Despite "favorable" battery test, Volt by 2010 a "stretch"
Little more than a shell in 2007?About a year ago today I was still abuzz from the shocking Chevy Volt debut at NAIAS 2007, confused by my new found faith. Just a couple days earlier I was making a daily habit of blogging about the failures of GM. Suddenly I was a convert advocating for this shell of a concept vehicle, the Chevy Volt, as faithfully as an Apostle.
Now a Volt by 2010 is a "stretch"? Say it isn't so. Read more....
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:27 AM
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About a year ago today I was still abuzz from the shocking Chevy Volt debut at NAIAS 2007, confused by my new found faith. Just a couple days earlier I was making a daily habit of blogging about the failures of GM. Suddenly I was a convert advocating for this shell of a concept vehicle, the Chevy Volt, as faithfully as an Apostle.
Critics, such as Tesla's ex-CEO, Martin Eberhard, called the Volt a hoax. Others called it a way to silence the growing interest in the dismantled EV1 program that the movie Who Killed the Electric Car had awakened. Some just called it a cheap marketing gimmick to piggyback on the growing green movement that the Toyota Prius had come to symbolize.
However, when Bob Lutz staked his legendary career to the Volt, my doubt disappeared. Besides the Volt buzz was a noise that was growing so loud that GM would have no choice but to succeed.
Nonetheless, when GM's CEO Rick Wagoner told reporters Tuesday at CES, fresh off the debut of the Cadillac Provoq, that a Volt by 2010 was a "stretch", I was disappointed. Even though GM has always maintained that 2010 was a stretch, even as recently as just a few days before, I want the Volt by 2010. Is that so bad?
Still, Wagoner also claimed that early tests on the just-delivered Volt battery pack had been "favorable". Additionally, the Volt program's 200 engineers have not yet hit any snags. So, overall, everything is going well in the Volt program.
Besides, despite the best of efforts, the launch date of the Volt will probably not be determined by GM anyway, but by the battery makers making the crucial lithium battery packs for the Volt.
So, Wagoner's statements about the Volt are a smart move to manage Volt expectations. Over-promising and under delivering cannot be an option for something as important as the Volt's success. Consequently, until 2011, I'll keep my fingers crossed for a 2010 launch.
Snake Oil. It is the hype of a soon-to-be receding industry. By keeping hopes up for American consumers that they can still buy American and not change their overly consuming habits, GM is trying to save their world. Mass-deployment of this technology at a practical level for the average Joe to enjoy is years beyond 2010. We will only make it to that point if consumption habits change dramatically within the next few years.
Kevin,
You are correct. GM makes crap...they have for years. GM's recent actions are nothing but those akin to a desperate person that has been found out and is doing his/her best to cover things up regarding how poor their products are.
GM needs to just disappear...it's time to make way for better, more thoughtful companies who don't make large turds on 4 wheels.
I think this technology will be around before 2010 (let us hope) but it won't be from a large American firm...at least not until GM finds enough stupid people who will eventually buy all those Hummers sitting on GM dealer lots.
Go Toyota! Go Honda...time to destroy GM and Ford.
Snakeoil? Possibly, but I don't believe so.
I don't disagree that the Volt is going up hill. However, Toyota has also suggested that lithium won't be ready until after 2010 as well. So, I don't think GM is intentionally dragging their feet.
Honda, for example, might put lithium in their fuel cell vehicles, but production on the FCX Clarity will be limited for the first several years of release. Honda recently stated they hope to be mass producing fuel cell vehicles within a decade, so that's still a good bit into the future.
GM still has a chance to turn things around. Considering the 10's of thousands of jobs GM provides, I think it's worth giving them a chance.
Moreover, the Volt and plug-in hybrids, or range extended vehicles, as GM calls them, aren't that important. It's the E Flex drive - the drive that will power not just plug-in hybrids, but GM's fifth generation of fuel cell vehicles, that is most important.
In terms of hybrids, I definitely believe GM made a mistake by not focusing on a Prius-fighting dual mode hybrid, but no other automaker really has a Prius fighter yet either.
GM is facing a tough, uphill struggle, and the odds are against them, but they aren't dead yet.
I think it's obvious that GM must change and I fully believe that GM is well aware of this reality.
News that the Volt will not be released by 2010 is disconcerting, but you must consider this. If they are worried about the batteries it may work out better for the consumer. Presently a replacement battery in a hybrid ranges from $2000-$4000. That's a pretty hefty price considering that a few bad cells in the battery will drain the good cells. However, it should be noted that the life expectancy of such batteries is somewhere between 7-9 years, quite longer than conventional cars. The Issue recently did a feature that talks alot about the economics of the Hybrid car and factors in such things as tax incentives and battery life. If you are interested in buying one, I would definitely check out The Issue as there are some surprising finds.
Cheers,
Mike
The Issue | The Issue
Nice Car!
The sin, if you will, is more from the vaporware angle. The pipedream they are selling changes the subject on the quickly decreasing supply of affordable oil. Joe consumer thinks "if my car can last another 2 years (2010-2008) I can replace it with a 100+ MPG gallon model." In reality, by 2012 Joe won't be able to afford the $45000 Volt as he tries to make payments on the econobox he bought in 2010 when he couldn't afford to fill his SUV by 2010.
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