GM's Lutz: Volt needs high gas prices to be 'generalized'

[cwerdna]

GM's Lutz: Volt needs high gas prices to be 'generalized' | Green Tech - CNET News

As usual, the anti-hybrid myths come out in full force in the comments like "Is it true the battery cost 20k to replace every 3-4 years????" and "The problem with the Prius is that it provides VERY LITTLE efficiency gain."

[TonyPSchaefer]

What's funny is to follow the links in the article. The one on GM-Volt.com says:

The Volt is a great first step, though as GM says it is a car for most people, not a car for everyone.

You mean the Volt is the first step? What the Hell have I been doing for the last five years?

Recently it was disclosed that the Volt will likely start at $32,000 after tax credits.

AFTER tax credits?!

“The Volt technology is very exciting, but costs will have to come down before it can become generalized,” he said. “And US fuel prices will have to rise to world levels, meaning $5 or $6 per gallon.”

This sounds like the same rhetoric Lutz used five years ago to write off the 2004 Prius: GM: Hybrid compacts don't make economic, environmental sense - Jan. 6, 2004

Yep, the fun never stops with Good ol' Mr. Lutz.

[jay_man2]

I thought the whole idea of the GM bankruptcy was to get rid of the bad assets. Why is this bad asset Lutz with the new GM again?

[daniel]

Originally Posted by jay_man2

I thought the whole idea of the GM bankruptcy was to get rid of the bad assets. Why is this bad asset Lutz with the new GM again?

Because America is so brainwashed against "socialism" that the idea of the government actually taking a hand in managing something the government owns is politically unacceptable. So we bailed them out because of their incompetent management, we bought 51% of their stock, and then we let the same old criminals keep running it for their personal benefit (obscene salaries and benefits).