GM: Not Making Hybrid a 'Mistake'

[DeclinetoState]

Lutz, Execs Take Questions From Room Full of Chevy Volt Fans

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Business/ld_Volt_080320_ms.jpg

Robert " Bob" Lutz, vice chairman of product development for General Motors Corp., speaks as Lyle Dennis, publisher of gm- volt.com, looks on during a media preview of the 2008 New York International Auto Show in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. (DANIEL ACKER/Bloomberg News/Landov )

By ASHLEY PHILLIPS
March 20, 2008

Not making a hybrid car like the Prius was a "mistake," outspoken General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz told a room of Chevy Volt "fan boys" at the New York Auto Show this week.

"We had the technology to come out with a hybrid at the same time as Toyota," Lutz said Tuesday. "In hindsight, it was a mistake. ... We made the mistake and we won't make it again."

"I think the whole company has learned when you step out and do bold things, you win and when you're cautious and let other people do the bold things, you lose," he continued.

More (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4485292&page=1)

[DesertFox]

In this case it's doubtful, Bobby.

[DeclinetoState]

I think hybrids are a better idea than all-electric cars, which are basically glorified golf carts with terrible performance (40-45 mph tops), little range (100 miles or less—usually, a lot less), and long recharge times (usually several hours).

[DoctorDoom]

The mistake would be assuming that there is enough of a market to justify retooling to build them.

Toyota is bragging that sales of its hybrid vehicles have exceeded one million vehicles, but at least some of the early models are beginning to bedevil their early-adopter owners.

The Japanese automaker began selling gas-and-electric cars ten years ago and is now the acknowledged hybrid leader in the automotive industry. Toyota sold nearly 345,000 hybrids in Japan and 702,000 in other worldwide markets over the ten years.

The automaker has sold 757,600 of the Prius hybrid since the 1997 introduction of the vehicle in Japan. Toyota began selling the Prius in North America and Europe in 2000. Last year, the Prius accounted for more than 40 percent of hybrid sales in the U.S.Sales Top 1 Million but Some Owners Find Prius Doesn't Age Well (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/prius_aging.html)

1,047,000 in ten years worldwide is not gangbuster sales. I don't recall ever seeing one on the road, although I haven't looked foir them.

The article describes the problems that the toys are giving their owners. They prove one thing: the more complex a car is, the more things there are to screw up after the warranty expires.

GM ought to be glad they hesitated.

[DeclinetoState]

There are lots of Priuses on the road here in California. I don't know if they were marketed in all parts of the country, however.

[BabyBeastie]

It's not always good to be the first one on the block with something. I agree that it was good to let Toyota bear the brunt of the headaches that come with making a hybrid. Let Toyota make the mistakes. Then everyone else can improve on the original.

As for Lutz, it sounded as if he was just sucking up to a bunch of nerds. lol

[LivingDeadGirl]

I am on my second Prius (put 150,000 miles on the first one) and my parents are on their third (mom puts 300,000 on it then trades it in...she has a long commute to work) and we have NO complaints. At 65MPH, when I don't have to run the heater, I get over 50MPG. In the winter I get between 40-50 MPG depending on how cold it is outside and how much I have to run the heater to keep warm. I have gotten as high as 65MPG when going at slower speeds in St.Louis and Chicago traffic.

I read your article Doc and have to say that I have no idea why a woman having problems with the display on her car would be unable to put gas in it.
She said that the hybrid display began to malfunction “within a few months and did not work with the result of being unable to get gas into car."
The car is OFF when you gas it up and the display is just a readout. You put gas in it the same way you do any car, the lever to open the latch is manual, and so is the gas cap. Seems maybe she has other problems...and maybe not just with the car!!

Also, I'm mystified how a 4 year old car with 49,000 miles is out of warranty. Both of mine came standard with much longer warranties than that!

I'm not saying that there aren't problems, but you can find problems with any car. My ex had both a Chevy Malibu (junk) and a Hyundai Elantra (bigger junk) and those things have had more problems than ANY car I have EVER owned.

[LivingDeadGirl]

There are lots of Priuses on the road here in California. I don't know if they were marketed in all parts of the country, however.

We have a lot here too DTS. Everyone I know with one loves it!

[DoctorDoom]

In Mexifornia, it's expected. It's full of liberals, and liberals simply must have the proper status symbols, don't you know?

As for me, my Taurus is good enough,

[jpasterjak]

The article describes the problems that the toys are giving their owners. They prove one thing: the more complex a car is, the more things there are to screw up after the warranty expires.

Well, sort of. The technology has to start somewhere, though. Don't forget that not too long ago things like fuel injection, ABS and three-point seatbelts were thought of as overly complex frivolities. Nowadays, good luck finding any student in tech school learning how to sync triple sidedraft carbs. All their diagnostic work is being done with laptops.

Early adopters of Hybrids like the Honda Insight and first generation Prius were essentially beta testers. The companies essentially used the customers to improve their products, and we certainly saw notable improvements in the second round of hybrids, aa well as a whole new group of companies jumping on board with the technology. Now we're in a situation where it's no longer a novelty, but a legitimate and beneficial technology. Maybe not the ultimate answer, but definitely a step in a positive direction.

And it's not simply fuel economy. The Honda Accord Hybrid is both the most efficient AND most powerful Accord in the lineup.

The next big step, though, is electric storage. Batteries have gotten better, but they're still the least efficient link in the chain. And then there's the disposal issue, and the additional weight, and a host of other minor annoyances. As soon as a better battery comes along, you'll see a quantum leap in the feasibility of hybrids.

GM ought to be glad they hesitated.

I'll agree with you there, if, indeed, they hesitated to allow other companies to essentially do their R&D for them. Given GM's recent track record, though, they probably just screwed up.

jg