Fortune rips Big 3 and "foolhardy" Volt
The Volt's redesigned debutA few weeks ago Fortune's Alex Taylor III slammed GM's Chevy Volt calling it "misguided, even foolhardy".
Today, Taylor elaborates on his Volt criticism while wondering when the Big 3 will challenge a vehicle like the Toyota Prius. Moreover, he wonders how financially-strangled Big 3 automakers are going to catch companies like Toyota on advanced technology.
Sure GM has a vehicle like the Volt, but Volt profitability is probably 3 generations away. How will GM make money in the interim? With gas-guzzlers? Without ever directly challenging the Prius?
And, if it takes another 10 years before the Volt is possibly profitable, new Chinese companies, such as BYD, might be too lean and mean - not to mention close to lithium supplies - for GM and the Big 3 to contend.
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:41 PM
7 Comments:
I never thought I would say it, but yes I do feel sorry that we will loose GM for now, and then happy that it will go majorly 'green' in year or so. I agree selling 40k hybrids as a centerpiece is not viable and you dont have to be an engineer or GM salesperson to know that, just a normal consumer. Even if gas goes again to 4.oo a gallon, most will go to a hybrid manufacturer that cost around 21k or so..its a no brainer, sorry GM :(
Sadly, even at $40,000, the Volt probably isn't profitable. While I've long been a fan of the Volt, I've always felt the Volt wasn't a reason not to produce a direct Prius contender ASAP.
There was a time when GM contemplated a non-plug-in Volt variant. I hope they re-contemplate. Figure out how to adapt the dual mode hybrid powertrain for the Volt and create a Prius contender today.
Obviously, that isn't going to happen, but GM really needs a small hybrid right now. Had they put the same kind of Volt effort, concurrently, into a small, full hybrid like the Prius, it would already be on the road today.
The fact that hasn't and probably won't happen any time soon says it all.
Dahc-
Have you ever heard of AFS Trinity and their so called Extreme Hybrid™ Plug-in? I found this info on the website:
http://www.afstrinity.com/
I would like to hear what you think. Are they legit?
AFS developed a system that utilizes a drive train with advanced lithium batteries in conjunction with ultracapacitors and an internal combustion engine. They adapted this drive train into a Saturn Vue and called it the XH-150™ plug-in hybrid SUV that they claimed can achieve 150 MPG. The last I heard is that they are road testing it in a couple of major cities. AFS Trinity do not have manufacturing capability so they were looking to license this system to a car manufacturers.
It would've been a good opportunity for GM to invest a few millions with AFS and may be they could have put a plug-in on the road by now.
I talked to AFS reps at the LA Auto Show a couple of years ago. I know that in terms of ultracaps and supercaps, GM for instance, still believes they aren't cost-effective.
Moreover, AFS doesn't really have the capability to fully model and test their drive to the extent that GM can, especially with regard to the battery.
In regards to a plug-in Vue, GM has been testing a plug-nn dual mode Vue hybrid that, aside from further testing, seemed ready for production more than a year ago. Thus, GM could easily have began production some time ago, but I think they really want to put such vehicles through their paces. One bad thermodynamic event could really tarnish GM's future plans in terms of public perception.
So, I think that Trinity has done some good work, but I don't know that they bring a huge competitive advantage to GM, especially in terms of cost-effectiveness. Since it's going to take years, even decades, to achieve profitability on such vehicles, GM - I would guess, really can't afford spreading intellectual property rights too thin.
Indigo Incarnates
GM has reaped the bitter fruit of their crushed EV1 project. If they hadn't sold the patents to Chevron, the Volt could have been on the road five years ago. Meanwhile, GM keeps making ridiculous guzzlers like the Escalade Hybrid (20 MPG for a shade under $100k. What a deal!)
I think the Volt is a vaporware product. GM used it to bilk the taxpayers out of vast sums of money. I won't believe in the Volt until the day I can drive to a GM dealer and take one on a test drive.
I just got a notice in my email that Hyundai Lithium FORTEO is coming soon! Cant wait as its very slick looking, comes almost fully loaded and its pricing is expected to beat I think, the Insight!
I think the Volt is still coming, and I do worry that its more of a CAFE hedge in the short term, but I wouldn't call it vaporware, although I understand the mistrust of GM.
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Last I heard the Sonata hybrid was going to be the first US Hyundai hybrid. Any further details?
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