"What we are trying to work towards is 'Yes,' we will have other hybrid vehicles (besides the Volt) but we are trying to work towards a dedicated hybrid," Ed Peper, GM's general manager of Chevrolet, told GM-Volt.com, a site not affiliated with GM. "We think that's probably a better way for us to go longer term." ... The fuel economy with the new hybrid system will be on the order of 20 percent compared to the gasoline-only versions, he added. Rather than nickel metal hydride batteries, the newer hybrid system will use lithium-ion batteries supplied by Hitachi. "This future system will have the capability to work over a wider range of vehicles," he said. GM eyes revamped hybrid power train for sedans | Green Tech - CNET News
This is nothing new. In fact, the old GM had been saying the same thing for several years. I guess we have to tolerate the new GM having turned back the clock and relive the promises all over again. What's different now? .
I would assume a dedicated model, not a modification of an existing model. What Toyota did 10 years ago and Honda reestablished this year.
OK, so GM wants to develop a dedicated hybrid that gets "20 percent better fuel economy" than a comparable gasoline-only car. I can see it now. They come out with a 6,000-pound SUV with no gasoline-only version, and it gets 12MPG when a comparable gasoline-only one gets 10MPG (oh, and at a $10,000 premium). "See? We promised a 20% improvement and we delivered!" And GM management will still be scratching their heads when it doesn't sell.
Those who do not study the past are destined to repeat it. Here's another press release declaring something GM is going to do. There is no work to show and no results of tests; simply a statement. And this statement is meant to show the progress GM is making. Allow me to say once again : SHOW ME THE CAR NOT THE HYPE!!!
Sorta like the existing "hybrids" they were selling? Oh wait, GM calls them hybrids, I forgot, they are Electric Assist versions of current models. So where is the Volt? Did it get Zapped? Does it need a recharge? This is lolicous!!
