Bloomberg.com reported today that unnamed sources privy to Chevrolet's plans for their version of the hybrid, the Volt, say that General Motors (NYSE: GM) hopes to build as many as 60,000 of the vehicle in the first year of production, 2010-11.In its current iteration, the car would be capable of traveling up to 40 miles on its lithium-ion battery alone, or 640 miles between gasoline fillups. A (much more expensive) fuel cell version is also in the works for the Chinese market.
Industry experts are skeptical of the company's ability to reach such lofty goals. The process will be expensive -- GM expects to spend a least half a billion dollars in bringing the vehicle to market. The plan compresses GM's normal development cycle, and will test its corporate flexibility. The projected quantities also represent a real gamble on the car's popularity.
Chevy is also depending on the timely development of a new type of battery to power the E-Flex system. This system would allow the car to cruise at highway speed on battery alone, and could be recharged via house current, overcoming the limitations of current hybrids from Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) and Honda Motor Ltd. (NYSE: HMC).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-22-2007 @ 2:06PM
Dudley Gray said...
Now, If we would build enough nuclear plants across
the country to drive the cost of electricity down
significantly so GM would build 300,000 yearly,raising
their profitability, employing more Americans plus
saving us $ and improving air quality across the land.
8-22-2007 @ 2:07PM
John said...
Being first will have a lot of bugs to work out and the development cost will have to be passed down to the consumer. G.M will never be treated kindly for this. Forighn cars are allowed this luxury or they just copy the American car and take all the credit . Toyota has been in buisness since 1933 and have not maqde a road worthy car for its first 50 years we put up with "japenese junk" But poured money into ther company for R&D. Drive any Toyota from the mid 80,s with the horrible 3Tc engine. Or the new milliniums oil sludging paper weights of engines. Out up with the recalls of the unsafe Tundra pick up that has higest resale value of any truck. WHY? i just dont get it who brain washes American consumers to be traders to our countries comerce
8-23-2007 @ 10:43AM
jpdr1100 said...
Perhaps the public trusts Toyotas because as bad as their recent rash of recalls has been, they are still less than what Detroit put its customers thru in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Ford just announced another 3 million vehicles recalled for the same defect that prompted 6 million recalls over the last few years. Not only is it likely the most recalls ever, but they continue to fail to clear the slate, leaving customers unsure if they are safe or not.