Electric Vehicles Take Center Stage at Auto Show, But Other Technologies Not Forgotten
By Alan Adler
Biofuels Communications Manager
As the 2009 North American International Auto Show comes to a close this weekend, there’s no doubt it has been decidedly about electric propulsion this year, especially for GM with the production Chevy Volt, the concept Cadillac Converj and battery pack manufacturing in Michigan.
Which leads to a fair question of contrast with the 2008 auto show: Where is ethanol? Last year’s press days largely revolved around the promise of cellulosic ethanol with GM’s investment in Coskata.
But when you think about it, the technology news at the auto show rarely has the same emphasis in back-to-back years any more than the Super Bowl features the same teams from one year to the next. GM has multiple approaches to advanced propulsion, including improved internal combustion engines, flex-fuel, hybrids, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. All have significant dedicated engineering resources, and the best stories – like the best football teams playing on Super Bowl Sunday – are told at the auto shows.
In 2006, ethanol made it big with the “Live Green, Go Yellow” commercials that kicked off during Super Bowl XL, followed by heavy promotion of corn-based ethanol for flex-fuel vehicles the next week at the Chicago Auto Show.
In 2007, electrification was the buzz word as GM showcased the Volt concept for the first time with what we now call the Voltec electric propulsion system. The Volt concept highlighted both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell sources because both will be integral in the future. And the Volt production vehicle will also be available with a flex-fuel engine.
You’ve heard the GM mantra that “there is no silver bullet” for advanced propulsion. Technology is not forgotten because it doesn’t get a huge push during auto show season.
Removing the automobile from the energy debate will require multiple energy pathways because some propulsion technologies are simply better suited to certain types of vehicles and driving activities.
As for ethanol, most of the effort by producers today is focused on biomass – plants, grasses and wood waste that are not used for food. Two commercial plants are on target for 2011 startup and a handful of others are reaching the pilot stage. Corn is still the primary source for ethanol, which is blended at 10 percent into most gasoline and mixed with 15 percent gasoline to be sold as E85.
Despite the recent price inversion which has made wholesale gasoline cheaper than ethanol, the number of fueling stations offering E85 or installing pumps to handle it is growing – recently passing 1,900 according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. In Illinois alone, there are 205 stations offering E85 compared with 166 a year ago.
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You are restricted by your thinking. And, by the repression of market innovation at GM. There are plenty of silver bullets as it pertains to propulsion. How can the Aptera get 200-300 MPG based on the configuration? Because they didn’t have any turf to protect that GM does. Allow yourselves to embrace creative destruction and unleash the potential of the human mind and GM will once again rule the world. Today, you are trying to define locomotion in historical terms. And, therefore, you are limiting your mind about the future.
“Despite the recent price inversion which has made wholesale gasoline cheaper than ethanol, the number of fueling stations offering E85 or installing pumps to handle it is growing – recently passing 1,900 according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.”
E85? Are you still pushing that? Have you seen this news story from Albuquerque? Albuquerque finds E-85 powered vehicles are not all they are cracked up to be.
“It was given to him by by General Motors, which was promoting ethanol-fueled vehicles. Albuquerque police Chief Ray Schultz said, “We are looking at a couple different things with the E-85. One is the cost. The fuel efficiency, and some problems with fuel pumps.” So now the police cars, which can run on regular gasoline or the more costly E-85, are back at the unleaded pump in an effort to save money on fuel and repairs.”
Has GM sent a “Tiger Team” to Albuquerque to try and find out what is going on? Sounds to me like a public relations disaster in the making.
Barry,
I was hoping your comments would be longer, but I guess you had to get your healing crystals and begin your chanting.
While you’re “re-inventing” the automobile- you might consider that electric propulsion fits the performance envelope of the 2-wheel “maxiscooter,” with range under 100 miles and top speed limited to around 60-70 mph or less. This might be a sensible alternative for urban commuters.
Combine the Voltec technology with a chassis designed by a domestic motorcycle manufacturer that presently has excess production capacity?
Barry;
Your argument makes absolutely no sense. The Aptera is a niche vehicle, it probably doesn’t even need to pass certain Fed standards for safety etc. Do you really believe a company as large as GM can survive on building cars like the Aptera? C’mon. Evryone that always suggests that the impossible is possible never looks at real world costs & issues. Does the Aptera have a/c, heat, ABS, ASC, air bags, 4 seats, a trunk, cupholders, dvd, cd, nav system etc.
Compare apples to apples. GM’s approach is the right one. The company that can diversify for the future is the one that will lead.
If ANYBODY is listening please give us the Converj, it is hot! AND SOON.
bluebaby
GM really should work with other automakers as well as related industries in order to come up with a direction, and establish standards for refueling or recharging as the case may be. Then continue in that direction. Right now it’s like you and other automakers are doing donuts in the middle of an intersection because you collectively cannot decide which way to go, so you’re trying to go in multiple directions at once. The end result is you all go around in circles, wasting resources and time. It’s probably best to simply have a global industry “summit” meeting in order to discuss the best ways to eliminate the internal combustion engine from automobiles and, once the direction is chosen, go to it. Apply every ounce of talent there is at GM, and seize the leadership role in this new area.
Alan (and Bob) –
I was at the Detroit auto show on Friday. For it being my first, I couldnt compare it to others. But I happy to see the biggest crowd around the Volt. People are curious. Thats great. Also, I think the Cruze and LaCrosse looks to be winners each. And as for the Converj – build it man. And keep working on alternative power and fuel efficiency sources. Thats a win win.
One last thing. Audi had far and away the best display. The use of all white cars, with 2 red ones thrown in, was spectacular. BUT the spokesladies didnt know much about their cars. At the Pontiac site, the spokeswoman Stacey was GREAT. I was looking at the Vibe and the G3 for my wife, and she knew the products cold. Engines, options, how to do this, how to do that, she was terrific.
Can’t wait for companies like Coskata to get online. That way I can see communities like mine change to mulching/composting = bad and bagging yard waste = good, as the demand for cellulosic waste goes up.
What I like to see is GM putting its money where it’s mouth is by making all of their IC vehicles E85 capable instead of only the large ones.
Also, what about ethanol direct powered fuel cells? Seems to me that the infrastructure conversion would be considerably easier than with hydrogen powered fuel cells, as the conversion and storage requirements would be marginally more difficult than E85. Just think – we could make those Voltec cars use these fuel cells as range entended power sources instead of an IC engine and it would knock a leg out from under the fuel cell naysayers!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126100645.htm
“The Aptera is a niche vehicle, it probably doesn’t even need to pass certain Fed standards for safety etc.”
“Does the Aptera have a/c, heat, ABS, ASC, air bags, 4 seats, a trunk, cupholders, dvd, cd, nav system etc.”
Since it has only 3 wheels, it’s a motorcycle, not a car, and doesn’t have to have air bags, 5 mph bumpers, ABS, or most of the other “car” bells and whistles, although I believe it’s supposed to be fairly well-equipped with amenities. It may be a game-changer in the near future, as commuters scale back to buying vehicles that are “just what they need,” and not more.
GM had a head start in the 3-wheeler genre a couple decades ago, with their “Lean Machine,” a tilting 3-wheeler, but GM doesn’t make motorcycles.
E-85 was not designed to save the motorist money it was so we could use less imported oil. get over the idea it will be cheaper to operate your car if it gets more MPG as the govt will just raise the fuel tax to get the money back it will loose because of less gallons sold.
jc: “The Aptera is a niche vehicle, it probably doesn’t even need to pass certain Fed standards for safety etc. Do you really believe a company as large as GM can survive on building cars like the Aptera?”
I don’t know about “survive on” cars like the Aptera but there’s no reason GM couldn’t build cars like the Aptera, bring decent mass production techniques to the market and make some money while filling a void in the transportation market.
Part of the problem with the Aptera is… Aptera. Where can you buy them? Try them out? Serviice them? GM has advantages.
What is the status of GM’s 4.5L Duramax light duty diesel engine? VW and BMW have had recent success with the introduction of their diesel engines, what is GM doing on this front? It would seem to be a no-brainer to explore this area since the 6.6L Duramax has always done well and there is already an infrastructure in place to support clean diesel technology. What is GM doing to be a leader in this area?
very impresive techs but i hope GM doesnt blow them with BAD quality ……I own a chevy caprice 2001 and for the first two years I loved it …….but now the car is killng me …..i cant go any where …AC replacement ….oil pump …..brake disck every few month …….suspention is slamed to the grownd …..nothing would make me buy a GM product again and that will end a fourty year loyalty …
“nothing would make me buy a GM again”
WOW what a comment —- Quality and Value sell and make for satisfied customers.
POOR Quality drives customers away………. simple formula for success…….
Build a Quality vehicle at a value driven price.
jc,
“Does the Aptera have a/c, heat, ABS, ASC, air bags, 4 seats, a trunk, cupholders, dvd, cd, nav system etc.”
Yes to a/c, heat, airbags, a large trunk, cupholders, an iPod-compatible media system.
No to 4 seats; it has 2.
I’m not sure on the others.
Check your facts before slandering, please–info is easy to find on the website.
Matt
abdulrahim unless you live in the middle east there were no 2001 caprices they were impalas
It’s just to show people make up stories just to blast GM—-probably a Toy ota lover who knows very little about cars.
“E-85 was not designed to save the motorist money it was so we could use less imported oil. “
If only that were true Motorman. E85 is actually a way to increase subsidies to ethanol companies and farmers in the Corn Belt; plus the E85 loophole in how CAFE is computed allows GM, Ford, and Chrysler to avoid paying millions in CAFE non-compliance penalties.
The problem: One person’s subsidy is another person’s tax.
augie yes what you posted is true BUT the money stays here in the good old USA not going to the middle east.
Most of the critical responses to my post are again part of the problem. First off, diversification used as an argument for GM’s success is a joke. It was diversification that got them into trouble. They diversified into home loans, IT consulting, medical research, cruise missiles and satellite tv. All because management tried to diversify away from their core competency of transportation. Why? Because they couldn’t compete due to mismanagment.
Secondly, the talk about 5mph bumpers, being niche products, etc are ridiculous as well. The Volt is going to cost $45,000. Talk about niche. Whom, may I ask is going to buy it? Especially with tight credit? The problem is locomotion not 5mph bumpers or whether the Aptera is classified as a motorcycle or a car or any other artificial limitations.
The Aptera is an innovative form of locomotion. It could easily support production runs similar to other GM niche products including the Solstice, Volt or whatever. And, rules are made to be broken. There is no rule that says a “city car” could not be developed for non highway use as an example. The objective is to start with as clean a sheet of paper of possible and dream the impossible. That is what created mechanized locomotion. Not, that someone was worried about a 5 mph bumper
“Do you really believe a company as large as GM can survive on building cars like the Aptera?”
I don’t think GM can survive as an American vehicle manufacturer by continuing to build and sell fuel-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks. If they don’t get back to the core business of making large numbers of quality-made, economical, reliable, affordable vehicles in America, for the American market, they won’t be around at all in 5 years.
That means a drastic change in corporate culture at the highest levels.
I have to laugh at some of the comments about GM’s SUV gas guzzlers. Toyota makes some of the biggest if not the biggest gas guzzlers. Check it this out. Even the infamous Hummer got better gas mileage than this.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm
I hope some respondents realize that “E85″ in its current form is not the end all be all of Ethanol evolution. Many are talking like Ethanol is not an answer just because in its current form it is not economical or optimally situated in today’s society. When gasoline was first introduced it was not in prime shape either, no stations, very raw and dirty. Presently companies have added chemicals and tweaked formulas that increase millage and clean your engine simultaneously. Refrain from being short sited and look at where ethanol can go from here. E85 is the gateway to better ethanol fuels later down the road. As the market increases for ethanol, so will the research to make better products that deliver more. The current E85 stations can easily be converted to distribute other forms of ethanol when they become available, as the vehicles will be able to run on them. So creating new stations, vehicles, and other infrastructure for the current fuel is not a waste, and pushing the current fuel is not a waste. Technology needs a starting point, this is where ethanol starts. Without the hype from E85 and the companies touting it, there would be no market at all and better solutions would not even be considered. So in a way E85 had a much larger success than money and immediate petroleum independence, it set us up for a better ethanol solution down the road, with many sources and many types that preform optimally and can start becoming economical and help with our petroleum independence. Positive thinking.
“E85 is the gateway to better ethanol fuels later down the road.”
Douglas,
E85 is neither a “bridge” nor a “gateway.” Those two words are marketing and lobbying hype in an effort to make corn ethanol seem palatable to the uninformed.
Unfortunately, corn ethanol is what it is. An inefficient way of converting natural gas to ethanol by transforming NG to nitrogen fertilizer, growing corn with the fertilizer, and then using more NG to distill the corn into ethanol.
It’s true, better bio-fuels are down the road (bio-butanol and gasoline transformed from syngas are two) but those won’t be the result of any pioneering lobbyists and Corn Belt politicos have done. Their efforts have been almost exclusively to capture subsidies for their constituents.
Wouldn’t the Volt fit better as a Buick Electra pricewise? Add the Chinese Park Avenue, the LaCross, the Enclave,and the Opel Insignia, and Saturns nohaggle pricing and you might just have something. Then you could put the DTS on the long wheelbase SLS like in China and eliminate the large FWD platform. One less platform, and quality cars. I doubt that Buick customers would really care that the Park was built in Australia, or build both the G8 as a Chevy Impala and the Park here and eliminate Pontiac altogether. Since the XLR is going away, market the Corvette thru Caddy dealerships and the Solstice thru Chevy, and for heavensakes don’t drop the Alpha plans. In the international market an Alpha Caddy in sedan, coupe, convertible and sports wagon makes more sense than CTS versions if you exspect volume sales worldwide. DI should be integrated on all GM powerplants.
Save your money and convert your current car to run on E85. A company in Colorado makes the conversion system for about $500 US. Then drive your current car for as many miles as you can squeeze out of it until such time the kinks and bugs in “all electric vehicles” have been worked out and production numbers drive the cost down. Being an early adopter is scary stuff.
As for the Aptera – nice widget for the sunbelt, but so is a Segway for less than the Aptera. They won’t hold up in colder climates, but may be lighter to push out a snow bank if you get stuck. Better yet, convert your car and buy a bike for the short trips around your house. Get some fresh air and excercise and do your pocket book some good.
PS – blending your E-85 and regular gas about 60/40 gives you the best ratio for mileage and costs per tank.
augie you still keep missing the point,THE MONEY STAYS IN THE USA and is not shipped overseas to the middle east so they can buy weapons to kill Americans. the cost has nothing to do with it. if you are worried about cost of fuel what do you think of drilling offshore in the US waters ? this would lower the price of gasoline if we had our own supply of crude.
i was wondering, if gm really wants to promote e-85, why haven’t they expanded availability to all vehicles with engines that have been made e-85 compatible? every 5.3 liter vehicle gm offers should be a flex-fuel engine. every v-6 should be flex-fuel.
Make every gasoline vehicle flex capable…… now that’s a concept.
Give consumers a choice at the pump!
No one at GM cares whether you use E85 or not. They do it because of the “E85 loophole” in the way CAFE is computed. If they make a heavy SUV such as a Tahoe a “flex-fuel” car, it’s CAFE numbers jump dramatically even though the actual fuel mileage when burning E85 drops significantly. (CAFE calculations consider only the 15% of E85 that is gasoline.)
Every flex-fuel SUV that GM sells helps them avoid millions in CAFE non-compliance penalties, even though the car’s driver will probably never use E85.
Gary B.
You have to understand that GM has no real desire to promote E85. No one at GM cares whether you use E85 or not. They do it because of the “E85 loophole” in the way CAFE is computed. If they make a heavy SUV such as a Tahoe a “flex-fuel” car, it’s CAFE numbers jump dramatically even though the actual fuel mileage when burning E85 drops significantly. (CAFE calculations consider only the 15% of E85 that is gasoline.)
Every flex-fuel SUV that GM sells helps them avoid millions in CAFE non-compliance penalties, even though the car’s driver will probably never use E85.
Well done to general motors. I saw a documentary last night on the EV1. do you remember it? The electric car you had that was brilliant. A car that not only could have helped save the planet but your company as well.
And now here you are struggling in the sesspit that is the economic down turn along with the rest of the car industry.
Are you proud?
Do you go home at night with the sense of a job well done?
You could have been a world leader with people cheering your name.
You could have gone down in history as the company that really made a difference.
But you didn’t.
Is it to late to change your mind abegin building them again?
Now is the time.
The people will listen.
Positve PR.
Stop messing about with other fuels that will take years to sort out if they work at all.
You know it makes sense.
So do it.
Be saviours of mankind instead of destroyers.
EV1 — What is the saying? Lead, follow or get out of the way.
GM was a leader with the EV1. Then it killed it and went away.
Now it has come back as a follower.
GM needs new leadership. Those executives that allowed poor quality and market share declines for 30 years need to go.
DETROIT (Dow Jones)– FPL Group Inc. (FPL) and Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) will replace their combined fleet of 10,000 cars and trucks with electric-powered vehicles starting next year.
The two utilities expect to spend about $600 million to convert their vehicles by 2020, the companies said in a joint statement Thursday. The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative’s fifth annual meeting in New York.
“We really feel it is time for our industry to put our money where our mouth is,” said Christopher Bennett, FPL’s executive vice president and chief strategy, policy and business process improvement officer. “We are ready to start purchasing when we see vehicles that are available and fit our needs.”
FPL, based in Juno Beach, Fla., and Duke, based in Charlotte, N.C., decided to team together in order to create a “critical mass” of demand, Bennett said.
The pledge to buy alternative powered vehicles, the biggest commercial commitment to date, comes when auto makers need assurance that consumers will buy these new vehicles. General Motors Co. (GM) will introduce its electric car, the Volt, late next year.
Other companies, such as French car maker Renault SA (RNO.FR) and Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. (7201.TO) are also working to introduce electric vehicles. Renault is planning to make at least 100,000 electric cars by 2016.
Estimates on the potential market share size of the electric and plug-in vehicles vary widely. Renault’s Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn, who spoke with journalists at the Frankfurt Auto Show last week, said electric vehicles will account for 10% of the global market or 60 million cars by 2020.
Fuel Economy Leaders: 2010 Model Year
Where are the GM vehicles?
Where are the GM vehicles in the top 10??????
2010 Fuel Economy
Information Now Available
Fuel Economy Leaders
Lowest Models Overall
Highest Models within Class
Lowest Models within Class
Rank Manufacturer/Model MPG
city/highway
1 Toyota Prius (hybrid) 51/48
2 Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD
Mercury Milan Hybrid FWD 41/36
3 Honda Civic Hybrid 40/45
4 Honda Insight (hybrid) 40/43
5 Lexus HS250h (hybrid) 35/34
6 Nissan Altima Hybrid 35/33
7 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD
Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 34/31
8 Smart fortwo Cabriolet (automatic)
Smart fortwo Coupe (automatic) 33/41
9 Toyota Camry Hybrid 33/34
10 Lexus RX450h (hybrid, 2WD) 32/28
For more information, contact us at omscfeis@epa.gov.
Where are GM’s small and mid size hybrid vehicles?
Are you giving this market share to the Japanese and Koreans?
The Volt needs to be at a REASONABLE price point to sell.
$40,000 seems like a stretch……
I do not think you will catch and pass the Prius at that price point.