GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

Late Night host David Letterman interviewed Tesla CEO Elon Musk and rolled out the Tesla Model S on his show. They did get around to discussing the Chevy Volt. Dave seemed very irritated with GM’s bailout need, the destruction of the EV-1, and laid into the Volt on national television.

Letterman said “the Volt has a range of 40 miles, that’ll get you down the driveway and back.”  He said the range is “insane”, “ridiculous”, and “crap.”

Dave didn’t seem to know or care about the range extender or the fact that most people drive less than 40 miles per day, and of course Mr. Musk wasn’t about to point that out.  All he was able to do was nod his head and say “right.”

Though Letterman’s pretending to get electrocuted when he touched the Model S, and wondering aloud whether the car might “magnetize his nuts” were funny bits they don’t make up for this unnecessary slander.

Whether Letterman was truly so uniformed about the Volt or intentionally wanted to hurt GM’s image isn’t clear, but considering the large viewership he has, a negative effect on public acceptance of the Volt is a risk.

We can’t change what happened but for what its worth I posted a video response (below) and have
written to Mr. Letterman’s talent coordinator offering to go on the show to discuss the Volt and its fanbase, risking ridicule.

I doubt the show will call me but if you want to please contact them and help request it.

And though I’ve been a fan of Letterman since my teenage years, in this case I think he could take a lesson from Jay Leno.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiJJKBbg4TA]
[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLzO-bz0Tkc]

The media continues to imply that Obama’s Auto Task Force could still be considering slashing the Volt program out of GM’s future, despite multiple assurances we have gotten here, including one from GM vice-Charmain Bob Lutz who told us before “the Volt will survive and prosper.”

Besides us here at GM-Volt.com, other outspoken electric car advocacy groups including Plug-in America and California Cars are concerned.

Felix Kramer of CalCars worries that the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) who is advising the Task Force are actually plug-in skeptics.

“BCG acknowledges a theoretical possibility that the U.S. could make a rapid transition to plug-in vehicles, with GM leading the charge,” wrote Kramer in his newsletter. “But it concludes it probably won’t happen — based, we think, on narrow and short-sighted ways of thinking.”

Jay Friedland of Plug-in America understands “any new technology like the Chevy Volt takes time to become profitable.”

I believe the economic phenomenon of price reduction over time and the importance of Volt technology is well understood by the Task Force.

It may such take the wealthy first adopters to pave the way. “Automakers are now busy making EV and range-extended EV prototypes; the industry is racing to democratize EVs,” writes Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. “We will get there, but only with help from affluent early adopters.”

Sources familiar with GM’s government negotiations have told GM-Volt.com that the Volt “is untouchable.” This source also notes “the Task Force’s concerns were with the price and cost to GM. As with many first gen technologies, they’re expensive and you can’t pass that on dollar for dollar to the consumer.”

Finally these source said GM is “proceeding at full speed with the Volt and the Task Force knows and supports this.”

Source (New York Times)

The discussion and buzz about electric cars continues to accelerate. It is astounding how much more media there is about them today compared to early 2007 when the Volt concept was first unveiled. And although gas prices spiked quite high last summer, today they are about the same as in January 2007.

For many of us early electric car adopters, gas prices aren’t the issue, it is more an interest in not using gas for what it represents. For some that’s the environment, for others its energy independence, and for many its both.

Recently, attention first started by the Volt and Tesla has been amplified by President Obama’s "moon-shot" pledge of getting 1 million plugin cars on the road by 2015.

The question is will that happen, can that happen, and how many Volts will GM actually sell?

"We anticipate a strong demand for the Chevy Volt. The promise to drive gas-free without range anxiety appeals to many," said Volt spokesperson Dave Darovitz. "For example, without advertising and promotion, we have about 20,000 people who have requested more information through Chevy.com. This is since Sept. 2008."

On this independent site we have collected nearly 48,000 people since May 07 expressing similar interest.

Reports out of Japan indicate that 40,000 people have pre-ordered the 3rd generation Prius due out in May. Of course hybrid sales have declined along with gas prices, and without financial motive how many will embrace electric cars?

The Detroit News reports without naming sources "Over the next two years, GM plans to build 40,000 Chevrolet Volts, Toyota Motor Corp. intends to produce more than 15,000 plug-in Prius cars, Nissan intends to produce 10,000 yet-to-be named electric cars and Chrysler intends to produce 5,000."

These are very modest numbers.

Even our friend Tony Posawatz, the Volt vehicle line director told MSNBC about the 1 million plugin car pledge "It certainly is a difficult challenge to achieve that goal. It’s not readily obvious, based on the product plans that have been communicated, that the 2015 objective aligns with what is currently on the books."

So will we even make it to 1 million cars running on electricity by 2015? If we want to, you and I are going to have to work real hard spreading the word and building demand. It may be that all the news, advertising, and government incentives alone won’t do it.

And if we think about it, there are 250 million cars in the US, and 600 million in the world, expected to double by 2030, so 1 million itself is just a baby step, but a very important one.

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In our last post we discussed the fact that Wall Street Journal Editorial Board member Steve Moore gave the opinion that the Chevy Volt was already becoming the next Edsel. He did not define exactly what he meant by that which left us guessing.

I was able to point out our to discussion to Mr. Moore who I contacted by email, and asked him what he meant. He responded “The Volt is a huge money loser just like the Edsel. This is what happens when Washington tells GM what kind of cars it must build.”

The Ford Edsel was built in from 1958 through 1960 and was created as a new division within Ford and had several different models. It was launched with great public anticipation and fanfare and flopped miserably mostly because the public had a hard time understanding what it was.

In the end Ford killed off the car and the division for a loss in 1960 dollars of $350 million.

Lets hope Mr. Moore is wrong.

Automotive opinion pieces in the Wall Street Journal always seem to come out against the Volt, but this one takes the cake.

Editorial board member Stephen Moore penned a piece called A Top-Down Approach To Auto Rescue. He noted himself to be a vocal opponent of the tens of billions in bailout dollars being given to GM and Chrysler, but admitted ” his heart leapt” when he heard the new Camaro was coming out.

He waxed poetic about his love affairs with Camaros he’s owned, the euphoria of driving them and the pleasure of watching the envy and admiration of others.

He noted he’s averse to protectionist policy of “buy American” but admits to feeling a patriotic duty to do so nonetheless. Moore says he believes the return of the Camaro is the first “bullish” sign from the US auto industry.

He does not seem too impressed with the idea of green cars though. He expresses rightful concern about the government running the car companies and feels that the result will be “small, unremarkable ‘green’ cars that get good gas mileage but don’t go fast, don’t look cool and don’t make your pulse race.”

He writes “If GM makes a comeback, it will be thanks not to the green dream battery-operated Volt (which is already becoming the new Edsel) but to cars people want to drive.”

Do you agree?

Source (WSJ.com)

Famous comedian and Tonight Show host Jay Leno arrived in Detroit Monday night ahead of free performances he’s giving Tuesday and Wednesday night to show support and solidarity for the beleaguered city. His so-called “Comedy Stimulus Package” is for “anyone out of work in Detroit,” said Leno. “The idea is: ‘Come on down. Forget your troubles … and meet other people in your situation.”  On Tuesday thousands lined up in cold and snow to attend the show, in which he launched a freewheeling 80 minute monologue.

While in town, Leno spent time on Tuesday visiting GM’s facilities. Leno is a vigorous auto enthusiast and has specific interest in electric vehicles. He is also an ardent and specific supporter of US automakers and the US auto industry.  He has most recently bought a new Corvette and Challenger and owns one of the original Baker electric cars built in 1909.  He also currently has in his possession GM’s fuel cell Equinox and a MINI E.

While at the GM facilities, Leno was given the chance to test drive one of the current Cruze-body Chevy Volt mule vehicles.  He was accompanied by Ed Welburn, GM’s VP of Design, shown above with Jay.

Leno had previously noted “I think you’ll find that the Volt will be a superior package to the Prius,” and that he “would love to be” one of the first to test drive the Volt in real-world conditions.

He was said to rave about the Volt experience. “I’m not an engineer but I know enough … and I saw some impressive technology out there,” he said.

I was able obtain a firsthand report of the event from Mr. Welburn. “Jay and I had a great morning. He and I toured the Volt studio where he saw the final details of the production Volt. He then drove the car and visited the battery lab,” said Welburn. “I can’t speak for Jay, but I sure enjoyed it.”

For those of you who wonder if and when I will have a chance to drive the mule, don’t sweat it, every dog has his day.

Source (Detroit News)