GM To Focus On Plug-Ins, Electric Vehicles Over Conventional Hybrids Going Forward
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While plug-in hybrids and full-on electric vehicles remain a niche market, product development head Mary Barra informed the media today that General Motors intends to stay planted in the segment, rather than building a conventional hybrid like the Toyota Prius. A pretty big gamble, considering the affordability and popularity of Toyota’s hybrid halo car.
The bet is that plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles will become more important in the marketplace going forward. For that to happen, the price, cost of ownership and overall ease of use will have to surpass that of a traditional hybrid vehicle. Flanking the hybrid segment also happens to be the GM eAssist models, which seem to make a lot of sense in vehicles like the Buick LaCrosse eAssist. In short, GM appears to be targeting above and below the hybrid segment, rather than attacking it head-on.
Barra and company are hopeful enough that she anticipates General Motors will be able to move as much as 500,000 vehicles utilizing some form of battery power in 2017, just five years from now. If the vehicles can be made affordable by then, it’s totally possible.
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I want a plug in hybrid/EV that would get 55+ MPG on the generator.
I dont agree w this. I believe gm should come out w a full hybrid to take on ford and toyota. E assist is not going to cut it
I’m looking forward to the Chevrolet SS that can compete with the Dodge hybrid charger. You know the one that burns gas and rubber.
Thanks for reminding us of that lame print ad from 7 years ago.
Good, plug ins are the future, the time of the conventional hybrid is almost over even toyota acknowledges that, GM is already so late in the regular hybrid game it makes no sense to invest in it now. Better to invest in the cars of tomorrow while letting eassist hold the line today, not a perfect solution, but at this point, the best one.
GM will continue with Voltec. The reason that is has been slow is for lack of components. When the Cadillac ELR makes its appearance in 2013, the supply lines will be improved and we will see more EREVs including a CUV and more sedans.
eAssist is easy to add to every vehicle in GM lineup. It just need the battery, the new belt-drive motor that replaced both the starter and the alternator, and a fix in the programming of the automatic transmission (manuals need no fix). The gas savings is higher for those who move in city traffic every day (stop and start), the gas engine will run less and last longer, and the eAssist motor adds about 85 HP to the gas engine when needed.
The BEV Spark will start small in 2013, like the Volt did in 2010, but in 2014 every dealer can sell it. The gas engine Spark is already a good seller since July 2012, so the electric Spark (with more torque and HP) will sell well in 2014.