable prices insuring an indentured slave class there, making the American tenet of human rights pathetic , while putting domestic manufacturers out of business, our workers out of work – selling cheap Chinese goods to immigrants and Americans who foolishly shop there to get “good deals” while simultaneiously turning America into the world’s largest debtor nation to China.
Possibly that is what he was alluding to.
Don’t make fun of me re: my tone today – I’ve spent too much time watching Nancy Pelosi and this administration kicking democracy in the rear. Today, we saw Notre Dame’s Catholic nuns along with dozens of orders like theirs – give the thumbs up on government funded ( you and me ) abortion, all in the face of thrusting upon us all a healthcare bill 60% of us are against.
What’s the world coming to?
OK, I know I’m off topic – but when a CFO and CEO bloviate about what future profits may be – it’s a bit dull and a bit of a weak topic for the day.
Three positive notes: 1) It’s sunny and it’s Saturday 2) God loves us 3) GM’s latest ad campaign uses RONALD REAGAN as it’s spokesperson!!!! * What is THAT message saying to the governent and us? *
DISCUSS.
I’m going to have some tea while my Volt is recharging.
RECHARGE! James
IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:32 pm)SHRUG! I just corrected a grammatical error! (lol)
Be well,
Tagamet
No Flap, No Sale!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:38 pm)That when you get really excited, you don’t count too good?
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:41 pm)OT: I’ve been working w/Ford on some projects recently and have been nagging them to find out when the electric Focus will be ready. Most of the egineers and VO people said about 1 to 1.5 years. It would be nice if Ford was as transparent as GM is w/the Volt, but as least its good to know we’ll have another electric option for some in the “near” future.
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:49 pm)LOL – Tag, you just read my posts BEFORE I edit them —- that’s why I spelled GOVERNMENT wrong! LOL
(j’ever notice how hard it is to edit long posts? Like nearly impossible as it fights you scrolling down! – Lesson – K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Simpleton) I’ll try harder to make it shorter…okay?
RECHARGE! James
Mar 20th, 2010 (1:59 pm)Just glad that you got to chuckling!
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
Mar 20th, 2010 (2:01 pm)Absolutely, the more choices, the better.
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
Mar 20th, 2010 (2:19 pm)OK, now why would GM use RONALD REAGAN in it’s TV ads?
Anybody else find that intriguing?
RECHARGE! James
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (2:42 pm)I think that Gorbachov probably never really got over that “Tear down this wall” bit. He put GM up to it? LOL, I don’t know.
Be well,
Tagamet
No ER, No Sale!
Mar 20th, 2010 (2:56 pm)Car web sites gives positive descriptions of the Cruze, and sometime I see them at the streets. They were advertised aggressivly.
But I don’t know anyone who ones a Cruze personally.
One important note: Chevrolet is popular here, and Chevrolet Lacetti was the most popular car produced by not national carmaker in 2009.
Mar 20th, 2010 (3:14 pm)I think I just gave Lyle the Monday article topic ___ “Why Did GM Use Ronald Reagan In It’s TV Ads?”___
I mean, really — it’s important and significant. My read is it is a strong signal to the Obama administration that they “don’t need no stinkin’ oversight and regulation”, and that they’ll use good ol’ supply-side economics ( Reaganomics ) to gain control over itself – and kick socialized auto industry out the door.
RECHARGE! James
IF YOU BUILD THEM THEY WILL COME.
-4
Mar 20th, 2010 (3:26 pm)Somebody is definitely cooking the books here. There needs to be a criminal investigation launched ASAP.
Mar 20th, 2010 (3:37 pm)The auto market is much more competitive than some software markets. Being profitable at all is already a big achievement. Profits for MS Windows and MS Office are more than 80 percent. I think with such a profit a Chevy Volt would cost more than 100000 US dollars.
Mar 20th, 2010 (3:56 pm)“Salesmanship” begins when the customer says “No”.
Though I’d like to believe my golden tongue is the reason all of my customers buy, I am realistic enough to know that it is more likely they have decided, “Gee. This guy seems like he won’t rip me off like the other guys”… So, I just kill them with kindness. If they don’t want to buy, they won’t. If they do, then I will find a way to make it happen. End of story.
+4
Mar 20th, 2010 (4:03 pm)_______________________________________________
That Volt is winning hearts and minds.
Here is an example…
Dom Sagolla, Twitter’s co-creator, owns a Prius but now lusts for the Volt after a Volt test drive. He said:
“So I drive a Prius and I’ve pushed that car and I know its limits and I feel like this (Volt) has a lot more potential actually. I love my car (Prius) but this (Volt) feels like I felt something differently actually. Sport mode, the engine breaking, the handling, center of gravity, it’s all very different very fresh.”
Video source: http://chevrolet.posterous.com/twitter-co-creator-dom-sagolla-drives-chevy-v
The Volt will likely be in high demand as more people learn about the Volt. Economy of scale that will be available for in the manufacturing of future generations of larger production runs of the Volt will make the Volt a profitable portfolio car for GM.
Halo today, money maker tomorrow….Cha Ching!
________________________________________________
Mar 20th, 2010 (4:08 pm)I’m with you! And I get called a ‘dirt bag’ for selling cars.
At least I’m not a Senator! Talk about your liars, thieves and whores!
Pelosi has me beat by a country mile!
As soon as they are done forcing ALL OF US to pay for healthcare for 20 million illegal immigrants (by way of loopholes in that crap of a bill), they are going to give them all amnesty next! Jesus.. Please help us!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (4:26 pm)_________________________________________________________
That Volt is winning hearts and minds.
Example…
Dom Sagolla, Twitter’s co-creator, owns a Prius but now lusts for the Volt after a Volt test drive. He said:
“So I drive a Prius and I’ve pushed that car and I know its limits and I feel like this (Volt) has a lot more potential actually. I love my car (Prius) but this (Volt) feels like I felt something differently actually. Sport mode, the engine breaking, the handling, center of gravity, it’s all very different very fresh.”
Video source: http://chevrolet.posterous.com/twitter-co-creator-dom-sagolla-drives-chevy-v
The Volt will likely be in high demand as more people learn about the Volt. The higher economy of scale and lower battery cost that will be available in future Volt generations will make the Volt a profitable portfolio car for GM.
Halo today, money maker tomorrow….Cha Ching!
___________________________________________________
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (6:16 pm)GM has built a great team, a great, innovative product, and have essentially a clean slate to sell through. That’s a recipe for success. If they follow some of the Prius’ lead, they will find a growing market in early adopters, green believers, EV fans, and auto-pioneers. Like the Prius it will take a couple years for the general public to see the Volt as the “cool” American enviro/energy independent car. Once it obtains position as the innovative leader, with astonishing fuel economy – sales will grow fast.
GM’s biggest issue may be how to meet early demand. Tesla had the same problem. They are doing great, with a hot new EV at half the cost of the roadster coming next year. There is also a lot of unseen support for EV infrastructure. Just look at the investment to build charging stations worldwide. Those investments are not in a vehicle category slated to fail.
Good work GM. Welcome CFO Greg. You have a lot of fans out here ready to make it happen.
Mar 20th, 2010 (7:04 pm)I think you’re wrong, Tag. As the article says, only Tesla vehicles are on the road now and eligible for the full $5000. The article incorrectly indicates that trucks might gobble bigger slices, but those come from a separate quota. There are “neighborhood” vehicles available now that can nibble away at the total, but they get a relative pittance.
What the article did not say is that only all-electric vehicles can get the full $5000. The Volt will be limited to $3000. But they both do come from the same pool of money. Which ever vehicle really gets to the market first in California will get the lion’s share of the rebates. My prediction is that 900 +/- 100 lucky California purchasers of Volts and/or Leafs will get the rebate, and because I don’t know the timing I have little idea what the breakdown will be between those two. I also predict that due to budget woes there will be no more offers like this for a while.
I sure do want to be one of the first several hundred CA Volt buyers!
Mar 20th, 2010 (7:28 pm)I agree that nuclear needs to be an increasing part of our electrical energy source; I agree that thorium has significant promise; I agree that electric transportation will be taking off in the 2015-2018 time frame. What I don’t believe is that we will have any thorium-based reactors online in the US, except as pilot projects, much before 2025.
I favor continuing nuclear research, I favor building reactors ASAP using current technology, and I favor shutting down coal-based power plants as quickly as possible. Until and unless the nation goes to a massive electrified train infrastructure, much of the power requirement for electric vehicles will be at night, and we can absorb a lot of that with our existing power infrastructure. So the short-term requirement is coal to nuclear conversion, augmented by renewables, and followed later by natural gas conversion to nuclear.
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:04 pm)It really is amazing how the VOLT project has met milestones and kept on track… I believe it’s the technology and the dedicated GM people behind it. I’m sure those same people can’t wait till GM is free of the government loans… although the foreign competition is still building plants in the US and paying NO US TAXES…while we close 30 American plants that are paying billions in US taxes. I don’t see how any American companies will be around in 10 years if the American people don’t make Unfair Trade a priority to address soon. The US will continue to lose jobs and standard of living if this Unfair Trade continues. I will buy a VOLT if I can get my hands on one… but like many American products we may not have a American choice if things continue on the same track they are on now.
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:28 pm)Thanks for the extra info on the fund. All I had to go on was the article, which states:
…”In fact, at $5,000 each, the new program will have initial funding for only 820 battery cars before the money runs out, as the cash-for-clunkers program did. The funds will disappear even faster if some early birds buy Smith Electric or EVI trucks, because those vehicles are eligible for $20,000 rebates. The $109,000 Tesla Roadster is the only car on the state’s list that is both highway-capable and available now…”
Just going by what I read in the papers. I’m glad that the Volt and LEAF qualify.
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:31 pm)Hmmm, I haven’t seen any new GM commercials with Ronald Reagan clips. What GM cars are in these?
I do know that GE is currently running new ads honoring “The Gipper”. It’s part of a two-year celebration of his 100th birthday. “Dutch” was a GE spokesman in the 50′s and early 60′s. Here’s a link that mentions that the old “GE Theatre” tapes were found and restored for the Reagan Museum…
http://www.wwhotv.com/dpps/city_buzz/movies/reagan-ge-theater-tapes-restored_3279145
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:44 pm)Yep, I’ve seen the GE ad as well. Nice ad.
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (8:53 pm)WORKS FOR ME! Thanks Kent. One less person wanting a Volt.
Mar 20th, 2010 (9:12 pm)Corvette Guy – The more I read your threads the more I know you and I think very much alike. Keep posting!!
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (9:51 pm)Alright, now we’re talking! Free copy of Windows 7 with every VOLT purchase! And that’s the Ultimate Version !!!!
Try and get that with a NISSAN LEAF, ha!
GO EV !!!
+2
Mar 20th, 2010 (10:04 pm)All the shrieking is confusing for all kinds of reasons. You’re just not being very clear about what part of the Health Care Bill you find more offensive. Is it the part that cuts the federal deficit by $1.2T (that’s a lot of zeros) or the part that extends health coverage to 32M Americans?
But here is the deal. Rather than point out how idiotic your claims are, I’m going to make you an offer. Just a little wager. How about $1000 on whether the Health Care Bill covers illegal immigrants. If you actually believe your own BS you’ll take it. If you don’t — and I actually find it hard to believe you’re that stupid — you’ll find some reason to not take the bet. So what is it! Time to put up or shut up!
And to show what a nice guy I am, I’ll actually give you the language of the Act that you might want to read before taking the bet. Find a copy of the Act online and search for the phrase “Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.”
If, after doing a bit more research, you still want to take the wager, WE’RE ON BABY! I could use a $1000. And while you’re at it, do you want to put down $1000 and take Kansas over Northern Iowa in the NCAA Tournament? I’ve heard Kansas is a shoe-in!
+1
Mar 20th, 2010 (11:49 pm)Thanks for the tip! Anybody hear any word on whether we can get carpool stickers for the Volt?!? I’d love a carpool sticker.
Ironically, the Volt would get better mileage stuck in traffic than zipping down the carpool lane, where for most other cars the opposite is true, but eh, whatever. I’d still like a carpool sticker.
Mar 21st, 2010 (2:26 am)A study released Monday by UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research reported that the number of uninsured Californians
jumped by more than 25% from 2007 to 2009. In the earlier year, before the recession began, 6.4 million Californians were
uninsured. By last year, that number had risen to a staggering 8.2 million, or 24.3% of the state’s population.
Worse yet, those numbers are almost certain to rise. Anthem Blue Cross, the state’s largest vendor of individual policies,
recently announced it was raising premiums by nearly 40%, and with the governor determined to strike children from the
state healthcare rolls to diminish the state’s chronic deficit, it’s entirely possible that nearly 3 in 10 Californians may
be without insurance by year’s end.
If California ever needed the federal government to enact a universal plan of its own, that time is now.
To be sure, the Democrats’ plan wouldn’t ride to the rescue immediately or completely. The exchanges, on which people will
be able to buy policies — with the assistance of government subsidies if needed — won’t be up and running until 2014, and
many reforms won’t take place until then. Undocumented immigrants, millions of whom live in California, won’t be able to
buy policies on the exchanges, which means that many of them will remain uninsured. ( http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/18/opinion/la-oe-meyerson18-2010mar18 )
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Mar 21st, 2010 (2:41 am)If someone decided they wanted a standard light water reactor today, they could start the process and maybe get power to the grid by 2020 if all goes well. No one is seriously (and by that I mean a utility with money) looking at thorium right now and the licensing process for this technology will take much longer than a standard light water reactor.
And, regardless of the popular science level articles written on the subject, when push comes to shove there are alot of issues that come up with a new reactor design. Just because we ran something in the 1950s or 1960s at a DOE or DOD lab does not make it a viable technology for today. Many of these advanced reactor designs suffer from material issues due to the very high temperatures and these issues lead to safety issues when the plants are run for many years.
The point of my post is…. Don’t look for thorium reactors on US power grids anytime soon (2025 is soon), even as pilot projects.
Mar 21st, 2010 (5:41 am)
Mar 21st, 2010 (5:55 am)In regards to :”lawfully present in the US”.
Isn’t lawful something that can change over time? Why not say “has paid into the system since birth”?
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Mar 21st, 2010 (7:27 am)I think that it is both fair and accurate to say that many of us hold disparate political views. Arguing about them does nothing to further the discussion of the Volt. Antipathy just drives wedges between individuals and among us as a group – and weakens us. JMO.
Be well and be cool,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!
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Mar 21st, 2010 (7:35 am)Sorry, I agree, whole heartedly.
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Mar 21st, 2010 (7:41 am)I agree completely, Tag!
—I also want to urge everyone here to please resist making or replying to distracting politically-oriented posts on this forum. Lets keep it about the remarkable Chevy Volt!
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Mar 21st, 2010 (7:51 am)“New CFO Expects GM to be Profitable This Year”
(cheers…haaa…cheers) Al Michals roars, ” Do you believe in miracles! Do you believe in miracles!”
Well…maybe not but a profit with an asterisk is better than none. It would be interesting to see a peak at the real numbers. Whitacre seems like a hard charging, goals oriented leader. I’ld be surprised if they don’t “see” a profit one way or another. Toyotas fumbling and 12-13M SAR makes it a lot more plausible if certain one time expenses…cough-Hummer… are handled…cough-Saturn…creatively. Between Whitacre’s proclaimation and the fact that sales will continue to be hurt by the anti-gubment folks until the government starts divesting itself, I find it hard to believe Liddell will be able use as much prudence as he’s professing.
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Mar 21st, 2010 (8:01 am)Eco-T and Nasaman,
Thanks for the shared views. Let’s keep it focused like a laser on the VOLT (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
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Mar 21st, 2010 (8:22 am)Ditto, you know I agree as well. For those “with disparate political views,” this is bound to be a stressful day. Keep the peace.
Believe and be well,
Michael
Mar 21st, 2010 (9:37 am)I would like to get your personal opinion on the LFTR specifically, not other breeder reactors.
I most certainly agree with your arguments that it will take much longer to finish research, certify, safety, and build LFTRs than to just build already approved LWRs But should this be a reason to carry on building reactors that create radio-active waste that is being a serious expense to deal with, and the LFTR people believe that LFTRs will ultimately be much cheaper to build and run. Since lower cost also means lower profits, I can see that the entrenched nuclear community would appose anything that would reduce their profits. Do you agree with the above arguments? Is your personal opinion that proceeding on LFTR development is a good idea or not? If not I would prefer a technical argument, rather than a political one.
Mar 21st, 2010 (10:34 am)I’ll just end it with this:
Pelosi and Obama will not tell us what is really in the healthcare bill until AFTER it is passed, then they will post it on the Internet.
I invite any and all of you to stop by my dealership and sign a 1Trillion dollar Purchase Agreement, and after that I will let you know what car you just bought!
(wow! I do talk like a Senator!)
Mar 22nd, 2010 (2:34 am)It’s Chris Liddell and not Greg Liddell. Just saying.
Mar 22nd, 2010 (4:14 am)The quick answer is that I cannot answer you very well. My “Nuclear” experience is simply based on the fact the I am surrounded by nuclear engineers all day. I work in Nuclear Saftey but my specialty is heat transfer and fluid mechanics. I do energy balances on plants as it relates to saftey. I learn about each plant as I have to analyze them and I have not studied the LFTR. I have studied a few of the up and coming concepts, like pebble bed and HTGRs in general and although they look great on paper, when the layers are peeled back you find thorny issues to deal with. My comments on the LFTR are simply based on my general experience with nuclear issues and not the LFTR specifically.
I am fairly certain that the DOE is looking hard at these types of reactors and I hope they will push hard for them if they work out all of the details.
I don’t see the nuclear waste from Light water reactors as an unsurmountable issue. I also like the idea that the US has hundreds or thousands of reactor years worth of experience running Light water reactors safely.
I hope our country continues to research alternative reactor concepts and maybe one day we could build something better than we have now. But right now, we need cheap reliable electricity and I hope we can build a fleet of the next generation of safer light water reactors to carry us forward for the next 50 years.
Mar 22nd, 2010 (10:25 am)“I’m from Missouri”
Having said that:
“God send that it shall be true”
LJGTVWOTR!! NMST!
Mar 22nd, 2010 (12:32 pm)Don’t let the CFO near the software for the Volt.
http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/windowsxp/articles/624/1/If-Microsoft-Built-Cars
Mar 22nd, 2010 (1:09 pm)That’s some serious current. I didn’t think current battery technology could handle that. Don’t cross the streams!
Please correct me: foggy memory, is it true that DC is more dangerous than AC because it locks you in one place while you are ZAPped, instead of AC which triggers muscle contraction (spasms?) that throw you away from the source. No, I won’t try it out.
DC: 370V 125A
15min for 60km = (11.56kwh) = $1 + tax, markup,… = $2?
30min for 100km = (23kwh) = $2 = $3.50?
http://www.emc-mec.ca/phev/Presentations_en/S12/PHEV09-S12-3_TakafumiAnegawa.pdf
(Page 10)
btw, no no no no no talk about healthcare please please please! We all have itchy trigger fingers and lots of important things to say on the subject but… please!
Mar 22nd, 2010 (5:37 pm)Thank you for your response. As this thread is getting old, I will probably bug you again in the future about this, and ask you if you have at least watched the video I posted. royharvie@gmail.com
Take Care
Mar 22nd, 2010 (5:55 pm)Can’t answer for sure, but certainly electricity can kill. I am probably lucky to be alive given all the shocks I have received, mostly AC. Once I got burned across one knuckle touching two posts with 350VDC had two little round scabs for over a year. I got quite a violent shock when I was working on a 600Vac circuit for flourescent lights in a factory. Thought I had already turned off the power, didn’t knock me off the ladder though. Used to work for an electrician who would put his fingers lightly across an outlet just to see if it was live, said it was ok as long as your fingers were dry. To be more specific it is the current level that is important. A light touch and I have always recoiled away, but I have never actually grasped a live conductor.