Executive: Why the Chevy Volt must be built
Frank Weber at NAIAS 2008Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of speculation on whether the Chevy Volt is a real product or just some sort of 'vaporware' designed as both a distraction and a marketing machine. Recently, I covered this topic in Chevy Volt: Hype whore or resource hog.
At NAIAS I was able to interview Frank Weber, Global Vehicle Line Executive for the E-Flex drive, which includes the Chevy Volt concept. I'm hoping to finish transcribing my interview later today or tomorrow and then I'll post the whole thing. However, I wanted to post one interesting answer to a question I asked Frank. Read more....
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, GM, NAIAS
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:59 AM
11 Comments:
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Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of speculation on whether the Chevy Volt is a real product or just some sort of 'vaporware' designed as both a distraction and a marketing machine. Recently, I covered this topic in Chevy Volt: Hype whore or resource hog.
At NAIAS I was able to interview Frank Weber, Global Vehicle Line Executive for the E-Flex drive, which includes the Chevy Volt concept. I'm hoping to finish transcribing my interview later today or tomorrow and then I'll post the whole thing. However, I wanted to post one interesting answer to a question I asked Frank.
Me - "Recently, Bob Lutz stated that he was 90-something percent certain that the Volt would make it to production. What’s your confidence level that the Volt will happen?"
Frank Weber - "When you look at the data that tells you the only concept that will really make a difference in terms of energy consumption, emission reduction, creating an independence from petroleum, the only vehicle concept that can do this is an extended range vehicle like the Volt.
So, you answered your question already. Society, the challenges that we have, we cannot afford not to….So, the question you ask is wrong. Because the industry has to put this technology in place, otherwise there is no solution for the energy challenges of 2010, 2020 and 2030."
I don't know about you, but I feel pretty confident when the main engineer running the Volt program believes the Volt MUST be developed.
That's his job. That's what he's supposed to say. He's just following the company line.
It doesn't matter what he thinks anyway, GM is already bankrupt, they just don't know it yet. So who cares what Frank has to say.
Did he look anything like Michael Keaton in Gung Ho!? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gung_Ho_(film))
I guess he kind of did look like Michael Keaton in Gung Ho, but he didn't really act like him.
On the contrary, Frank is kind of a soft-spoken engineer, he's not the cheerleader Keaton was in Gung Ho. Still, his passion for his job, for what the E-Flex is designed to achieve was inspiring.
Like many I've interviewed working on the Volt project, Frank sincerely believes the Volt is a revolutionary project that must be developed.
I would build a volt myself if I had the tools, until then this site pays homage:
http://www.chevy-volt.net
More people should learn about electric vehicles as a solution. "Zero emissions" is something that's going to be required by law one day (you know it will). Making the decision to go electric is far cheaper anyway, like 10 cents on the dollar vs. gas. (source: zapworld.com)
More people should learn about electric vehicles as a solution. "Zero emissions" is something that's going to be required by law one day (you know it will). Making the decision to go electric is far cheaper anyway, like 10 cents on the dollar vs. gas. (source: zapworld.com)
Sounds just the way it is supposed to. Go back and check out how enthusiastic the staff was that developed the EV1, until they were handed their walking papers by GM. There may be plug-in hybrids some day, but the pure EV would require far too little service by the dealer network, far too few replacement parts, and far too little participation by big oil.
Ergo, unless there is a huge political change in the USA (no, I'm not suggesting anything, just observing objectively) the pure plug-in will only be reality for the chosen few who build their own, or can afford to pay up for a good one from a very small company like Tesla or Phoenix. I'm afraid it won't be available to the general public in my lifetime. If it is, I'll crawl on my hands and knees from home to the dealer, wherever he is.
Beat Toyota to the punch or spend years paying for not doing so.
I am very enthusiastic when it comes to any of these hybrids being built. In hopes that soon all of our gas guzzling nightmares will be over, and maybe things will be easier on us all, as long as their are some that are affordable to us middle class people!
that affordability issue is a big one. it's probably going to take a generation or two for such vehicles to become affordable for average middle class buyers
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