NEWS UPDATE: See also 2012 Volt Press Release
Citing increased demand this year for energy efficient vehicles precipitated by rising fuel prices, and its ability to respond quickly, Ford announced yesterday it would raise its annual U.S. production capacity for “electrified” vehicles from 35,000 to over 100,000 by 2013.
While the Focus EV is due later this year, the spotlight was also on four other hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Central among these will be Ford’s five-passenger C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid which for the first time were announced that they would be offered in North America. A seven-passenger ICE version slated for the U.S. however will not be offered.
The car has proven a hot seller overseas, and in a separate statement, Ford said it will increase C-Max production in Valencia, Spain to continue to fill strong European demand. Since its late 2010 launch, Ford said it has sold 70,000 units in Europe, and taken orders for 30,000 more.
Ford C-Max Hybrid – based on the Global C platform utilized by the 2012 Focus.
The company said it is now convinced the U.S. market is ready for American-made versions which will complement a broadened selection of electrified vehicles.
“This is a big deal for us because we are seeing a huge growing appetite for fuel efficient green vehicles,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of marketing, sales and service. “The number of people indicating fuel economy is the main reason continues to rise.”
The C-Max line is expected to compete with the Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF.
In all, Ford has committed $135 million to build its five electrified vehicles which include also a version of its Transit Connect van and another model not yet announced (possibly a hybridized 2013 Ford Escape crossover).
Ford C-Max Energi.
The initiative is said to be responsible for 220 new green technology jobs at three Michigan plants. These will include 170 positions at the Rawsonville and Van Dyke Transmission plants, and more than 50 new “electrified-vehicle engineers” which have come on board in Dearborn during the past year.
Ford however said it canceled plans for a North American seven-passenger C-Max “multi-activity vehicle” with a four-cylinder gasoline engine, meaning the C-Max will be one type or another of five-passenger hybrid only. In Europe, a seven-passenger “Grand C-Max” is yet available, and Ford said it will increase European production of it and five-passenger versions due to strong demand – but not so for North America.
“The [U.S.] market is moving and we are shifting with the market,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford’s director of electrification programs and engineering to Automotive News yesterday. “Our choice is to increase the capacity on the sales of the smaller version for this fuel economy conscious consumer, and we believe there is more market in this than the seven-passenger small van.”
The seven-passenger C-Max (essentially a European Grand C-Max) was canceled for North America. Two additional seats in a third row and the sliding doors distinguish it from the five-seater.
Estimated mileage for the new vehicles was not announced, but the C-Max Hybrid’s efficiency will reportedly exceed that of the Ford Fusion which is rated at 41 mpg.
Both the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max plug-in hybrid will utilize lithium-ion batteries. The latter will use a larger battery pack, but Ford did not specify capacity for either.
Ford did say the C-Max Hybrid will be able to travel at a higher all-electric speed than the Ford Fusion Hybrid’s 47 mph, although it did not say how much higher.
C-Max Energi.
While vague on some specs, the company left no ambiguity that it is posturing these vehicles as competitors to the Volt.
“The C-MAX Energi, featuring a 240-volt charging system, will be able to fully recharge faster than Chevy Volt,” Ford said, “and is being engineered to deliver more overall driving range than any other plug-in or extended range electric vehicle. It is also targeted to achieve AT-PZEV [Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle] status.”
Another critical detail lacking in Ford’s press announcement was pricing, but it did say it will reduce projected MSRP thanks to an estimated 30-percent cut in production costs next year.
Part of the cost savings is because Ford has designed the hybrids’ components in-house, and will assemble their systems itself.
C-Max Energi.
In contrast, the transmission in the 2011 Ford Fusion, 2011 Escape and 2011 Lincoln MKZ are supplied by Aisin Seiki Co., of Japan.
Ford likewise developed its own battery systems that will be manufactured in Rawsonville in the suburbs of Detroit for the C-Max Hybrid, and plug-in version. Previously Ford’s hybrid batteries were made in Mexico.
“Both the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi models will be built alongside the all-new 2012 Ford Focus and Focus Electric at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich.,” Ford said, “the first plant in the world to produce gasoline-powered vehicles, full-electric vehicles, hybrid and plug-in hybrids under one roof.”
Source: Ford, Ford (again), Automotive News, Edmunds Auto Observer.
###
UPDATE: See Chevrolet Press release in today’s GM-Volt post prior to this one.
Chevrolet is now taking orders for 2012 Volts in the entire U.S. – cut price by $1,005, adds options.
This entry was posted on Friday, June 10th, 2011 at 5:55 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+8
Jun 10th, 2011 (6:47 am)“and is being engineered to deliver more overall driving range than any other plug-in or extended range electric vehicle.”
To me this is really only significant if it can drive at highway speeds and at normal acceleration in All Electric Mode. Cars like the Plug in Prius that have a large battery and can only hit 62 before the ICE kicks in are useless to me and probably most others with a mostly highway commute every day. On the other hand if your commute is stop and go or less than 60 MPH it might work out well for you.
+9
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:01 am)This is excellent news for more American EV and hybrid vehicles.
I was a Ford fan for a short time. I had a 1980 Mustang which was a special model year because it had five different engine choices: an I4, a turbo I4, an I6 (my Mustang engine), a V6 and a V8. I tried to buy a Ford Escape Hybrid in 2009, but every local Ford dealer I visited didn’t have it, and tried to sell me an Explorer instead. I chose to visit my local GM dealer and bought my Equinox, and I am very happy with it.
But I do wish Ford much success with its line of EV and hybrids, so American have more choices to select from, drive electric, save gas, and keep their money in America. If Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were alive today, both would be very proud of what the company is doing now.
Raymond
+2
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:08 am)That’s a misconception.
The gas engine doesn’t usually run at speeds faster than 100 km/h (62.1 mph). It simply spins to balance out the RPM of the power-carriers within the PSD (Power Split Device) without consuming fuel.
Think about it. How much horsepower is actually needed to maintain a cruising speed of 70 mph? The 60 kW (80 hp) electric motor can easily handle that. True, there is a bit of efficiency loss even with no-compression spinning (valves open). But the end result is still well in excess of 100 MPG anyway.
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:33 am)The article seemed to imply faster charging AND more (EV) range, but my guess is that the gas tank size is simply larger (than the Volt). Faster charging means a smaller battery and less EV rang than the Volt.
+18
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:45 am)In re-reading these FMC announcements, “Overall range” (anyone can make a bigger gas tank) “Recharges faster” (anyone can make a far smaller battery than Volt’s battery) mean that their hybrids just might have a slightly bigger battery than they do now. 135 million is not going to get you anywhere close to a Voltec drive train. They just really do not have the funding to be able to do anything close to a Voltec drive train. No way. If they did, they would be saying so and bragging on it seven million ways to Sunday.
This announcement has the same technical credibility as what’s-her-name’s statements on “Volt battery fade up Pike’s Peak [passing five semi's in a row]“. The fact is, that FMC just can not do better than that, because they had not begun to design-plan for it five years ago. Instead of being dazzled with brilliance, the public is supposed to be impressed with something ………very much less.
Nothing on the horizon (being aware of FMC smoke and mirrors) is anywhere close to the advancements of Voltec. All those marketers have is a bag of tricks, but they won’t work to trick an increasingly educated public.
The critical mass of Volts being out here, once the numbers hit, I’d say, about 40,000 or so, the distinction of what is and is not “electrified” will become accurately defined by everyone, including the marketers at FMC, who, by the very definition of what their job descriptions are, must all be the last to “get it”.
+6
Jun 10th, 2011 (8:05 am)GM could easily kill this Ford PR stunt if they announced the MPV5 will go into production!!!!
NPNS
Have Outlet – Ready For A Blue Volt In Youngstown, Ohio!
+7
Jun 10th, 2011 (8:17 am)From the article: “…and another model not yet announced (possibly a hybridized 2013 Ford Escape crossover).”
A Ford Escape PHEV was what I was hoping they would bring out all along. Nothing against the Energi but I just think an Escape with decent ground clearance, possible all wheel drive, based on the good looks of the Ford Vertrek concept in last year’s auto show, and 70 mpg efficiency would blow the roof off of the industry. Maybe I can still hope.
+14
Jun 10th, 2011 (8:34 am)From the article: “Ford likewise developed its own battery systems that will be manufactured in Rawsonville in the suburbs of Detroit for the C-Max Hybrid, and plug-in version. Previously Ford’s hybrid batteries were made in Mexico.”
GM needs to follow this example as well. Make the guts and the goods in America, and save on cost. Music to my ears.
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (8:36 am)Sounds like we will be getting more equipment orders from Ford to set up these lines. The Focus lines are already set up.
On the C-max, seems to me that Ford should make the plug-in version more distinct than the non-plug-in version. They look identical.
+4
Jun 10th, 2011 (8:49 am)They are already doing that. Batteries will be Holland, Mi; engine from Flint, assembly in Detroit.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:01 am)Gsned57,
“and is being engineered to deliver more overall driving range than any other plug-in or extended range electric vehicle.”
It has a bigger gas tank. This says nothing about AER.
“Quicker recharge” means smaller battery.
+2
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:09 am)You can’t have a party for one! These cars will be great, especially the plug-in, assuming that it lives up to the announcement, which I suspect will not be the case. No matter. The more the merrier.
I share kdawg’s concern about not having a distinctive body style for the plug-in. Conventional wisdom says this is one reason why the Prius has been so much more successful than its nearest competitor, the Civic Hybrid.
With respect to whether any of these cars will in fact compete with the Volt, as Dan Petit points out, “overall range” and “faster recharge” may just be another way of saying “small battery”. Nice catch Dan.
+2
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:14 am)Have they said what the MSRP is going to be on the Focus Electric? It is coming out in a couple months, isn’t it? Or the range using the EPA figures? That is a sporty looking BEV (not counting the much cooler, but out of reach for most of us, Tesla), admittedly with the LEAF as its only real competition the bar is set kind of low for the next year or two.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:22 am)I see the “ford” story as a glass that is half full. “Another critical detail lacking in Ford’s press announcement was pricing, but it did say it will reduce projected MSRP thanks to an estimated 30-percent cut in production costs next year.”
Hoping that GM can build Volts that much cheaper! 41000 *.7 = 28700!
Effen 28,700!
28700, 28700! -7,500 gmmt thingy 21200!!
COOOL!111!1
+7
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:27 am)I don’t think this is correct. It is true that the engine, which is connected to the planetary carrier, must run in order to prevent the sun gear from turning so fast that it burns out the smaller motor generator. But to slow the rotation of the sun gear you have to apply torque to the carrier, and for that you need an engine which is running.
As a practical matter there isn’t any downside to having the engine come on above 60 MPH to slow the sun gear. The battery is so small and the stored energy so limited that it couldn’t sustain high speeds for any length of time anyway, so the engine would have to come on anyway.
+5
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:30 am)Given the incredibly small numbers Ford is talking about the Focus EV is a non-event. By the time Ford and Honda and Toyota get around to bringing out their test EVs Nissan will be making more Leafs in a week than these guys will be making in a year. Combined.
Color be bored.
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:33 am)Yeah I know that much of the Volt’s components will be made in America, but as it stands now, currently, the domestic content is low, (I think 40% if I’m not mistaken). If GM indeed stands by their word and gets these U.S. battery and components factories up and running, (and I have no reason to believe they will change directions on that) then they will end up with a higher domestic content too. All good.
-3
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:37 am)That situation already exists in the current Prius. Drive down a mountain and watch what happens. It’s just a fuel-cut mode. The plug-in Prius simply has more electricity available to maintain it longer.
+4
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:38 am)Schmeltz,
Here’s some #’s from the “other” site
+11
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:46 am)The Chevy VOLT will be the benchmark that all of these other contenders will be measured to. Good luck to them! Increased competition can only force GM to build more and for a lower price. The MPV-5 (aka: ‘Amp’) will easily become “mom’s crossover of choice”. My wife has already spoken on that.
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:54 am)So wheres the Plug-in Escape they have been testing for so many years? IT would be the only SUV plug-in and a hot seller with no competition.Everyone dont need or want a small sedan.
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (10:12 am)I read somewhere that the charging rate of the Ford EV is twice that of LEAF and Volt. Something like 6.6 vs 3.3.
I’ll see if I can find the reference.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (10:32 am)Ford may be planning to charge the battery at 30 amps instead of 15. The auto industry should compare vehicle charge times by including the number of miles per hour the battery accepts from the charge station.
No Plug = No Sale
Jun 10th, 2011 (10:36 am)Some more info. gleaned from an old article in USA Today about the Ford Escape PHEV’s being tested…
From USA Today, Jan. 8, 2008:
“Here’s what you probably want to know first about the Escape PHEV: 55 miles per gallon, according to Ford engineers’ on-board computer.
That was in 23 miles of snowy suburban driving that included rolling hills, hard acceleration and slick-street wheel spin just for the fun of it. And here’s a nugget: Escape’s traction control actually allows some wheel spin, which is good on many surfaces. Too often today’s traction systems in nanny vehicles don’t.
Ford’s Greg Frenette, chief engineer for plug-in and fuel-cell vehicles, says up to 120 mpg in town is reasonable in flatter, moderate driving. He forecasts 70 to 80 mpg on the highway, where the gas engine works more, and 30 miles of light driving up to 40 mph on a charged battery alone.”
So this may give a picture of some of the capabilities of a PHEV Energi or Escape should they chose to offer one. These will be the volume players in the market for some time to come until battery costs can be lowered IMO.
Source link:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2008-01-24-ford-escape-plugin-hybrid_N.htm
+4
Jun 10th, 2011 (10:49 am)Here’s the info.
http://fordfocuselectric.com/2011/01/08/ford-to-sell-its-home-electric-car-chargers-at-best-buy/
The Nissan LEAF has a 3.3 kw 240-v charger which takes about 8 hours to recharge the battery, The Ford Focus Electric will use a 6.6 kw, 32-amp 240-v charger allowing recharge in half the time.
Jun 10th, 2011 (10:49 am)Looks like a lot of the sites are getting this wrong.
These are not newly unvieled hybrid/plugins. They were revealed in detroit auto show. Ford has just scrapped the plans of making the 7-seater ICE only van.
Jun 10th, 2011 (10:52 am)Makes sense if you’re driving down a mountain. It’s just like being in neutral. The difference is when you go uphill what’s providing the torque?
Jun 10th, 2011 (11:10 am)This is right as kdawg’s citation makes clear. However, by the time the Ford EV comes out the Leaf will also have 6.6 kW charging. It’s already more or less baked in. No real advantage for Ford on this count.
The small batteries on these hybrids can’t be charged at 6.6 kW. That much juice would be a 4C charge which would fry them in a hurry.
Jun 10th, 2011 (11:17 am)Yup. Funny how the operative conditions necessary for the engine not to engage have narrowed dramatically. The downhill couldn’t be too steep either. It’s how fast the sun gear is turning not in which direction it’s turning.
The planetary setup used by Toyota and Ford more or less require the engine to engage at 60 MPH to avoid damaging the small motor generator. Again this isn’t a big deal because the battery is too small to power the car at this speed for very long anyway. Fully charged you might be able to go 4 miles at that speed or above.
+14
Jun 10th, 2011 (11:24 am)This is exciting news. What’s important here is there has been a shift from automakers arguing about whether or not EV’s can find a market, to arguing about whose EV charges faster, goes farther, is better.
LET THE RACE BEGIN!
+6
Jun 10th, 2011 (11:43 am)They won’t make me give up my Volt, but it’s better than buying a Toyota, Nissan, or Mitsubishi IMHO.
Jun 10th, 2011 (11:47 am)#19
So how can Ford gear up for this for $135 million? And 170 people to produce all of this stuff? How does that work?
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (12:09 pm)Ford’s doing a lot of things right these days: faster response times to the mktplace, which includes flexible manufacturing, greatly improved design, huge economies of scale, dramatically improved financials, etc. All that being said, I sold my F stk a while ago. Good thing, as it’s down a lot from its high (like GM).
Nice artice from Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20110610/AUTO01/106100339/1148/Ford-to-triple-electrics-by-2013
From the article:
“The way we’re executing our electric vehicles is a little different than other companies,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s vice president of marketing, speaking at the company’s Van Dyke Transmission plant in Sterling Heights. “We’re not electrifying a certain vehicle and making a science project for a few people. We’re electrifying our core (models).” [explains their fast time-to-mkt and cheaper development cost. I like this approach A LOT]
Jun 10th, 2011 (12:14 pm)Good question. I don’t know the answer. But on the Ford Focus.. making the electric version was as simple as designing the tooling to run it down the same line as the regular Focus. This saves a lot of cost. (edit: well, i’m oversimplifying it, but you get my point)
Jun 10th, 2011 (12:23 pm)The best part about FORD’s effort is that they are designing AND BUILDING the cars in the US.
Very good to hear!
Are you listening GM?
Jun 10th, 2011 (12:38 pm)For what it’s worth, I dug up this published patent application today which appears to be directed to the C-MAX Energi’s total range and blended MPG algorithms.
http://evtechpatents.com/?p=150
I like the idea of a total efficiency number, like MPG, that also takes into account electric use. I wish the Volt had something like this.
Based on what’s already out there, I think it’s dubious that Ford will ultimately get any patent protection on these formulas.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (12:48 pm)UPDATE: See Chevrolet Press release in today’s GM-Volt post prior to this one.
Chevrolet is now taking orders for 2012 Volts in the entire U.S. – cut price by $1,005, adds options.
-9
Jun 10th, 2011 (12:59 pm)The elephant in this room ….. price, of course.
My guess: $25k to $28k (before any tax credit).
And, I would also guess that the total fueling cost (gas + electricity) at the end of the year will be less than what you’d spend with the volt.
If I’m guessing correctly, then the Volt will become “old technology and old news” very quickly.
+2
Jun 10th, 2011 (1:19 pm)If that is true, there is a downside to faster charging and that is a shorter battery life span.
Jun 10th, 2011 (2:08 pm)Funny how on-paper assumptions differ so much from real-world data.
My commute with the PHV started with a full charge. I drive a few blocks to the highway, merged on, then cruised at 70 MPH. After 9 miles of that, I reached the 55 MPH section…and still had a little bit of EV remaining. The entire drive was 16.5 miles. The resulting average was 166 MPG.
Jun 10th, 2011 (2:31 pm)Not saying I’m going to go jump on one of these, but it is news like this that makes me happy I leased the Volt. I can’t wait to see what kind of goodies are going to be available in 2014!
+4
Jun 10th, 2011 (2:36 pm)And here I thought outsourcing lowered cost…Someone page silicon valley.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (3:37 pm)2012 Volt Q & A invite –
After I cleared it with Rob, I posted this below the 2012 Volt press release mentioned earlier today.
QUESTIONS … ?
I see some already.
If this leaves you with questions about the 2012 Volt, please write them in the comment section, and I’ll see if I can you get some answers over the weekend from GM’s Rob Peterson.
If your questions are about proprietary, or not-yet-announced things, he will not be able to answer those. Also, if we get a lot of replies, I may pick a top 5-10 list so as not to swamp him on the weekend with extra work.
-Jeff
+2
Jun 10th, 2011 (3:52 pm)#42
No s**t! +1
Actually, someone referenced a study here recently saying that outsourcing had become much less attractive because unit labor costs here were converging with, or in some case going below, those in China. It seems that recent economic conditions have encouraged large “productivity” gains in the U.S., while compensation has remained stagnant or in some cases fallen. Meanwhile much less productive manufacturing methods in China have combined with increasing labor militancy and costs to raise their unit costs.
I dunno if it’s true at all, but it made very interesting reading.
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:26 pm)I see more a new competitor for GM, who should do one better by lowering prices and offering more Voltec models. As many here have posted before, the first EREV SUV wins the next EV prize. Ford has the Escape and GM has the Equinox, and both have electric powertrains in test vehicles.
A EREV truck must comes next.
Raymond
+3
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:37 pm)LauraM,
Outsourcing used to save GM/Ford/Chrysler a lot of money because they had agreed to high wages with the unions. Now after recession and bankruptcy, the unions have been more reasonable. If labor is near equal, it is cheaper to avoid the middleman and easier to monitor quality.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (7:58 pm)#46
True that. +1
And never mind the shipping costs. Every time the price of oil goes up it costs more to ship stuff from China, et al.
+1
Jun 10th, 2011 (9:46 pm)Bought the wife’s Mercury Mariner Hybrid in 06′ and there was talk of a plug-in version. Hymotion was advertising it’s L-12 pack for Escape/Mariner and L-5 for the Prius. Later, the L-12 disappeared and the L-5 pack is their only offering. Disappointing. -1 Hymotion.
On the plus side, the Mariner Hybrid did deliver better fuel economy than the Saturn Vue it replaced (26 or better vs. 22). It’s also been problem-free (100K+ on the odometer). +1 to Ford for that.
Bring on the competition. Also looking forward to internal competition among GM vehicles.
+1
Jun 11th, 2011 (1:00 am)I’m very glad to see that Ford and GM are going green. I’m really disappointed with Chrysler though. I have been loyal to Chrysler for most of my life because my father and brother spent a combined 57 years working for Chrysler. Chrysler is in my blood. It’s very disappointing to see that Chrysler decision makers are focused mainly on producing boxy SUVs and other gas guzzlers.
+1
Jun 11th, 2011 (1:18 am)If that Ford C Max Plug-in Hybrid van can drive in between 55 or 60 MPH on the highway in electric mode before it kicks into gas then that sure would be a winner for sure and I hope these cars and vans are priced in between $25,000-$30,000 dollars US so more people can afford them but it would be even better if they could set the price as low as in the low $20,000 dollar range just to say folks would you agree with me? But most likely if there’s a good competition price out there most likely my first guess at the beginning on my comment for price range will be where it will be at most just to say only time will tell when these new vehicles come out in the future?
Jun 11th, 2011 (6:30 am)While vague on some specs, the company left no ambiguity that it is posturing these vehicles as competitors to the Volt.
If I were a Volt, I would be very happy with a competitor that can only do 62 MPH before having to burn gasoline. Maybe Ford should go back to Le Mans experimental racing.
+1
Jun 11th, 2011 (6:41 am)carcus3,
If the cost of Volt came down too quickly, it might indicate to some that it is not well made.
If economy of scale increases at 80 percent of what is planned, then I would be happy to see the cost come down 2,500 dollars a year for the next three years. (It’s only been six months as of this point, of course.)
Voltec technologies are so well developed and patented, that in my technical opinion, FMC is not going to be anywhere near the forefront here. Obsolescence is not in play either, since the “backwards compatibility” of the battery and future battery design totally bypass the rates of obsolescence factors. Bob Lutz advised this site of that factor, and from observing and working “hands on” with GM design compatibilities for the last forty years in fact, GM routinely eliminates all those concerns entirely.
Competition is a good thing. But:
If FMC doesn’t have the money to do that, (and FMC doesn’t), then the next best thing *not to do* is to have marketers formulate reverse engineered science fiction. Bad science is not something that marketers do well. Especially as the audience acquires an increasingly technically-informed mindset.
Jun 11th, 2011 (7:05 am)Me too… leaves more gas for doing stuff like this:
http://www.facebook.com/cadillac?sk=app_159655680755615
+1
Jun 11th, 2011 (7:36 am)I just read a news release over on Science Daily, that a Detroit metals specialist who is self taught has developed a high strength steel that is 30 percent lighter and 7 percent stronger than the hardest steel on the market. He calls it “Flash Bainite”, and that is the question I want to ask Rob when the Q & A interview is on. (But I have a seminar to teach, so I can’t ask it myself.)
*
*
Q.: Are you going to consider the use of Flash Bainite steel into Volt/Volt CUV?
*
*
Imagine a Volt that is twenty percent lighter. That might go a long way toward a 60 mile electric range design.
+1
Jun 11th, 2011 (10:40 am)If you were a mainstream consumer, you’d be more interested in the outcome rather than a purity point.
Avoiding use of the engine at all costs is a waste. Heck, even some Volt owners are now pointing out the benefit of Mountain-Mode. They intentionally fire up the engine early, to preserve some EV capacity for later. And the benefit from using the engine for heat in the winter should be obvious.
In the words of a good friend: “It does not make sense for a hybrid to drive with only half the powertrain.”
Haven’t you noticed GM’s thousand-miles-per-tank promoting recently? Volt still uses gas. What’s wrong with acknowledging 125 to 150 MPG averages? True, that gives the appearance of being bad since it falls way short of the 230 MPG promotions of the past… but get over it already. Geez!
Appealing to mainstream consumers means focus on their priorities, not what enthusiasts like to boast about. Remember, most people don’t understand how a transmission works anyway. They are only aware of how much they routinely pump into the tank.
+3
Jun 11th, 2011 (12:58 pm)Since most VOLT owners are averaging 1000 miles or better on a 9.3 gallon tank between fill-ups, I would say that it does. And so do my happy customers!!!
-4
Jun 11th, 2011 (2:41 pm)Forgot about the effects of winter already, eh?
Jun 11th, 2011 (3:33 pm)According to Bloomberg, General Motors Vice Chairman Stephen Girsky said GM would itself invest $4.4 billion (4.8 trillion won) in South Korea over the next three years. Girsky offered no details as to what GM would spend the money on.
So… Korea gets BILLIONS while we get millions…. that stinks.
$4.4 Billion to be “invested” in Korea … why isn’t GM spending that money to build it’s own plants in the US?
Jeff this is what I’m talking about….. we give them billions while we are kept out.
How much will a VOLT cost in Korea?
Jun 11th, 2011 (3:48 pm)Funny, but john1701a was asked the same question before the Volt was released and the answer was, it’s wrong because the Prius gets nearly 54 miles per gallon and the Volt can only get 37 MPG. Now it’s up to 125 instead of 37?
Several here have reported better than 200. Some far better, over the thousands of miles they have driven.
-4
Jun 11th, 2011 (4:45 pm)Nothing changed. The same two measures of MPG are:
- DEPLETED
- OVERALL
Mixing up the two won’t obscure the reality that other plug-ins, like C-Max, will provide those numbers too. One is pretty straight forward to determine and fairly consistent. The other varies heavily upon each owners particular driving.
Jun 11th, 2011 (8:18 pm)Right, it does sound quite lopsided. I do not know the whole story, but am on the lookout for more as I am able.
In your view, what really needs to happen? (counter-tariffs, voluntary corporate spending in the U.S., what else … ?) And from what you know, what practical impediments (specifically or generally) stand in the way for these things to happen?
-1
Jun 11th, 2011 (10:06 pm)I imagine they are like most corporations, and investing where the ROI is greatest.
+2
Jun 11th, 2011 (10:44 pm)I believe that Corvette Guy sells in California, where it rarely rains, and only snows in the mountains. The southern states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico will hardly need the gas engine for cabin heating. These Volt owners will only use the gas engine for range extending.
Raymond
Jun 12th, 2011 (3:35 am)How about a $10,000 reduction for the Volt so it can compete against the Leaf than we’ll truly get some competition! Would you agree with this subject? Let me know if you do agree with me on this one.
Jun 12th, 2011 (3:40 am)While true that I use electric for cabin heating, it does get cool most summer evenings along the Southern California coastal area. Even 20 miles inland can drop into the high 50′s after midnight. When the engine is running on those cool nights, the extra warmth is appreciated.
Jun 12th, 2011 (7:12 am)She didn’t mention the Volt, but take a look at what she’s sitting in, in the picture, and the article reads like a GMVolt post.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/10/2367367/my-search-for-a-greener-car-takes.html
+1
Jun 12th, 2011 (9:34 am)Jeff Cobb,
Jeff… I can get very long winded on this topic. Most people do not know half of the story of Unfair Trade. And if you work for the government or taxpayer funded jobs like teachers… you have not been affected so far.. that may finally be changing.
The short answer is Americans have to be made aware of the affects of UNFAIR TRADE.
Right now too many people actually think that a Toyota made in the US is a good thing… just ask any Japanese if a Ford plant in Japan would be a good thing.
I unfortunately know too much about how unfair trade has put very good American companies out of business. What is very demoralizing is how our government does nothing while these companies that had been in business for 50 … 100 years are liturally bought out or unfairly put out of business and not one word is in the media about it. Westinghouse… Dravo corp…. Chrysler… Dexter shoes… Pontiac… Saturn… Electrolux… etc etc.. hundreds of companies that have been in business and employing MILLLIONS of people. The media is still referring to “Westinghouse” .. it is NOT WESTINGHOUSE it is a foreign company now …billions in profits going OUT of the American economy not like when it was Geoge Westinghouse’s company and was bringing billions INTO the American economy.
Our media is owned by foreign companies so they say nothing also. In fact they promote foreign companies over our American companies.
What needs to happen first is more people need to be made aware of the 1000lb gorilla in the room. UNFAIR TRADE. That is the only way to move our government “representatives’ to do something about unfair trade. Too many “Americans” have been brain washed or work for the government and don’t care… their jobs never are affected by unfair trade. Maybe our economy has to get worse so that enough government workers lose their jobs. Our government “representatives” have been voting themselves raises… that’s been working so far.. our school teachers in our area have been getting 6 percent raises all along .. most of the cars in or school parking lot are high end foreign cars..they don’t care. Our kindergarten teachers make $94,000 per year while our average household income is just over $60,000.. they went on strike again this year.
The first thing I would do is start taxing foreign products to raise money and create jobs here…. and don’t give me this “trade war” stuff… we have been in a trade war for 30 years and have already lost. Nothing we are do is going to make that any worse… what’s Japan going to do… put a higher tarriff on our cars? They already put a $20,000 tariff on them. If a country puts no tariff on our products.. we don’t put any tariffs on their products … we only trade with free traders… that is the way it should be.
China is dumping products at below actual cost which is our newest threat to our economy.
When you buy that Made in China product.. it should actually cost at least 50% more just because of unfair currency valuation alone.
Jeff I just ask that when you write about cars you keep in mind that American producers are unfairly kept out of all major markets while they more than freely dump products in our market… and when you talk about prices .. you talk about prices here and in our competitors markets .. don’t leave out the most important facts. It is digusting to hear that the Leaf costs less than the Volt and we are giving Nissan $7500 per car while the Japanese put a $20,000 tariff on the Volt. No way should anyone be promoting the Leaf based on price.
Maybe it has to get worse before it gets better.
Apathy and ignorance are our worst enemies.
Jun 12th, 2011 (7:29 pm)pjkPA,
Thanks pjkPA.
Which media are foreign owned and thus deliberately not reporting these things you say?
Are there any resources who do report the story accurately in your view?
Jun 13th, 2011 (5:33 am)The last time I checked all major media in the US has some or all foreign ownership.
This ownership inhibits what topics are covered. Unfair trade is almost never covered.
This is my observation. Like you have reported… GM spending Billions in Korea while a hundred million is a big deal in the US… same thing with trade. Japan dumps millions of cars in the US while we are all but totally kept out of Japan.
Jun 26th, 2011 (12:46 am)DonC,
Just watched the premier of “Revenge of the Electric Car”, Carlos Ghosen of Nissan had a great quote, he said “Each day our competition doesn’t start, that is one more day we are ahead.”
Nissan is so far ahead of ANY other car manufacture incliding Ford that they will dominate the market for a long long time. Evidence: The 2000 Ford Ranger EV in my garage that Ford doesn’t even want to claim they made, and the brand new 2011 Nissan Leaf right next to it.
Ford announcing that they are going to triple their output is nothing but lip service. Last time I checked 0 x 3 still equals zero.
Jun 29th, 2011 (10:57 am)I enjoy your website – great effort!