Right Lane Cruiser
04-17-2009, 08:11 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg When the Volt and the plug-in Prius do finally hit showrooms, they'll have to be ready to survive years of wear-and-tear and abuse in the hands of customers. (http://wot.motortrend.com/6520565/green/automakers-industry-experts-say-obamas-2015-plug-in-hybrid-goal-too-ambitious/index.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt1.jpgScott_Evans - MotorTrend (http://wot.motortrend.com) - April 16, 2009
Every big undertaking looks "too big to accomplish" at first. --Ed.
During his campaign, future President Obama promised to get one million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015, but automakers and industry experts say that goal will be extremely difficult to meet.
Along with the one million plug-in hybrids pledge, then-Senator Obama promised to convert the White House vehicle fleet to plug-in hybrids within a year (security permitting) and require half of the vehicles bought by the federal government be plug-in hybrids or all-electric vehicles by 2012.
"That's a 'Go to the moon' kind of goal," said Nancy Gioia, director of Ford's hybrid vehicle program.
While many automakers have committed to hybrid programs, they're quick to point out that it took eight years to get one million hybrids on the road, and there aren't any plug-in hybrids actually on sale yet. With cars like the Chevrolet Volt and a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius still at least a year away, they'll have five years at best to put as many plug-in hybrids on the road as they were able to get standard hybrids on the road in eight years. Further, no major automaker has actually committed to mass-producing enough plug-in hybrids to meet Obama's goal.
"It certainly is a difficult challenge to achieve that goal," said Tony Posawatz, GM's vehicle line director for the Volt. "It's not readily obvious, based on the product plans that have been communicated, that the 2015 objective aligns with what is currently on the books."
Hybrids and electric cars are being held back by a number of challenges. While $4/gallon fuel prices had the Toyota Prius and other high-mileage vehicles flying off lots last summer, gas has dropped to $2/gallon and Prius sales were actually down 12.6% in 2008 compared to 2007. As long as fuel prices stay low, it will take longer for... http://wot.motortrend.com/6520565/green/automakers-industry-experts-say-obamas-2015-plug-in-hybrid-goal-too-ambitious/index.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt1.jpgScott_Evans - MotorTrend (http://wot.motortrend.com) - April 16, 2009
Every big undertaking looks "too big to accomplish" at first. --Ed.
During his campaign, future President Obama promised to get one million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015, but automakers and industry experts say that goal will be extremely difficult to meet.
Along with the one million plug-in hybrids pledge, then-Senator Obama promised to convert the White House vehicle fleet to plug-in hybrids within a year (security permitting) and require half of the vehicles bought by the federal government be plug-in hybrids or all-electric vehicles by 2012.
"That's a 'Go to the moon' kind of goal," said Nancy Gioia, director of Ford's hybrid vehicle program.
While many automakers have committed to hybrid programs, they're quick to point out that it took eight years to get one million hybrids on the road, and there aren't any plug-in hybrids actually on sale yet. With cars like the Chevrolet Volt and a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius still at least a year away, they'll have five years at best to put as many plug-in hybrids on the road as they were able to get standard hybrids on the road in eight years. Further, no major automaker has actually committed to mass-producing enough plug-in hybrids to meet Obama's goal.
"It certainly is a difficult challenge to achieve that goal," said Tony Posawatz, GM's vehicle line director for the Volt. "It's not readily obvious, based on the product plans that have been communicated, that the 2015 objective aligns with what is currently on the books."
Hybrids and electric cars are being held back by a number of challenges. While $4/gallon fuel prices had the Toyota Prius and other high-mileage vehicles flying off lots last summer, gas has dropped to $2/gallon and Prius sales were actually down 12.6% in 2008 compared to 2007. As long as fuel prices stay low, it will take longer for... http://wot.motortrend.com/6520565/green/automakers-industry-experts-say-obamas-2015-plug-in-hybrid-goal-too-ambitious/index.html