Lutz hints at Pure EV Volt

[efusco]

Maximum Bob talks pure EV Volt, battery-free Volt and prototype drives! - AutoblogGreen

The other possibility that Lutz mentions is eliminating the engine/generator and going battery only. This is actually not a new idea and was discussed as a long-term possibility back in late 2006 when GM held the first background briefings on the Volt prior to its auto show debut. The idea is that if battery technology progresses to the point that a Volt type vehicle could provide a reasonable electric range without a range extender just by using a bigger battery, it could easily be done. The idea is mentioned in the first E-Flex technical description I wrote here.

[patsparks]

So something like a 4 door EV1 then?

[hill]

The prototype EV1 WAS a 4 door version. Think Lutz is in the crusher trying to piece back together the only thing they did right in the past 12 years?

[Ichiro]

This article in IEEE Spectrum claims that the Volt will have a small gasoline engine for range extension ... the Volt will be hybrid.
IEEE Spectrum: EV ROUNDUP: ELECTRIC VEHICLES MOVE FORWARD...SLOWLY

[TonyPSchaefer]

Originally Posted by Ichiro

This article in IEEE Spectrum claims that the Volt will have a small gasoline engine for range extension

Exclusive photograph of the prototype Volt:

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

At this point, it looks like GM is just throwing crap against the wall and seeing what sticks.

What GM - or a forward thinking car maker - needs to do is put their might behind building a commuter electric vehicle and package it together with a rooftop solar system and market it as "The Way to Your Energy Independence." Anything else is just more of the stuff they are throwing against the wall.

[daniel]

So in the article, Lutz throws out the possibility of a "Volt" that's pure EV, and also of a "Volt" that's a pure gasoline (series hybrid) car. Sounds like he's starting to prepare us for the eventual announcement of a "Volt" that's just a plain old-fashioned gasoline car.

Maybe the naysayers like me have gotten it wrong: We've been saying GM will never build the Volt. Maybe they will build it after all. But it will a plane-Jane gasoline-powered car, without batteries or electric motor.

Then why call it the "Volt" at all? Well, to save face. "We promised we'd build the Volt, and we've kept our promise." -- "But you said it would be an electric car that plugs into the grid, with a range-extender. -- "Well, we've decided that was not possible with today's battery and electric motor technology, so we're building it as a regular car, but as soon as we can develop the technology, we'll introduce a Volt that's electric." -- "But you had the technology a decade ago." -- "Yes, we did, but we've misplaced it. But I assure you I've got several file clerks looking for it very diligently, and we'll make an announcement if they manage to find it." -- "Why don't you just reverse engineer an old EV-1?" -- "Gosh, we'd love to, but we crushed them all."

[Tideland Prius]

I've noticed GM has made a LOT of annoucements. Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Honda haven't. Why all the media hoola?

[donee]

Hi daniel,

Well, they have done that already. They came out the Saturn ION, which was a pure gasoline car.

[daniel]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

I've noticed GM has made a LOT of annoucements. Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Honda haven't. Why all the media hoola?

When you are selling cars and you are planning something new, you keep quiet about it because an announcement might discourage people from buying the present (soon to be outdated) cars. But when you have no plans on building the new car and you're getting bad press about it, you announce a super car, so unlike anything in your present line that it will not affect your sales, but which will discourage people from buying your competitors' cars.

As soon as Toyota announces a PHEV-40, potential Prius buyers will back off, and they'll have to discount the prices deeply. SUV buyers will not hold off buying an SUV on the expectation of the Volt, but maybe potential Prius buyers would hold out for the Volt instead. GM hurts Toyota, does not affect its own sales, and gains brownie points if it can convince the press and the public that it's seriously trying to develop the Volt. Unlike W and his war, you can be sure than GM has an exit strategy: It already knows what excuses it will give for in the end not building the Volt. (Or for building a conventional car that it will call the Volt.)