GM Chief Says Could Develop Hybrid Corvette

When the Chevy Volt concept was first unveiled it sometimes referred to as an electric Camaro referring to its very sporty design. In the move to production, that sportiness was scaled back somewhat in favor of more widespread appeal.
The Chevrolet Corvette, however, remains GM’s iconic lynchpin sports car. It is powered by a very [...]

New Electric Car Concepts: From the Meek Twizy to the Mighty e-Tron

The electric car universe has expanded dramatically an in some unexpected ways since the Chevy Volt concept was first unveiled in January 07.
This year’s Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany has brought with it several new electric car concepts that demonstrate the range of expression cars that do not run on gas can display.
Audi

At one end [...]

Head to Head Test Drive: 2010 Prius vs 2010 Insight w/ Video

I consider myself a fan of fuel efficient vehicles.  At this point the Volt seems the best thing coming, although within the next couple of years there will clearly be a plethora of options to choose from.  This will include pure EVs, EREVs like the Volt, plugin hybrids, and standard hybrids both mild and strong.
Right [...]

Lutz Explains Why He Unretired and is Skeptical About Hybrid Car Sales Potential

I interviewed GM vice chairman Bob Lutz at the Detroit Auto Show in January of this year.  It was at that event that the Voltec-powered Cadillac Converj was first unveiled and was the same time GM was first surviving on government bailout money.
When I asked Mr. Lutz at the time whether GM would build the [...]

Poll: Should Hybrid Cars Have Distinctive Styling?

As we recently heard from Chevrolet manager Ed Peper, GM is working on a dedicated non-plugin hybrid vehicle that would get high EPA fuel efficiency ratings.  This is a new approach from GM’s previous strategy to offer hybrid versions of standard gas models like the Malibu, which was discontinued due to poor sales.
Indeed GM has [...]

GM Planning Dedicated High Efficiency Hybrid Sedan

Frankly, GM’s experiment in mild hybrid sedans didn’t go so well. The automaker had produced a mild hybrid version of the popular Chevrolet Malibu, but sales volumes were low and the program has been discontinued.
Chevrolet manger Ed Peper admits GM learned its lesson.
“One of the issues with the Malibu hybrid has been that the four [...]

The Electric Car Race is Underway, Who Will Win?

What started as a concept and dream 2 and 1/2 years ago when the Volt was first unveiled has now evolved into an all out race to build the winning mass production electric car. At this point there are three major players in the field and a lot of smaller ones. GM, Nissan, [...]

GM Orders Enough Hitachi Lithium-ion Cells for 100,000 Hybrid Cars

Most people here know that GM has contracted with LG Chem to supply large format lithium-ion cells for the Chevy Volt in an agreement that goes out until 2015.
As we have learned from discussions with GM’s battery people, the company continues to work with multiple battery suppliers and is always looking for new cell technology [...]

NUMMI No More: Has GM Said No-Thanks to GM-Branded Prius?

Since 1984 GM has had a relationship with Toyota at the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint-venture plant in California, where the Pontiac Vibe, twin of the Toyota Matrix, has been built. GM’s bankruptcy process and the shedding of the Pontiac brand had made GM’s future role in that plant uncertain.
Bloomberg reports [...]

Toyota’s New President to Continue Focus on Hybrid Rather than Electric Cars

Toyota has been the first company to achieve significant commercial success in selling a hybrid vehicle. The Toyota Prius is in its third generation and since inception has sold well over 1 million units. In fact Toyota’s success with the Prius caught GM by surprise.  As the story goes, GM long ago had [...]

GM and Toyota, What Will be?

GM has recently announced it will be discontinuing the Pontiac Vibe, twin to the Toyota Matrix, currently built at the NUMMI plan in California. NUMMI is a joint venture between GM  and Toyota which has been in existence since the 1980s.
Now that GM is going through bankruptcy, it remains unclear what will happen to the [...]

GM Terminates Malibu and Vue Hybrids: Promises Newer Better Hybrids in 2010 and 2011

GM has announced that the Chevy Malibu mild hybrid will be discontinued. They have also terminated 2-mode strong hybrid Saturn Vue.
2010 Malibu hybrids are no longer being produced because of low sales volumes and a glut of 2009 models on dealer lots.  Estimates suggest only 2142 Malibu hybrids were sold from its release in [...]