GM: We Need Affordable Electric Cars

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Richard Wagoner says global warming is not going to be solved with $100,000 (euro64,000) electric cars, and his company is focusing on a vehicle more consumers can afford.

Wagoner spoke to the Commonwealth Club of California on Thursday on the topics of global warming, ethanol availability, and rising gas prices.

Global warming needs a solution that can ''significantly shift the fleet of vehicles to different fuels or different propulsion technologies fairly rapidly,'' he said after the event.

So why is it taking so long to launch the plug-in electric Chevy Volt?

''Frankly it's one thing to develop a technology for a car that's going to cost $100,000, it's very different for a car that's going to cost $20,000,'' Wagoner said.

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Electric Cars 5/2/2008 1:03:00 PM We need to be able to rent these for casual local use.
Electric cars 5/2/2008 1:47:00 PM Solving the battery problem may not be all that important. Several other manufacturers are working with what they have for batteries and producing electric vehicles in the 25 to 30k range. Although limited in distance, you'd think GM would jump on this so they can sell more vehicles. A short range vehicle for local use and use a gas vehicle for longer distance.
Electric cars 5/2/2008 2:13:00 PM We have had gas problems for decades, what have we been doing? Just like usual wait until it's a crisis!
GM and the Electric Car 5/2/2008 2:26:00 PM Somebody should remind Richard of the mind numbing stupidity of GM when the crushed all the EV1 electric cars. GM could be way ahead of Toyota if their leadership wasn't so insane. Daniel
Electric Cars 5/2/2008 2:39:00 PM Stop trying to replace the gas car and try augmenting the users fleet
GM: We Need Affordable Electric Cars 5/2/2008 3:38:00 PM We need ground-based mass-transit for the entire US. High speed between cities and low speed throughout populous areas. This very viable potential solution has been available for decades yet the Government has done very little to push this forward. Steve
Electric Car 5/3/2008 2:13:00 PM RE the comment about being able to rent for casual local use - many of us are in the opposite situation - we need a short range electric now to own and can rent a gas car when we make trips. My wife and I never drive more the 10 miles round trip except for maybe one day per month. We are aging boomers, and I bet there are going to be more and more of us i this situation - we just do not make as many long trips as we used to and for these we can rent a car. So give us a short range electric car NOW -it may be a niche segment, but I belive this market segment is severly underestmated by Detroit.
GM and the Electric Car 5/5/2008 2:38:00 PM GM has been jerking around with electric cars for 15-20 years.I read of at least two where they were bragging about them, but GM Management will NOT take a chance as Toyota did. They still have their head in the sand or rather in their gas guzzling Yuppie SUVs. Reality check-Do you know of anyone other than a doctor, Nurse or Firefighter that HAS to have these type of vehicles??
GM & Electric cars 5/5/2008 6:12:00 PM Is GM & the other N. American carmakers kidding??? They have had the technology for YEARS to make electric cars, and they're own greed killed it in California about 10 years ago! Sorry, but GM gets NO sympathy from me when they announce over 3000 layoffs this past week; not only are they deliberately avoiding the future by bringing us an electric car, but anything they make is WAY MORE EXPENSIVE than a honda, hyundai or toyota. Give me a $10,000 car and I might consider buying GM. Give me an electric car TODAY, and I might reconsider not buying a Chinese electric car like the ones that are being considered for mass shipment to the U.S. for early next year. Until then, they just don't get it...
GM & Electric cars 5/6/2008 9:10:00 AM And what will happen to the already overtaxed power grid when everybody charges their plug in car?
Charging Electric Cars 5/6/2008 2:11:00 PM Most charging will be done at night which will benefit the power grid by evening out the loads. On-site solar or other power generation can also help avoid additional loading of the transmission lines.
GM & Electric cars 5/6/2008 2:36:00 PM What happens when those carbon taxes take away coal powered electric plants and you have to charge your car with 30 cents per kwh power instead of 10 cents?
Electric cars 5/9/2008 7:26:00 AM Who wants to sell electric cars in the millions? Here is how, You giveaway a SOLAR charger with every car, no need to plug anything in as your car sits at the train station it is being charged. Hello! Ford,GM, Jeep lets make American companys what they where.
Electric Cars 5/9/2008 2:46:00 PM Between solar panels and self-generation, the cars should be able to recharge the batteries without plugging in, if so designed.

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