Recent Comments:
Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt Concept {Autoblog}
Jan 7th 2007 6:59AM Several points:
It's not a coupe. There's a cutline for a second set of doors, and GM views it as a C-class four-door sedan of a size that they sell worldwide. That's to get the platform volumes high enough to make all this practical, they say.
To # 5/Far Jr: The engine speed isn't constant, it will vary.
To # 9/Unidentified: The Tesla is a totally different animal and retails at $100K. This would have to retail at $15K-$20K. And, GM's market studies say not enough people would buy a car with a limited 250-mile range (and that's under the best of circumstances), so they need the genset as a "range extender" that's there just so it CAN be driven 500 miles at a clip if needed. Kinda wasteful to haul all that extra stuff around in a car that may spend most of its hours operating in pure electric mode ... but there you are. What the market wants, the market (eventually) gets.
To # 10/Far Jr: I wouldn't call the 100 Equinox Fuel Cells "production" by any means, but your point is right -- it IS the same component set.
To # 12/Michael: The hood is long 'cause it has to cover an electric motor between the wheels, control & power electronics sitting on top of that, PLUS a genset (combustion motor & big honkin generator) behind THAT.
To # 14/Casey (echoed by Talis, for which thank you): Since when are automakers only allowed to show "feasible concepts"? Isn't a concept by definition something that isn't yet real? GM would differ with your point, btw. You and many other seem to want the thing to go into production tomorrow. GM seems to think it will put the E-flex component set into cars sometime during the next Astra platform, in the 2010 to 2012 range.
These comments come from attending GM's long-lead technical preview of the Volt and E-flex in December, by the way. I'm always slightly stunned by the general negativity among commenters, but then GM *has* done a lot to earn that cynicism.
My take is ...
- GM (plus DaimlerChrysler plus BMW, btw) will have the Two-Mode Hybrid in volume production within a couple of years (say, 2010)
- the plug-in Vue Green Line will have just launched around then
- plans for the E-flex platform should be clearer by then, with start of electric-drive vehicle production around 2012 in small numbers, and mass production (100K?) a couple of years after that
No, it ain't gonna happen overnight. And yes, GM will have to change its ways enormously (some might say they already have). At least they're building cars that go beyond "adequate for rental fleets" now. I stay skeptical, but on this one, I really hope they don't screw it up.
(See link from my name to an article with more detail.)
AutoblogGreen drives the fuel cell Ford Focus {Autoblog Green}
Oct 18th 2006 12:41PM Sam: Nice piece! See link attached to my name for my GM Sequel drive. The significant difference between the two is that the Sequel has a major battery pack that is used to recapture energy via regenerative braking. Does the H2 Focus have this? Doesn't sound like it ....
Maybe conservative commentators just don't get it {Autoblog Green}
Oct 5th 2006 7:14AM It's worth emphasizing that since 1960, Detroit has fought virtually ANY legislation that in ANY ways impacts product design. The list includes:
- mandatory seatbelts
- pollution controls (lengthy list)
- safety legislation (another lengthy list)
- airbags (worth their own entry)
- roof crush strength reqts (see Detroit News special report)
- bumper height
- bumper durability
- and there are many more
Granted some of the regulations were impractical, or written to specify technologies rather than goals and effects.
But one reason Japanese makers have been successful (in addition to the better-quality cars) is that they're not viewed as reflexively anti-everything.
Honda happened to have its CVCC engine ready in 1975 when the first major pollution controls were required--look where they are today versus GM. And so on. Volvo pioneered seatbelts and a host of other safety innovations. Toyota pioneered the hybrid. Etc. etc. etc.
I'd like anyone to name ONE technical innovation that American automakers have invented and pioneered in response to legislation ... I can't think of any, though I hope I'm wrong. Crushable steering columns, maybe?
OC Auto Show World Debut: 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid {Autoblog}
Oct 4th 2006 5:12PM Gosh, no mention that they licensed large chunks of the technology from Toyota? Shock! Surprise!
Mitsubishi "i" wins Good Design Gold Prize {Autoblog Green}
Oct 4th 2006 7:14AM The "i" is the first fundamental rethink of mini-car architecture since the 1959 Mini launched the transverse-FWD trend and rang the death knell for rear-engined, RWD mini-cars.
The rear-mid-engine layout increases passenger space and gives better crash / crushability performance 'cause you don't have to deal with a large lump of engine & trans very close to passengers' legs.
Wired NextFest Report: GM's green portfolio. Sequel, Hy-wire, Graphyte and more {Autoblog Green}
Oct 2nd 2006 7:02AM The Sequel drives pretty much like a heavy SUV. Not incredibly punchy off the line, but good acceleration in the 30-50 range. And the "by wire" controls are good enough that I forgot I wasn't mechanically connected to the brakes, steering or acceleration device. For a full drive report: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/sep06/4576
Brenda Priddy incarcerated for a good cause {Autoblog}
Sep 9th 2006 12:19AM Brenda's a kick ... and her family's pretty cool too.
Lancia Delta HPE concept premieres in Venice {Autoblog}
Sep 5th 2006 11:36AM "Murano like"? And here I thought you meant Murano glass, a Venice reference. Nissan Murano? Sigh. Yawn.
Could China-built cars "Fit" American Honda's supply needs? {Autoblog}
Aug 15th 2006 7:59PM I'd be very nervous about buying a Chinese-designed and manufactured vehicle. But the "H" on the front of a Chinese-built Fit means the car embodies Honda's 30-year history of designing & selling excellent vehicles in the US. The Honda brand would alleviate any concerns. And you're right ... the vast majority of users won't know. Already some US-built "Japanese" cars have more US content than some US-built "American" cars. It's a global industry, and many (if not most) consumers understand that. There may be a disproportionately shrill minority, but they'll be tiny. And ignored.
Hydrogen-powered Z.CAR with speed-adjusted wheelbase {Autoblog}
Aug 2nd 2006 8:13PM Uhhh ... not-very-accurate info, guys. The link that should show with my name connects you to the full article in the prototype issue of ROVE magazine, for which the address is RoveSite (dot) com.
