Dammit, only 1000 Volts by 2010?
Will Bob still be around to see a mass-produced Volt?Are you a huge GM fan, or at least an American car fan, that is also very concerned about issues like foreign oil dependency? Did the debut of the Chevy Volt plug-in electric hybrid concept grab your attention? Did it blind you with a glare of hope that made you believe a brighter future was possible for the American auto industry?
It certainly gave me hope, not just for a brighter future for the American auto industry, but for America, even the world - this kind of technology can end foreign oil dependency and all the wars and violence that dependency has created.
Unfortunately, however, developing such a revolutionary automobile will be a revolutionary engineering task, and you might be waiting a long time to finally put your Volt's rubber to the road.
By 2010, if all goes well, GM hopes to sell 1,000 Volt plug-in hybrid vehicles. If everything continues to go well, they will push that number to 1,000,000 five years later (more).
Maybe if we all use Rhonda Byrne's 'Secret' we can wish the Volt into reality sooner? OOOOHHHMM!!!
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, Foreign Oil Dependency, plug-in hybrid vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:48 AM
3 Comments:
The Prius can be converted to a plugin electric TODAY. So why is it taking GM so long and why are they making so few in their first run. Seems like they don't believe there is a Market. No wonder Toyota has become #1 and GM is falling behind.
Bob-
I think GM is definitely worried about the market. Still, while I think they should be more aggressive with their dual mode hybrids, they don't have much choice with the Volt.
Certainly it is true that the Prius can be converted to a plug-in electric hybrid today. However, if a million such vehicles were mass produced, would it lead to the kind of fires and explosions seen in laptops?
Imagine the cost of that recall. Thus, automakers - all automakers - are taking their time with lithium and plug-ins. Moreover, it now seems Toyota will delay the launch of its lithium-powered hybrids - and the first generation of Toyota lithium powered hybrids were not even going to be plug-ins.
Additionally, unlike Toyota's parallel hybrid powertrain, GM's Volt will utilize a series hybrid powertrain. Since a series hybrid, such as the Volt is so battery dependent, GM is definitely taking their time, and probably for good reason.
Still, I cannot deny that I wish GM would get more aggressive, far more aggressive.
At least give me a dual mode Malibu or Aura in the short term. I mean, really, how many years can you continue to let the Prius go unchallenged?
GM is worried about the market? (Laughter) GM has no clue about the market. (More laughter) They have had 35 years to respond to the petroleum crisis, and now that it's epidemic, they still don't get the concern of the everyday American. Now they are no longer #1 in the world. With some pre-planning, and engineering savvy, we wouldn't needlessly be burning all of our discretionary dollars at the pump. Of course, Ford, Chrysler, and even European auto makers are equally clueless. Do they think that the market for gas guzzling behemoths will just go on forever?
Hybrid and electric car sales would be through the roof if they existed in sufficient numbers today.
Make you wonder if the hierarchy of
GM has ever been to a gas station and pumped their own fuel, are aware of gas prices...or even realize that some Americans are not as rich as they are.
That's OK, automakers. Just take your time. There's no hurry.
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