GM: Plug-In SUV Coming In 2011, All -Electric Car May Be In Works

Even though General Motors has scrapped the Saturn brand and the Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid along with it, GM’s Vice Chairman Tom Stephens says that a plug-in SUV is on track for 2011.
“I can tell you that I won’t lose one day in terms of customers being able to walk into dealerships and actually purchase a plug-in,” Stephens said in an interview with Reuters.
Stephens said that GM could also launch an all-electric small car for cities. The move will mark the return to a technology that GM once dropped in 2003 with the battery-powered EV1 in California.


Read Article

Agent00R - 7/7/2009 12:15:00 PM

-1 Boost

I do not see a plug-in SUV really being usable.

Particularly when small cars that utilize battery power cannot obtain significant amounts of mileage before needing a new charge.

It's a cute idea but the technology is not there yet.

inspirion7 - 7/7/2009 12:43:46 PM

+2 Boost

Agent00R your point is taken, but as the automotive industry is moving into this area, companies are springing up everywhere to accommodate the demand for such infrastructure. Europe is developing a grid and manufactures from the U.S. and China are setting up stations within the next 5 years, and we will see a flood of vehicles hit the market once the ability to support them is available.

Joe_Limon - 7/7/2009 12:18:10 PM

+2 Boost

I think it makes more sense to add weight to an already large inefficient suv then to add weight to an already lightweight and efficient compact car. Sure the number may not be as high, but the effects are going to be percent wise larger.

Agent00R - 7/7/2009 12:39:15 PM

+1 Boost

Valid point, but, if this car can't obtain at least 80 miles driven HARD on a charge it is good for nothing.

Joe_Limon - 7/7/2009 1:15:31 PM

+2 Boost

I agree, with a suv you can fit more batteries... but I doubt the hard 80 miles will come any time soon. Simply because this vehicle probably won't be developed from the ground up as a plug in (like the volt was). On another thought, if you did have a vehicle that got 80 miles on the batteries, would you be prepared to have to empty your gas tank and refill it when the gas expires? Or do you drive more then 80 miles before recharges?

theoptimisticpessimist - 7/7/2009 4:53:29 PM

+1 Boost

Wow three article to day on a electric vehicles.

I Predict; we are just a few years away from a infrastructure deficit.

thstone - 7/7/2009 6:33:06 PM

+3 Boost

Plug-in electric vehicles are definitely coming. If the Volt can do 40 miles on its batteries then so can a small crossover SUV. All the engineers have to do is to add slightly more battery capacity (which the SUV package will easily allow) to make up for the aero and weight losses.

veyron1001 - 7/7/2009 7:42:19 PM

-2 Boost

More like 2015 with the lack of funds GM has.