The Volt Will Get Siblings Too

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

GM will do with its Volt what arch nemesis Toyota did with its Prius: Add siblings. GM plans two more plug-in hybrids, based on the Volt. Not right now, but in the next few years, Daniel F. Akerson, told the New York Times.

GM might add a hatchback and a crossover, all using the same plug-in technology as the Volt, Akerson said.

A plug-in version of the Cadillac SRX is “likely.”

This has the New York Times confused: “It was unclear whether that was the crossover to which he was referring or whether there would be a fourth Volt-based model. G.M. executives said they could not elaborate on Mr. Akerson’s comments.”

Akerson said the hatchback and crossover could go on sale in 2012 or 2013.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Steven02 Steven02 on Jan 12, 2011

    I think the best thing for GM to do is to offer the same technology across a few vehicles to help spread development costs. A good idea if they sell enough of them.

    • See 2 previous
    • Steven02 Steven02 on Jan 12, 2011

      I am not sure it has to be same form factor, but the more parts that are, the better. If some small parts are easy to swap out to make it fit with minor costs, then it doesn't matter.

  • YellowDuck YellowDuck on Jan 12, 2011

    It seems to me that a lot of the cost issues must relate to the incredibly complex sometimes-series-sometimes-parallel hybrid drive system used. Could someone please explain to me why a simple series hybrid (ICE just runs to power the batteries, all drive from the electric motor) is not feasible? It seems like it would be a lot cheaper, and certainly simpler. Say with a 150 hp electric motor...but of course on average the actual power used would be a some fraction of that, so a 50 hp ICE shuold be plenty to make it work, no? Of course with the plug-in ability as well. Simple engineering, zero range anxiety. Probably 15% or so lower fuel efficiency than a parallel hybrid once the ICE kicks in, but so what? For the average sub-100 mile day, it would be great. I think such a contraption was sold by Fiat or possibly Renault in Europe, no? What are the technical issues with this configuration? To the layperson (me) it seems like a no-brainer.

    • Steven02 Steven02 on Jan 12, 2011

      Battery wear could be a problem if it is not done correctly. Also, part of the Volts idea is to make is usable when going up a mountain so that he could do that with the ICE running in CS mode. When you start to think of the corner cases that are involved here and actual driving conditions that would be encountered, it becomes obvious that it isn't really a simple solution. Also, the series sometimes parallel hybrid feature improves mileage by 10%. Seems like a smart move to have it that way.

  • Geozinger Geozinger on Jan 12, 2011

    I thought all of this was announced already.

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Jan 12, 2011

    GM folks have short memories. They already killed the Cadillac Converj concept when they realized it would only go 20 miles in EV mode and cost $60k to start. People want "green" to be economical. A hatchback might work, but a crossover and plug-in SRX may not.

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