GM’s Doing as Much as Any Automaker to Reduce Oil Dependence
(Editor’s note: Journalist Derrick Jackson of The Boston Globe recently attacked Detroit’s automakers in his syndicated column. Below is our response. We submitted this to the Globe, but the newspaper declined to run it, citing its policy of not accepting op/eds that respond to Globe columns. The Globe did run a much shorter version of this response in their letters to the editor column Saturday (Sept. 16). We asked that they include this blog’s address at the end of the letter, so their readers could see the full text. They declined. The Miami Herald also ran the Jackson column, and also declined to run our response. Fortunately, our blogs give us a chance to give you the full story, from our point of view, and expand the debate beyond the Globe’s op/ed page. Let us know what you think.)
By Steven J. Harris
Vice President, Global Communications
If Derrick Jackson truly believes that you can learn “everything you need to know about American automakers” by reading four newspaper clippings, perhaps he should consider another line of work. That kind of half-baked research leads to half-baked columns, like the one The Boston Globe published Sept. 2.
General Motors is working hard to build a stronger America that’s less dependent on oil, and we’re making significant progress. What we don’t appreciate is the kind of cynical propaganda that Mr. Jackson has engaged in recently, which seeks to portray Detroit automakers as buffoons and our Japanese competitors as flawless. It’s almost as if he wants the U.S. auto industry to fail. Why?
We agree with him that this nation needs to reduce its dependence on oil. GM is doing as much or more than any automaker to address this issue, from making our gasoline engines more fuel-efficient with new technologies, to producing cars and trucks that can run on ethanol-based fuel, to investing heavily in hybrid and fuel-cell powertrains.
GM also is well-positioned for the shift to more fuel-efficient cars and crossover vehicles. In fact, GM offers more vehicles that are EPA-rated at 30 mpg or better on the highway than any other automaker. More than Toyota, Honda or Nissan.
So far this year, Americans have bought more than 865,000 of our 30-mpg-or-better cars. Our new full-size SUVs that Mr. Jackson disparages also are selling well, in part because they have better EPA highway-mileage estimates than any of the competing SUVs offered by Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Ford.
Here are some other pertinent facts that Mr. Jackson chose to ignore:
- Last year’s top-selling subcompact was the fuel-stingy Chevy Aveo, and an all-new ‘07 Aveo sedan has just debuted. Honda and Nissan just recently entered this growing segment, and Toyota just re-entered it after pulling its previous entry out of the U.S. market due to poor sales.
- The recently introduced Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid offers the best highway fuel economy of any SUV (EPA rated at 32 mpg) at a price significantly less than its hybrid competitors. The Vue is one of a dozen hybrid vehicles that GM will launch in the next few years.
- GM has put 478 GM-powered hybrid public transit buses on the streets of 39 cities in the United States and Canada over the past few years. They’re saving thousands of gallons of fuel every week.
- GM recently announced a new V-8 turbo-diesel engine that will improve engine fuel efficiency by 25 percent for our future light duty trucks sold in North America.
- GM is investing heavily in the one technology that promises to end our dependence on oil forever: fuel cells. We’ve made incredible progress in driving down the cost of this technology to make it practical. We just announced plans to build and deploy a demonstration fleet of more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicles starting in fall 2007.
- GM has put more than 2 million vehicles on the road that are capable of running on E85, and is working with distributors and government to increase the number of service stations that offer this ethanol-based alternative fuel.
- Toyota’s growth in the United States over the past decade has come primarily from expanding its vehicle lineup into the pickup and SUV segments that Mr. Jackson finds so offensive. In many of those segments, Toyota’s offerings get worse mileage than GM’s. Toyota also is building a new plant in Texas to build more full-size pickups, not more hybrids.
- The new Chevy Camaro will join the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger in the well-established performance car segment. As much as Mr. Jackson may find no appeal in a stylish, high-performance coupe, millions of Americans do and have passionately urged GM to bring back the Camaro. We would be foolish not to meet that demand. By the way, Honda and Toyota apparently agree: Both Japanese automakers reportedly are working on their own high-performance sports cars for the U.S. market.
- Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and Land Rover also offer full-size or large luxury SUVs. They do so because there’s significant demand and these are some of the most profitable vehicles in the U.S. market. For those with large families and a boat or trailer to tow, the Chevy Suburban is practical option. You can’t tow a boat or haul a family of six with its camping gear in a Toyota Prius.
Ultimately, consumers decide what they will buy based on their own calculation of their needs, desires and budgets.
For those who want fuel-efficient small cars, GM offers them. For those who have a need for a full-size SUV and want the one that has the best fuel economy and can run on E85, we offer those. For those looking for a hybrid, we’ve got those, too.
If all Mr. Jackson is seeing from Detroit are “metallic mastodons,” perhaps he ought to get out of his office and visit a GM dealership. Or at least read more than four articles. He might find it enlightening.
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I wonder why so many of these folks are siding so much with toyota and honda and never get to see any good in their own companies. give credit where its due please.
I think gm is doing a lot towards fuel economy especially on the trucks. lets get real….who cares?we are more concerned about the flaws in american companies than any thing good.be real do not really care about toyota,honda,kia,what ever else it is.I will support gm ford and any other american company.critisize at times and give credit at times. this is america not japan
Steve,
Thanks for the facts, maybe Mr. Jackson will read this and be enlightened.
Mr. Harris-
I enjoyed reading your reply to Derrick Jacksons rather misguided column on the US auto industry. Now, your greatest challenge is getting the US public educated on the efforts you list above. There is still a very inaccurate perception that domestic quality and efficiency are poor while asian automakers offer better quality in more fuel efficient vehicles. If the press is more interested in helping bash American industry & ingenuity, then US automakers will have to continue refining and building cars & trucks that lure buyers into showrooms to see for themselves. I have faith that GM is doing that – I just ordered a Solstice GXP, and I’m doing what I can to convince anyone who will listen that they should visit a GM dealership before considering anything else.
Have you guys explored the hydraulic hybrid technology that uses compressed nitrogen to power the car? I guess the idea is that the gas would be compressed during braking and/or by an internal combustion engine. The energy stored in the compressed gas would be used to drive the vehicle. No heavy batteries would be required. This technology would theoretically replace the need for a transmission. The writeup I saw implied hugely improved fuel economy.
Will GM study the use of biobutanol in cars designed to burn gasoline? Look at http://www.butanol.com and you will see a guy that discovered a way to make more biobutanol than the ABE mode and put this fuel in the tank of a 1992 Buick Park Avenue, with no engine modifications, that travelled 10,000 miles (16.090 km) across the US.
Also, I remember that biobutanol can be made of the same fonts of ethanol, even in the cellulosic way, with the advantage that can be replace gasoline one by one, even in cars that never were thought to use other fuel than gasoline. So, if we have cheap biobutanol, in theory we could move all cars from that old Oldsmobile of the beggining of 20th century to a brand new Z06 (hey, don’t forget that people love their cars if they’re good. How many people do we know that don’t sell their rides for any money in the world), in every part of the planet, with more fuel economy than the use of ethanol and immediately turning all gasoline-powered rides in ecological ones without the need of converting them. And also getting rid from oil.
Well, every people are very used to drive their gasoline-powered cars. They’re very developed, have good overall performance, some ones very pleasure to drive and the internal combustion engine is very developed and doesn’t need to be imposed to people as some governments are wanting to do with hydrogen-powered cars, fuel-celled or not. We saw this movie when, by law, tried to sell a percentage of electric rides, that never were as practical as the Otto and Diesel ones.
And, also, the use of biobutanol made in the EEI way would also free hydrogen to be used in powerplants or other non-automotive uses, benefitting more people than being used to move our four-tires pieces of metal. And also we can mantain the infrastructure used to transport gasoline.
And, as said before, if we here in Brazil can make ethanol from cane and you from corn, we can also make biobutanol from the same crops, with minimal changes. And, by the cellulosic way, biobutanol can be made from anything that have cellulose, or anything that grows in the planet: grass, wood, organic cellulosic trash. It would even be a nice way to control invasive vegetable species. Wouldn’t it be greater than the use of hydrogen, that need to be stored under pressure (biobutanol can be stored in the same fuel tanks that we’re used to)? Let’s think about that. I would love to drive a Brazilian classic car, like an Opala without engine conversion if I can fill the tank with pure biobutanol. EEI proved that it’s possible.
Well said. It amazes me how anti-American some people can be in pursuits besides military ones. They should at least be fair and show respect for all that companies like GM and Ford have done for this country’s economy and industrial competitiveness. I had written in defense of GM’s fuel economy on a blog I contribute to (Detroit Essentials) back in March…
http://uh2l.blogs.com/detroitessentials/2006/03/detroit_auto_in.html
You would be well advised to spend more time on developing competetive products and less time on spin control. This stuff is, at best, non-productive. More likely, it is counter-productive.
In particular, bloggers here (not me) have commented extensively on the almost total irrelevance of the EPA highway mileage ratings in real world driving, especially when you conveniently forget to include the city mileage ratings.
As to the Aveo, bloggers have also commented at length on its mileage. Check it out.
I did not read the original article though I did read the response, I’d like to add a couple comments.
E85 is not practical as a solution now nor is it likely to be in the future, especially if the US continues to focus on corn as the main source of Ethanol.
Even after you oversome the significant productions challenges switching the infrastructure to support E85 isn’t an insignificant task, once this task was completed we’d be ready to switch it completely to hydrogen.
The fact that California, which is both the #1 car market in the U.S. as well as the “Greenest” state has only one public E85 station illustrates extremely well how ineffective E85 is as a solution.
The fact remains it doesn’t matter how many E85 vehicles GM makes if almost none of them will ever get a drop of E85 in their tanks.
GM doesn’t have a lot of credibility talking about the demand for large SUVs when they apparently refuse to make viable alternatives to them.
Their minivans which were class leading as recently as 1998 are now at the bottom of the class as GM has ceded the minivan market to Honda & Toyota.
They haven’t made a full sized station wagon since the RWD Impala went away in the mid 1990s (though the new Lambda based vehicles like the GMC acadia are technically station wagons they are labeled and marketed as “Crossover Utility Vehicles” with SUV-like gas mileage).
One only needs to look at the success of the Odyssey and Sienna or even smaller minivans like the Mazda5 contrasted with the glut of late model large SUVs gathering dust on used car lots to demonstrate where the demand lies.
Finally, in regards to GMs fuel efficient fleet, GM simply doesn’t offer a single high mileage vehicle that most buyers would drive. Speaking for myself (a former Geo Metro owner) I would love to drive a car that got high mileage again but not enough to drive around in an Aveo. It’s not enough to Offer “cheap” cars that get great mileage, we also need “nice” cars that get good mileage. Currently I drive a Mazda3 wagon that despite it’s sub $19k price tag is anything but cheap, though it’s mileage is far from spectacular I made a compromise to get both the features, as well as the gas mileage I could live with.
GM currently does not have a Prius killer, but Volkswagen does. It’s the Jetta using 100 year old technology – diesel!
The following article is quite good:
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060720/OPINION01/607200323/1008
One sentence from the article worth pointing out: Were Friedman not blinded by Toyota’s green halo, he would know that the diesel VW Jetta has consistently outperformed the Prius in head-to-head road tests (by 49 mpg to 42 mpg in a recent Autoweek comparison).
GM’s Prius killer?? An Aveo diesel!
Car Wars
Good versus Evil. Is there a better story line? We’ve loved it since the Garden and aren’t likely to tire of it soon. So, it’s good to see a big time columnist like Derrick Z. Jackson of the Boston Globe
I for one would like to see more diesel vehicles from the big three, all we have today are trucks/SUVs. The US car market has poor diesel saturation, the only offering being European manufactures. With the advances in diesel powertrains over the last several years, it just makes sense. About 50% of all new car sales in Europe are diesels, the US is at best 5%. A diesel alone will blow the socks off of a similarly sized gasoline engine, just imagine what a diesel hybrid could do with GM’s new “inexpensive” hybrid design.
LPG when can I see a new chevey running LPG
LPG
LPG
LPG
think
plug in Hybrid-propane SUV
fuel will not go bad if you don’t drive using fuel for months.
Think think think
or just listen LPG
GM’s savior will be alternative fuels. i am very pleased and proud that you have attacked the problem at its source. not fuel efficiency, but fuel dependancy.
your victory lies at the problem of getting that fuel to the people of america, once that is done, you will rule the market with an iron fist.
imagine the reaction from the public if they heard that their new car can be filled up with something like their garden hose??
You need to be even more aggressive in going after Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. You wait until your 7th, 8th, and 9th points to directly address them.
Your competitors are winning the “perception” battle.
Car wars from the true talk blog said it all.
GM, please do us customers a courtesy; keep up the worthwhile and appreciated improvements it took Toyota and others to make you embark on, and be honest, not hype-oriented, with us.
Excellent response to another member of the anti-american industry media. But there is one strong point to make, GMs compact models still can’t touch a Civics 40mpg highway. I think if GM can match this in the next redesign of the cobalt and aveo, it would go a long way towards legitimizing the rest of GMs green efforts.
Great article…. GM needs to get the word out. I just saw a commercial on TV by Toyota bragging about the number of vehicles that they have that produce 30 mpg or less. Even as a GM fan I had no idea GM kicks butt in this department. I think the next stage of turnaround needs to be your PR/marketing team, the commericals and advertising are not cutting, this is your biggest problem and should be your main focus.
Typical ol’ anti-American slander. The liberal intelligentsia in this country which happens to control the majority of the mass media continues to find more and more things wrong with American products. Even if GM did make the best automobiles in the world (which I feel they will reach a level of parity with Toyota and Co., in the near future), idiots like this vagrant from The Boston Globe would continually find it their purpose in life to defy American nationalism and simply state that the rest of the world offers more than what we have to offer.
I’m not saying that GM is going to ever have all the answers, nor will I ever admit that Toyota will, but I will say this: the levels of quality and, most importantly, ingenuity have increased considerably in recent years. I feel that if GM were to merge with Nissan/Renault, their technology would grow even more in gaining some insight in what has made these foreign-owned corporations so industrially viable over the years.
Maybe GM will learn how to paint a car for a change! LOL
A long time ago my brother-in-law was trying to get me to go to the Ford dealership to look at a new Ford Probe. At the time it was the newest and hottest car out there. There was hesitation on my part, not seeing at the time how I could afford it, fresh out of college you know. But I recall my mothers response which still rings in my ears today.
“YOU’RE STANDING IN THE WAY OF A BLESSING.”
I never heard of such a thing, but I was – and that is what people do sometimes. I recall that statement today because that is exactly what many Americans reponse is to ethanol- it’s a blessing plain and simple and they are standing in the way. Just today I read an article in which an ethanol company has found a way to increase ethanol yields per acre of corn by 27%-twenty-seven percent.
As the ethanol market grows corn increase its yeild more and more while it is replaced with cellulose derived ethanol and the ethanol companies retrofit their existing factories to get corn from waste, shrubs, tires, trees, switchgrass, sugarcane, orange peels-in other words everywhere.
Even as Brazil has shown us the way to energy independance many still blindly deny it. They are standing in the way of a blessing, America’s blessing in which we can get an eternal source of energy from the unequaled abundance of our farmland. They ignore the cattle feedstocks as an ethanol byproduct. They ignore ethanol’s comprable emissions benefit over regular oil and they ignore the fact that cattle waste can be used for the energy conversion. In the end they will deny Americans jobs, hinder much needed economic development of rural communities and belittle the hopes and efforts of countless Americans who are taking steps to wean our addiction from foreign oil. While at the same time they increasing our grotesque trade imbalance and support predatory trade practices which some believe is Japan’s divine right.
Still in the end I can’t see how trading one addiction – imported oil, for another addiction – imported cars yields any benefit.
It’s like saying ” I am no longer addicted to cocain, now I am addicted to just heroine. This only underscores another point, just because we import it, does not mean it’s good.
So in short, I got that Probe and paid it off. And you know what, one day I will get that Solstice and the H3 and God willing if they produce the FJ Efigy I just might get that too, I will be the last person to stand in the way of a blessing, especially if it is my own.
But how many GM cars get more than 30mpg City?
And sure, GM may make more models of cars that get more than 30mpg highway, but in terms of sales numbers, how many vehicles does GM sell that get more than 30 mpg vs. the number of vehicles sold getting more than 30mpg by Honda or Toyota.
It’s not a perception problem guys. There’s not a single 4 seat car (not truck or suv) made by GM that’s a benchmark for its class.
If non-benchmark vehicles don’t get 30mpg city, then their manufacturer looks pretty silly for complaining when someone points out that those vehicles are second-best and thirsty.
IT’S NOT A PERCEPTION PROBLEM GM! BUILD BETTER CARS THAT GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE AND STOP SHOOTING THE MESSENGER!
Or, just give Americans what they really want, some V-8 powered, stick-shifted, 300+hp rear wheel drive cars that are designed and built on American soil, have plenty of room for 4 or 5 people, and cost less than $25k. (Think Dodge Magnum, Chrysler 300, or Dodge Charger, plus a stick-shift and minus the Germans).
You know you’ve got the capacity and the technology to do it. If you’re not going to build a benchmark car for Consumer Reports, at least build one the average American male car buyer can do donuts in while taking 3 or 4 of his coworkers out to lunch.
But whatever you do, quit whining.
Hey, Buick Diesel.
I read that Autoweek article too.
Maybe you should go to Edmunds.com, then new cars, Toyota, Prius, then ya gotta look at the Reviews(adn find 2004 Prius review)… they STILL have the car, for Long term and avg 42 MPG(said they did hit over 50MPG before).
Their problem is LEAD FOOT.
I suspect the same for AutoWeek.
I know a lady, who teaches college, and is 58. (I will onlly use her first name here): Ann had her Prius for over 2 years(26 months?) now.
She complained abotu Low MPG, at first( 42 hwy, 46 ciuty, combined 44).
AFTER 25,000 miles, she noticed an INCREASE in MPG( with speeds of no more than 70 on hwy, and not “lead footing it’ to go 0-60 as fast as possible, either).
She drive with SENSE.
She now gets 52 city, 48 hwy, and combined 50 MPG(as Edmunds once got, and their vehicle is over 40,000, in May of 06 report).
Ann’s is 45,000 + miles.
Sooooooo……..
I believe what I CAN (PERSONALLY) SEE HAPPENING.
I’ll take avg of 50 MPG(after 25,000 miles, which would take 8 months for us to hit),
vs 34-35MPG.
So, yes, diesel is good, but the next gen Prius is rumored ot get 94MPG( and , if it gets 10 mpg less, on avg, like current Prius… says 56 combined-60tops, gets 50 combined….if next gen prius says 94 and gets 84…. forget diesel!).
LOL.
Anyhow…. When’s GM ccoming out with their “twin hybrid systme” I keep hearing about?
I heard 07, then 2010, or 2012(and please, try a CAR for once!).
Not trying to be nasty, but you could have ALL casrs 30+ mpg, but if you do not make what everyone wants…it won’t sell.
Just too many different makers, brands, etc… out there.
It’s a different ballgame from the 70’s, and even early 80’s.
Now, you have Hyundai, Kia,
which combined sales of nearly 800,000 units per year. Spome of those sales are coming from somewhere!
Now there is also “Scion”, which should hit around 175,000-200,000 units sales this year. So, 3 brands/companies, and nearly 900,000 sales.
They come from somewhere.
If you throw in Mini-Cooper, you are now getting closer to 1 million more cars sold, and not GM.
Then of course, there’s the Chinese by about 09-2010… and maybe even India(n) cars by 2015.
What gives with these high dash boards with Cobalts, HHR’s, G5’s. Seems like you’re trying to make the driving experince akin to a TRUCK, which is NOT cool , when driving a car!
That’s my main (as us ol dpeople used to say) Turn-Off about GM.
Our 87 Spectrum had perfect seat/dash/steering wheel/column alignment… not this “reach up for the sky” feeling, to drive your cars!
Glad you sell the most 30MPG+ cars. Now, MAKE EM FEEL LIKE YOU’RE DRIVING A CAR, AND NOT A TRUCK WITH A CAR BODY!
I would like ot buy GM again, but unless I am confortable behind the wheel, no thanks.
Your cars could get 40 MPG… and if I ain
t comfortable, I don’t buy it! Would rathee Lose 3-4 MPG, and buy something I can drive without arm cramps, form reaching for the stars, to reach the steering wheel.
I dont come here to read much anymore. Its obvious that folks here are mostly dealers, employees or fan boys.
Let me start by saying GM has messed up big time by crushing the EV1 tech and all the tooling that went to make it.
If you didnt you would be able to deliver an alternative vehicle now.
GM instead bet the farm on Hydrogen knowing well that there is no way to put it into a car.
I have often wondered why?
Bio Fuel is nice but we cant make enough to replace oil and it polutes the air about the same as gas.
My question is where is all the tech that competes? Where are your 60mpg city cars?
Oh yeah thats right you dont have em. Sad you have chosen to tuck tail and run instead of build a real effcient car you can sell.
The Tesla is testiment to the fact you have your head in the sand, the French MDI Cat Air car, compressed Air assist,
in China the air electirc hybrid etc. There are a lot of options to make truely inovative cars you can deliver but instead you rely on dumping your money into marketing.
Do you really think the US consumer is that blind when someones neighbor tells them he gets 40mpg plus from his new Toyota. Heck he night even read that youc could add a battery pack to it and get 100mpg and he looks at his
Then he looks at his 17 to 20MPG GM car and wonder why is GM so far behind. Guess the Japanese are just better.
Do you think when he gets into his Buick or Chevy or Saturn he is getting the latest in car tech?
GM,Ford,Chrysler sat on the combustion engine making it bigger but not more efficient for years smoking fat cigars and talking SUV. Now that Toyota is kicking your butt you cry foul?
Now thats funny.
When Mr Lutz said it doesnt make sense to make a Hybrid and scoffed at the idea years back did anyone call him on the carpet for it when Toyota cant keep up with the demand.
Or did you light up another fat cigar and go those SUV sales are great arent they?
So you want sympothy for not looking out for your stock holders or this country?
There should be layoffs not in the plants cause those folks do what they are told. You should remove tbe top 10% of the management of a company with enough money to do and know better.
Wasnt it in January or so on this blog where we heard why SUV analysts were wrong? Whose wrong now?
EPA Plus 30MPG HIGHWAY WHO CARES..
To little too late..
Call the buying public when you have put on the show room something worth buying and stop trying to defend the undefendable. GM Messed up BIG time just like the 70’s except in a new way. Instead of making bad cars you kept making ineffecient cars even thought the middle east has been unstable and Gas was garunttee’d to go up.
Bob
Ok, you make the most cars that get 30+ mpg. Big deal.
They are still going to fall apart and depreciate 70% in 4 years, so what’s the point? The same priced Honday will be worth way more than the same priced GM vehicle. It has nothing to do with supporting vehicles from your own country, but rather supporting vehicles that have a history of quality and value. GM has neither of those.
I’d personally love to see GM build the appropriate number of cars that are needed, focus on quality, and then price them accurately. After a few years of doing this, people might turn back to GM. Until then, the Japanese are producing the better vehicles for the average american family and often by America workers.
That’s really weird! How could those newspapers reject to publish GM’s response!? In Germany this would be absolutely impossible. Newspapers over here HAVE TO print statements, if anybody was attacked publicly and wants to present the own point of view! That’s German law. Maybe this should be changed in The States.
Last week I reduced my dependency on oil. My 2001 Alero now is running on LPG (mixture of Propane and Butane). The engine is really doing great with it (very smooth!) and, by the way, I have cut the costs at the gas-station to 50%. Pollutants? Down nearly 80%. Greenhouse-Gases? Down 50%.
Stacey,
as I believe you are totally overestimating Japanese cars, like many other Americans do. German manufacturers’ results at several quality-surveys are constantly much weaker than those of General Motors, but despite of that Honda and Toyota don’t play a big part over here. Toyota’s market-share in Germany is just about 4 percent!
By the way, my Alero now is 5 1/2 years old, has 65.000 miles and is really far from falling apart in contrast to the VW New Beetle of my wife’s co-worker. This car, about the same age, resolves like sugar in a cup of coffee.
Mr. Langlitz,
Thank you!
Another voice for LPG.
People want a choice in fuels.
I want to pay less, pollute less, and have my cars engine last longer.
Talk about resale value.
A use car that ran on cheaper, cleaner fuel, and an engine with less Wear and Tear.
A car that meats California’s high air quality standards.
HOV lane sticker on my new Full Sized SUV.
Get America used to filling up a Fuel tank that is under pressure so when Hydrogen comes into play GM customers will be ready.
Look at Honda with the CNG Civic getting customers ready for Hydrogen.
LPG is an answer availability is key and LPG is available.
I have been a long-ago worshipper of General Motors. 1967 Olds Cutlass Convertibles in college will do that to you (in the 1980’s)
When I was working, and commuting, I bought, used, in 1996, a 1994 Geo Metro 5 door wagon. 5 speed, 3 cylinder.
That car changed my opinion forever of japanese-built cars, despite its reputation of being a “cheap piece of junk”. 250,000 miles later, my brother in law still drives it.
And, it still gets over 45 mpg.
PLEASE BRING SOMETHING LIKE THIS BACK, GENERAL MOTORS!… and make it last, and make it inexpensive, and make it fuel efficient. I’ll buy one tomorrow.
Right now, I look longingly at Scion xA’s, Yaris, Honda Fits… and they seem to be heads and shoulders above the Aveo in terms of fuel economy and long-term reliability.
Give us the low-end cars that get 50 mpg, without complex and expensive hybrid technology. Turbodiesels are fine too.
Trucks? Bring back the Chevy Luv Diesel with 40 mpg. People will buy them.
Thank you.
Stacey, one of the factors about a faster depreciation (besides quality) is fleets, some models goes to fleets rental like Avis, Hertz, Discount, National, Tilden (a popular car agency rental in Canada). Imagine Honda decided to attack the fleet market, how their values will hold? Then some begin to think Hondas begin to be overpriced and goes elsewhere like Hyundai for example to find a better bang for the bucks. A neighboor near me did this a couple of years ago.
Hi Bob,
After surfing in GM website almost every day, I came in a conlusion that GM has today every technology it needs to make a hybrid-gasoline, hybrid-diesel, fuel-cell hybrid or electric car.
Unlike any other carmaker, GM has today:
- two mode hybrid technology
- Saturn Vue Green line hybrid technology
- Plug in hybrid technology
- Active Fuel Management technology
- Fuel Cell technology…
Why can’t someone inside GM find the way to use efficiency these technologies (e.g. combine 2 or 3 in one car) to produce an electric or hybrid car?
Jim
Mr. Harris, tell the top managment of GM to bring a passenger car to the market that can deliver 40mpg or above and I’m pretty sure GM will impress the media and the perception of gas guzzler producer will be gone. GM quality is not a big issue anymore – it’s the fuel efficiency & performance of the passenger cars that you are producing! Why GM is contented only of producing cars that can deliver above 30mpg, and very proud of bringing the Aveo to the market despite of below par gas mileage. Give the public an Aveo that is not only value in price but an Aveo that will lead in its class in terms of fuel efficiency and performance! If GM can put more money on the R&D of Cadillac, Corvette, GMT900, Hybrid Transmission & Fuel Cell, why can’t you put money on the Aveo??? Does it mean you only care for the niche car buyers and ignoring the needs of the majority?
I rest my case.
Yep. The “liberal media” killed GM.
And Ford. And Studebaker. And Kaiser. And Packard. And AMC. And Plymouth.
I’m sure I’ll get in trouble for this, but I know a dirty little secret about the “liberal media.” You see, their diabolical scheme is to kill off every automaker in the world. They’ve obviously started with the weaker American automakers.
I can only assume that, ultimately, the “liberal media” plan to establish their own auto company and create a 60 mpg wagon/SUV sports roadster that can seat 12 and run on raw sewage and leftover industrial solvents.
The “liberal media” will probably sell this must-have European-styled, high-tech transportation device for less than $10,000 with leather seats and sat-nav, thereby undercutting the remaining German, Japanese, Chinese and Norwegian carmakers, causing them to collapse as well.
That’s why the “liberal media” hate (and I mean absolutely HATE) anything, especially cars, made in the U.S.
In fact, next time you’re looking through a magazine or newspaper or watching TV, notice there are absolutely NO high-priced ads from American carmakers at all. None. The “liberal media” could make literally TONS of money from selling such ads to a thriving U.S. auto industry, but instead the “liberal media” stick to their secret anti-U.S.-products edict and suck it up.
Do those people who incessantly cry “liberal media” honestly believe what they’re saying? There’s no conspiracy against any legal, legitimate business. The media whether liberal or Fox News is in business to make money. That’s it. They don’t generate revenue by publishing unfounded, biased reviews and reports about any company.
So stop whining about the “liberal media” and just build me a d*** car I won’t be ashamed to drive.
BTW, if GM doesn’t screw up the Enclave, that just might be the car I’m asking for.
If you really want to demonstrate technological and environmental leadership and leap over the accomplishments of Toyota you would do a plug-in hybrid vehicle demonstration program. There are lots of people willing to co-fund this. The President has talked about it several times. You have the best electric-drive technology gathering dust on some shelf somewhere, why not use it? It’s less expensive and less risky than fuel cells, has greater benefits in some areas, and is a near term technology that people can relate to. Seems like a no-brainer.
Steve,
I think you are right to take poorly conceived columns to task for pushing the “evil corporation did it again” button. Like cleaning up broken windows in NYC reduced crime there, your embarrassment of journalists who take the easy route should reduce the anti-GM rhetoric.
However, I do hope you all have a plan to move past the most models available with >30MPG highway tag line. It is quite right to question (as at least one other has here)whether you have the most unit sales of vehicles with >30MPG highway.
I disagree with the “Greens” who post requests for GM to limit customers to Prius-like mpg vehicles. But I am happy that gas efficiency has taken on greater urgency than in the past.
As a shareholder, I am concerned that the 07 Camry (with V6) clearly beats both the 07 G6 and 07 Impala in HP, torque, and mpg. The impala does have a bigger trunk, but I’d hope you could do better than that. I understand the 3.9l V6 is due to have AFMS for some models in 07. I should think you could include the feature in both the G6 and Impala. The 10% improvement in efficiency should mostly close the 15% mpg gap.
The 4 cyl Camry is also slightly better than the Impala and G6 versions. Although with a 5-6 speed transmission, the G6/Malibu would probably beat the Camry on mpg. Even so the camry 4 cyl has about 10% better torque and HP.
Another point you might consider on the message front is how well you get data out to the various electonic car comparison sites. I find it annoying when a site posts “no data” for the mpg of a model I am considering to buy. The new V6 for the G6/Aura falls into this category (at least on MSN). GM should make it a priority to get data on the latest models out to the various sites (Yahoo, edmunds, MSN, KBB, car’s direct, etc.) ASAP once the data is taken. Even the fuel economy calculator on the GM site only has 06 data for the G6 and no ability to select the Aura.
The G6 GTP and top end Aura do have the DOHC 3.6l V6 from Caddy that has slightly better torque but worse HP than the 07 Camry V6. It may have competitive mpg, but I can’t get the data!?
As a potential customer, I am frustrated because I want decent performance with a stick & good mpg. I used to laugh at the underpinnings of Toyotas I saw on the road. Am I going to have to eat my predjudice and get one? Not yet, they don’t offer a stick for the V6. Maybe they will in 08.
-Keith
Jonathan P: Turning this blog into your own political statement isn’t the answer. Trotting out the tired, discredited “liberal media” tripe is especially indefensible. I won’t deny that the Globe’s columnist was painfully uniformed when he wrote about GM, but that’s not evidence of a “liberal bias,” only of ignorance. There are as many GM fans among liberals as there are among conservatives, and quite possibly more, since union members make the domestic auto industry go.
So if you want to talk about GM and the domestic auto industry versus the imports, you should. But please keep the right-wing Fox News/Limbaugh spin out of it. All Americans of every stripe want to see this country succeed.
Mr. Langlitz,
Having spent much time in Germany myself, I think you and your countrymen have a great idea, and we should put it into law.
The ability to respond in print to an attack as misinformed as the one above should be protected.
How’s this for fair: Nobody is doing enough to stop our addiction to fossil fuels or anthropogenic climate change. Not GM. Not Ford. Not Honda. Not Toyota. Not Stephen Harris. Not Derrick Jackson. Not me. Nobody.
However, this isn’t to say that automakers are blameless. Body-on-frame vehicles offer higher profit margins than unibody vehicles. (Most passenger cars are unibody; most SUVs, trucks and large cars are body-on-frame.) So it’s in the automaker’s interest to promote body-on-frame vehicles, since they offer higher profit margins. It’s their job: They don’t exist to make cars, they exist to make a profit by making cars. All of them. And I’m okay with that.
The problem is that a lot of people who have no business owning an SUV or truck are buying them. They claim they use the vehicles versatility or power or carrying capacity, and then proceed to use these attributes less than 20% of the time. You don’t need a V-8 and seven-passenger seating and two tons of metal to cover the mile to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk or the ten to fifteen miles of their commute all alone.
But this raises a problem. You can’t expect people to have four or five vehicles to always have the best vehicle for the job for obvious reasons. So how should people choose what vehicles they’re going to buy? Well, it’s simple: Don’t watch car commercials. GM, for all its good attributes, does not have your best interests at heart. It has GM’s best interests at heart. And I’m okay with that.
To choose your next car, figure out your driving habits. Are you carrying large numbers of people on a regular basis? Are you towing or hauling things more often than a few weekends a year? Is renting a vehicle with more capability a possibility? Then, do research on the vehicles that best suit your needs using the Internet and magazines (both consumer and automotive) and choose the one that gets the best fuel economy that fits 80% of your driving needs, because otherwise you’ll be spending money on unnecessary capability.
Case in point: I wanted a new vehicle. My wife and I already had a 2003 Vibe GT that we used almost exclusively. Most of my trips were in the city, less than a mile, with very small loads and I didn’t mind getting wet or cold, but I did mind getting parking tickets. So I bought a scooter that’s been getting 90 mpg. It’s not right for everybody, but it’s perfect for me.
But what can GM do to stop the perception that all it makes is gas guzzling vehicles? To paraphrase president Kennedy, “throw your hat over the wall.” Pledge to have every one of your consumer vehicles get over 30mpg combined in three years. Pledge to have the most cars that get over 40, over 50, and over 60 mpg by the end of the decade. Be the first to bring a hydrogen vehicle to market, and do it by 2016. Bring back the electric commuter car. And have them have the best quality, warranty, and service of any car maker anywhere.
And the best thing is, I know you can do this! You’ve already got European models that get over 60 miles-per-gallon. You’ve got engines that can give you phenomenal mileage with proven technology, and you’ve got engineers that can create cars that people not only want to buy, but want to show off. The problem, as I see it, is the lack of vision. NASA had this problem before Kennedy told them to go to the moon by the end of the sixties and gave them the funding to do it. And they did.
Bragging about 30 MPG cars is in itself a sign of how out of touch GM is. Toyota, Honda, and VW sell perfectly good five passenger sedans that get 50 MPG–today!
Just about the time GM starts bragging about 40 MPG cars, the competition will have raised the bar even higher. Until GM seriously decides to rebrand itself as the economy technology LEADER, instead of an also-ran, the problems will continue.
The fuel cell project is a perfect example of GM letting hype overtake reality. The whole hydrogen concept has too many flaws to list, and is nothing but another attempt at distracting people from GM’s lack of straightforward economy cars.
Until GM comes up with something better, I’ll continue to drive my Honda Insight, which has delivered 71 MPG so far in 10,000 miles of regular highway driving.
Dear Mr. Crawford,
thanks for your agreement. As I believe, to a certain degree this LPG-issue even contributes to the growth of the Chevrolet-brand over here, because you can order any new Chevy-model with an optional LPG-system. In general that’s cheaper than installing it on your own afterwards at a corresponding certified workshop. My wife got her brand-new Aveo in May and she really loves it. Her co-workers are sometimes a little envious, when she’s telling how much she paid to fill up the car with LPG
)
Nobody could tell me, driving a Prius would be cheaper!
Another example regarding the environmental factor: Fork-lifters, running on LPG, are even permitted for INDOOR-USE over here…!
For sure E85 is a good alternative during the transition to FCVs. But I think GM, energy-providers and politicians really should consider LPG as a further option. German government recently extended tax-incentives for LPG and CNG to 2018. I don’t believe they did it without any reason!
Mr. Harris,
This is a teriffic response to Mr. Jackson’s misguided article. Has anyone at GM considered using it’s advertising budget to place these responses in stategic places in offending newspapers? If they will not let you pring it for free, I wonder about the feasability of running this response in a commercial space on the page before the opinion page, or something along those lines? This is a huge perception war we are fighting, and it may be worth a shot to try something like this. I would say just run it with the title “Response to Derrick Z. Jackson’s Op/ED Piece on 9/2/06. Then print it as stated above. Thoughts?
Maybe youd be more believable if the FCV hoax diminished. Yes GM does do “as much as anybody”, the trouble is those models and engines are not made or sold on the NA island. And there seems to be some kind of conspiracy to keep it that way. Instead we get more pistons, less turbochargers. Wake up GM.
Insigtguy,
You and other GM bashers are really out of touch with reality. I am so sick of hearing people complain about GM advertising 30mpg hwy mileage when EVERYONE is doing that. I just saw a Toyota commercial bragging that they had 9 models that got over 30mpg hwy. Apparently, you have never seen this but I assure you the commercial is real. This proves this type of message isnt unique to GM by any means. Anyone with any intelligence knows that automakers advertise hwy numbers because they are higher. Again, GM does not have a monopoly on this. Check the car ads in your local paper and tell me how many city MPG numbers you see mentioned.
As for 40mpg cars, there are only two cars that get that mileage (on the highway of course) without the benefit of hybrid technology. The Civic and Corolla are exceptions, not the rule. The Focus, Elantra, 3, Mini, Sentra, Caliber, etc. do not get 40mpg on the highway so it is absurd to act like GM is the only player in the game not making 40mpg vehicles. On top of that these are only TWO vehicles that meet this criteria out of the hundreds on the market so I would say a whole lot of companies need to get on the ball.
It is disingenious to suggest that GM is playing catch up to everyone when in fact they are only playing catch up to Toyota. In fact, every other manufacturer is playing catch up to Toyota when it comes to hybrids and fuel efficiency. GM has more hybrids on the market than Nissan or Hyundai or DC. BY next year GM will have more hybrids than Ford and Honda as well. This is all happening within the next 14-15 months, not five years from now. What are all the GM-bashers going to say at that point? If Honda is so committed to saving fuel why do they only have two hybrid models on the market? If Toyota is committed to efficiency why does the Sequoia have worst in class fuel economy? While GM is going to apply hybrid technology to its biggest guzzlers, Toyota has made no such commitment and continues to sell SUVs that get 17mpg on the highway in spite of having small V8 engines.
People on this blog are making ridiculous requests in order to convince GM to win over their business. How in the world would GM be able to promise 30mpg combined mileage within the next few years considering the wide range of SUVs, pickups and powerful sedans they make? Why would GM be held to this standard but not MB, Nissan or Toyota? No manufacturer who makes a lot of SUVs/trucks will be able to deliver those kinds of results in the near future, not even Toyota. It’s hard to take some of these comments seriously when they are so out of touch with the realities of the auto business. Toyota (like GM) does not exist to save the environment, it exists to make money. If that wasn’t the case they wouldnt be preparing to crank 150k gas guzzling Tundras out of a new plant in Texas.
Bravo. I despise ignorant propaganda spewed by this generation of incompetent reporters as much as the next person.
As an ex-Cambridge resident, I should advise readers that The Boston Globe is rather a joke of a tabloid among the academic community around Boston, and suggest that you don’t take their writers too seriously. Now on the otherhand, if the NYTimes or WSJ printed a similar article, I’d be outraged…
Although I understand GMs point and I disagree with Mr Jackson’s article and misinformed opinions, I think the most important factor both the auto manufactures and Mr. Jackson are specifically neglecting is quoted from the repose courtesy of GM “Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and Land Rover also offer full-size or large luxury SUVs. They do so because there’s significant demand and these are some of the most profitable vehicles in the U.S. market.”
This my friends means GM is just a pawn in a capitalistic game of money – All GM is responsible for is the old ‘Field of Dreams’ mantra : “Build it and they will come”. GM is building these honking huge SUVs that guzzle gas but only because people are wasteful enough to buy them. I understand space requirements and I know you cant get a family of six into a Prius — But I can’t think if a single reasonable outing that the majority of Hummer owners can justify to constantly transport a family of four in a Hummer. Are you going into war zones? Extreme off road? Extreme weather conditions? And no — rain on a highway that hasn’t been paved in the last two years doesn’t count. Common – GM it’s not a problem with your product line, it’s a problem with the American Consumer who thinks waisting not only valuable money but valuable resources for no justifiable reason is “trendy”
So let me get this straight: Your argument lies not in the idea that you are on the evil side of things, but rather that everyone else is.
What ever happened to making a stand for good?
I’ve read some seriously twisted stuff about your superfund sites, too.
I submit that your company would turn greater profits than ever before if you made a stand and made a point of your PR campaign that you’re the only company that’s willing to do so.
For instance, check out the new 7-Up ads–they come out with an “all natural” version and the next thing you know, they’ve got a boom.
I think people would buy a “good” car over a “bad” car, especially if that car were affordable.
I’m just a college student, but someday I’ll have money, and I’ll do what I can as a consumer to put my money where it won’t destroy the world.
Thanks for listening.
People on this blog are making ridiculous requests in order to convince GM to win over their business. How in the world would GM be able to promise 30mpg combined mileage within the next few years considering the wide range of SUVs, pickups and powerful sedans they make? Why would GM be held to this standard but not MB, Nissan or Toyota? – sheth
To your first question: I don’t know how they could do it. Then again, I’m just a programmer. But I’m sure there are folks inside of GM right now who could figure it out. A lot of people thought the moon shot was impossible.
To your second question: I’m holding GM to this because it’s their blog. I can’t make demands of Toyota unless they had a blog. And judging by the title of the fuel cell post today, GM execs actually read this stuff.
And I’m allowed to make demands of GM if they want my business. That’s what’s called “being a consumer.”
“Typical ol’ anti-American slander.”
Hey guess what, most foriegn cars are made in America, and most American cars are made overseas. American companies outsource like greedy pigs and Toyota and Honda open up plants in America seeing an opportunity to give work to those people who put 29.9 years into GM to hear, “Hey, have this nice work, and enjoy your IRA, oh, did we say we were going to give you benefits? Sorry.”
Seriously, corporate America sucks.
sheth,
Toyota Corolla is EPA rated 32/41mpg(manual) with engine output of 126hp, while Aveo is only 27/37mpg (manual) with 103hp output. Plus the 3.5L of Camry & Rav4 is fuel efficient compared to 3.5L of Aura & 3.4L of Equinox. I think insightguy is just showing his insights.
Keith~
Try looking at an Impala SS at the Chevrolet.com site. It offers a 303HP V8 with 323ftlb torque and 18/27MPG. The V8 is not offered by Toyota in the Camry, interesting since this model was developed specifically to meet the requirements for racing in NASCAR, which of course has cars running with V8s. Wonder what engine they will use in their NASCAR entry next year? I say watch for the V8 offering to appear in the late model 2007 Camry or early 2008 model. Will be interesting to see what kind of MPG numbers it produces!?! By the way, the Impala SS V8 offers nearly identical accessories as the Camry XLE with V6, and costs over $1500 LESS when equiped similarly. Just thought you might want to know.
A lot of great news coming from GM lately. Has anyone considered putting a deisel in a Spark and sell it in Canada to compete with the Smart Car. It would probably be a lot cheaper and the additional two seats would be attractive for people with families. Keep the good news coming in and maybe I’ll get something in return for the ton of stocks I have accumulated.
John,
Thanks for your response. I know about the Impala V8 and am impressed with its performance/efficiency. Part of its good mpg comes from the AFMS which GM is already integrating on the 3.9 l V6. I would like to see all 3.9l V6s come with the AFMS.
As for my next car, I would have the Impala SS high on my list if it came with a 6-speed manual (which would probably put it into the >30 mpg club). However, I am largely satisfied with >200 ft-lb torque I can get from a V6 or turbo I-4/5. Both of my previous cars have been I-4 Turbos that have had eninge issues near 100k miles(’86 Chry Laser & ‘96 Saab 900). I would like to try an OHV V6/V8 instead.
I hate those small high-revving Asian engines. People don’t seem to understand that most real-world driving performance comes from torque not HP.
-Keith
Mr. Harris,
Talk is cheap. Let us know when you pull all advertising from the Boston Globe and their affiliates until they permit you to run your rebuttal. Alternatively, sue for libel.
I have said it many times and I will say it again until you and yours get it. Telling us is beside the point. You need to get your response OUT THERE to the readers of the original article. One or two tries to get the paper to accommodate and print your article is meaningless. Until you make an example of one of these clowns then what happened with the LA Times, is routine for the loons at the NY Times and now the Boston Globe will not only be par for the course but will be done with absolute impunity by EVERYONE.
Demand that your rebuttal be printed. If they refuse, SUE FOR LIBEL. At the same time SUSPEND advertising with them and their affiliates for a full year regardless of what they do to make amends if you gave them a chance to print your rebuttal and they declined. Thereafter, refuse to take their calls for that year. If they send you a written request to talk, return the envelope to them unopened.
To make sure that they get the point, GET FORD AND DCX to join you for the 1-year ban. Then I assure you NOBODY will want to take on any of you in print again.
As you can see from recent headlines the major print media is in a fight for their lives and can ill afford to lose significant ad revenues, least of all from their biggest advertisers.
You’re not asking for preferential treatment just that they stop slandering you on your dime. If they will not cease and desist, MAKE THEM or stop complaining to us.
You’re their advertising client, what do you expect us to do?
This is a response to whoever is named NACHO.
You have no idea what kind of support General Motors has given to generations of people. These people have been the highest paid industrial workers in the history of the world – many of which have enjoyed a higher standard of living than the majority of the nation. And you have the notion to say that GM just pushes people aside after 29.9 years of service. You absolutely don’t know what you are talking about. GM has provided for more families in this nation than any other industrial company in history. UAW and salaried workers for GM have enjoyed the best pension benefits in the world. Get your facts straight and be glad we’ve got companies like GM. They have helped make this country what it is today and don’t forget they are still the #1 market share company in the auto industry and they will be back stronger in the coming years.
Good show to GM looking into hydrogen as a fuel sorce. However, I have a fear. I want to keep the internal combustion engine as the standard powerplant. Electric cars, I feel, loose a lot of driving character. I would like to see more about keeping the powerplant and changing just the fuel/emissions.
Steven,
We hope that you will see the the attacks on GM are part of a wider attack on America itself. Many Americans are depending on leadership from GM.
There has been a resurgence of patroitism. Let’s hope GM will be more direct and forthright exercising it too.
Remember the GM slogan, “It’s not just your car, it’s your freedom.” It’s true.
It’s more than just the reporters with a bias, its the editors and the publishers of some of the major media with an agenda to undermine America. Today’s press has been bought up by powerful interests which are not the interests of everday Americans.
New media is needed.
GM should be recognized as the automaker that offers more solutions to the oil problem than any other and the auto company that made the American consumer aware of E-85 with the “Live Green Go Yellow” campaign. GM has provided the vehicles to create the demand for the infrastructure to fuel them and is actively involved in opening new E-85 stations across the country.
GM currently offers, has offered or will be offering:
AFM
E-85
E-100
LPG
CNG
Rechargeable Battery – Electric
Direct Injection Gas Engines
Small Turbo Diesel
Large Turbo Diesel
Mass Transit Turbo Diesel Hybrids
BAS Hybrids
Twin Mode Hybrids
Gasoline/Electric Hybrids
E-85 or E100 Capable/Electric Hybrids
Plug in Hybrids
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
GM family cars offer the room required for a family of 4 or more and deliver equal and in most cases superior real world MPG at a price that is thousands of dollars less than most competitors. Many of these cars are also E-85 capable which is something Toyota DOES NOT OFFER.
GM should be the company given credit for a “relevant” lineup to address the current oil problems. It’s E-85 and E-100 programs are renewable energy sources and represent a permanent solution which is something that 10 million gasoline hybrids cannot do.
GM is the only manufacturer offering E-85, E-100, LPG, CNG, AFM, Direct Injection Gas Engines, Turbo Diesel and Hybrids in both basic low cost models and more capable two mode systems. It is also offers E85 and E100 Bio Power hybrid models.
This diverse lineup of vehicles has a greater impact on improving our environment and reducing our use of oil than any other company. It is one that matches what real people living real lives in the real world need and will buy and use.
As for the posts about “alternative fuels not being viable” or “E-85 will never work”; please check out the Butanol site that Andre’ recommended.
I would point out to these “gloom and doom” experts:
1. The oil supply market is unstable and must be augmented or replaced.
2. Doing nothing about the oil/alternative energy supply is not an option.
3. A viable solution to any market problem cannot address only one side of the supply/demand curve.
4. The industry will improve the efficiency of ethanol production to make it competitive.
5. Vehicles using E-85 can be made more efficient further reducing the cost differential between the fuels.
6. Our world class agricultural industry will improve yields of all types of biomass needed for ethanol.
7. Alternative sources from Solar to Wind power can be employed to provide energy for the distillation process.
8. Demand from millions of E-85 vehicles will allow energy companies invest in the required infrastructure.
9. Current “Mid-Grade” pumps can be converted for use of E-85, providing an immediate supply.
10. E-85 technology can be used on any vehicle currently running on regular gasoline with minimal cost for modification.
E-85, Butanol and Micro Algae to Liquid fuel are renewable energy sources representing permanent solutions, reducing oil consumption using hybrids is not only not answer to the problem it is not even a “good guess”.
The problem with just using less of a finite resource is the fact that no matter how much of a limited resource is available it will run out eventually. The only real answer is developing a resource that can be replenished over and over, and as long as there are weeds you can make ethanol or Butanol out of them.
onnl annz
I am fully aware of the Corolla’s mileage and I commended the car for it’s efficiency. My point (which you missed) is that the Corolla/Civic beat everyone in the class in mileage, not jut GM’s offerings. The entire auto industry needs to catch up to those two in the compact segment. Toyota has some of the most efficient cars and small SUVs on the market, but their trucks have pathetic mileage. You and other pro-Japanese posters never address this fact. I would also like to know why Toyota is developing performance hybrids like the GS450h instead of applying synergy drive to their large trucks and SUVs which consume gas as if they have leaky fuel lines. A performance hybrid is a waste of time and a technology, especially in a luxury car when gas prices are likely to be no object for the owner.
In regards to the camry, the mileage on the V6 is impressive but the 4 cylinder version is only 1mpg better than the G6 four cylinder and the G6 has more power. Even with the V6, the difference is about 2mpg which is nice, but not earth shattering. The Malibu (which is less powerful and cheaper) gets 22/32 with a V6. The larger Impala gets 20/29 with AFM and 233hp. The Camry V6 is the best combination of speed and mileage, but the difference isn’t going to make a huge dent in your wallet.
Why is it the FJ Cruiser never seems to come up when people are discussing Toyota’s status as a green company? How can a compact V6 SUV get 16/19? That is worse than the new Tahoe. The mileage of the Pilot, Ridgeline and Element is also questionable, as if the new Acura MDX which gets a middling 22mpg on the highway with a V6.
E-85, Butanol and Micro Algae to Liquid fuel are renewable energy sources representing permanent solutions, reducing oil consumption using hybrids is not only not answer to the problem it is not even a “good guess”. – Rick Lupori
I’m sure that Toyota and Honda are preparing for E-85 or biodiesel. And when they do release an E-85 hybrid, I’m sure it will get phenomenal mileage.
I’d much rather buy an hybrid that gets 60mpg on ethanol than a conventional ICE that gets 25mpg on ethanol.
This is for the misguided poster NACHO
Really research your facts before you start making such ignorant statements. Wow some of these import fans are really delusional…
Many import car lovers state that they are buying domestic because their beloved perfect Toyota or Honda was build in NA. Well here is the truth… 1.7 million jobs (this includes indirect employment from suppliers) are employed due to import sales. By comparison, 7.1 million jobs result from domestic auto manufacturers. (GM, Ford, Chrysler). Yet Toyota is number 2 in auto sales…. mmmm…. so much for the commitment to NA. Also GM has recently invested 4 billion in Canada for automotive research….. The largest investment in Canadian automotive history. For those close-minded import car lovers, I really hope they love their import enough to eat it… they may have to, because if the big 3 go down, they will pay taxes and health care costs. Toyota and Honda are actually very smart. They figured if they opened a few token plants, hired white American actors for their commercials, and led a marketing scam about so-called better product, dumb Americans and Canadians would hand over their auto industry (24% of the economy in Canada) to Japan, China, and Korea (Korea is the worst of the three, it invest nothing in NA, and refuses to trade freely. I can understand if you love you Toyota or Honda, but don’t claim that you are not damaging the economy.
So NACHO, research your facts before making such ignorant statements! Posts like yours shows how much of the import surge is purely hype based on false perceptions!
Paul: GM currently offers E-85 or E100/Hybrid in the BioPower 9-5 Sedan and Wagon in Europe and Turbo Diesel Hybrid buses which are on many U.S. City streets
The 440 GM hybrid buses have saved over 600,000 gallons of fuel and if the sales goal of over 3,000 buses are put in service it will result in the same savings of 100,000 Prius hybrids.
GM has a running Concept Astra 1.7L Turbo Diesel / Hybrid that can deliver 60 MPG and run on Bio Diesel.
Looks like GM is the only automaker in the world that is actually making or is in a position to offer what you want.
In the 9 short months since GM kicked off the “Live Green Go Yellow” E-85 campaign there has been a huge response from all over the U.S. and the world. There is at least one article a day on the internet detailing a new source of biomass or a breakthrough in ethanol production efficiency.
Brazil (the world’s fifth largest country in land mass and population) proved it could be done and GM is a major supplier of Ethanol powered vehicles in Brazil.
Remember that GM accomplished this awareness and boosted interest in research into Ethanol production.
GM is the automaker joining forces with state governments and oil companies to develop the needed E-85 infrastructure.
GM has over 2 million E-85 capable vehicles on the road TODAY, not in the well maybe or when it happens tomorrow.
Granted GM is not the only producer of E-85 vehicles and Ford and Chrysler deserve a lot of credit in offering E-85 vehicles and promoting them, but GM has lead the way.
The more angry tirades I hear from GM, the more I’m convinced that you guys are swimming naked. Some day the tide will go out completely and it will be embarrassing.
All these talk about fuel cells, E85, many cars in the line up that are fuel efficient. Maybe true, maybe not. But you guys really do have a long way to go before you can say that criticisms of your behavior are completely wrong.
Whoever wrote the blog entry seems resentful that Toyota gets a pass on criticism. Well, they’ve been doing good work, selling quality cars and environmentally friendly products for a while. You guys made sub-standard products sold at heavily marked down prices. Am I making this up? You used to run advertisements about how your product wasn’t the best quality but now it’s better, etc. I’m just taking your word for it. So you guys deserve the harping.
Don’t explain yourselves. Do better. It’s a little embarrassing don’t you think to get all riled up about a journalist that nobody’s ever heard of?
Attn Steve.
below is the letter to the Globe editor I sent
I read Derrick Jacksons’ column about GM and then found out GM wrote a response that the Globe would not print. but The Globe did print a condensed letter that was “edited”
I expected that in other countries but not in the USA. Is not that the same thing that brought down Russia and Iraq ?
What happened to “freedom of the press” ??
You are doing the exact same thing you complain about all the the time — attack something and than not let them respond.
It is attitudes like the above that are making mainstream media and newspapers irrelevant in today’s world. People want to hear both sides.
John Nagy
“Last year’s top-selling subcompact was the fuel-stingy Chevy Aveo.”
Wonderful. And made in Korea, not Detroit. I’ll bet the UAW loves it…
Sorry, this is just slow suicide for GM. On the other hand, a 2wd Chevy S10 Blazer could probably achieve 30, possibly 40 mpg (highway) with a 4 cylinder engine and a 5-speed (4-speed with 5th overdrive) or 6-speed manual (5-speed with 6th overdrive) transmission, and it would be “real” GM. I don’t think this “fuelmiser” option package is even offered.
“GM recently announced a new V-8 turbo-diesel engine that will improve
engine fuel efficiency by 25 percent for our future light duty trucks
sold in North America.”
Great! Now, how about “spinning off” a V6 turbodiesel and/or a 4 cyl turbodiesel for light trucks and cars? Make them biodiesel-compatible FlexFuel vehicles too.
“GM is investing heavily in the one technology that promises to end our
dependence on oil forever: fuel cells.”
Fantastic! Of course, hydrogen is an energy CARRIER, not an energy SOURCE, so it has nothing whatsoever to do with “oil-independance,” since hydrogen is most likely going to be generated and dispensed by oil companies…
“Ultimately, consumers decide what they will buy based on their own
calculation of their needs, desires and budgets.”
Perceptive! So why not ELIMINATE advertising altogether for SUVs that get less than 30 mpg highway, and focus marketing and advertising efforts on more fuel-efficient vehicles?
When it gets right down to it, there is nothing sexy about an oversized gas-guzzling truck- on the other hand, if I can pick up my date in a fuel-stingy, fun-to-drive 2-seat car, I’ll have more money left to spend on dinner-and-a-movie…
Some of you may remember me and my note to Bob Lutz some months ago regarding my desire to buy an American vehicle. Since that time my wife and family have been on an exhaustive search and we finally found a vehicle that is an ideal fit for our family in the Buick Rendezvous.
A great deal on a 2006 was moving along well when we ran into a snag at “my favorite” Buick dealer this afternoon. We were encouraged that we would receive a fair deal on our trade and that today was end of month and quarter and we would get the best deal possible. To quote the sales person “we will make a deal happen Saturday” due to the current rebates and their need to turn in month/quarter end numbers.
The deal did not happen due to a change in the quotation above. So we walked out. This is the same place that a few months ago closed up early and left Jack and I in the dust.
My wife has not been as angry as she was today since I called her mother fat.
Earlier today, my wife Karen went to New Orleans with our girls for their Irish Dance lessons. I asked her to stop by Crown Buick in Metairie and check out the Rendezvous’s there. The sales rep, Bradley Coco treated her with respect.
TREATED HER WITH RESPECT.
I called Brad and will be down there Monday.
To Bob Lutz and all GM Employees:
You make good vehicles
Your vehicles almost sell themselves
Unfortunately, you cannot control the behaviors of the Dealerships. Especially those with attitudes that can make my wife, one of the most patient and easy going people in the world, really angry
Truly great companies do not disparage or compare themselves to any other company – especially by name. To do so as in this rebuttal implies you are second best. Truly great companies are proud of the direction that they have taken and the decisions they have made and let the sales speak for those decisions. Be glad this wasn’t published- reading it made me realize just how broken you are as a company.
I don’t ever recall a Toyota, McDonald’s, or Coca-Cola commercial where they’ve talked about anything but their own products. Different as they may be, they have the same attitude in the marketplace – they act like leaders. Learn from the best and maybe, just maybe, the fate of this company will start to turn.
To be an oil dependent is a major problem. After reading this article people will definitely get the solution.