Comments on: General Motors’ Quest to Become “Green Motors”

By: James Klich

James Klich — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:56:31 +0000

GM should sell off Saab. It should get rid of GMC and Hummer. Then it will be on the right track.

By: sanjosemike

sanjosemike — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:35:54 +0000

DETROIT AUTO MAKERS: UNDERBRAINED AND OVERPAID
I was born and raised in Detroit. I even worked at the Mound Road Engine Plant on DeQuindre as a young college student. Detroit auto executives have ALWAYS been behind. It is no surprise that foreign cars have taken over.
Detroit is behind again. The new “minimum” for gas is at least 4 dollars/gallon. Within 3 years, the new minimum will be 5 dollars/gallon.
And Detroit still produces monster cars and trucks. Now…after so many years of being behind, Detroit expects to produce a few cars with decent mileage???
Too little….too late…the typical response of overpaid, underbrained executives.
They’r all idiots.
sanjosemike

By: Ryan Mickle

Ryan Mickle — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:46:02 +0000

@The Niko: Totally agree. GM has more to reinvent than just its brand. I don't think GM really worries much about bankruptcy. I would imagine that they'd get bailed out just like we saw Bear Stearns did recently.

@Andy: I appreciate and identify with your support for American companies. Just because GM is an American company, however, doesn't necessarily mean that we should be blind to the company's values and their alignment with our own. I'd be a proud GM owner if it was aligned with my values. When I buy Seventh Generation, Method, Patagonia, Stonyfield Farms products, etc., I do so proudly.

@Nick: That is hilarious. It kind of makes you feel old in reminiscing about how "cars used to be in my day." Check out this Autoweek article on the impact of weight on fuel efficiency. I'll probably circle back on it in the future. I do think that the Volt will hardly be worth the wait, since Toyota and others will have some great options by then.

By: Ryan Mickle

Ryan Mickle — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:42:01 +0000

@Brett: I am inspired by companies that set up locker rooms and bike storage so employees can bike to work every day, and look forward to the day when cities truly promote cycling as a form of transportation. It will serve our environment and our health.

Check out this article from the NY Times on New York's plans to promote commuting via bicycle. Thanks for reading.

@Guy Sam: Ford is looking into this... it is very early stage. Will write more on it soon.

@Rob: Thanks for the comment. I recently pointed out to a friend that if Virgin or another brand that has earned the trust (even love/affection) of consumers were to (dare I say it) buy GM, they'd likely pretty easily turn the company around with reasonably attractive design/quality/price offerings.

By: Brent

Brent — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:33:01 +0000

I highly recommend that you watch “Who killed the electric car?” Just goes to show you karma does exist. The EV1 was the most excellent idea in terms of going in the direction to stop dependency on foriegn oil, but do you think the car manufacturers and big oil would allow it? hell no! Its a conspiracy!

By: Nick Gallegos

Nick Gallegos — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:33:06 +0000

Wow, hey that’s great! A car by the end of the year with a 1.0L engine/ hybrid that gets about 50mpg! Great step backwards! I have a 91′ Geo Metro that gets 52mpg in normal mixed city/highway driving. Good job GM, hey wasn’t the Geo a GM product? Hmm, actually a Suzuki product. Oh, and not a Hybrid. Hmm…

By: meangreen

meangreen — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:12:39 +0000

And let’s not forget the GM also bought up all subway tracks in major cities like LA and burned them.
http://www.trainweb.org/mts/ctc/ctc06.html

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:34:31 +0000

Why aren’t they talking about hydrogen energy here. As far as I know there is a Hummer they built aka H2Hummer. May be because they still can’t produce hydrogen with purely green methods. Anybody heard of this crap about getting hydrogen out of water and using that to run cars? Check out http://www.water4gas-scam.com The claims are outrageous. May be GM should concentrate on producting a W4G Hummer after reading above article.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:27:38 +0000

I dont think you guys understand that GM Ford and Even Chrysler are three of the companies that we need to keep this economy going. Show a sense of nationalism and buy an American Car. We need to support our American companies and help to rid ourselves of this recession.

By: The Niko

The Niko — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:19:02 +0000

Considering that GM killed the EV-1 all those years ago (see “Who Killed the Electric Car”), you wonder how much GM has learned?
As someone who worked for a supplier to GM and has been in all the plants worldwide, they are hurting in more ways than marketshare. The unions have strangled them and their policies towards suppliers are combative. Exactly opposite for Honda/Toyota. GM must survive, though, for if they go under, the shock to our economy may be hard to swallow…

By: LibertyForever

LibertyForever — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:36:34 +0000

The Volt is a revolutionary car, the first one of a series that is likely to turn GM around big time. 2010 sounds like an early launch date for the Volt though? Maybe a limited production series for consumer testing while they work on lithium-ion battery packs?

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:15:54 +0000

GM is reaping what they sowed when they killed the EV1.

By: Mmmz, Gasoline.

Mmmz, Gasoline. — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:03:34 +0000

Until “green” vehicles can keep up with a Dodge Viper in terms of acceleration, top speed, range, and refueling time there will be no place for them in my garage. Fuel efficiency is great, but not at the cost of performance.
I find today’s gas prices completely manageable and one could say I have a heavy foot. Most European-made cars are like cheap toys and personally I prefer American muscle and performance (and the occasional Japanese rice rocket).
There is more than one demand to meet.

By: anon

anon — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:56:59 +0000

You sir are a moron.
GM has been hurting for quite awhile now, and are actually on an upswing. GM has showcased a few fuel-cell powered prototypes and concepts for years…. before 2004 as well mind you.
Seems like someone mistakenly let you into this little event, and you take there good will and turn it into a GM bash session. Wake up and check your facts past the last 4 months you knob.
–
Anon, please provide an email/URL if you actually want to have an objective discussion.