Papa bear Bob Lutz has been anything but inactive since his departure from General Motors in May of 2010. The former GM executive currently serves as a chairman for VIA Motors, which is an aftermarket electrification company currently beta testing its electric trucks, vans and SUVs with fleet customers like FedEx and Verizon.
Before that, while still with the General, he fathered the Chevrolet Volt. We like to think he knows a thing or two about EVs.
Well, as The Detroit News reports, Bob Lutz stated Wednesday that the future of cars is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, electrification. Of course, he also conceded that this more green second age of automobiles is still some years out, saying: “It’s not a five or 10 year thing. We’re looking at 110 years of evolution with a gasoline powered vehicle and we’re comparing that with the very beginnings of batteries.”
He went on to say that the energy density and cost of batteries are currently the two biggest impediments to the advancement of electrified drivetrains. Nevertheless, eventually, he says, we’ll get there. “It’s proven tech that just keeps getting better,” said Mr. Lutz. “Extrapolation and logic tell me the future is going to be all electric. This is where the industry is headed, like it or not, cheap gas or not.”
Of course, the real gem of Lutz’s conversation with The Detroit News came later, when he was asked about the naming of the Chevrolet Bolt concept: “It’s a stupid name. Had I still been there I would have vehemently fought it.”
Comments
Electric will be a growing part of the industry and is not going to go away. Be it hybrid, battery or hydrogen cell produced.
The coming regulation are just too tough to continue with gas only.