Posted on 02/15/2010 8:31:08 AM PST by neverdem
Detroit What if the vehicles of the future dont make money?
General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz continued his habit of talking truth to power last week despite the fact that his company is now a subsidiary of the U.S. government. GM owners Barack Oama and Nancy Pelosi routinely claim that America is transitioning to a green transportation future, but Lutz stepped all over their lines at an industry event Friday when he said that hybrids will never comprise more than 10 percent of the U.S. market. Lutz was only expressing an industry consensus that hybrid-electrics are niche vehicles (like muscle cars) that enhance a companys image but are too limited in appeal to go mainstream.
Worse, Lutz said that hybrids are money pits that will have to be subsidized by other GM vehicles.
Lutz has spearheaded GMs plug-in Chevy Volt (due later this year) as a halo car enhancing GMs green image. But he has also been skeptical of hybrids, pointing out the paradox of consumers who say they like fuel-efficient vehicles even as they are unwilling to pay hybrid premiums.
Meanwhile, Washington is pushing Detroit companies to build more hybrids. A good idea? GMs taxpayer shareholders may want to listen to car guy Lutz.
Henry Payne is an editorial writer and cartoonist for the Detroit News.
Thanks for the clarification.
“Bigger carbon footprint to build a Prius than a Hummer.” I hope you don’t still believe that lie. “huge pesky batteries that need replacing every few years.” Let’s see my Prius has 6 “six-pack size” batteries that weigh 99 pounds total and they should last 8 to 12 years.
Suddenly the number is 9. Whats up. And this doesn't count the problems with the pickups.
I understand they have acres of them just waiting to be purchased, or crushed.
Really! And how many MPG can a low-tech VW TDI get?
Hey!! It’s only money.
‘’’’’’’Such a bold statement will get Bob Lutz his walking papers’’’’
Alternatively, he perceives the truth won’t hurt because he is in no danger from those who have lost their power
And, it's not "green". Or at least, doesn't have a "Save to World, buy a Hybrid" marketing campaign going for it......
Unlike the diesel...the hybrid won't run on multiple fuels...like french fry oil.
BFL
Pious drivers out here in wino land are doing a very dangerous thing after they come to a stop at a stop light.
They are apparently trying to see how high their mileage can be while going very slowly and beyound slowly when the light turns green.
I had been telling my trophy wife about this new bs by the Pious drivers, and she hadn’t seen it yet. This past saturday, she saw a dozen of these bastards pulling this bs on a 35 mile trip to another wino county and back. Then yesterday, while she drove to work, she had two of these bastards pull this stunt and one on her drive home.
The other dangerous stunt the Pious nitwits are pulling is once they get close to normal speed after the light, suddenly slowing down not to go past 50 mph in 55 mph zones. On our trip home Saturday afternoon, one of these bastards had over 30 vehicles behind him, breaking the law of pulling over if you have 5 vehicles behind you.
Nine accidents.
Millions of cars, billions of miles driven, 9 incidents. Are you sure its the gas pedal?
from your post 54.
Damn you got me! Your life has reached it’s zenith! Congratulations.
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