Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fiat 500, Chevy Volt listed among biggest product flops of 2011... but should they be?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fiat 500c

Chevrolet Volt'Tis the season for thin news cycles and cheesy top ten lists. Yahoo! Finance has thrown its hat in the top ten ring with its list of the biggest flops among all consumer goods introduced for 2011. Both the Fiat 500 and Chevrolet Volt have made it among the chosen few, rubbing elbows with such luminaries as Netflix's Qwikster and Disney's Mars Needs Moms.

Why the Volt? Yahoo! points to the vehicle's underwhelming sales, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fire investigation and misguided General Motors executives as indicators of the plug-in hybrid's failure. We think that's a bit harsh given the fact that the Volt wasn't on sale across the country for most of the year, and we've harped on how absurd the NHTSA fire issue is in the past, so we'll save the digital ink here.

And what of the Fiat 500? It's no secret the adorable Italian hatchback has missed its sales goals by a country mile. While Chrysler had hoped to move 50,000 models this year, actual U.S. sales for the year will probably end up around 20,000 units, which really isn't too bad. Those early sales targets were picked straight from the crazy buffet to begin with, and the fact that the 500 suffered production delays, dealership network woes and a botched marketing effort didn't help matters. Still, do those issues make the 500 one of the biggest product flops of 2011?

For our money, it's too early to call either of these vehicles flops - moving 20,000 relatively expensive very small cars for a new-to-the-U.S. (well, "new again," at least) brand doesn't sound too bad to us, and putting the Volt on the list when it wasn't available to most consumers strikes us as Yahoo! Finance trolling for controversy. What say you? Drop us a line in Comments...

Fiat 500, Chevy Volt listed among biggest product flops of 2011... but should they be? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112011 chevrolet volt2011 fiat 500500biggest flops of 2011chevroletchevrolet voltfiatfiat 500flopstop ten listvoltThu, 29 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137092/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/29/fiat-500-chevy-volt-listed-among-biggest-product-flops-of-2011/20137092/article-detail.xml 20137092 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-c-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fiat-500-c-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt battery fix may cost $1,000 per car, will hang on to top IIHS rating]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/chevy-volt-battery-fix-may-cost-1-000-will-hang-on-to-top-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/chevy-volt-battery-fix-may-cost-1-000-will-hang-on-to-top-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/chevy-volt-battery-fix-may-cost-1-000-will-hang-on-to-top-iihs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Chevy Volt crash test

Spontaneous combustion concerns weeks after a crash may prompt General Motors to spend about $1,000 per Chevrolet Volt to fix, according to a report from Reuters. The proposed fixes, which would cost a total of $9 million, would likely include reinforcements around vulnerable areas of the car's battery pack, lamination of electric circuitry and better protection for the coolant system to stop leaks.

After a severe crash that causes damage to the Volt's battery pack, coolant can leak out, and if the battery is not discharged, a fire may start. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered the fire danger this past summer when one of its crashed Volts caught fire three weeks after testing. Two more batteries later caught fire when put through simulated crash testing by NHTSA.

Despite the fire risks, both NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have said they have no plans to change their safety ratings for the Volt. Both organizations gave Chevy's electric car top marks for safety after initial crash testing.

GM has repeatedly said that the Volt is safe to drive and poses no immediate risk of fire after an accident. Yesterday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood echoed that sentiment. Buyers have been offered loaner cars while the automaker investigates a solution and has vowed to buy back Volts from any owners who no longer want the car due to safety concerns. So far, a "couple dozen" Volt owners have taken GM up on the offer.

Chevy Volt battery fix may cost $1,000 per car, will hang on to top IIHS rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevroletchevychevy volt safetyiihsnhtsavoltvolt batteryvolt battery firevolt fireWed, 07 Dec 2011 11:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20122639/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/07/chevy-volt-battery-fix-may-cost-1-000-will-hang-on-to-top-iihs/20122639/article-detail.xml 20122639 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/voltcrashtest_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/voltcrashtest.jpg <![CDATA[GM now willing to buy back Volts from worried owners]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/gm-now-willing-to-buy-back-volts-from-worried-owners/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/gm-now-willing-to-buy-back-volts-from-worried-owners/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/gm-now-willing-to-buy-back-volts-from-worried-owners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Chevrolet Volt

According to the Associated Press, GM CEO Dan Akerson has said General Motors will buy back any Chevrolet Volt from owners who are concerned about the vehicle's fire risk. Akerson said that his company isn't making the move because the plug-in hybrids are unsafe, but because GM is committed to keeping its customers happy. The CEO also said that GM is prepared to recall the 6,000 Volt models currently on the road if the federal government deems such an action necessary. As you may recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the Volt could catch fire several days after a severe side-impact crash and rollover.

NHTSA found that the vehicles could ignite anywhere from seven days to three weeks after the initial impact. GM believes the fires are a result of a failure in the battery pack's cooling system because the NHTSA test involved an intrusion of four-to-five inches into the vehicle's battery pack. Current testing standards call for no more than two inches of intrusion.

GM initially promised free loaner vehicles to any customer concerned with the safety of their Volt, and later said that the battery pack could be redesigned to better guard against this type of failure.

GM now willing to buy back Volts from worried owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltbuy backchevroletchevrolet volt recallvoltvolt firevolt recallFri, 02 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20119448/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/02/gm-now-willing-to-buy-back-volts-from-worried-owners/20119448/article-detail.xml 20119448 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/chevrolet-volt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/chevrolet-volt.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt tops <i>Consumer Reports</i> latest Owner Satisfaction Survey]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/01/chevy-volt-tops-consumer-reports-latest-owner-satisfactio/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/01/chevy-volt-tops-consumer-reports-latest-owner-satisfactio/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/01/chevy-volt-tops-consumer-reports-latest-owner-satisfactio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt

"Considering all factors (price, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?"

Perhaps no other question could produce a result as indicative of overall vehicle satisfaction, and so it's no surprise that's the query Consumer Reports poses to its subscribers every year, and for 2011, the Chevrolet Volt scored highest of all with 93 percent of respondents indicating they definitely would buy GM's plug-in hatchback again.

It's not all lollipops and rainbows with the Volt these days, though, as Consumer Reports points out in the press release pasted after the break. For one thing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not yet opened its investigation into the Volt and other plug-in cars for spontaneous combustion after an accident. Plus, owners of the Volt had only been in possession of the keys to their PHEVs for a few months when the survey was sent out.

Second and third place went to the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and Porsche 911, respectively, each with a rating of 91 percent. Somewhat paradoxically, CR says its readers tend to give higher scores both to cars with fuel-saving powertrain technology and those with high-powered engines, which helps explain the top three finishers.

Audi, Chevrolet, and Ford each had four models earning scores of 80 percent or higher. A total of 27 vehicles scored in that 80th-percentile group. Cars receiving the lowest scores were the Chevrolet Aveo (37 percent), all-wheel-drive Toyota Matrix (43 percent), and Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck (47 percent). Read more in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Chevy Volt tops Consumer Reports latest Owner Satisfaction Survey

Chevy Volt tops Consumer Reports latest Owner Satisfaction Survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevroletconsumer reportsgeneral motorsgmhighest owner satisfactionowner satisfactionvoltThu, 01 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20118072/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/01/chevy-volt-tops-consumer-reports-latest-owner-satisfactio/20118072/article-detail.xml 20118072 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/chevy-volt-garage_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/chevy-volt-garage.jpg <![CDATA[GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have "fire anxiety"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/gm-will-loan-free-cars-to-chevy-volt-owners-who-have-fire-anxie/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/gm-will-loan-free-cars-to-chevy-volt-owners-who-have-fire-anxie/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/28/gm-will-loan-free-cars-to-chevy-volt-owners-who-have-fire-anxie/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



GM may have designed the Chevrolet Volt to cancel out potential "range anxiety," but the company is responding to a new type of worry today: fear that the Volt's battery will catch fire.
  • The problem? A Volt that had been crash tested in May caught fire three weeks after the crash conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This was revealed in early November.
  • The cause? A ruptured coolant line in the battery, which prompted a new safety investigation that was announced this past Friday.
  • The solution? GM's just-announced free vehicle loaner program and more tests.
Here are the preliminary details: Until the "resolution of the issue," any Volt owner who suffers from fire anxiety can get a free GM vehicle loan. Complete details of this "Volt owner satisfaction program" were not immediately available, but GM North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, "A vehicle loan program of this nature is well beyond the norm for a preliminary investigation, and it underlines our commitment to the vehicle and its owners. These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations."

On the investigation front, GM said it would set up a senior engineering team to "develop changes to eliminate concern of potential post-crash electrical fires and work with industry to ensure appropriate electric vehicle protocols were in place." As reasonable voices have pointed out recently, the situation that happened at NHTSA has not been replicated in the real world and is unlikely to happen to any Volts out in the wild. In fact, NHTSA's official statement said that "Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern." Still, Reuss said that, "Our customers' peace of mind is too important to us for there to be any concern or any worry. This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise any concern or doubt. The question is about how to deal with the battery days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt, but for our industry as we continue to advance the pursuit of electric vehicles."

Continue reading GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have "fire anxiety"

GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have "fire anxiety" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltbreakingchevroletchevyelectric vehiclenhtsaplug-in hybridvoltvolt crash testvolt firevolt loanMon, 28 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20115953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/28/gm-will-loan-free-cars-to-chevy-volt-owners-who-have-fire-anxie/20115953/article-detail.xml 20115953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065043628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065043628.jpg <![CDATA[Jay Leno has driven 11,000 miles in his Chevy Volt, still hasn't bought gas]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/jay-leno-11-000-miles-chevy-volt-no-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/jay-leno-11-000-miles-chevy-volt-no-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/jay-leno-11-000-miles-chevy-volt-no-gas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

jay leno chevy volt

Here's a fun bit of trivia: Jay Leno has driven his Chevrolet Volt nearly 11,000 miles and doesn't have a single gas station receipt to show for it. According to The New York Times Wheels blog, Leno has had his plug-in for 11 months and, as he told them, "I've never had to put gas in it yet... They gave it to me with a full tank of gas. I've used less than half of that."

Given that Leno has an entire fleet of gas-swilling rides in his garage, he can just take the Volt out whenever he knows he can get to Point B and back without refueling. You have to be kind of careful to put 11,000 miles on a Volt without ever going more than 40 miles (plus or minus) at a stretch. Luckily, Leno said his commute is less than 35 miles a day, and so he uses the Volt as his daily driver. He then makes a fairly good joke at the expense of General Motors, which you can read here.

Jay Leno has driven 11,000 miles in his Chevy Volt, still hasn't bought gas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevroletchevychevy voltgeneral motorsjay lenolenovoltThu, 17 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20108999/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/17/jay-leno-11-000-miles-chevy-volt-no-gas/20108999/article-detail.xml 20108999 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/leno-volt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/leno-volt.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt fire to prompt new safety procedures?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/chevy-volt-fire-to-prompt-new-safety-procedures/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/chevy-volt-fire-to-prompt-new-safety-procedures/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/chevy-volt-fire-to-prompt-new-safety-procedures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt

In the aftermath of a Chevrolet Volt catching fire at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test facility, NHTSA may move to require electric vehicle batteries to be drained after major wrecks. The Detroit Free Press reports that the agency is contemplating issuing a ruling, but a decision has yet to be made.

General Motors' position on the fire is that the battery should have been drained after NHTSA crash-tested the car, a preventative measure the automaker says it recommends.

NHTSA's inquiry involves other carmakers who use lithium-ion battery packs, not just GM. According to the report, the agency is reviewing the automaker's responses, which likely pertain to the feasibility of requiring first-responders to drain battery packs. The Detroit Free Press says GM must currently deploy a team to drain Volt batteries, though a GM spokesman says a tool to drain batteries may become available to dealerships next year.

The safety of electric vehicle batteries and the unique dangers they pose to first responders have been an ongoing concern since the first hybrids hit the market over a decade ago. The market's shift toward lithium-ion batteries and an increase in the size of battery packs have only drawn the issue into starker focus.

Chevy Volt fire to prompt new safety procedures? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2012 chevrolet voltbattery firechevroletchevyfirst respondersgeneral motorsgmlithium ionnhtsavoltvolt fireMon, 14 Nov 2011 10:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20105667/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/14/chevy-volt-fire-to-prompt-new-safety-procedures/20105667/article-detail.xml 20105667 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065043-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065043-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt battery catches fire at NHTSA [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/11/chevy-volt-battery-catches-fire-in-nhtsa-lab/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/11/chevy-volt-battery-catches-fire-in-nhtsa-lab/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/11/chevy-volt-battery-catches-fire-in-nhtsa-lab/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



As a tipster put it: "Crap."

Even though there is plenty of evidence that the Chevrolet Volt is a safe car (one just protected its occupants in a recent crash with a bus), there are now new and seemingly legitimate worries about the safety of the 16-kWh battery pack after a crash. Bloomberg reports that a Volt that was parked at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test center recently caught fire, burning nearby vehicles. The Volt had been put through a side-impact crash test three weeks prior and an official told Bloomberg that investigators determined the battery was indeed the source of the fire. Apparently, NHTSA reps are talking with "all automakers" with lithium-ion vehicle for sale (or coming soon) about the safety of their battery packs.

On the one hand, this is bad news for people who already have worries about the safety of plug-in vehicle. On the other hand, a crashed car, whether powered by gasoline or lithium, isn't exactly a safe item. Given that this fire follows a second garage fire involving a Volt (whose cause has not yet been determined), we expect a spike of "plug-in cars are bad" news soon. Whether this is warranted or not is another question. NHTSA has issued a statement to Bloomberg that said:

Based on the available data, NHTSA does not believe the Volt or other electric vehicles are at a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles. In fact, all vehicles - both electric and gasoline-powered - have some risk of fire in the event of a serious crash.

Indeed. We'll have more on this as details are released.

UPDATE: General Motors has released an official statement, which has been added after the jump.

Continue reading Chevy Volt battery catches fire at NHTSA [UPDATE]

Chevy Volt battery catches fire at NHTSA [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltbattery firechevroletchevy voltelectric vehiclelithiumlithium-ion batterynhtsaplug-in hybridvoltvolt fireFri, 11 Nov 2011 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20104558/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/11/chevy-volt-battery-catches-fire-in-nhtsa-lab/20104558/article-detail.xml 20104558 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065043_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065043.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Leaf still holding sales edge over Chevy Volt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/nissan-leaf-still-holding-sales-edge-over-chevy-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/nissan-leaf-still-holding-sales-edge-over-chevy-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/nissan-leaf-still-holding-sales-edge-over-chevy-volt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf

In the battle for plug-in vehicle sales supremacy, the electric-only Nissan Leaf has emerged victorious for the month of July, beating out the Chevrolet Volt for the fourth consecutive month (April, May, June and July).

Nissan says Leaf sales dropped to 931 units in the U.S. in July, a significant decrease compared to the 1,708 electric hatchbacks the Japanese automaker sold in June.

On the flip side, General Motors announced that U.S. sales of the Volt came in at 125 units in July. The decline, as compared to the 561 plug-in hybrid sedans The General sold in June, is mostly due to extensive retooling at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. The General told our sibling AutoblogGreen that:
We are virtually sold out. Only about 100 2011 Volts [are] left in stock. On average, each Volt spent about 13 days at the dealership. This includes prepping it for delivery.
Year-to-date sales of the Leaf total 4,806 units in the U.S., compared to 2,870 Chevy Volts.

Will the Leaf retain its top spot for the month of August? Or will it be the Volt - with its production reportedly cranked up to triple the pre-shutdown rate - that rises up to take the lead?

Continue reading Nissan Leaf still holding sales edge over Chevy Volt

Nissan Leaf still holding sales edge over Chevy Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 nissan leafchevroletelectric vehicleleafleaf salesnissanplug-in hybridvoltvolt salesWed, 03 Aug 2011 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20007681/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/03/nissan-leaf-still-holding-sales-edge-over-chevy-volt/20007681/article-detail.xml 20007681 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/volt-vs-leaf_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/volt-vs-leaf.jpg <![CDATA[GM responds to Nissan Leaf "Gas Powered Everything" ad [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/gm-responds-to-nissan-leaf-gas-powered-everything-ad-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/gm-responds-to-nissan-leaf-gas-powered-everything-ad-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/gm-responds-to-nissan-leaf-gas-powered-everything-ad-w-video/#commentsChevy Volt filling up in Nissan Leaf ad
Nissan's "Gas Powered Everything" ad - Click above to watch video after the jump

Nissan's latest Leaf-related ad asks: "What would the world be like if gas powered everything?"

Well, according to the spot, a middle-aged man would wake up for work to the burning whistle of his gas-powered alarm clock, and with a few fierce tugs at his coffee maker's rip cord, he'd manage to fire up the gas-gulping machine. That same man, while at the office, would walk up to a miniature gas pump to refuel his laptop computer.

Oh, and the owner of a Chevrolet Volt, while standing at the gas pump refueling his plug-in hybrid, would watch in envy as another man across the street unplugs his Nissan Leaf and drives off.

Well, as you may have guessed, some General Motors execs aren't too thrilled that Nissan has taken a public shot at the Volt. Autoevolution says that in a "rare, but delicious unofficial reply on Twitter," GM's Executive Director of Product and Technology Communications, Jason Laird, tweeted:
"A carmaker poking gentle fun at our product ignores tow trucks they need and rental cars they recommend as backup to their product."
On the other hand, GM spokesman Rob Peterson, called the commercial "cute," but says that it's "misleading and damaging to the electric vehicle movement," according to Autoevolution.

Hit the jump to watch Nissan's now-controversial "Gas Powered Everything" clip.

Continue reading GM responds to Nissan Leaf "Gas Powered Everything" ad [w/video]

GM responds to Nissan Leaf "Gas Powered Everything" ad [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 nissan leafchevy voltgas powered everythinggeneral motorsjason lairdleafnissan leafnissan leaf adnissan leaf commercialrob petersonvoltTue, 31 May 2011 15:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19954220/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/31/gm-responds-to-nissan-leaf-gas-powered-everything-ad-w-video/19954220/article-detail.xml 19954220 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/volt-leaf_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/volt-leaf.png <![CDATA[Are Chevy dealers gaming the system to keep Volt's $7,500 consumer rebate?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/are-chevy-dealers-gaming-the-system-to-keep-volts-7-500-consum/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/are-chevy-dealers-gaming-the-system-to-keep-volts-7-500-consum/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/are-chevy-dealers-gaming-the-system-to-keep-volts-7-500-consum/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Getting beyond the drama of the Chevrolet Volt and its high-profile development process was supposed to mean that General Motors could focusing on enjoying the car's green halo. But that has not exactly been the case. On the other side of numerous awards and glowing reviews there have been the sales numbers and stories of dealer gouging. Speaking of dealers, a new story by Mark Modica on the National Legal and Policy Center site suggests that Chevy dealers are selling Volts to one another and claiming the car's $7,500 federal tax rebate for themselves, then selling the cars to private buyers as used sans rebate.

According to Modica, a Chicago dealer selling a Volt with 10 miles on the odometer flat-out admitted that it would be seeking the credit for itself: "When I asked if I was eligible for the $7,500 tax credit, I was told that I probably wasn't, since the dealership was applying for the subsidy." Even stranger, a Kia dealer in California was selling a Volt that had just 30 miles on it, and Modica was told that "the Volts offered at that dealership were rental cars with higher mileage on them."

We'd love to get some other research into this, because if this is true, it could help explain a lot of things - including the model's depressed sales.

Are Chevy dealers gaming the system to keep Volt's $7,500 consumer rebate? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 chevy voltchevrolet voltchevy voltdealerdealershipev creditEV tax creditfederal tax creditvoltTue, 31 May 2011 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19952865/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/31/are-chevy-dealers-gaming-the-system-to-keep-volts-7-500-consum/19952865/article-detail.xml 19952865 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/voltdealergaming_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/voltdealergaming.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt may be worth only $17,000 after 36 months]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt will have a resale value of a tick over $17,000 after 36 months, the length of an average lease, according to Kelley Blue Book. That's only 42 percent of the plug-in hybrid's $41,000 MSRP. KBB's projection assumes that the going rate for a gallon of gas will hold steady at $4/gallon 36 months from now.

Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting at Kelley, told Automotive News that the Volt's projected residual value may seem to be on the low side. But, as Ibara points out, the first 200,000 Volts sold qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, effectively slashing its sticker price down to $33,500 (well, maybe not).

Using that $33,500 number, KBB's projection means the Volt will hold onto 51 percent of its value. That compares to 46 percent for the 2011 Toyota Prius and 37.5 percent for the 2011 Ford Focus. As we see it, factoring in the $7,500 tax credit is crazy, but we'll let you guys and gals debate that.

KBB expects to set residuals for the $25,280 $32,780 Nissan Leaf, which also qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, later this year. Hat tip to Frank!

Chevy Volt may be worth only $17,000 after 36 months originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 chevy voltchevroletchevykelley blue bookresidual valuevoltTue, 17 May 2011 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19942559/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/19942559/article-detail.xml 19942559 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/03-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065048_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/03-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065048.jpg <![CDATA[2011 World Car Awards: How close it was]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/2011-world-car-awards-how-close-it-was/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/2011-world-car-awards-how-close-it-was/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/27/2011-world-car-awards-how-close-it-was/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

2011 Nissan Leaf wins World Car of the Year

On Thursday the 21st of April, the seventh annual World Car Awards were given out in a ceremony at the New York International Auto Show that was duly covered by Autoblog.

Full disclosure: I, Matt Davis, European Editor of this online obsession Autoblog, am both a co-founder and co-chair of the World Car Awards, and I intend to shamelessly soapbox herein about the WCAs, at least until the bosses toss me out on the sidewalk.

The WCAs comprise four awards: World Green Car, World Car Design, World Performance Car, and overall World Car of the Year - known as the WCotY. There is no other widely known award even remotely like this, as all four take into account truly global cars from every region of the world. The overall WCotY, in particular, pits cars of every type from every make on the globe, some of which may not be available in the English-speaking world, against one another and, in the end, we 66 international jurors shake out a winner, two runners-up, and the rest.

Continue Reading 2011 World Car Awards: How close it was...

Continue reading 2011 World Car Awards: How close it was

2011 World Car Awards: How close it was originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 aston martin rapide2011 chevrolet volt2011 ferrari 458 italia2011 new york2011 nissan leaf2011 world car awards458 italiafeaturedleafrapidevoltworld car of the yearWed, 27 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19922205/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/27/2011-world-car-awards-how-close-it-was/19922205/article-detail.xml 19922205 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/nissan-leaf-world-coty_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/nissan-leaf-world-coty.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Nissan Leaf named World Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/2011-nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/2011-nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/2011-nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2011 Nissan Leaf
2011 World Car of the Year winners - Click above for high-res image gallery

World Car of the Year AwardsBig congratulations go to the 2011 Nissan Leaf this morning, as it has just been named the 2011 World Car of the Year. The Leaf garnered more votes than the 2011 Audi A8 and 2011 BMW 5 Series, the other two finalists for the World Car title. In 2010, the Volkswagen Polo took home this award.

The Leaf was not the only super-efficient car to be awarded today, as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt was named Green Car of the Year. Oddly, the Volt was named 2011 North American Car of the Year, while the Leaf was merely a runner-up.

In the less-efficient realm of the industry, the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia was named World Performance Car of the Year, and the sleek 2011 Aston Martin Rapide was given the World Design of the Year crown.


Gallery: 2011 World Car of the Year Winners

2011 Nissan Leaf2011 Nissan Leaf2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Aston Martin Rapide

Photos copyright (C)2011 AOL

2011 Nissan Leaf named World Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 aston martin rapide2011 chevrolet volt2011 new york2011 new york auto show2011 nissan leaf458 italiaaston martinchevroletferrarileafnew yorknew york auto shownissanrapidevoltworld car of the yearThu, 21 Apr 2011 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19919966/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/21/2011-nissan-leaf-named-world-car-of-the-year/19919966/article-detail.xml 19919966 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/lead1nissanleaf2011fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/lead1nissanleaf2011fd.jpg <![CDATA[General Motors updates official statement about Chevrolet Volt in CT fire]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/general-motors-statement-chevrolet-volt-fire/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/general-motors-statement-chevrolet-volt-fire/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/general-motors-statement-chevrolet-volt-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt involved in Connecticut fire

While some have been quick to point fingers at the 2011 Chevrolet Volt involved in two separate incidents at the Barkhamsted, CT home of Storm and Dee Connors, General Motors has updated its earlier statement to improve the clarity of the situation. "While the Volt's battery pack sustained damage," says General Motors Global Electric Vehicle Executive Doug Parks, "it was not extensive enough or of the type that would suggest that it caused the fire."

GM experts are working with fire officials in the small town in the Northwest corner of Connecticut to help determine the cause of the blaze that also destroyed a home-built Suzuki Samurai EV that Storm Connors had been chronicling on a blog. General Motors is confident that the engineering and systems in the Chevrolet Volt provide exceptional safety, and the vehicle's involvement in this situation is one of circumstance, merely a damaged vehicle due to its parking spot, and not the root cause of the fire. Full statement posted after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading General Motors updates official statement about Chevrolet Volt in CT fire

General Motors updates official statement about Chevrolet Volt in CT fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltbreakingchevroletchevrolet volt firefiregeneral motorsgeneral motors fire statementgmstorm connorsvoltMon, 18 Apr 2011 23:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19917047/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/18/general-motors-statement-chevrolet-volt-fire/19917047/article-detail.xml 19917047 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/chevrolet-volt-fire-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/chevrolet-volt-fire-630.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Garage fire claims Chevy Volt and homebuilt EV <i>*UPDATE</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/15/video-garage-fire-claims-chevy-volt-and-homebuilt-ev/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/15/video-garage-fire-claims-chevy-volt-and-homebuilt-ev/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/15/video-garage-fire-claims-chevy-volt-and-homebuilt-ev/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

chevy volt garage fire
Chevrolet Volt garage fire - Click above to watch video after the jump

No one was hurt - but two plug-in vehicles were destroyed - in a fire in a home in the Connecticut town of Barkhamsted last night. The cars were a brand-new 2011 Chevrolet Volt with just 2,000 miles on the odometer and a converted all-electric Suzuki Samurai that the homeowner, Storm Connors, converted himself years ago. At this early stage, it is impossible to tell if one or the other vehicles was the cause of the blaze - or if it was one of the charging systems or the garage's electrical system - but firemen who responded to the 911 call said that this is one angle that the investigators will look in to. Local news channel WTNH reports that Connors, "likes his cars too much to think having them charging in the garage started the fire." Another news channel, WFSB, says that, "fire officials suspect an electric hybrid car may have sparked" the blaze.

You can watch a video news report of the aftermath after the jump. Interestingly, Connors himself has commented on AutoblogGreen stories in the past, so our thoughts go out to a reader who is dealing with a terrible loss. Hat tip to Pete!


UPDATE: Official statement from GM's, Doug Parks, Global Electric Vehicle Executive, is available on ChevroletVoltage.com. Check it out here.

[Sources: WFSB, WTNH]

Continue reading Video: Garage fire claims Chevy Volt and homebuilt EV *UPDATE

Video: Garage fire claims Chevy Volt and homebuilt EV *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevychevy volt fireelectric car fireev firegarage firestorm connerssuzuki samuraivideovoltvolt fireFri, 15 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19914222/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/15/video-garage-fire-claims-chevy-volt-and-homebuilt-ev/19914222/article-detail.xml 19914222 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/chevy-volt-garage-fire_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/chevy-volt-garage-fire.png <![CDATA[Review: 2011 Chevrolet Volt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/06/2011-chevrolet-volt-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/06/2011-chevrolet-volt-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/06/2011-chevrolet-volt-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Achieving Super MPGs In The Automotive Missing Link

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's something to be said for being at the right place at the right time. Had our primordial ancestors evolved legs and lungs while the entire globe was still awash in warm sea water, they would have gone belly up and we might have never made it to the top of the food chain. At this point in history, our entire species can thank generations of ancestors for not being squished, drowned, beaten, eaten or stabbed before cranking out offspring that would further the human race. One misstep to the left could have been all it took to eradicate entire lines of Homo sapiens progress.

Those same laws of luck and fortune dictate which automotive traits will survive into the future and which will be left to be bookmarks of curiosity in the mechanical fossil record. General Motors knows this all too well. The company infamously birthed the EV1 in the mid-'90s only to find that its high costs of development meant the short-range electric couldn't keep its head above water in a sea of relatively cheap fuel prices. At the time, there just wasn't any land in sight for the electric movement.

What a difference 15 years make. Thanks to the trailblazing efforts of the hybrid fleet, more and more Americans now associate efficiency with electric power, and General Motors has given rise to what could possibly be the perfect evolutionary species to bridge the gap between hybrid and full-electric motivation - the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Chevrolet Volt...


Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: Review

2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Review: 2011 Chevrolet Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevroletfeaturedreviewreviewsvoltWed, 06 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19904135/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/06/2011-chevrolet-volt-review-road-test/19904135/article-detail.xml 19904135 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2011-chevrolet-volt-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2011-chevrolet-volt-review.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Caning the Chevrolet Volt around Laguna Seca]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/video-caning-the-chevrolet-volt-around-laguna-seca/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/video-caning-the-chevrolet-volt-around-laguna-seca/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/video-caning-the-chevrolet-volt-around-laguna-seca/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt at Mazda Raceway - Click above to watch video after the jump

There are plenty of adjectives in the English language we could use to accurately describe the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Innovative, clever and efficient all readily leap to mind, but sporty doesn't quite make the top of the list. That didn't stop the crew from TheFutureIsElectric.com from taking the new wonder child from General Motors to Laguna Seca for a couple of quasi-quick laps around the world-famous track. Fortunately for all of us buzzing around the Internets, the crew captured the whole shebang via the glory of high-definition video.

With nothing but the sound of some wind buffeting and the tortured screams of the low-rolling resistance Goodyear Assurance tires, the Volt is more or less capable of keeping pace on the hallowed tarmac. It's far from able to match speed with hardware from Porsche or Lotus, but we're guessing that's beyond the point all together. Hit the jump to see the action for yourself.

[Source: TheFutureIsElectric.com]

Continue reading Video: Caning the Chevrolet Volt around Laguna Seca

Video: Caning the Chevrolet Volt around Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevroletchevylaguna secamazda raceway laguna secavideovideosvoltFri, 25 Mar 2011 15:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19891953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/25/video-caning-the-chevrolet-volt-around-laguna-seca/19891953/article-detail.xml 19891953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/volt-laguna_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/volt-laguna.jpg <![CDATA[Chevrolet Volt battery covers transformed into... duck houses?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/23/chevrolet-volt-battery-covers-transformed-into-duck-houses/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/23/chevrolet-volt-battery-covers-transformed-into-duck-houses/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/23/chevrolet-volt-battery-covers-transformed-into-duck-houses/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chevy Volt battery housing turned into bird house
Chevy Volt battery housing turned into bird house - Click above for high-res image gallery

Yes, you read that right. General Motors has indeed taken scrap battery covers that would otherwise have been discarded and, with the help of a team of youngsters from the Lasky Recreation Center in Detroit, turned them into duck houses.

Seems odd, no doubt, but we'd certainly rather see creative recycling such as this instead of sending off the scrap bits and pieces to rot for hundreds of years in a landfill or some other ignominious end-of-life scenario.

According to The General, these homes "will provide a safe place for wood ducks and even screech owls to lay their eggs." For what it's worth, this is the second such creative recycling project we've heard about from the team behind the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the first being the reuse of oil-soaked boom material from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico made into underhood plastic Volt parts. Nice work, GM.


Gallery: Chevy Volt battery housing recycled into duck homes

Chevy Volt battery housing recycled into duck homesChevy Volt battery housing recycled into duck homesChevy Volt battery housing recycled into duck homesChevy Volt battery housing recycled into duck homes

[Source: General Motors]

Chevrolet Volt battery covers transformed into... duck houses? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltbird housesduck housesowl housesrecyclerecycledvoltvolt battery coversWed, 23 Mar 2011 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19887873/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/23/chevrolet-volt-battery-covers-transformed-into-duck-houses/19887873/article-detail.xml 19887873 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/gm-duck-house-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/gm-duck-house-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Chevrolet Volt priced from €41,950 in Europe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/07/chevrolet-volt-priced-from-41-950-in-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/07/chevrolet-volt-priced-from-41-950-in-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/07/chevrolet-volt-priced-from-41-950-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chevrolet says the Volt will cost €41,950, including Europe's hefty value added tax, when it goes on sale in Germany later this year, and will carry a similar price tag when it launches on the rest of the continent. European Volts will come with standard leather seats, and Chevrolet's eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty. The Volt's Opel-badged Ampera twin will also hit the streets of Europe in the coming months, as well.

The warranty covers the car's powertrain as well as its lithium-ion battery. Chevrolet says that it offers the most comprehensive battery warranty of any EV manufacturer. Between its electric motors and gasoline-fed generator, the Volt is good for a combined range of 375 miles, and recharges on a normal household outlet. Hit the jump for GM's press release.


Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt

Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt priced from €41,950 in Europe

Chevrolet Volt priced from €41,950 in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet voltchevroletvoltMon, 07 Mar 2011 15:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19871002/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/07/chevrolet-volt-priced-from-41-950-in-europe/19871002/article-detail.xml 19871002 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/chevrolet-volt-1299527510_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/chevrolet-volt-1299527510.jpg -1 2