Why is GM Car Czar Bob “I Stopped Making Sense Years Ago” Lutz so damn defensive about the Volt’s design? Writing on the FastLane Blog, Maximum Bob wants to tell all those naysayers (oh me! choose me!) to shut the Hell up. “The Volt is going to be bought… for the emotion tied to the technology contained therein.” And while he’s at it, Bob takes yet another sideways swipe at Toyota (who are none to pleased with The General‘s alt prop lobbying these days). “In terms of the impact of Volt on the automobile industry, I think you’ll see lithium-ion technology filter out to the rest of the industry, even to our competitors who initially said it wouldn’t work,” MB hints hubristically. “I think they’ve figured out that we may well be onto a winning formula here, with 40 miles of driving powered by electricity from a battery and a small engine — powered by gasoline or E85 — to create additional electricity to power the vehicle for several hundred additional miles. I suspect most of our competitors will have vehicles with technology similar to the Volt within four or five years.” Bob touts the patriotic side of the project, and then gives TTAC (et al) the middle finger. “With the Volt, you go home, you plug it in, and you’re done. And for roughly 80 cents’ worth of electricity, you’ve got a fully-charged battery, ready to take on another forty miles of gas-free and tailpipe-emission-free driving. If that’s greenwashing, then come on in — the water’s fine.” What, into the washing machine?
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Tell that to Pamela Anderson. “Great bone structure! I guess that’s why you are so attractive!”
I’m supposed to have an emotional connection with GM technology? That won’t exactly be a long-term relationship, will it? It could easily go up in flames. I mean, really, the jokes write themselves.
faster_than_rabbit: Indeed they do!
It would be like getting amorous with an ice sculpture…
I’ve said it before and I’m sticking to it: as long as the Volt offers roughly the advertised performance, and they’re the first to market with this, they’ll sell out easily.
People are so eager to give a big UP YOURS to the oil companies. And after the gasoline supply troubles much of the country has been facing the past week, the “might never need to fill up your gas tank again” point will really hit home.
Will this be entirely rational? Of course not. I doubt any car purchase is.
Not sure why we’re supposed to get in. The car can’t be bought for at least another 2 years still. Even then, the concept isn’t proven (what happened to “tried tested and true”?). In theory, the drivetrain should be so simple.
Most former GM ex-supporters have been disappointed and apologized to too many times already to think the promise of this car is going to be any different. Will have to wait and see. In the meantime, I wish GM luck.
Still waiting for those di-lithium crystal powered impulse propulsion systems to be invented…..
“I suspect most of our competitors will have vehicles with technology similar to the Volt within four or five years.”
Isn’t Toyota coming out with a plug-in Prius next year? If so, then GM’s competitors will have similar technology, well, now, pretty much, not in 4 or 5 years time.
He sounds kinda megalomaniacal to me.
“You want this car. *uses the Force*
It is my decree that the Volt will be bought!”
80 cents per charge to completely charge a battery that will keep this car going for 40 miles?
I wonder what proof there is for this. Functioning prototype? Data from power companies?
Oh, I know! It’s just Bob talking out of his starfish again. What a tool.
Does anybody know where this 80 cents for 40 miles worth of charge comes from? 2 cents per mile for an electric vehicle is much cheaper than other estimates I’ve heard.
80 cents will get you about 8 KWh. 40 miles from 8 KWh is pretty standard — but of course this depends on how you drive. At 90mph you won’t anywhere near that.
I have some emotions for GM’s drive train technology but it isn’t positive and it sure doesn’t make me want to buy their products.
Redbarchetta :
I have some emotions for GM’s drive train technology but it isn’t positive and it sure doesn’t make me want to buy their products.
ROFL!