[Jason M. Hendler]

Motor Trend recaps pro-Toyota hacks bashing of Volt ...

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2008/112_0802_affordable_volt/index.html

Lots of other interesting updates of other auto companies' efforts.

 

[Tagamet]

Pundits

Not a very encouraging article. Then again, pundits - especially ones prediciting the future - aren't awfully reliable.

 

[MetrologyFirst]

A question for you..

You know, this debate is rapidly turning into parallel vs. series or more specifically, Volt vs. Prius. I personally feel that the information we are getting from GM is really just there to satisfy our need for knowing something about what is going on. I really don't think GM is releasing the "important stuff". Nor will they until about early 2010. Too much at stake.

There seems to be an awful lot of sand being thrown into the gears of people trying to discuss the Volt's development and prospects by those who have a vested interest in Toyota's approach. I think this says that GM is on to something, and a lot of people don't like it. The gamesmanship crescendo is building quickly.

Do you think that Toyota/Honda (all non Volt companies really) and their supporters, truely feel threatened by the Volt technology? Are they afraid they have bought into a technological path that will not be viewed as "the winner" in the future?

I am not dissing the Prius. I know a lot of people who have them and are happy. But when I try to discuss the Volt's benefits with them, they refuse to even consider that GM could compete and then won't talk about it at all. You'd think it was heresy to question the Prius's approach. Some of you out there own a Prius. Please explain this reaction.

 

[Jason M. Hendler]

Metrology,

Toyota is filling their shorts over the plug-in serial hybrid approach, because they tooled up for a parallel-hybrid approach that doesn't easily, efficiently, effectively allow plug-in conversion.

I personally enjoy the CEO of Toyota screaming like a bitch over GM's advances, which were then protected in stone by the fed's passing of CAFE standards - leaving Toyota flat footed. Asians are easy to read. If you are doing something that benefits their market position, then they keep silent, and if you do something that threatens their market position, then they badmouth it to your customers and to the workers delivering the threatening tech, trying to stop or slow down the new tech.

Toyota is now GM's bitch.

 

[Statik]

Metrology,

Toyota is filling their shorts over the plug-in serial hybrid approach, because they tooled up for a parallel-hybrid approach that doesn't easily, efficiently, effectively allow plug-in conversion.

I personally enjoy the CEO of Toyota screaming like a bitch over GM's advances, which were then protected in stone by the fed's passing of CAFE standards - leaving Toyota flat footed. Asians are easy to read. If you are doing something that benefits their market position, then they keep silent, and if you do something that threatens their market position, then they badmouth it to your customers and to the workers delivering the threatening tech, trying to stop or slow down the new tech.

Toyota is now GM's bitch.

Fair and balanced.

 

[Tagamet]

review

I just went back and read that article again, and most (if not all) of the pundits reasoning flows from his belief that batteries will not be able to be produced in large numbers at an affordable price. Even at our currently embryonic state everything is suggesting that those assumptions may well be just plain wrong.
I agree with Static (did I say that out loud?) that Toyota certainly has cause for concern and if they don't come up with SOMETHING in a parallel system (as opposed to their series models) someone is going to have to fall on their sword (I know that crosses Asian/Roman cultures, but you get the point)(pun intended)
Tagamet
PS Statick I'd lend you one of my sig's: "Unfair, Unbalanced, Unmedicated" I know it often fits me pretty well...

 

[Statik]

I just went back and read that article again, and most (if not all) of the pundits reasoning flows from his belief that batteries will not be able to be produced in large numbers at an affordable price. Even at our currently embryonic state everything is suggesting that those assumptions may well be just plain wrong.
I agree with Static (did I say that out loud?) that Toyota certainly has cause for concern and if they don't come up with SOMETHING in a parallel system (as opposed to their series models) someone is going to have to fall on their sword (I know that crosses Asian/Roman cultures, but you get the point)(pun intended)
Tagamet
PS Statick I'd lend you one of my sig's: "Unfair, Unbalanced, Unmedicated" I know it often fits me pretty well...

Hehe,

I would use that tag...but I have one, it is just so small it is hard to read if your resolution is under 2048x1536. It says, 'My name is spelled STATIK!'

The switch to the new forum is kinda like a fresh start to make the same mistakes, w00t!

 

[xeno_volt]

I find the reaction of Prius owner's to the Volt, non-isolated. Pretty much anyone who has bought a new car since '07 reacts the same. I don't know why. Maybe they feel threatend as I attempt to explain the advatnages the Volt will offer.

 

[NZDavid]

Musings

I drove a Prius for a while, loved it. I remember it was a series/parallel hybrid. Parallel for city stuff and series when I was lead footing it. Anyone remember the old days when oil was under $100 a barrel?

 

[ned23]

I drove a Prius for a while, loved it. I remember it was a series/parallel hybrid. Parallel for city stuff and series when I was lead footing it. Anyone remember the old days when oil was under $100 a barrel?

No kidding! I was just looking at Bloomberg and oil is trading at $105.36 right now. Ouch!

As for the serial/parallel argument, I've always been for serial. That's how diesel-electric locomotives work. Parallel is more wasteful.

 

[Eric E]

No one can take away what Toyota has achieved and I don't believe they feel threatened by GM at this stage.
However...
The paralled hybrid is very complex, and more inefficient than the series...period.
When GM gets this thing on the road, Toyota will no longer be the king of hybrids.

DONT FORGET>>> GM already built and drove a series hybrid EV1 with NiMH batteries. They know what their doing.

Volt Now!

 

[Texas]

I'm really looking forward to the 2011 Volt/Prius comparisons. I hope they are close because competition is good! I hope the engineers from both companies are staying up late trying to beat the other with a better design. Win-win. We have it easy. All we have to do is watch the show and buy the one we like the most.

 

[Jim I]

I feel exactly the same way as Texas, except that I don't think it will just be a two company party. By 2011, I expect there so be several contenders trying to get our money for their products!!!

 

[mikeh1]

I think the reaction of the owner Volt Prius, not isolated. Virtually everyone who has bought a new car since '07 reacts the same. I do not know why. Maybe they feel threatened when I try to explain the benefits Volt will be offered.