Green Technology: GM versus Toyota
Automotive Evolution: Adaptation versus the Big Bang?Ever since the Chevy Volt Concept debuted at NAIAS, many auto journalists have called it a Prius killer, claiming the technology was so much more advanced than the Prius, or at least claiming that the Volt's technology was so much more advanced than Toyota's hybrid technology.
The other day, another similar comment was made by BW's David Kiley, "GM, of course, was the hit of last January’s Detroit auto show when it debuted the Chevy Volt plug in. It was the first time in recent years that GM appeared to be ahead of Toyota, or even equal, in the arena of alternative and greener vehicles."
What? Why?
Thus far GM offers a few mild hybrids (Yes, I know they offer full hybrid buses!). More important, there isn't yet a fully functional Volt, and yet some can claim the technology is better than Toyota's hybrid vehicles?
--> Finish Green Technology: GM versus Toyota
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, GM, Hybrid Vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, toyota, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:46 AM
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Ever since the Chevy Volt Concept debuted at NAIAS, many auto journalists have called it a Prius killer, claiming the technology was so much more advanced than the Prius, or at least claiming that the Volt's technology was so much more advanced than Toyota's hybrid technology.
The other day, another similar comment was made by BW's David Kiley, "GM, of course, was the hit of last January’s Detroit auto show when it debuted the Chevy Volt plug in. It was the first time in recent years that GM appeared to be ahead of Toyota, or even equal, in the arena of alternative and greener vehicles."
What? Why?
Thus far GM offers a few mild hybrids (Yes, I know they offer full hybrid buses!). More important, there isn't yet a fully functional Volt, and yet some can claim the technology is better than Toyota's hybrid vehicles?
Today, the Toyota Prius has been converted into a plug-in hybrid vehicle, capable of achieving more than 100 mpg, by numerous auto enthusiasts. This isn't some hypothetical technology. This isn't a theoretical vehicle dependent upon some battery breakthrough. This is today.
Even Toyota is testing a plug-in Prius - albeit one with NiMH batteries.
Quite simply, Toyota is making the best hybrid possible today based upon today's technology. Even Toyota's NiMH-powered plug-in demonstrates this constant, methodical move forward.
Inevitably, GM's flex technology and the Volt might prove to be better than the Prius and Toyota's future hybrids, but this ridiculous habit of comparing a technology that is years away from reality against a technology on the street today is simply silly. Toyota has proven that when it comes to technology, it is taking the evolutionary approach - small constant adaptations based upon today's real-world technology.
Thus, when the Volt hits the street, the Prius will have adapted to current technologies, such as the lithium technology so important to the Volt.
GM, and most other automakers, have been a little slower to take this adaptive approach. Instead, they've waited for major breakthroughs with hydrogen, fuel cells or batteries. Recently, however, I'd argue that GM has realized Toyota's focus on adaptation and has modeled the flex drive and some of its hybrid program after Toyota's kaizen-influenced approach to the advancement of technology.
Biology has demonstrated that big bangs of advancement rarely happen. Instead, constant, small adaptations lead to great change over time. I think GM now gets this, and I think GM can catch Toyota, but the hypothetical Volt did not put GM equal to or ahead of Toyota in green technology.
Yes, the Volt and the flex drive might propel GM ahead of the Prius - might. Today, however, the Prius alone puts Toyota ahead of GM in green technology.
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