Detroit Auto Show: Pie-in the sky?
With flashing lights simulating lightening encircling the stage, General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Volt, a concept that runs on electricity.
GM Chairman Rick Wagoner opened the press conference, reiterating highlights of a speech he delivered six weeks ago at the Los Angeles show. He insisted again it is a business necessity to develop alternative sources of energy and alternative propulsion systems. He renewed GM’s commitment to develop a Saturn Vue plug in hybrid...
GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz then rolled out as a passenger in the Chevy Volt. The concept runs on electricity from lithium ion batteries beneath its floor. It also has a fuel tank from which gasoline is to fuel a generator to produce electricity onboard the car. The Volt is the first concept to use a new family of electric propulsion systems being developed by GM. The system is designed to accommodate a variety of fuels as well as hydrogen-powered fuel cells.
Lutz made some lame attempts at jokes like “I’m shocked! Truly shocked” in reference to the Volt’s electric power and made reference to “an inconvenience truth,” the movie title for former Vice President Al Gore’s environmental film. (The director of the documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?,” which blamed GM for the death of its electric-powered EV1, was a guest in the audience.)
Skeptics in the crowd called the Chevy Volt another pie in the sky idea and even a PR stunt by GM, which has been harshly criticized for lagging in developing hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.
GM executives insist, however, the lithium ion batteries for the E-flex system, which are not yet ready for prime time, are in the works in as early as two years. GM is pushing for them to be developed by an American manufacturer; at the moment, Japan and Korea area ahead in battery development.
—Michelle Krebs
- Permalink | Comments (6)
- Posted by: Bob Holland January 7, 2007, 12:00 PM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Chevrolet, General Motors, Green Tech
It took GM how long before they made a alternative fuel concept that actually looked good. Well it took forever but finally we have a winner good job GM. While it is highly doubtful we will ever see the Volt in production Im hoping that some of the components especially the E flex system make it into production
I think GM needs to get a truly green car out there, and fast. The mpg race started years ago and they haven't even crossed the start line.
Is it me or is the rear tire like 4 sizes bigger then the front tires? And I wonder how much savings you really get when you'll end up paying your local power company every month for charging this baby. Say hello to $300-$400 power bills I'd suspect.
It's getting there, I applaud the effort.
The upside to a plug-in hybrid vehicle is far less dependence on foreign oil, the downside is that electricity is mostly produced from burning coal or from nuclear power generation (radioactive nuclear waste is not your friend)...so although bringing this vehicle to production would be a step in the right direction, it still would not solve the environmental problems that automobiles cause.
Certainly an interesting concept though and it is good to see GM getting close to alternative propulsion systems for public sale.
I think I've read that you'd save something like $500 a year in the end using electric vs. buying gas. As for where the electric comes from, that is an issue as well. I say we should fire up some more nuclear reactors, pronto. Waste shouldn't be a problem, if we can just get Yucca mt. going.
Hi guys I have Volt news for yah. i have a inside source at GM and he has told me that the volt is hinting at a production model. However one of the big obstacles is the battery. The battery on this thing is three hundred liters and thus is very heavy. However GM is extremely close to solving that problem by creating a battery that is 100 liters and still deliver the same mileage. Hopefully GM can solve that problem soon.