"Let's Face It. We're Making a Lot of Difficult yet Necessary Decisions These Days to Ensure GM's Long-term Future"
Let’s face it? I’ve been covering GM’s slide into bankruptcy for well over four years now, and it never ceases to amaze me how the people inside the company persist in trying to paper over cracks in the company’s operations that make the Grand Canyon look like a paper cut. In this case, a personage no less than Vice Chairman Tom Stevens gets in the Fastlane to tell the world that GM doesn’t have a fucking clue what it’s doing with its products or brands. “Although Saturn’s future is likely not to be within GM now, I can assure you our commitment to hybrid, plug-in hybrid and advanced battery technology is a key element of GM’s reinvention. I’m pleased to let you know the plug-in hybrid technology will be applied to one of GM’s four core brands. Stay tuned for which one, and in the meantime, I’ll enjoy reading the speculation.”
Stevens’ blog entry might not be the most cavalier statement I’ve ever heard, but the remark certainly rivals General Westmoreland’s infamous utterances. Nor is Stevens’ “hide and seek” statement the height of arrogance. But I did get a nosebleed reading it. And here’s the cake icing:
The Volt and plug-in hybrid vehicle are two of 14 hybrid and electric vehicles GM plans to offer by 2012. So while it may seem at times we’re taking a step back, we’re really taking two steps forward.
And there I was thinking GM was stuck in reverse. Silly me.
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What superbadd said. I think that is exactly why it is there. I have dropped my motorcycle twice because I forgot to remove the lock affixed to my disk brake. The location of the plug is clearly designed to make a comparable error more difficult with a plug-in vehicle.
Believe it or not, I think GM had it right some 20+ years ago with the EV1. The connector was inductive (ie, there were no electrical prongs involved which can break)...and the slot was mounted right on the front of the vehicle. If you are concerned w/ driving off with the connector plugged in, it would be best to mount on the front of the vehicle...as you will not torque the thing as you back out. I've never seen a car "back out" at a 90-degree angle (except for those weird test vehicles you see once every so often which never makes it to production). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magne_Charge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GM_EV1.jpg Re. interlocks...they can be placed anywhere...even in the hocky-puc style Magne Charge. If the connector is engaged, no backie-outie. See where GM could be if they actually stuck to their research...and worked on perfecting it? Imagine what 20+ years of development would have yielded. Instead, we got the fuel-efficient Escalade.
"fuel-efficient Escalade" - At least this thread gave us a fine oxymoron. I know an interlock system could be included with any plug location, but having the plug placed where a driver will likely see it before entering the car adds redundancy and convenience.