Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant could get Volt production in Europe
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Flextreme
Despite Carl-Peter Forster's recent assertion that Euro Volts would be built in America and shipped overseas, GM's European leader is now claiming that Europe may get its own plant. This change of heart could have something to do with Gordon Brown's recent announcement that the British government would offer £90m in funding over the next five years for alternative car projects? Why, yes, it could. Forster indicates that government assistance would play a large role in determining whether a European plant for Vauxhaull and Opel E-Flex vehicles is made and where it could be. GM execs also indicate that the surcharge for the Volt in Europe could be around £20,000 over the similarly-sized Astra.
Prime Minister Brown also laid out plans for electric car charging stations across the U.K. which could be integrated into supermarkets and retail stores. Brown considers our times as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity" for the world to push technology forward in a move to reduce the use of ever more expensive oil.
Gallery: 2007 Opel Flextreme concept
[Source: The Financial Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
a.brien 9:19PM (7/24/2008)
They are ridiculous GM. They plan a fictitious car, the volt for europe?? Im sure they haven't drive their mule more then a mile or two, yet in america. There is too much complicated technologies in the electrical domain for them to even drive a mile or two. And chevron compagny can sue them when the time come for the battery specifications.
No one yet on the market seem to know how a gasoline battery recharger work.
Their fuelcell cars are way better and the tests are finnish and the results are good. Why they don't put that on the market now,
like honda did this summer with their fcx. A fuelcell car is way less complicated then the volt concept.
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Chris M 3:28AM (7/25/2008)
Are you serious? The serial hybrid technology used by the Volt is not nearly as complicated as the the air compressors and special fuel flow regulators and thermal management systems and moisture control systems and high pressure H2 gas storage and safety shutoffs that a fuel cell car requires.
Sorry, but Chevron can't sue, as the Volt is using LiIon batteries and Chevron doesn't have a patent on that type of battery - besides, "fuel cell cars" also have LiIon batteries, so shouldn't you worry about Honda being sued?
"No one yet on the market seem to know how a gasoline battery recharger work." LOL! Now you're just being silly. Gasoline powered battery recharging has been around since the advent of the self starter, about 80 years or so.
As to why no one is marketing a fuel cell car, and won't for several decades, the answer is simple. There is no market for a car running on expensive fuel, with very limited refill options and a half million dollar price tag.
tankd0g 1:34PM (7/25/2008)
Chris, you seem to know a lot about the complexity or lack of on a car that doesn't exist. Considering they are going to be defying the laws of physics to make this Volt work as advertised, it's going to be Star Trek level complicated at the very least.
diffrunt 10:58PM (7/24/2008)
forget the volt, I want a flextreme w/o scooters.
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Scott 12:33AM (7/25/2008)
It does look much nicer than the Volt!
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Chris M 3:31AM (7/25/2008)
I must admit I prefer the European Flextreme concept to the American Volt concept. However, those concepts won't be produced unchanged, the production version will be different.
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真実は傷つく 10:56AM (7/25/2008)
If mr Brown actually is serious about the "opportunity for the world
to push technology forward" rethoric,
then I for one is a bit happier than before I read this.
:)
Since most americans seem to bash the Nobel price winner Al Gore,
there now seems to be another politician brave enough to raise to the
challange of taking on Big Oil,
and - let's not forget -
the horrible attitudes of much of the common public.
"What do you mean !? Do I actually have to change something !?
Something in the way I actually live !?
Who ?? Me !? Change !?!?
I'll eat my King Size burgers as much as I please mister! I'll drive what
f*ckin' gasguzzler I like, and I'll pollute the air so bad you'll
choke your commie BS down your throut!
Don't you tell me what to do !!!!
We're theeee UESSAY, man - an' we're the richest f*ckin' people
in the world ! Must be somethin' we're doin' right, right ? Yea, and
we're as stupid as we look, hahahahahaha !!! "
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Ted 4:30PM (7/25/2008)
£20,000 more expensive than a comparable Astra?? Given that a mid range astra retails for around £14,000 here in the UK that means its going to compete with Porsche boxters,E class Mercs etc... hmmm..
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Julian 2:51PM (7/28/2008)
Despite sending this via corrections a few days ago, they still haven't updated this post to make it clear that the FT article actually says it'll likely be around £20,000 for the car itself, not a £20,000 premium over the cost of an Astra.
"Company executives indicated to the FT yesterday that the Volt could have a list price in the UK of around £20,000, several thousand pounds dearer than an equivalent petrol or diesel Astra."