Lutz: 60-100k Volts in First Year of Production

[racy]

Full article here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...SS01/710310370

Originally Posted by www.freep.com

On Tuesday, Lutz said he continues to be increasingly confident that GM will bring the range-extended Chevrolet Volt to market by 2010.

"We got our first experimental battery pack today" from LG Chem, Lutz said. The battery pack doesn't yet have a cooling system, he said, but doesn't need one for the stage of testing GM and LG Chem are in.

GM expects to receive an experimental battery pack in December from A123Systems, the other battery supplier with which it has a contract, Lutz said.

By the first quarter, GM expects to be running the E-Flex operating system in late model Malibus for testing purposes, he said.

Lutz said the first-generation production version of E-Flex will appear in a vehicle that will look much like the concept car shown at the 2007 Detroit auto show, but with a more traditional front end.

"The engine-motor configuration didn't work. ... Now it has a more classic-looking front end. ... It will be called the Chevrolet Volt."

Lutz said the company has not determined how many Volts it will make in the first year, but said he believes "it's a very safe bet that it will be produced in the tens of thousands" in its first generation.

"This is not sanctioned, not an official GM number, but in the first full year of production I would like to see between 60,000 and 100,000 and then go up from there," Lutz said

[mgescuro]

I dont believe those numbers. That's very high for this car in its first year.
Aren't prices for these gonna be pretty high as well?? Like $28-30,000 each?

We'll see.

Now... how many people here on GMI are gonna bitch and moan about the batteries being Korean??

[PhishPhood]

That was my initial impression as well. 100,000 was/is a very very 'good' goal. 50,000 I think is more realistic, not because it has anything to do with the vehicle or the maker but rather that it's new technology and the 'absorption' of new technology has very specific stages it must go through...Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, Laggards.

There will be a lot of people that are interested but not so interested to plunk down $25 to $30000 right off the bat as mgescuro noted. Now if in 2010 gas has just hit $6 per gallon and/or there have been spot shortages around the country they might not have any problem at all in selling 50K-100K right off the bat.

10000-20000 deliveries in the first year would be hard to swallow but somewhat understandable given it being new and unproven technology. BTW I still haven't heard of anyone on these threads stating that they had signed up to take delivery of one of GM's new 2-Modes. Now that's a damn shame.

[plane]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

BTW I still haven't heard of anyone on these threads stating that they had signed up to take delivery of one of GM's new 2-Modes. Now that's a damn shame.

You missed it.
That declaration was made by another poster.
Haven't seen any sales figures for the 900 hybrids.
However, the tractor pull video was quite convincing.

It will be interesting to see if the 900 hybrids ramp up slowly, ala the Prius, or if after a brief public perception gestation period, they take off like a rocket. We just don't have enough pricing and marketing information at this point to know which way that is headed.

[ronald mcretard]

I think the demand for electric vehicles will grow a lot between now and 2010. 60,000 Volts will be sold easily if gas prices keep rising at the rate they have for the last 2 years. Hopefully GM is already planning to get E-Flex in some other vehicles as well.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

I dont believe those numbers. That's very high for this car in its first year.
Aren't prices for these gonna be pretty high as well?? Like $28-30,000 each?

We'll see.

Now... how many people here on GMI are gonna bitch and moan about the batteries being Korean??

I'm betting an MSRP of 25K nearly loaded. I don't think GM is going to have a lot of options on this car. With oil at near $100 bbl, and no signs of decreased demand or increased supply, $4.00-5.00 gas is very reasonable by 2010. 100K volts will fly off the lot if gas is $4 a gallon.

Also, did anyone else catch Epsilon I is being used for validation? Thats huge.
I bet the VOLT will be a one generation model, as GM could make e-flex an option on everything that uses Epsilon II and Delta II once the VOLT proves itself. Then, whats the point of the VOLT.

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Now... how many people here on GMI are gonna bitch and moan about the batteries being Korean??

Bitch. Moan.

[MelvinJ]

I really think the first year or two of eFlex production will be limited by component supplies rather than demand. I doubt that they'll get enough batteries to build anywhere close to 100k the first year, but I don't think they'll have any trouble at all selling all they can make if it's $25k and lives up to claims for range and drivability.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Bitch. Moan.

Seconded

[big swede]

Sounds like an huge number for the first year. I can understand the demand but I am a little suprised that the battery companies have the capacity to create so many batteries considering they produce none to very few right now in the size needed for the Volt.

[Explorer4x4]

Whoa. That is, a lot. Ford moves barely 100,000 Fusion's yearly. And Fusion is entering its third year of production. The years of good first year sales are over. But remember, the 1984 Tempo sold over 500,000 units in its first year of production..

[hrcslam]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Seconded

Thirdeded

[paul8488]

I think it's smart that they're moving forward with two battery suppliers. That way if one doesn't pan out or if demand is huge they can more likely manage to get the car into production in big numbers quickly.

If there were other American companies with the right technology GM would be working with them I'm sure. If a Korean company has the technology, they will sell it to someone... I'd just as soon that be GM than Toyota or Hyundai or another competitor.

[Jimmy Jive]

What did they mean "with a more traditional front-end"? The front-end of the Volt looked to be the only part of it production ready...
Also, what could he have meant by "the engine-motor configuration didn't work. ... Now it has a more classic-looking front end"? What's considered "classic"?
I was really hopping the Volt would make it through mostly unchanged...

[zete]

I'm looking forward to this -- regardless of who builds the batteries. A car that is purely electric for city trips would be amazing to own. And the practicality of the range extender needs no additional commentary from me.

Bring it on, Bob. Bring it on. I do hope you can pump out hundreds of thousands. I know there will be a market, especially as gas continues its march upwards.