GM Veep Beth Lowery: Future Volts will turn a profit
Chevy Volt powertrain mule - Click above for high-res image gallery
Since the automaker's descent into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a number of people have taken to referring to GM as Government Motors. That's clever, but Beth Lowery, GM Vice President, Environment, Energy & Safety Policy, has a different acronym on her mind: Green Motors. A bit flowery perhaps, but she explained why as she answered a few interesting questions presented by attendees of the Air and Waste Management Association's annual conference and exhibition in Detroit recently. For instance, when asked how GM plans to produce the Volt profitably, Lowery says:
Introducing advanced technology is always expensive initially, especially in the early generations. It's important to have the right incentives for customers, such as federal tax credits. Future generations of the technology will be less expensive, making it possible for us to turn a profit.Other questions were asked regarding GM's plans for the future and other possible vehicular segments. Perhaps someone's thinking of PUMA? Says Lowery:
From a macro level, we're looking at transportation systems globally, but our main focus today is on getting personal transportation - cars and trucks - right.Click here to read the rest of Lowery's blog entry.
[Source: GM Fastlane]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ShaunneyCakes 12:33PM (6/24/2009)
Who will be the first person to make themselves look dumb by falsely posting that green tech does not ever make a profit?
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TX CHL Instructor 12:50PM (6/24/2009)
Now that GM is owned by government (Libs), it is no longer possible for the company to make independent, non-political decisions on anything. Color them gone.
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Jeff 12:55PM (6/24/2009)
And TX CHL Instructor gets the booby-prize...! Because, you know, being a private company (and one without shareholders in Chrysler's case, no less) worked so well for GM.
It's not that I disagree with your point so much as that you really don't have one...
Yanquetino 1:23PM (6/24/2009)
Sorry, but Beth Lowrey lost all credibility in my mind when interviewed for Frontline's program "Heat" on November 9, 2007. Her spin on the EV1 debacle was a textbook example of PR sewage:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/interviews/lowery.html
In my opinion, the company's initials stand for General Murders.
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Throwback 1:28PM (6/24/2009)
I certainly hope they make a profit. I would like to get paid back.
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polo 4:49PM (6/24/2009)
I strongly doubt you keep tabs on every penny the US government loans to every business.
Evan 1:31PM (6/24/2009)
The Volt is a $15K Chevy Cruze with a hybrid drivetrain, sold for $40K. How could they not make a profit on that? Oh, right, it's GM.
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NeilBlanchard 3:38PM (6/24/2009)
Hiya,
Why is there a lump of iron under the hood that is big enough to push the whole car by itself? That's a lot of extra weight for the electric motor to move, requiring more batteries -- which adds yet more weight...
The Mini hybrid (from a few years back) with 640HP (four 160HP hub motors) that was also a serial hybrid (like the Volt is) -- and it only needed a 250cc 2-cylinder engine to charge the batteries. The Aptera 2h will have a ~15HP engine to charge the batteries. The ICE can run at it's peak efficiency RPM; so WHY does GM put a 1.4L 4-cylinder in it?!
Sincerely, Neil
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gorr 4:10PM (6/24/2009)
Nobody will ever want to buy this limp overpriced subsidized crap car made with taxmoney to please big-oil. This is a steal of taxpayer money to put usa more down then it is now. Get rid of this nightmare car compagny that destructed usa economy to give all money their is to high financial circles. What they did since 100 years was to pollute the air the more they can to charge money the more then can to clean it thereafter. It's the only compagny having patented an electric car, then crush it and sold the patent to oil cartel, LOL. They don't deserve taxmoney as any private compagny don't deserve it. Taxmoney are for the roads and schools.
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Richard in FLA 5:36PM (6/24/2009)
OMG, I think I agree with Gorr. I'm going to bed! I'm seeing stars and pigs fly!
Anton Wahlman 11:35AM (6/25/2009)
Here is the question nobody seems to be asking, let alone answering: For those consumers who will be unable to plug in the car overnight (or on most other times), what will be the fuel economy compared to a parallel hybrid, such as the current Toyota/Ford models? Many Americans live in apartment buildings and park on the street, where cars such as the Chevrolet Volt will not be regularly be plugged in. In other words, how will the ceteris paibus performance of a parallel hybrid be vs a serial hybrid?
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