GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

martinjlm · #11 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

I'd be more sympathetic towards GM, concerning the EV1, if they had simply ended the program. It's one thing to say, "These cars didn't sell well and the technology's not really there yet." It's quite a different thing to confiscate the EV1s, crush them into cubes, then melt them down to slag, then pretend the whole project never existed.

Not true, not true. When the program was started, it was communicated to all customers that this was a LEASE ONLY program and that at the end of the lease period, all the cars would need to be returned to GM. Part of the rationale was that the battery technology was still evolving and that even if the program became a permanent vehicle program, there would probably be different batteries deployed and they would not necessarily retrofit to the original EV1s. This would mean that if someone were to BUY an original EV1 instead of lease and return, they would be stuck with an orphan battery technology OR GM would have to maintain an inventory of obsolete batteries for sale to customers on a service basis at an unreasonably high price. This would have done more damage to customer relations than to just say "you can't buy the car, you can only lease it". There were other considerations that went into the decision, but I am not at liberty to discuss those. Gets into product program stuff that is always confidential.

As for forgetting the program ever existed....Hardly a week goes by that I don't see an EV1 somewhere on our property. We still get some learnings from the program.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

......Also, GM doesn't seem to have kept any useful data from their EV1 project. If they did, then they wouldn't be trying to force-fit the hybrid system from a diesel locomotive down into a full-size SUV (aka 2-mode). For Toyota, however, I guarantee that there is plenty of RAV-EV technology is modern day HSD systems.

Again, not true. A lot was learned about electronics control systems and energy management. Some of which, unfortunately, was shared with Toyota when we were in co-development on a vehicle that eventually spawned the HiHi and RX 400h. We allowed the co-development to end because we found the Two-Mode technology to be a better solution. Calling it a "force-fit ... hybrid system from a diesel locomotive down into a full-size SUV " is a fairly severe over-simplification. It is a logical assumption based on how public info around the two systems have been communicated publicly. Having been closely involved with some of the Two-Mode development, I have access to info that you couldn't possibly have access to, or I might draw similar conclusions to those that you have drawn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

Giving away free gas is just a gimmick. I agree with the GM marketer that it's no more sinister than any other kind of rebate.

I do think that they've wasted too much time and money trying to develop fuel cell technology. After all, how commercially viable can a technology be if it requires several pounds of platinum PER VEHICLE! Is there even enough platinum worldwide to allow for mass production?

Another thread, another time. Dinner awaits

Peace,

Martin