Component shortage may threaten GM hybrid plan
In its viability plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury, General Motors promised to boost the number of hybrids in the company's lineup to 26 models by 2014, up from eight today. Although there are no concerns that the technology would be ready, there could be shortage of certain parts. According to what Tom Stephens, GM executive vice president of global powertrain and global quality, told Automotive News: "There are a lot of ifs, ands and buts associated with that. We will have all of this developed, but depending on component availability, we may do one thing or the other." Parts that could be in shortage include lithium-ion batteries, and some yet-to be developed electric motors. The Saturn Vue Two Mode hybrid, for example, has been delayed already. Nevertheless, GM plans three versions of its hybrid powertrains: mild hybrids like those used in the current Vue and Malibu hybrids, and two iterations of the Two Mode hybrid, one for rear drive cars and the other for front drive vehicles; the latter could also come with plug-in capabilities.
[Source: Automotive News (subs. req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yikes 9:35AM (3/03/2009)
What a bunch of B.S.
GM is just waffling and jerking the government around while they beg for money. I seriously don't think GM can come up with a long term plan.
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Lad 12:53PM (3/03/2009)
It's as if they are looking for reasons why they can't build electric cars at every turn. If they really wanted to sell them and believed in the EV, don't you think they would try to promo them rather than publicly air the problems with making them? Ford's making progress on this front without government money. What's the difference? Management is the answer.
One more thing: if the economy doesn't recover soon, GM will go into receivership anyway. Think of all the tax funding dollars we have spent trying to keep an ill-run company afloat. I say sack their management, place them under government management, clean up their act and let the share holders sell the company to new managers back into the private sector as soon as can be done.
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jharlan 1:25PM (3/03/2009)
It's looking like the economic catastrophe that our government has engineered is going to be the final blow for GM. I'm afraid GM as we know it is dead, but just hasn't fell over yet, in spite of our nostalgic hopes they could again be the auto giant they were. They have been losing market share for decades. The name, GM, may survive, but there is no way it will be the same company. They can't continue to bleed several $billion/quarter at the taxpayers expense much longer, and economic conditions make their survival hopes pretty dim. GM is following Oldsmobile over the falls. It may be time to put them out of their misery. I am still rooting for the home team but we have to face reality.
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stas peterson 1:30AM (3/11/2009)
Who wrote this ignorant release?
It is well known that the Dual-mode hybrid is scheduled for Four iterations. A pair of Big dual-mode hybrids first, for the big PUs and big SUVs, in RWD, and FWD, versions. The thinking was they needed the fuel economy improvements for the biggest vehicles, first.
A second pair. that we have not yet seen, down scaled to fit for big sedans and small CUVs and minivans, in RWD and FWD versions. Those dual-mode hybrids would allow a FWD DTS Caddy hybrid or a Chrysler Cross Country hybrid minivan. Alternatively the small RWD version's provides for the Chrysler 300 sedan or a Mercedes S Class and BMW 7 series RWD hybrid sedans. Why do you think these companies joined GM in a joint venture for?
The two sizes, are meant for 5000-6000 pound trucks and the smaller ones are meant for 4000 pound vehicles.
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Chris M 4:36PM (3/03/2009)
The problem is that whatever iteration, the Dual Mode design is much more complicated and more expensive than the hybrid designs used by Toyota and Ford.
Both Toyota and Ford have hybrid SUVs that get better fuel economy yet cost less than the big GM hybrids. Toyota and Ford have highly efficient hybrid sedans on the market now, years before GM or Chrysler will - someday - maybe.