GM trying to turn down the Chevy Volt's hype
It looks as if GM is dimming its brightest star of the Detroit Auto Show, the Chevy Volt. Probably no vehicle generated as much press as the Volt in these energy-conscious times. At the show, GM officials stressed that battery technology had yet to catch up with the Volt, but company was committed to the concept. In other words, there is the possibility the car may never be built. But that message didn't get through to everyone and the Volt was splashed on the front page of practically every media outlet.
The Detroit News has an overview of the Volt's situation which basically says GM is trying to temper expectations. The company recently gathered about 100 journalists to nurture the softer posture as well as explain the tough task of developing battery technology. [Ed.'s note: ABG was there]
"The pressure is intense. We came out with this idea and now people are saying, 'OK, where is this car. We want it now,' " the Volt's chief engineer Nick Zielinski told the press.
The story points out other green promises that have yet to materialize. DaimlerChrysler promised a production fuel-cell vehicle by 2004. Ford was going to have a quarter-million hybrids on the road by 2010. And taxpayers funded a $1.5 billion effort to produce a car that gets 80mpg.
The Volt's current status puts GM in a tough credibility position. Some critics say the Volt's introduction was just a PR stunt.
To GM's credit, the company is giving the media unprecedented access to the Volt's development so the public is aware of the technology hurdles.
UPDATE: The response from Maximum Bob.
Related:
[Source: Sharon Terlep / Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kert 10:26AM (3/23/2007)
Again. 1998 saw a working, running, four-seat series hybrid from GM, not at all dissimilar to Chevy Volt in operating principle. It was called the EV1 Series Hybrid prototype.
People have the _right_ to ask why arent they producing the Volt now, when the tech was working NINE years ago ?
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Tim 10:33AM (3/23/2007)
Anybody REALLY surprised? Disappointed... yes. Surprised... NO.
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moogy 11:47AM (3/23/2007)
Yet an other EV1 story all over again. We need to put are faith somewhere else. Tesla, Zap, etc...
That really want EV on the road.
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Peter 12:12PM (3/23/2007)
Down with the dinosaurs, up with the start-ups!
If electric cars are going to really come up, I think it's much more likely that new companies will be able to make it happen than old companies. The dinosaurs have a tried and true business model that is just frankly out of sync with the electric car model. Such a radical transformation will have to be done by VC's and rocket scientists (Tesla in a nutshell, really), not veteran carmakers. It would be like Chevy trying to play itself at chess - it doesn't honestly want to beat itself at it's own beloved gasoline-engine game, so it just doesn't put out an honest effort. We need real companies on both sides of the board.
Similarly, don't expect to see many filling stations implimenting charging stations for EV's. They could get away with charging maybe $5 or $10 for a fast AltairNano charge, but it's not a sustainable business model for a business that usually rakes in $25-100 gross per vehicle fillup. Instead, EV charging would be much better implimented by sections of existing parking lots having chargers installed - instead of a the ridiculous infrastructure required by a gas filling station, all a charging station requires is a simple power regulator and a credit card reader. It's a sustainable business model because it would simply provide supplemental income to an already established business (like a grocery store, department store or mall) with extremely low overhead, while competing with gas stations whose main source of income is refueling cars. It would even benefit the economy overall, because more discretionary dollars are spent by people refueling if there is a seductive retail environment in short walking distance (which is why casinos sell gas dirt cheap). I'd much rather waste some money and time in a Target than at a Philips 76. Bring on the charging stations!
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Schmeltz 1:18PM (3/23/2007)
Ok, I just read the article from the Detroit News, and it doesn't seem much like news to me. Anyone following this subject of the Volt knows already that there are some hurdles to overcome. Lutz said that there is perhaps a 10% chance that it may not come to fruition, but given the data he's seen, he felt ever more confident that it could be pulled off. Naturally there's a huge buzz around this vehicle, and everyone wants to know when it will be here. I think people need to be more patient and let them dot their i's and cross their t's. The car has to work or they risk catastrophe. They are just feeling the pressure--understandable in my opinion.
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1985 Gripen 5:58PM (3/23/2007)
I really don't understand the technical hurdles with the Volt. A traditional hybrid is just an IC engine that drives the wheels AND charges the batteries. Why is it so hard to cut the connection from the IC engine to the wheels but keep the battery charging intact?
Maybe they're trying to do too much with the lithium batteries? Why not launch a first-gen model with Nickel Metal-Hydride batteries, then worry about a follow-up model with lithium batteries and better specs?
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Tony Belding 5:59PM (3/23/2007)
I believe GM are sincere in wanting to build it, they realize this is their last chance. However, there is a whiff of desperation around the Volt and E-Flex program.
First recognize that the Volt concept car was cobbled together in a very short time and was not fully functional when it was unveiled -- it could barely move under its own power, as seen in GM's own videos. It wasn't a prototype, it was more of a styling exercise combined with GM's announcement that they'd like to build a plug-in hybrid (but not call it a hybrid) someday. In this respect it was completely unlike the GM Impact, which was a technical triumph in its day.
Toyota had already announced earlier that they intend to build a PHEV; the only difference is that Toyota didn't bother to show any kind of styling mockup, and as a result didn't get much press. The Toyota PHEV may not have a name or a face attached to it, but it's probably closer to reality than the Chevy Volt.
Also, the Chevy Volt can't be produced and sold with today's batteries. It's possible to design and manufacture an EV with today's batteries: Tesla is doing it, Phoenix is doing it, others are getting there. They are designing vehicles around the strengths of today's batteries rather than whining and waiting for all the weaknesses to be resolved.
But the real elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about is whether GM will even be solvent in 3 to 5 years. Those who have been following the GM Death Watch over on The Truth About Cars will know what I mean.
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Schmeltz 8:38PM (3/23/2007)
Tony:
I think GM is taking everything with the Volt seriously and are perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the size of the task ahead of them. As for the NiMH batteries, well both Tesla and Toyota are seeking Lithium Ion batteries for their EV's, not NiMH as many are suggesting to do. It seems by my observation that the Lithium Ion batteries are the better of the 2 technologies, they have some technology hurdles to overcome such as controls and absolutely keeping them cool though. It may seem like a great strategy to use NiMH in lieu of the Lithiums, but if GM would abandon Lithiums for NiMH, then 2 years from now Tesla and Toyota both come out with their own Lithium EV's, then GM would once again be behind the eight ball. According to Toyota's chairman, designing a Lithium battery vehicle is no cake walk either, or they would have had one already. And that's Toyota talking whom we all know can do no wrong.
I'm speaking to everyone here when I say, it's easy to armchair quarterback, (and I'm guilty as much as anyone), but they have tons of pressure on them. GM cannot afford mistakes on this.
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Ralph 1:14AM (3/24/2007)
Looks like GM may have been 'too successful' with this VOLT concept. May I suggest that an extremely highly efficient, very low volume gasoline usage vehicle like this being sold by a huge auto manufacturer (with the capacity to produce on very large scales) would currently 'rock the boat' energy and economy wise. The VOLT concept is really nothing new, but I suspect we won't see something like this from a major auto manufacturer anytime soon. Evidence how long its taking to get a relatively simple PHEV to market! Well, guess its time to build my own ;)
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GreyFalcon 12:02PM (3/25/2007)
Wait, HUH?
I thought GM already signed a contract with A123 Systems to use that battery in their Volt? (!)
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18054/
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Joel trombley 4:11AM (3/26/2007)
Did not expect anthing less from GM. More hype,I will go build my own.
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Joel trombley 3:51AM (3/26/2007)
Did not expect anthing less from GM. More hype,I will go build my own.
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