GM confident in Chevy Volt plug-in......60,000 per year by 2010

[greenman3610]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071031/BUSINESS01/710310370


At the dawn of 2007, GM publicly stated a goal of producing a long-range electric vehicle by 2010 when it showed the Chevrolet Volt concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. It followed that with the unveiling of a fuel-cell version of the electric vehicle at Auto Shanghai in April and then a diesel version of the so-called E-flex electric propulsion system in Frankfurt, Germany.
"These are all no-excuses vehicles," Lutz said. "This is why I was brought in. ... It's unleashing the engineering and manufacturing power of General Motors."
On Tuesday, Lutz said he continues to be increasingly confident that GM will bring the range-extended Chevrolet Volt to market by 2010.
"We got our first experimental battery pack today" from LG Chem, Lutz said. The battery pack doesn't yet have a cooling system, he said, but doesn't need one for the stage of testing GM and LG Chem are in.
GM expects to receive an experimental battery pack in December from A123Systems, the other battery supplier with which it has a contract, Lutz said.
By the first quarter, GM expects to be running the E-Flex operating system in late model Malibus for testing purposes, he said.
Lutz said the first-generation production version of E-Flex will appear in a vehicle that will look much like the concept car shown at the 2007 Detroit auto show, but with a more traditional front end.
"The engine-motor configuration didn't work. ... Now it has a more classic-looking front end. ... It will be called the Chevrolet Volt."
Lutz said the company has not determined how many Volts it will make in the first year, but said he believes "it's a very safe bet that it will be produced in the tens of thousands" in its first generation.
"This is not sanctioned, not an official GM number, but in the first full year of production I would like to see between 60,000 and 100,000 and then go up from there," Lutz said.

[hatrack]

1. Not holding my breath - great concept, but . . .

I guess, 64 times burned by GM, twice shy.

:shrug:

[greenman3610]

3. I think they'll do it

because it they don't, Toyota and Ford will be ready to
take the whole thing away from them.
These kinds of cars are in the pipeline, and people will
be able to buy them at WalMart in 7 or 8 years.
It is a survival issue for GM, and they know it.

btw, I always look for and appreciate your posts on
climate issues. Please stay aware and involved.

[Javaman]

2. And I'm sure this car will be very affordable to the common citizen

with our inflated dollar.

[Initech]

4. If they could pull it off, I'd consider trading my Altima in for one.

[LSK]

5. hope it works, I think electric and plugin cars are the future