GM Chevy Volt Fails

Excerpt from the PBS Frontline show "Heat". sacrealstats.blogspot.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• GM
• Volt
• Frontline
• Heat

[WDPlumbing]

@Lrules364 I'm sorry you just haven't been around long enough to know how bad they used to be. With the amazing Cadillac CTSV, the crazy ZR1, and one of the most advanced engineered cars in the world, the volt and it's drive system, now pushing 200mpg. Their are few car companies I don't care for, and Chevy used to be one of them, but with the turnaround I've witnessed first hand, since the 70's it's foolish to say they are in a shithole.

[paulfornasier]

@BEANDIP3454 The Volt is sham, as many know. GM sold out the electric vehicle industry and shut it down by taking Ovionic's patent and selling it to Chevron. It essentially forced all automakers to shut down their electric car programs, as they were not allowed to use the large format NiMH batteries any longer. GM could have done much better. The Volt will not compete with all electric once the next leap in technology happens. GM is not trusted at all by the electric industry.

[BEANDIP3454]

@paulfornasier The volt is an electric car, like the leaf. The volt just has the fore site to cure range anxiety. If your at work and the school calls to tell you that your son or daughter just broke their arm and you need to get to the hospital across town you better hope you remembered to charge your leaf. Because if you didn't when you run out of electric power your done. With the volt the gas powered generator will keep the battery charged enough to get there.

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso OH...and why was everyone muzzled when Chevron (after being sold the patents by GM) disallowed anyone to use larger versions of the NiMH battery? Basically, they brought all production of any electric vehicle to a halt, and put a muzzle on all parties involved in the court case. Again....a VERY significant fact that seem to have left out....that had a MAJOR impact on the development of the industry. It set the industry back for many years....and continues to do so.

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso The one thing I agree with you about ...is that it did not make sense for Toyota to continue it's production of the initial RAV-4 electric. Yes, it was a program they were forced to introduce due to the California Clean Air Act. BUT...they did not sabotage the industry, as GM did. AND, they also had the intelligence to allow their vehicles to continue to be used.....which has allowed further advances in technology and adaptation.

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso Bizarre for you to state that "NO electric or hyrbrid makes financial sense right now", when Toyota has sold over 3 million of the Prius, and is about to start manufacturing the RAV-4 all-electric in Canada. That is a statement right out of a GM / Chevron propaganda film or something.....LOL. It is one of the largest successes of Toyota these days. The Prius is an incredibly common vehicle...often used by cab drivers....because they make so much financial sense....LOL

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso Oh..and the reason the Volt is not compared with the Prius is because the Prius is wallopping all competition, with millions in sales to date. There is no other hybrid to be compared with it. I see them constantly....and I really don't see any other type of hybrid / electric vehicle on any consistent basis. There is currently great success with hybrid production these days...and an all-electric Toyota is just around the corner. The major NA makers are just flailing.

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso Another important fact....Toyota only destroyed a portion of their RAV-4 electrics...and then decided to let owners continue to use them. They have been driven by their owners ever since, and serviced by various Toyota sercice centres. There are many clear facts that separate the actions of GM from other manufacturers. No surprise that GM was a focus in the documentary.... I will be interesting to see what happens to the Volt when it faces REAL competition.

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso Hey, why don't you compare with the plug-in hybrid produced in China? There will be some plug-in hybrids coming out in North America in the next year also. The Prius has had a kit available for several years now also...to do a switch to plug-in.

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso The reason that Toyota stopped production directly related to the inability to use the battery any longer. They were forced into a settlement with Chevron /Texaco. This is a clear and unequivocal fact. Toyota is now working with Tesla in regard to it's new version of the RAV-4 electric/plug-in. You seem to be missing some very important facts.....propaganda????

[paulfornasier]

@whotolduso How about the fact that GM was able to buy out the most advanced patents on batteries in the US...and then sold them to Texaco / Chevron. This is now a significant problem for Toyota in it's effort to bring out the new RAV-4 electric. Try that one on for size.  Part of that story was actually told in the documentary we are discussing....and it still continues to this day,