GM Defends the Volt, Attacks Smaller Electric Car Start-Ups (Tesla, Fisker, etc)

Michael Graham Richard
Transportation / Cars
May 27, 2009

Click picture to see our Volt slideshow. Photo: Michael Graham Richard

An EV must give drivers the confidence and peace of mind that they won’t be stranded when the battery charge is depleted, and GM’s Voltec propulsion system solves this psychological problem of range anxiety.
When the battery’s energy is depleted from driving in pure electric mode, the engine generator produces electricity to extend the Volt’s driving range to more than 300 total miles. And if you don’t have access to public charging or time to wait on a recharge, all you have to do is fill-up with fuel and continue driving electrically. The beauty of an E-REV is you have that choice without sacrifice because the engine generator provides the flexibility. E-REVs become an enabler to making electric vehicles affordable because they aren’t dependent on anything else - all your equipment is on-board.

This is a good overview of the benefits of plug-in hybrids.

Some of the downsides are: You have to lug around a gasoline engine when in electric mode, making the car heavier and reducing electric range. The battery goes through more cycles because it is smaller, reducing its potential life. Complexity is higher because there are more moving parts than in a purely electric vehicle. You are still burning fossil fuels. You are more limited in your design choices because you have to put the gas engine somewhere.

The good news is that as battery technology improves, both PHEV and BEVs will get better.

If our experience with the EV1 taught us anything, it’s that customers love driving electric so much that they want to be able to plug-in wherever they go, and with both 120v and 240v capability, they will. We’ve also gone to great lengths to standardize the vehicle receptacle in North America so plug-in vehicles don’t end up like laptops and cell phones with different charging cords for each manufacturer.

Bringing up the EV1 might not have the hope for effect for GM. What people are mostly reminded of is how GM didn't make an EV2, EV3, EV4... And how it didn't seem to be very interested in electric cars back then, making the EV1 mostly because California forced it to, and as soon as it could it crushed it.

GM will say the EV1 was too expensive, but how much is it costing GM not to have that head-start in electric vehicles?

Update: Also check out GM Gas-Electric Hybrid Car Ad From... 1969!