GM preparing for high oil prices
More Volts coming?Once the US breaks out of recession many, including GM, believe that oil prices are going to rise. Consequently, GM is preparing for oil prices over $100 per barrel. That means an increased focus on "electric cars and biofuels" according to the AFP.
Unfortunately, there aren't many more details about GM's future plans. Sadly, however, GM has been spinning the biofuel tale for years now, with few positive results. Today, GM's flex fuel vehicles are more about CAFE credits than fighting oil prices.
In terms of electric cars, we know about the Chevy Volt. So does this mean more Volts, or is GM going to broaden it's battery-powered portfolio? Hopefully, new details will be available soon.
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, GM
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:30 AM
6 Comments:
$100 barrell = 3.oo in past and no one argues that as probable. Question is this - will even 3.50 a gallon = purchase of 40k Volt ?? Nope.
Not when there will be at least 4 COMPACT super good hybrids starting at around 20k.........
GM will not be able to compete price wise for at least 2 years, till then its billions more in bailout :(
i use to be total Obama supporter but now I am frankly worried that we will in deep trouble as country if we continue to borrow trillions every MONTH.....the dollar will be worth nothing, we will have no jobs in USA, and no one will have a home......:(
One option GM can excerises is to reduce the battery capacity of the Volt by 50%. This should not reduce too much retooling.
The pure electric range of this Volt will be ~20miles vs. 40 miles for the original bersion. This car will still enable the majority of the American population to use 0 or no gasoline at all in their daily use.
Price should come down but by how much I don't know. Hopefully to a competitive level.
They are starting a plant to produce small cars by 1012 or something.http://www.hybridcars.com/news/gm-mulls-production-site-chevy-spark-25863.html
The Spark and the Cruze might help GM with higher gas prices, but the Volt is more about 2020.
Even if GM was going to make some other significant change, it still takes 3 - 4 years to retool for new production. Thus, if they are making a big change - which they probably are not - they'd have to set it into motion......yesterday.
Indigo Incarnates
I do look forward to seeing how well the Spark and Cruz do in the marketplace. When I bought my Scion xD last year, the Chevy Cobalt had made it to the short list of candidates (I think it was #3) since I drove one as a ten-day rental once. It had good acceleration and good fuel economy. The Cruz should theoretically retain the good parts of the Cobalt while giving it a much-needed refresh.
Of course, a mild-hybrid Cruz would certainly be a compelling option. Isn't GM supposedly planning on beefing up BAS to make it function more like Honda's IMA system?
GM is updating the BAS system and changing the battery to lithium. I have not, however, heard of a Cruze mild hybrid.
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