Sales of the GM Volt.

[joshh]

Well, the more miles you intend on driving, the smarter of a purchase this is. It's a great car for business use, especially in the city.

I agree with you're basic idea here. The real issue is the initial cost. And how long repairs (the battery) hold out.
If one's intention is to buy the Prius (for example) for the gas savings then the intention should also be keeping the car till it dies or for a number of years. Buying the car to save money on gas and only using it for 3-4 years is not saving any money. You just spent more for a hybrid than you could have for a standard smaller car. Even with the gas savings.

[rwh11385]

http://www.projectm1.com/index_files/M1History.htm

After a delay in the production of more than a year a very complicated and slow method was found to manufacture the M1. This method involved four different companies at four different locations and it meant that cars in varying stages of completeness had to be transported back and forth all over Europe. To add insult to injury the FIA changed their rules during these delays, robbing the M1 of an arena to dominate as it was intended to do.

In an effort to salvage the M1 project Jochen Neerpasch scored an incredible coup; the Pro-Car series. The stars of the Formula 1 circuit would race some young, hungry and up-and-coming drivers in identically prepared M1s. These events were organized in support of regular Formula 1 races. The Pro-Car series generated plenty publicity and excitement but in the end it was too little, too late.

The M1 had turned into a financial disaster and the Vorstand pulled the plug. The budget for BMW Motorsport was drastically reduced and Jochen Neerpasch left in 1980 to join Talbot. At Talbot he got to set up a Formula 1 team, something the Vorstand wouldn’t allow him to do. The M1, despite being wholesome, was abandoned. An orphan.

M1 only went racing in its own series, as it failed to make regulations to run as intended.

[rwh11385]

Name another mass-produced extended range electric vehicle before the Volt... GM saw it as an opportunity to accomplish a car the first of its kind and prove it could be an innovator. (Which it was not generally seen as previously, nor was their commitment to fuel efficiency)

How much do you think the Prius cost at the start? Toyota lost money on them. Looking at a car's first year and making judgments is foolish.

GM made poor cars because of mentality and processes, such processes that would prevent them from ever venturing into anything like the Volt.

Why are rich customers a bad thing? They have many other options in the market but choose to get the Volt. Do you think Prius buyers are poor? There are many wealthy Prius drivers. Yes, they need to bring down the price but are aiming to bring it into cost competitiveness, which you would read if you opened any article on it.

Yes, the bailout poorly rewarded decades of bad management and crappy cars. But it is critical for companies to prepare for future fuel mileage requirements that they were behind the game and also would have otherwise poorly received without proving themselves. Should have GM just gone on without any research into advanced fuel efficiency drivetrains? Once they did this, should they have just marked it up as an expense? Or put it to use and spread the cost out over as many cars as possible?

Read the Bob Lutz book, read up about e-Assist, and then look for the future with more electrification through the fleet as well as in competitors... it should be a pivotal (positive) business decision in the end.

Simply making a Cruze that is much better than the Cobalt or Cavalier wouldn't have been enough.

“He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”

Discussing with you is like talking to a brick wall. Like mentioned previously, the design process was built around minimal deviation from the norm which guaranteed poor interiors and unhappy customers. The only way to escape from the vicious cycle of losing would be to take drastic steps to revise the process and do some great effort to catch up with the industry with design and also fuel efficiency. (And also reduce costs by integrating global development - like the G8 ).

[Fusion]

If it was up to me, I would've imported efficient, low emission diesels from one of GM's Euro subsidiaries and made a small family/second car with well balanced quality/price.

[Vedubin01]

Another hit to the Volt...

Some Chevy dealers spurn Volt allocation

[u3b3rg33k]

If it was up to me, I would've imported efficient, low emission diesels from one of GM's Euro subsidiaries and made a small family/second car with well balanced quality/price.

The big 3 seem to think america isn't ready for an automatic carriage with a diesel horse pulling the cart. :weak:

[rwh11385]

If it was up to me, I would've imported efficient, low emission diesels from one of GM's Euro subsidiaries and made a small family/second car with well balanced quality/price.

Along with what else was said... Americans have a poor perception of diesel passenger cars. Just because it is smart, doesn't mean you can talk Americans in it - but perhaps in time.

Some car makers are trying to change the view we hold though:

http://youtu.be/OTzk3ibvQeo

[tjts1]

The big 3 seem to think america isn't ready for an automatic carriage with a diesel horse pulling the cart. :weak:

Regular unleaded $3.35/gal
Diesel $4.10/gal

NO THANKS

[Fusion]

Just because it is smart, doesn't mean you can talk Americans in it - but perhaps in time.

Which would apply to EV/HVs x1000, agree?
That's pretty much what the Volt skeptics are trying to tell you.

[KEVORM]

i valet so i get to drive TONS of prius' and have driven a few volts. Most prius' are in the mid to low 40mpg range, some 30's and the occasional 50. All the volts i've driven were above 80mpg, one was at 97 mpg (these are computer generated averages as displayed by the car). The volt kicks ass as far as i am concerned. They are very nice inside, have a nice array of tech, large trunk etc. If i was in the market for a high MPG car it's the only one i would buy. I have not idea why it isnt selling other than the fact it isn't a prius.

[rwh11385]

Which would apply to EV/HVs x1000, agree?
That's pretty much what the Volt skeptics are trying to tell you.

Some bias exist against them (especially on Jalopnik), but not much experience with them. Whereas many people have seen or driven a diesel, not that many Americans have driven or ridden in an EV. Some people focus on battery issues or cost, but don't have first hand knowledge of their torque at 0rpm or cool factor. The EV go carts we ran here the week after the gas powered ones were just as fast, quiet besides tire scrubbing, and fun. Exposure to stuff like that and Tesla and GM's Ride and Drive experiences can let me people see for themselves, as well as the Early Adopter's feedback.

The primary concern with EVs - range - is solved with the Volt and other extended range EVs. That is just one solution for the future and certainly if you look at the Jaguar CX, can be very very cool.

But if you don't want an EV or a heavy / expensive hybrid, GM is using tech to provide the e-Assist which is much smaller and basic integration of electrical motors and re-generative braking to have some benefits of hybridization with minimal cost or weight.

The long-view of the automotive industry is more drivers in the world, fixed or decreasing oil supply likely, and increased fleet mpg requirements. Only narrow-minded companies wouldn't invest in fuel efficiency technology and the vast majority are building some sort of electrification technologies. Not everyone will be expected to own an EV but a hybrid using capacitors or a flywheel accumulator can improve gas mileage while IMPROVING the driver's experience.

Look past 2:30, and how it can make racecars better (like KERS / push to pass): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esWT--TE3ww

[priapism]

The big 3 seem to think america isn't ready for an automatic carriage with a diesel horse pulling the cart. :weak:

It's because it's so incredibly difficult to get them to pass our emissions standards. The cost is way out of line with the benefits in this country.

[Fusion]

What are the current standards? LEV II? http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/us/ld_ca.php

[scabzzzz]

Ive been in this thread a bunch before and Im not going to look into what you guys are talking about now, but I wanted to say the Nissan Leaf thats being made here in TN is pretty neat and there are a bunch of electric outposts at popular restaurants and shopping centers. I thought it was pretty cool, the future is here! :)

K, continue...

[Fusion]

Btw. we were fiddling around with the wiremobile last weekend so I have a pretty good idead about the pros and cons now, and fully understand the tech involved.