Did GM just made the wrong decision?

1. 76

   jackclee lmposted 6 years ago

   The CEO of GM just announced they are terminating the Chev. Volt, the hybrid vehicle, and going all out for electric vehicle like the Bolt. Is this a smart move? It seems to me, the hybrid is an intermediate option for people who wants to save mileage but do not want to be limited by the driving range of all electric.
   Also, the all electric takes a longer time to recharge. If more vehicles on the road are converted to all electric, we would need major infrastruture changes in our gas stations to accommodate electric. It will take time for this conversion to take place, if ever.
   I am just not sure GM is making the right decision at this time.

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2. 81

   Don Bobbittposted 6 years ago

   If you look at these kinds of decisions from an "evolution of technology" perspective, you would see that an automobile is no longer a metal box that the manufacturer sticks a motor in and sells.
   Rather if you can imagine the rapidly changing world of computers, electronic sensing systems, safety requirements and now power systems, that old metal box has to either evolve or just get replaced.
   So, see the "death" of these models, to me, is just an acceptance of the inevitable replacement of certain vehicles with more efficient and cost effective ones.
   No comment of the other side of the effects on the workforce because that's another subject itself.
   Have a nice day!
   DON

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      wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately, it is suicide to "kill off the dinosaurs" of our past.  Even ignoring Alaska, there are still many places that electric cars cannot go because there is no way to "fuel" them to get back. 
      
      We are still at the point, and will be for a long, long time, where an electric motor is wonderful but that gas engine sitting alongside it is absolutely necessary.
      
      I own a Volt, with a lifetime average of over 150 mpg and most months coming in at well over 250 mpg.  I love it, but without that gas engine it would be worthless to me.  Too many of my trips are in the hundreds of miles...with no charging stations anywhere.  I believe there are only 4 such stations where I live with nearly 3/4 of a million other people, and one of those is in my garage.

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      1. 76

         jackclee lmposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Sorry to hear that. What do you plan to do now?
         There are some gas engine models that gets over 40 mpg...

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         1. 78

            wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Well, it's only got 35,000 miles on it - I'll probably just keep it several more years and hopefully someone else will have a hybrid with a big battery.  Or keep it forever; the gas engine should outlast the fenders so all it might need to go 20 or 30 years is another battery.

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      2. 72

         Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Went looking for the "proper" forum thread to continue a discussion on the EV (that you and I had going in non-related thread)... and found this one.
         
         I agree the infrastructure is the big problem, not the EVs themselves.
         
         Also I agree killing off the Volt was a poor decision, I don't think GM ever pushed the Volt, or the Bolt, here in America. 
         
         Its a shame, when the Volt was first being rolled out in 2011 it was ahead of its time, ahead of Tesla and all other competitors IMO.
         
         The Volt is the perfect blend of the two for our current times... they should have made a truck just like it.

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            wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, the Volt was the perfect blend for the state of our infrastructure.  I don't understand why there aren't more like it being made.
            
            But I just dumped it for the brand new Toyota RAV4 Prime.  Another hybrid with a big battery - it has more electric range than the Volt did and more gas range as well.  It's also bigger and with even better tech - those two were the big reasons I traded.

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            1. 72

               Ken Burgessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

               Interesting, I will have to look into the RAV4 Prime.

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   2. 76

      jackclee lmposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Don,
      Replacing gas engine cars should be based on merit, without government meddling or environmentalists. If another technology be it electric, hybrid or fuel cells, it should be because they are cheaper to run and more efficient and cost effective. That is the way free market works and it works best without tax incentives...

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3. 77

   Castlepalomaposted 3 years ago

   Most important issue and threat to humanity is our handling of our health and the natural environment.
   
   Ask Government and wealthy is like asking a fox to guards the hen house.
   
   The top expenses is shelter, transportation and food. I'm taking care of 2 out of three. First choice is Hemp fuel or electrical transport would also work. Accept the starting cost would be higher.

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