" From: farna@xxxxxxx " " This is what GM has said for the last 2-3 years at least -- they were " going to skip the electric and hybrid drives due to limited " practicality,
ummm aren't fuel cell cars electric? perhaps developing a cost-effective mass producible electric drivetrain is easier than i think, but i recall the troubles gm had with the initnal ev-1s.
" and go straight to hydrogen fuel cells. This makes a " little sense -- people aren't exactly flocking to hybrids.
true - but toyota for one is selling as many prii as they can make.
" They're impractical for the vast majority of drivers.
i'm beginning to wonder if hybrids are impractical period. they -sound- good, but i haven't seen any analysis of total life-cycle costs including additional manufacturing pollution, battery replacement, disposal of hazardous waste...
" It makes sense not to waste R&D money on a stop gap. " [] " But there will be some lean years " during that gap if they don't do something to show the public they are " on the power curve -- hence the EV-1. Maybe they should have kept them " out there with some minor improvements? At least something would be " running around.
as i recall, folks who were lucky enough to get ev-1s loved them and tried to get gm to let them buy the cars when their leases were up - and there was a long waiting list of folks who wanted more ev-1s.
imho gm would've been -very-wise- to keep the ev-1 going and perhaps even slowly evolving, even if it was never more than a halo car.
" Converting the big vehicles to hybrid doesn't net much.
not the way they're doing it for sure. it's just marketing, and if anything they're selling it as a 'clean' way to get -more-power-.
" A Malibu converted might, but one of their smaller cars would be better. " Some cost involved, but the public confidence it would inspire would be " priceless.
it would be an excellent move, but somehow i can't see gm putting the commitment into it that toyota and honda have. it'd probably wind up another half-fast product like the olds 5.7 diesel.
" As you pointed out -- they are betting on someone else developing " infrastructure by the time they are fully ready for production. That's " the only real loop hole in their strategy, other than the public " confidence, but it's a big one! There has to be some partnering with oil " companies (the most likely distributors of hydrogen) and other industry " contacts to get that infrastructure in place -- maybe even the " government. That's the only way Brazil got turned on to alcohol fuel -- " government investment. A very good case of government working for the " greater good of the country!
we're talking about a long slow process here, with a large scale commitment. i don't see any sign the relevant parties are even thinking about it, let along talking or planning. certainly the government isn't likely to consider that kind of horizon. ________________________________________________________________________ Andrew Hay the genius nature internet rambler is to see what all have seen adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and think what none thought