The Chevy Volt goes to Washington - GM hopes to cash in
Yesterday, we mentioned that Toyota is hoping to cash in on the reputation of being hybrid friendly and green in order to make high profits by selling performance vehilces under their Lexus brand name. Just as there is a great deal of hype surrounding the Toyota Prius, the Chevy Volt has garnered green attention towards the General. And, GM wants to cash in on some of that early hype by showing the vehicle off in Washington today to bolster their lobbying efforts in Caption Hill. As we are all aware, there are competing plans being discussed by the nations' policy makers, with distinct sides developing on each side. Those who have already chosen where they stand are not the target of the auto industry's efforts, though. Instead of changing the minds of those who have already decided one way or the other, GM is hoping to sway those "sitting on the fence" to the side of lower standards. What they are trying to prove is that they genuinely want to make more efficient cars, but that the standards being discussed by some in Congress are just unrealistic. Will the Volt be enough to sway those fence sitters? As always is the case, we must wait and see. But, here is a question for our readers: is it right for GM to cash in on Volt hype before the vehicle even is in production?
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Domenick 9:52AM (7/20/2007)
The Volt could just as easily be used to argue for tougher standards because they've shown they can meet them if they really wanted to.
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jeremie 9:57AM (7/20/2007)
Right or wrong has never stop a corporation from using what ever means possible for making money...
Selfish Capitalism
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Tony Belding 10:02AM (7/20/2007)
Right, I don't follow the logic either. We're already planning to make more efficient vehicles, therefore we shouldn't be required to? Or is it more like. . . We're trying to make more efficient vehicles, but this is the best we've come up with, and you see it's not really working yet, therefore we can't meet your CAFE requirements?
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AlexNC 10:17AM (7/20/2007)
@Domenick
I agree. If anything, it just proves that GM CAN make more efficient car if they set their mind to it. Am I missing the logic here ... I don't get it???
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ug 5:05PM (7/20/2007)
This really backs up the idea that the Volt is another short-term publicity stunt along the lines of the EV1.
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Schmeltz 1:21PM (7/20/2007)
This is just a guess on my behalf, however I'm suspecting that by showing lawmakers the Volt, they are trying to demonstrate that they are working hard on more efficient cars, (which they are), they just don't want the strict regs pushed down everyone's throats. I think there is a great deal of concern with all of the automakers that the really efficient vehicles won't sell. Evidence to support this fear are gas electric hybrids. We didn't really see a sales boom with hybrids until the price of gas spiked. Many people complain that a Prius is roughly the same size as a Corolla, yet costs $3-4000 more, and therefore opt for the less efficient of the two. Diesels are another example. The VW Jetta is very efficient by today's standards, yet they cost a few thousand more than a gas version. Now, with clean diesel regs coming into effect, they will be yet even more expensive. People bulk when they got to spend more money for anything. We're all happy to pay lip service to saving the environment, but it seems moreso like only the committed greenies are willing to spend the extra dough when it comes to saving the environment. When people are given a choice, they more than not choose cheaper over better for the environment. Many people criticize Bob Lutz in these circles, yet I think he has an insight that many are choosing to overlook, in that we can make the super efficient cars, but will many people buy them?
Now, people are going to say "What about the Prius--that's selling great?" I have to return the question then with, "What about the Civic Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX330 Hybrid, and certainly the Accord Hybrid which is going to die shortly?" These are all efficient vehicles, but even now in times of high gas prices are selling poorly. In my observation, the Regulations don't sell the efficient cars, high gas prices do.
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Tony Belding 2:09PM (7/20/2007)
Putting hybrids in perspective. . . . Your conventional non-plug-in hybrid car provides only a modest increase in fuel economy, and most of that comes in stop-and-go driving.
A Corolla gets 31 MPG (city & highway combined), compared with 46 MPG for the Prius. That's a 48% improvement. However, in my experience it usually takes a bare minimum of 100% improved performance before most people will even take a look at a new and unfamiliar technology. I suspect this is why hybrids have had difficulty going mainstream.
If you go to a PHEV or BEV, then you are potentially looking at efficiencies in the range of about 100 to 130 MPG. So, that's more like 200-300% improvement over the Corolla. That's enough to get the general public's attention, it could be a game changer.
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Schmeltz 2:14PM (7/20/2007)
Tony Belding:
Well said. Lets hope for better things to come.
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