For those of you who could not attend the Detroit Auto Show. Here is a video related to GM's future thinking. Keep in mind this is a GM Media release.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...bcpid416542521

Rather long....2 five minute videos, but interesting.

 

thanks for the vids snoopy!

 

Thanks for the info Snoopy. After watching the video, I'm still not convinced the electric car is a practical option. 40 miles wouldn't even get me to work. I may be the exception and not the rule, but I don't see anyone giving up thier gas powered auto anytime soon, even with the new technologies GM is introducing. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for exploring other options, but right now the internal cumbustion engine is still the most practical option.

 

Mizzou.....

I agree.

I remember when GM marketed, by leasing, a fleet of electric vehicles 10-15 years ago (in the days that Calif. mandated something like a million "non polluting" vehicles...they backed off that projection). It was quite interesting.

Had an opportunity to drive one for a couple of days....was kind of impressed. The vehicle had about 80-100 mile range, but if you "pushed it" for performance, the distance available declined rapidly. It was pretty quick however, for what it was. If my memory serves correctly it was in the 7-8 second range for 0-60.

Often wondered what would happen if you had 1,000,000 cars "plugging in" at the same time. Doubt if they will manufacture that many.

 

GM just needed something for their fleet rating. Still its a step in the right direction. Eventually we'll have a car with good performnance and milage that's reliable, and doesn't cost a fortune. That's one of the problems with the hybrids, few people will ever recover the added cost in fuel savings. For me that is a bog selling factor.

 

Agree on that also^^^^^^^

 

My wife would agree with you, Snoopy. When she did her internship in '03 for GM at Honeoye Falls, they let the interns drive a small fleet of EV1's they were hiding in plain sight in town. She loved it, although she did mention it took a lot of getting used to because of its instant acceleration. When I visited her that summer, she took me to the EV1 hidey-hole and I saw one that was charging up behind the building where they were hidden. That was cool.

I also know where there is one that wasn't "destroyed." It's in the Corning Museum of Glass.

 

Hey GDZHHR...

you're probably correct in your statement regarding "fleet rating", if you're referring to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) ratings. Problem was that, again if my memory serves me correctly, GM only had about 267 of these electric cars in the program. I think the projection was something like 8,000-10,000. . Turned out to be a VERY EXPENSIVE, and embarassing, engineering program. GM'S offical statement was something in regard to "invalueable engineering information" was cultivated. Hope THAT information helps with the program in the above video.