For the benefit of any GM marketing type listening in, if what Ashen says becomes true, I'd be the second one to buy one.

 

The Volt is here and it's gonna be hot.

 

In case no one saw it on the front page..... thus we see, the Volt is likely nothing more than "vaporware" as suspected

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...303260003/1001

 

Actually nothing has changed from anything that was said at the North American International Auto Show. All you are seeing is a shift in winds of the media's interpretation of what has consistently been said from day one, which is.......

When and if the Volt (or at least something using the eFlex technology) will be built is dependent on realizing expected improvements in cost and efficiency of Lithium Ion battery technology. In the meantime, development continues, assuming there will be a vehicle when all is said and done.

During and after NAIAS, the media was hyped and very optimistic in their reporting on the Volt. Now that the show aura has subsided and people are reflecting on what was really said, as opposed to what they think they heard, the reporting is decidedly more pessimistic in some corners. So what's changed? Nothing. It is what it is. Volt is a concept vehicle that, given the right circumstances, could someday be built. Same was true of the Camaro two years ago and the Tahoe 2-Mode 3 years ago. Both will be built.

Peace,

Martin

 

Interesting article, but I'm not sure why it's such a big deal that a concept car might not get built. Every auto maker builds concepts that never make it. Also, unless one of the auto makers owns a secret patent on battery technology that no one knows about, seems like everyone has to wait for Lithium bettery tech to mature - not just GM.

What will be interesting is the 09 Prius, which may represent the next big leap in fuel economy. If that car can get 80+ MPG without being plugged in, it will create a difficult stardard for the all-electrics to match (when you consider $ to recharge and the possibility of using a gas engine as a generator, as in the Volt). You can't arrive on the scene with an EV that costs the same (or more) to run than an existing Prius.

 

Hi Paul,

Just a word of caution. To get from new EPA, 46 MPG to 80 MPG would take substantial engineering changes:

1) remarkable ICE efficiency improvement
2) remarkable vehicle drag reduction

Such changes are possible but the vehicle would be substantially different. This isn't impossible, just difficult. Now if you said 60-65 MPG for 2009 using new EPA, I think that is possible.

Bob Wilson

 

The Tahoe hybrid has not yet been built either. GM only has two hybrids for Sale: Silverado (in VERY limited quantities) and Vue (which I read is about to be discontinued).

 

Hi Bob,

I'm only quoting what I've read - and it's all sketchy at best. I've read 90, 80, but no real description if that's using a plug-in feature or not. I think a 90 MPG Prius that plugs in would be very successful, and so long as it's suitable to spend 2 hrs a day in, would likely be my next car. If it got 60-65, that would be OK (listen to me, 60 MPG is "OK"... ) but I'm looking for the next thing worth parting with my HCH over. 60-65 might do it if it was well appointed and had the options I'm missing in the Civic. But really I view that as an incremental improvement, not "next generation".

 

I did say that the Tahoe / Yukon hybrids WILL be built, not that they are currently in production. Timing has been set for launch. Just like the next gen Prius hasn't been built yet, but we're all pretty darn certain it will be.

Also, I wouldn't describe the VUE as "discontinued" if discontinued is defined as "gone for good". Remember, the VUE is undergoing a TOTAL redesign for 2008 and is, in fact, being built at a totally different plant. When the '08 launches, it will be followed a few months later by a BAS application. That will be followed by a 2-Mode application. So the VUE is not GONE, it's "on hiatus".

Peace,

Martin

 

Hi Paul,
I was just trying to suggest a little skepticism. I'd like to see 80 MPG and know it is possible. Just I've been looking at Prius performance reports and my own energy studies (still continuing.) Going to 60-65 MPG is practical but it gets much harder to go much over this. I appreciate that you're only sharing what someone else had reported.

Now I like the bullet 'concept' prius. It looks like a serious attempt to minimize drag and I suspect, weight, although without the door posts, side crash resistance will be a challenge. The ICE is already at 33-36% efficient and I suspect that could extend to 36-40% in some rpm ranges with exhaust heat recovery and electric coolant pump. These are the types of radical changes needed to reach 80 MPG.

Please keep sharing. I can be pursaded with good backup data and if you come across more technical details, I'm all ears.

Bob Wilson