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“Revenge of the Electric Car”

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by mr88cet, Jul 2, 2018.

  1. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    This appears to be the follow-on to the TV Movie “Who Killed the Electric Car?”



    I can’t find enough upward-pointing thumbs to click on! This talks about Tesla, GM Nissan, and just the garage tinkerers who took over after the EV1 died.
     
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  2. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Great documentary, although a bit dated.
    I am hoping they will do another in 2-3 years ;)
     
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  3. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    “Indeed” on both accounts!
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    unfortunately, all the idiots who tried to block it are senile, so they missed the revenge.
    but there's a whole new group trying their mightiest to kill tesla.
     
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  5. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    To clarify, it finishes up at about 2015, and clearly a lot has happened since.

    It portrays Bob Lutz as more forward-thinking than I expected. There’s probably a lot of truth in that portrayal, but also a lot of over-simplification as well, of course.

    In a lot of ways though, GM is more forward-looking, in terms of electrification than Toyota!
     
    #5 mr88cet, Jul 2, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2018
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it portrays bob klutz as more forward thinking than he actually is.;) partially because he sells it so well, they fall for it.
     
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  7. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    The movie came out in 2011 (I went to the premier in MN).
    Unless there is an updated version??
     
  8. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Perhaps. Nevertheless, he was smart enough to realize that killing the EV1 was a bad move. But more than that, he was smart enough to realize that the EV1 wasn’t good enough: It needed two more seats and a Rex. The Volt is a much better product.

    At the end, they quote some stats dated 2015, so perhaps so.
     
    #8 mr88cet, Jul 2, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 3, 2018
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    he never intended for the volt to succeed, and did a good job making sure it wouldn't.
     
  10. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    In what sense(s)?

    Ah, my mistake: I checked again; those were projections for 2015, presumably made 2011. So probably no update.
     
    #10 mr88cet, Jul 2, 2018
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    he wanted a 'halo' car for gm, which is what he considered prius. but he made sure the design (not looks) would guarantee that they wouldn't sell very many.

    guess what? it worked, they are talking about phasing it out. fortunately, post klutz and bankruptcy, they are doing better things.
     
  12. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Halo and compliance car.

    Still, it seems like the Volt has sold reasonably well, and they invested in Gen-2.

    Mary Barra certainly seems to me to have more vision.
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i hope so, let's see what their next move is.
     
  14. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    I don’t think this is accurate Bisco.
    The technology from the Volt is being widely disseminated into other vehicles. It is already in a Cadillac and there are plans to move it into others as well. GM was also one of the few companies that sold cross country from 2011-2015.
    Now, GM had a revolt (no pun intended) of dealers, and did no decent marketing and even very little of lousy marketing. The Volt had lots of issues, but it still helped GM sell more EVs in the US than anyone other than Tesla.
     
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    please clarify klutz' roll in all of this electrified success.:)
     
  16. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Lutz is responsible for bringing the Volt project to the board of directors (they turned it down).
    After the board turned it down, and after Tesla came up with their roadster, Lutz brought the Volt project back to the Board and basically shamed them into approving the project. They did.

    Lutz has said and done a lot of boneheaded things, but he is also the reason GM has contributed as much to the EV transition as they have.
    I put Lutz’s comments about the Prius on the same level as the Toyota exec’s comment about “no one is knocking on our door asking for EVs.”.
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    which goes back to my statement that he wanted a halo car. everything else came after he left.

    toyota has also been obstinate, i don't see what one has to do with the other.
     
  18. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    I care more about results, than motivations.
    If wanting a halo car leads a company to building the 2nd most EVs in the US, then I have no issues with that.

    I wish Toyota had wanted a BEV halo car.
     
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  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    me too, but you're off course. we're discussing mr. klutz.;)
     
  20. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Thanks,
    I heard that Cadillac had killed their earlier hybrid, ELR, but did not realize they still have the CT6. I have a distinct memory of a Cadillac manager saying some discouraging words about plug-in hybrids.

    Bob Wilson