Bob Lutz on Volt: "no reasonable doubt... this is going to work"
Bob Lutz has come out and said it again: "I would say there's almost no reasonable doubt in our minds anymore that this is going to work." And that isn't just that the Chevy Volt will work -- it's that it will work on time and as promised. In spite of the difficulties GM has had getting Volt technology up-to-speed within its timeframes, the man upstairs is apparently as confident as ever.
Lutz said that engineers have driven the car to and above its 40-mile pure electric range already. Two companies are still trying to win the lithium-ion battery pack contract, although LG Chem says it has a 3rd-gen unit that's ready to go. Another hurdle is the car's internal combustion range extender starting up, which Lutz described as "noisy and still a little rough."
And of course, it wouldn't be a Lutz piece without him taking a shot at something. Speaking of Toyota's delay in rolling out lithium-ion batteries (although there could be another reason for that), Lutz said Toyota should have faced a bit more scrutiny for that decision. "They told the world that GM was taking a huge risk, that lithium ion batteries were prone to explode and that we were putting our customers at risk and that they would stay with the tried and true. When it comes to Toyota, let me tell you, the press has a short memory." After all of this, if the Volt doesn't show up on time and as promised, GM will need to retool one of its plants to make humble pies.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt - spy pics
[Source: Reuters UK]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Michael 7:35PM (6/17/2008)
Yeah, at this point, it damn well better.
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SITEiNK 1:59AM (6/18/2008)
I am expecting success on this.
Toyota is just a bad sport right now.
Josh E. Oliver 7:37PM (6/17/2008)
Nice shot at the end, toolbox.
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Allan 7:38PM (6/17/2008)
As much as I'd like to see this thing succeed and really make some sort of difference... I still think it would be hilarious to see it fail and see what he can come up with after that.
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2004m3driver 7:51PM (6/17/2008)
That's what happens when you talk to much. They could make humble pie and Lutz could have a slice. 2010 Can't come fast enough.
tankd0g 10:44PM (6/17/2008)
Can we some how get the Volt but still have Bob fall flat on his fat face?
SITEiNK 2:00AM (6/18/2008)
maybe bob could buy the media, then he could recall and write whatever he wants.
perception is as good as reality to most people.
ghosthunter 2:54PM (6/18/2008)
so, how did they solve the lithium ion batteries problem? there are numerous pictuer of a lithium ion batteries exploding in notobooks and cellphones and casing injury and death. what is Bob Lutz going to say about those?
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Aprime 7:56PM (6/17/2008)
You should do your homework.
(I'm not going to do it for you)
mk 2:12AM (6/18/2008)
@Aprime,
As someone who works with laptop computers, and also has dabbled a bit in RC aircraft that also use Lithium Polymer batteries... I've done some homework.
And YES, Lithium batteries combust violently. Not necessarily EASILY, but if it does start to combust, it does so spectacularly, and dangerously.
Lithium is in Column 1A of the periodic table, and combusts with oxygen VERY easily if exposed. Another column 1A element is Hydrogen, and it's affinity for oxygen creates water on this planet, without which life could not exist. So, I would say that the chemistry is fairly settled.
Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidinium, and Cesium all have affinity to oxygen, and violently react with water, some even igniting the liberated hydrogen gas.
Granted that is only if the enveloping seal is ruptured, and exposed to air or water.
But c'mon... this application is talking about CARS... 3-4000lb projectiles travelling at respectable rates of speed. Physics can cause ruptures to battery arrays when a car gets into an accident. It would turn a bad accident into a MUCH MUCH WORSE HAZMAT INFERNO, at about 1500 degrees F, and combust any and all surrounding materials, and be very hard to extinguish.
So, yeah, I am a little bit skeptical of driving around a pile of lithium batteries at highway speeds.
hashiryu 10:30AM (6/18/2008)
They are putting them in unobtanium boxes
Aprime 7:55PM (6/17/2008)
"When it comes to Toyota, let me tell you, the press has a short memory."
Even if you're a Toyota fan, you've got to admit that this one's true. There's unwarranted bias in the media towards the imports. I remember constantly hearing about the domestics recalling vehicles but I have yet to hear (I'm talking about televised media here) anything similar regarding the imports. The frame-rot issue on the last-generation Tacoma has been linked to the death of two individuals, yet we haven't heard anything about it. -_-
This sadly also applies to outlets I respect. They'll report every little piece of bad news regarding the domestics in their economy segment but I've never heard them say anything negative regarding any foreign brands.
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zamafir 7:59PM (6/17/2008)
Man, so true, it's nothing but rainbows and teddy bears when it comes to VW.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA. I love the comment section for gems of gross generalization such as yours.
Tad 8:16PM (6/17/2008)
I could not of said it better. This is still a very biased society towards the domestics, and peoples own ignorance is the only thing to blame.
Aprime 8:07PM (6/17/2008)
I don't recall seeing anything negative in the major press (this doesn't take into account reputation and Internet press, but televised media and sometimes newspapers, though they rarely give this kind of news a lot of importance, usually it's just a column, while televised media will spin it until the horse has been beaten to death - and I'm mostly referring to recall news, now, as many of us know, recalls don't equate to unreliability, but average Joe thinks it does... Or that it's a poor excuse to get your ass into their showrooms as my step-father believes.
I think I remember hearing something about VW's latest recall on the news, though. But still, major Toyota 200K plus recalls? Never see any news regarding them on TV, heck, not even in the newspapers.
Anyway, enjoy my comment section all you want, I'm not going to set it to private - I don't succumb to the sayings of a troll.
Red 8:12PM (6/17/2008)
Toyota is extremely good at making things disappear. They pay their lawyers, their PR and marketing individuals a lot of money to make it so. This is--or at least, should be--pretty common knowledge.
That said, I'm not entirely confident that this will work. Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If your product is really that good, you shouldn't have to hype it up. We all know what's riding on this. Instead of Lutz carrying on and on and on about two or three vehicles that are going to "dominate" its competitors (Volt, ZR1 and Camaro) perhaps he should bring a bit more attention to some of their other worthy vehicles, like the Buick Enclave (a beautifully done vehicle and I'm not even a fan) or the Malibu (better than the Aura, but still not winning a large number of people over, although if things continue on this path, the next gen. definitely will). The more you talk, the bigger the shame face should you fail. At this point, the technology is really unproven to the general public, there are a number of conflicts with upper management, the development keeps starting and stopping and starting up again because of other obstacles. I'd really like to believe this is going to work, but all of the above have spelled disaster for a number of individuals and companies before.
Aprime 8:18PM (6/17/2008)
"Toyota is extremely good at making things disappear."
Oh, like those rusting Yaris nobody's talking about?
Yes, some owners are already reporting structural rust on their vehicles, believe it or not. The problem appears to be limited, but regardless, I've never heard of it anywhere. I guess Toyota's taking care of it appropriately.
I get laughs from hearing Nissan salesmen badmouthing Toyota, especially well, because they're using their hybrid technology in the Altima. XD
zamafir 8:39PM (6/17/2008)
"I think I remember hearing something about VW's latest recall on the news"
I don't recall replying to recalls but rather ur statement:
"This sadly also applies to outlets I respect. They'll report every little piece of bad news regarding the domestics in their economy segment but I've never heard them say anything negative regarding any foreign brands."
I've heard many stories in economic segments about VW being pinched by the dollar and contemplating not bringing the golf over, and of how expensive their cars are vs the competition. Actually, damn near every outlet, magazine, or car show will highlight that fact :).
Aprime 8:47PM (6/17/2008)
You misunderstood what I said.
By economy segment, I wasn't referring to the automakers' (why would Toyota be facing negative news in that regard, anyway?), but rather news' show financial/economy segment.
Aprime 8:53PM (6/17/2008)
Just to clarify something regarding the Yaris - by "anywhere" I meant medias, Internet or not. I know I pointed out I heard it from a number of owners already but who knows, you can never make something clear enough here it seems.