Detroit Hype

What's up with the hype surrounding Chevrolet's Volt? After killing the EV1, an actual production electric vehicle, why is GM getting "Green cred" for producing a concept car with a blue-sky production date?

Here's a Wired article discussion how Detroit is about to leapfrog Japanese makers with plug-in hybrids.

GM's Chevrolet Volt and Ford's HySeries Drive, unveiled as concept prototypes for the first time last month, leapfrog current hybrid designs and could put pressure on Toyota's popular Prius by offering consumers better value.

Shocking. Buried on the second page are

Honda and Toyota are also considering production plug-in hybrids...

Oh, so the Japanese are considering it too. So why the hype about Detroit leading the way? A PR decision by the companies? Concept cars? Why does it make sense to believe that Japanese automakers wouldn't lead the way on plug-ins just as they led the way on production hybrids over a decade ago and with fuel-efficient vehicles in general three decades ago? In fact, projects to convert the existing production Prius to a plug-in already exist.

Dave Alexander, a senior analyst at ABI Research, believes battery technology will not advance enough in the next two or three years to suit commercially viable plug-in hybrids.

Nick Cappa, a spokesman for DaimlerChrysler, is also skeptical, saying plug-in vehicles would require "a significant leap in battery technology." He said his company has not committed to commercializing the technology because of the concerns about battery weight and reliability.

Why give creedence to a 2010 production date if the battery technology doesn't exist!?


New pet peeve: Green Hype.