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The Chevrolet Volt, a very exciting concept car which uses GM's innovative E-Flex system will have a working model on the test course by 2007. While that is exciting, more exciting is their internal deadline for Volts in showrooms by 2010.
There's been some controversy about GM's plans for the Volt. We've heard good, even great, project ideas come out of General Motors in the past, only to watch the projects dissolve back into the drawing board. More research needed, insufficient demand, big-oil power plays all being blamed. But GM seems unshakingly devoted to the Volt. And I can see why. The car, which will run for 40 miles with no gasoline, and 600 miles at 60 miles per gallon on a full tank of gas, will provide a new kind of vehicle that will undoubtedly be broadly accepted.
So this gorgeous car, with better gas mileage than anything on the road, plug-in capabilities, and a wireless device charger standard could very easily be available for purchase, for under $30,000 in 2010.
Bob Lutz, vice president of GM said, "Competitors who write this off as a PR exercise are going to be brutally surprised." I see this vehicle with a far greater potential to change vehicle emissions than any other car on the road now, or within the next 10 years. I'm very glad to see a commitment to 2010, even if it is a weak commitment.
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written by Hank, March 08, 2007
I'm sorry if I wasn't clear...but the car goes 40 miles without any gas. As the vast majority of driving trips are less than 40 miles, Volt drivers may find that they achieve 100 to 150 mpg or even higher.
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written by Ian, March 08, 2007
40 Miles in an EV mode by 2010 will put the chevy volt about 5 years behind the curve .... as the plug in prius can do that today... not tomorrow or next week ... but right now you can go buy one if you want to.... also until they have a Chevy Volt on the show room for people to buy not and endless lease ... until I can buy one I don't think they will make one... I have virtually no faith in them... They are only now even remotely trying to show concept cars of what they can do because people like Toyota and Honda proved to them that there is a market for it... well they are behind ... and a pie in the sky car that probably won't be here even in 2010 does not make their current car offerings any better than they are....
Also 60 MPG as said above is not that great... small Diesel's get this... and Insights get this... and priuses can get this all today...
If the Chevy Volt were on the show room floor today it would be a good car choice.... but the tech it is talking about having by 2010 will be behind the curve by the time they hit the road...
Also the article above says... "will provide a new kind of vehicle that will undoubtedly be broadly accepted." ... not a chance ... first nothing about it is very new... all of the tech used on it has been done already... and Americans will only broadly accept the the Hummer that gets 2 MPG .... While some people drive fuel efficient cars... the vast majority of Americans seem to enjoy wasting fuel and energy at every chance they get , as if it were a status symbol for them to be able to waste the most ...
yes I am cynical ... And I wish Chevy to prove me wrong... But I doubt they will ... and by the time they make the Volt Honda and Toyota will still be ahead of them.
Also 60 MPG as said above is not that great... small Diesel's get this... and Insights get this... and priuses can get this all today...
If the Chevy Volt were on the show room floor today it would be a good car choice.... but the tech it is talking about having by 2010 will be behind the curve by the time they hit the road...
Also the article above says... "will provide a new kind of vehicle that will undoubtedly be broadly accepted." ... not a chance ... first nothing about it is very new... all of the tech used on it has been done already... and Americans will only broadly accept the the Hummer that gets 2 MPG .... While some people drive fuel efficient cars... the vast majority of Americans seem to enjoy wasting fuel and energy at every chance they get , as if it were a status symbol for them to be able to waste the most ...
yes I am cynical ... And I wish Chevy to prove me wrong... But I doubt they will ... and by the time they make the Volt Honda and Toyota will still be ahead of them.
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written by Hank, March 08, 2007
Sorry, but the Volt will use entirely new technology that both Honda and Toyota show no signs of adopting.
There are NO plugin cars in show rooms today, and the prius cannot go 40 miles without using gas (unless, I guess, you want to travel at 5 mph.) The Volt's electric motor will take it over 100 mph. The Prius' electric motor might break fifteen.
As for GM's current offerings, check out Saturn's line-up, and the 2008 Vue that will likely be the first plug-in car on the market.
I'm tired of people badmouthing GM cause it's the cool thing to do. Toyota makes big nasty trucks too...they're all in the game to make money, but GM is doing going things, and I refuse to diss them for it.
There are NO plugin cars in show rooms today, and the prius cannot go 40 miles without using gas (unless, I guess, you want to travel at 5 mph.) The Volt's electric motor will take it over 100 mph. The Prius' electric motor might break fifteen.
As for GM's current offerings, check out Saturn's line-up, and the 2008 Vue that will likely be the first plug-in car on the market.
I'm tired of people badmouthing GM cause it's the cool thing to do. Toyota makes big nasty trucks too...they're all in the game to make money, but GM is doing going things, and I refuse to diss them for it.
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written by mn, March 08, 2007
After speaking to my local dealer on the south coast (UK) it seems the smart EV - a completely electric vehicle - capable of doing 60mph with a range of around 60 miles, and plug-in-ability - will be on sale summer 2008!
I know I shouldnt say this in this forum but I dont care what kind of technology it uses as long as it works. Sure I would prefer it to have a higher range figure so tht I could actually make it to my mums house but at the end of the day this will be a zero emmissions vehicle (assuming green energy supply) which the GM volt will not - it will still rely fossil fuel. and 60mpg in fuel model is not that good at all! VW do a lupo diesel that can touch 85mpg if my memory serves me correctly :-$
Im all for companys developing this technology and getting it to the market - the only way to make it mainstream and cheaper after all - but ... is right they will be a little behind the times.
Time will tell.
I know I shouldnt say this in this forum but I dont care what kind of technology it uses as long as it works. Sure I would prefer it to have a higher range figure so tht I could actually make it to my mums house but at the end of the day this will be a zero emmissions vehicle (assuming green energy supply) which the GM volt will not - it will still rely fossil fuel. and 60mpg in fuel model is not that good at all! VW do a lupo diesel that can touch 85mpg if my memory serves me correctly :-$
Im all for companys developing this technology and getting it to the market - the only way to make it mainstream and cheaper after all - but ... is right they will be a little behind the times.
Time will tell.
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written by Hank, March 08, 2007
I should probably stress that what makes this car so powerful is that Americans will actually buy it. We're rather foolish on this side of the pond, and won't stand for compromises. No matter who killed the electric car, a vast majority of folks here weren't ready to limit their driving range and never be able to fill up the tank while on the road.
The Volt solves these problems...no all-electric vehicle currently can. We'll wait on it, and be ready when it comes, but it won't be here in 2010. The Volt solves a huge number of problems.
The Volt solves these problems...no all-electric vehicle currently can. We'll wait on it, and be ready when it comes, but it won't be here in 2010. The Volt solves a huge number of problems.
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written by Daniel Lunsford, March 08, 2007
Sorry, but I've got to throw the B.S. card down on this. This isn't amazing "new technology", it's old technology that they've held on to for a decade so that they could get billions more in profit. I distinctly remember the EV-1 (google search it), which did essentially the same thing without the parallel generator add-on. Whatever happened to those cars? I'd suggest watching "Who killed the Electric Car?" to find out. I'm all for electric/hybrid cars, but I won't be buying one from GM because of their lying past. Instead, I'm nearly complete converting my own car from gasoline to pure electric. And since my average commute is 20 miles round trip, I don't use a drop of gas. "What if you want to drive cross-country?" you might ask? I've got a fuel efficient motorcycle that gets 80 mpg.
For those of you with families, I'd highly recommend waiting for the introduction of the plug-in hybrid like "mn" addressed. The benefits are far too many to number, just google-search it and be surprised.
For those of you with families, I'd highly recommend waiting for the introduction of the plug-in hybrid like "mn" addressed. The benefits are far too many to number, just google-search it and be surprised.
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written by Jinks, March 08, 2007
I'm an American anxiously waiting to buy a Chevy Volt when it hits consumer markets... In my perspective this is the first good attempt at a plug-in electric vehicle available in America. As for the plug-in Prius, I have read about people converting them from the standard Prius, but I don't recall seeing them for sale direct from Toyota.
The volt offers the versatility of efficiency in city driving and 400 mi+ highway trips if need be. Plus it looks awesome!
The volt offers the versatility of efficiency in city driving and 400 mi+ highway trips if need be. Plus it looks awesome!
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written by celia, March 08, 2007
It good to know that American companies are keepng up. I hope this will stick. Whoever killed the electric car is getting their asses whooped by the Japanese making and marketing better cars. The Americans better keep up. For the record, I would love for the electric car to come back.
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written by Ian, March 09, 2007
As I said in my first message... The volt has nice features...
But we differ in a few areas...
#1> I think I have better chances in a Vegas Casino than of GM having the Volt on the market by 2010... They will have a Hybrid but not what the Volt promises.
#2> I do NOT think Americans will not buy the Volt... a few tree huggers yes... same market that today buys Priuses and Insights .... but the masses will want the 4 or 5 ton SUV... and sure they will complain about their MPG ... but they want a 4 or 5 ton SUV.
#3> I don't see New Tech in the Volt... I see Tech form the EV1 and from other hybrids and such wraped together in a new package... new application is not new tech.
#4> by 2010 ... the features the Volt offers will be available by many other cars... and nothing exceptional... if it was on market now.. it woudl be a truely exceptional car... but it isn't and I don't think it will be...
#5> GM is in it to make money some choices they had made will make them money... some they have made will preminately cost them customers... what they did with the EV1 was criminal in my mind ... at the very least they could have said sure no warenty no liability and each car is $100,000 ... but instead they refused to sell them and crushesd them instead... They have clearly shown thier values... and Concept cars don't make up for it.
But we differ in a few areas...
#1> I think I have better chances in a Vegas Casino than of GM having the Volt on the market by 2010... They will have a Hybrid but not what the Volt promises.
#2> I do NOT think Americans will not buy the Volt... a few tree huggers yes... same market that today buys Priuses and Insights .... but the masses will want the 4 or 5 ton SUV... and sure they will complain about their MPG ... but they want a 4 or 5 ton SUV.
#3> I don't see New Tech in the Volt... I see Tech form the EV1 and from other hybrids and such wraped together in a new package... new application is not new tech.
#4> by 2010 ... the features the Volt offers will be available by many other cars... and nothing exceptional... if it was on market now.. it woudl be a truely exceptional car... but it isn't and I don't think it will be...
#5> GM is in it to make money some choices they had made will make them money... some they have made will preminately cost them customers... what they did with the EV1 was criminal in my mind ... at the very least they could have said sure no warenty no liability and each car is $100,000 ... but instead they refused to sell them and crushesd them instead... They have clearly shown thier values... and Concept cars don't make up for it.
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written by Ryan, March 09, 2007
I don't really understand why some of you are complaining. Yes, the volt is taking a few older technologies and mixing them together. However, they are also installing technologies which are still being proven (a123 batteries). Yes, the electric car existed as the EV1, but lets not pretend that was the perfect car. Yes, there are hybrids out there today, but 150 mpg is better than 60 mpg (upper estimates).
I believe that this car will do very well amongst the American public if it comes out in similar form as the concept. Americans don't love wasting gas, they love larger, more muscular looking cars. The Civiv hyb and the Prius were both marketed towards the green crowd, not the general American public. However the general American public can easily be swayed by a car that looks like this.
And concerning fuel wasting, let me just give you the example of my friend who contemplated which civic to purchase. Purchase a low end, no frills civic for $16000, spend $1175 on gas per year. Or purchase a Hybrid civic for $24000 and spend $895 on gas per year. I'll let you guess which she chose based on finances, $280 wouldn't make up for the difference no matter how hard I argued for it. Current hybrids just aren't going to change the world other than in the respects that it gets technology rolling in the right direction. How much easier would it have been to talk her into a car where she only spends $300 a year on gas? (my guess is alot easier)
As far as the technology being outdated by 2010, I honestly hope this is the case. I also hope that the rumors are true concerning the ease of swapping the power generator with newer tech (come on hydrogen) as it comes out. If that is true, and they designed this car to be able to upgrade the engine to cleaner or better engines, then it will only become outdated whenever they decide to stop supporting parts for the volt.
As for GM as a corporation, sure they have had their down moments, but those have been rewarded in the forms of rediculous losses. Even for the most pessamistic, one has to agree that for a corporation, the only thing that matters is the bottom line. GM has learned its lesson and seems to be attempting to turn around to the modern day. If not, it will keep learning its lesson till it sells to a company who has learned the lesson already.
I believe that this car will do very well amongst the American public if it comes out in similar form as the concept. Americans don't love wasting gas, they love larger, more muscular looking cars. The Civiv hyb and the Prius were both marketed towards the green crowd, not the general American public. However the general American public can easily be swayed by a car that looks like this.
And concerning fuel wasting, let me just give you the example of my friend who contemplated which civic to purchase. Purchase a low end, no frills civic for $16000, spend $1175 on gas per year. Or purchase a Hybrid civic for $24000 and spend $895 on gas per year. I'll let you guess which she chose based on finances, $280 wouldn't make up for the difference no matter how hard I argued for it. Current hybrids just aren't going to change the world other than in the respects that it gets technology rolling in the right direction. How much easier would it have been to talk her into a car where she only spends $300 a year on gas? (my guess is alot easier)
As far as the technology being outdated by 2010, I honestly hope this is the case. I also hope that the rumors are true concerning the ease of swapping the power generator with newer tech (come on hydrogen) as it comes out. If that is true, and they designed this car to be able to upgrade the engine to cleaner or better engines, then it will only become outdated whenever they decide to stop supporting parts for the volt.
As for GM as a corporation, sure they have had their down moments, but those have been rewarded in the forms of rediculous losses. Even for the most pessamistic, one has to agree that for a corporation, the only thing that matters is the bottom line. GM has learned its lesson and seems to be attempting to turn around to the modern day. If not, it will keep learning its lesson till it sells to a company who has learned the lesson already.
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written by Ian, March 11, 2007
Those who argue that hybrids don't save enough gas to pay for the cost of the hybrid... I think are fooling themselves....
If it were about cost... they would walk all distance under 5 miles from home... they would bicycle all distances under 15 miles ... they would take buses not road trips... leather interior would never have sold... Air conditioning would never have sold ... no car over $10,000 would ever sell... no cars would be convertibles ... no one would have more than a $50 car stereo.... No one would spend the extra money for GPS units... the list goes on and on....
People have priorities and are very happy to pay top dollar for those things that give them what they want... If people care about the environment then they will either drive less , or drive a more fuel efficient car... people are more than happy to pay over $100,000 for cars that get horrible gas mileage, have ridiculously high insurance rates ,etc... because the car does something that they want it to do and they have $100,000 they can spend... it is about priorities and what matters to a person... I care about the environment so I want to reduce the damage I do as much as I can... so I will get the best MPG and lowest emissions I can afford when I buy a car , and I will ride my Electric Assisted Bicycle in nicer weather as much as I can... Actions speak more about your character and who you are than your words... If someone owns a Hummer or other large SUV , there is a 99% chance that they do not actually care about the environment no matter what they say...
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As for GM forgiveness... all the car companies that signed on for the blocking of the Zero Emissions Car ( including Honda and Toyota ) as far as I am concerned start with one strike against them for the rest of my life... they made a choice and they can face the results of it... some did worse things than others... and some have done more good since then than others... but I don't forgive until they earn it... doing no further harm is not doing good... they worked hard to fight environmental progress... they will have to work harder for environmental progress to repair the damage to their image... GM and other car companies have shown the public for years prototype cars with amazing features... and the imagination is nice to see... but almost none of them ever make it to the public...
If it were about cost... they would walk all distance under 5 miles from home... they would bicycle all distances under 15 miles ... they would take buses not road trips... leather interior would never have sold... Air conditioning would never have sold ... no car over $10,000 would ever sell... no cars would be convertibles ... no one would have more than a $50 car stereo.... No one would spend the extra money for GPS units... the list goes on and on....
People have priorities and are very happy to pay top dollar for those things that give them what they want... If people care about the environment then they will either drive less , or drive a more fuel efficient car... people are more than happy to pay over $100,000 for cars that get horrible gas mileage, have ridiculously high insurance rates ,etc... because the car does something that they want it to do and they have $100,000 they can spend... it is about priorities and what matters to a person... I care about the environment so I want to reduce the damage I do as much as I can... so I will get the best MPG and lowest emissions I can afford when I buy a car , and I will ride my Electric Assisted Bicycle in nicer weather as much as I can... Actions speak more about your character and who you are than your words... If someone owns a Hummer or other large SUV , there is a 99% chance that they do not actually care about the environment no matter what they say...
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As for GM forgiveness... all the car companies that signed on for the blocking of the Zero Emissions Car ( including Honda and Toyota ) as far as I am concerned start with one strike against them for the rest of my life... they made a choice and they can face the results of it... some did worse things than others... and some have done more good since then than others... but I don't forgive until they earn it... doing no further harm is not doing good... they worked hard to fight environmental progress... they will have to work harder for environmental progress to repair the damage to their image... GM and other car companies have shown the public for years prototype cars with amazing features... and the imagination is nice to see... but almost none of them ever make it to the public...
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written by T Lennon, August 06, 2007
I currently own a 2007 Honda Accord and plan to buy a civic hybrid in the next 6 months. I am a proud american and have always been loyal to our countries companies, jobs, etc.
But every dam american car I have bought, and they were all brand new, with all maintainance done when required, has had major problems by the time I have reached 70 to 80 thousand miles. Honda is the only car I will buy now because you really get what you pay for instead of repairs and headaches. There is nothing worse than a major $2000 repair after the warrenty expires and a large car payment to go with it!! Think about it we as americans want to stand by our companies but you leave us no choice were tired of buying expensive junk that does not last the duration of a standard car loan.
sincerly,
concerned american
But every dam american car I have bought, and they were all brand new, with all maintainance done when required, has had major problems by the time I have reached 70 to 80 thousand miles. Honda is the only car I will buy now because you really get what you pay for instead of repairs and headaches. There is nothing worse than a major $2000 repair after the warrenty expires and a large car payment to go with it!! Think about it we as americans want to stand by our companies but you leave us no choice were tired of buying expensive junk that does not last the duration of a standard car loan.
sincerly,
concerned american
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written by Appliance Parts, October 16, 2007
I've always wondered about the environmental trade-offs between a gas-engine and a plug-in, but hadn't run across any numbers on that before. Thanks for filling me in! I'll keep my fingers crossed that our domestic car companies finally start offering the kinds of solutions that a lot of us are looking for. Even if they don't, I suspect Japan will soon...
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written by Sears Parts, August 12, 2009
I happen to enter your blog with the help of google search. To my sheer luck I got what I was searching for. Thanks
regards
sears parts
regards
sears parts
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Most of the current crop of small cars in the UK will match those sort of figures.
It's strange that American companies can make good cars for the rest of the world, but crappy cars for the home market?